Genius Squad

Early the next morning, Naruto reluctantly crawled out of bed.

He glanced at the alarm clock. It was only four o'clock.

He did not understand why Kakashi had told them to gather at five in the morning, but at least he had the self-awareness of a ninja.

That was, whatever his Guiding Jonin said, as a Genin, he had no right to argue. He just had to obediently do as he was told.

Even if he truly felt that Kakashi might be setting him up.

After washing up and making himself some instant ramen, he ended up waking Namikaze Minato.

"Why are you up so early, Naruto?" Namikaze Minato rubbed his mop of blond hair and asked curiously. "Even if you've become a ninja, there's no need to be this excited, right? It's only four o'clock. There's no point in getting ready now, is there?"

"Don't ask. It was Kakashi—Teacher Kakashi's order." Naruto had nearly called Kakashi big brother without thinking, but he caught himself quickly.

There would not have been anything wrong with calling him big brother. After all, they had known each other since childhood, so it was no big deal.

But considering that Kakashi was now his Guiding Jonin, calling him big brother felt a little inappropriate.

Honestly, though, calling him Teacher felt better to Naruto, since Uchiha Kei was the same age as Kakashi.

Otherwise, calling one of them big brother and the other uncle just felt strange no matter how he looked at it.

This was better. At least it was not so awkward.

"Kakashi?" Namikaze Minato's expression turned somewhat strange. After thinking it over, he asked uncertainly, "He really arranged it?"

"Yeah. He said we had to meet at five, and we weren't allowed to eat breakfast." Naruto grumbled unhappily. "But if I get