Practical Combat Training

Watching as both of them finished their self-introductions, Sasuke also silently stated his dream, which he used to mask his true strength.

After all, Sasuke already possessed the three-tomoe Sharingan, and he was even nearing the Mangekyō. When he consumed the ninth Uchiha Bloodline Crystal, his eyes had felt incredibly scorching; he figured the final bloodline crystal would likely allow him to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Listening to Sasuke's dream, Kakashi subconsciously touched his left eye, where the Sharingan left to him by Obito resided.

Looking at the Sasuke before him, Kakashi felt somewhat silent. Logically speaking, Sasuke was a genius, so why hadn't he awakened the Sharingan yet?

"Alright, tomorrow morning at seven, at the Third Training Ground, I will conduct a practical assessment for you all. If you can't pass, you'll have to return to the Ninja Academy. Remember, don't eat breakfast, or you'll suffer the consequences!"

After obtaining the basic information on the three, Kakashi stood up and vanished from the spot in a flash.

"See you tomorrow!"

After Kakashi left, Sasuke waved at the two of them and slowly walked toward his home.

"Sigh, there's really no helping it!" Finding that Sasuke had left, Sakura curled her lips in frustration before heading home as well; naturally, Naruto went home too.

Back at home, Sasuke opened his inventory and looked at that final bloodline crystal, his expression complex. The ninth bloodline crystal hadn't brought Sasuke any substantial improvement, not even increasing the proficiency cap of his Sharingan.

"I need to train tomorrow, now isn't the time!" After pondering the bloodline crystal for a long while, Sasuke ultimately chose not to consume it; after all, now was not the time to expose his power.

Putting the bloodline crystal away, Sasuke looked at the Impure World Reincarnation on his panel, but after much thought, he still didn't choose to increase its proficiency.

"I can get a good night's sleep tomorrow!" Looking at the sky outside, Sasuke thought for a moment and began to wander the streets. Since it was still early, he enjoyed a delicious dinner before finally heading home to sleep.

The next morning, after waking up, Sasuke didn't rush to the so-called training ground, but instead went to a restaurant and bought the Three-Color Dango that Itachi loved most.

"Not bad at all!" While eating the dango and sipping morning tea, Sasuke felt that Itachi's taste was actually quite good.

After eating his fill, Sasuke strolled leisurely to the training ground, where Naruto and Sakura, who had arrived very early, were already famished.

"Why are you only just getting here?" Seeing Sasuke arrive, Naruto asked listlessly.

"What's the rush? That guy hasn't even arrived yet anyway!" Facing Naruto, who didn't know the inside scoop, Sasuke smiled casually and sat to the side to wait slowly.

"Sasuke-kun..." Looking at the relaxed Sasuke, Sakura had many questions in her heart, but due to her pride, she didn't want to ask.

"Yo, hello everyone!" Just as the sun was about to reach its peak, Kakashi arrived fashionably late, carrying two bento boxes.

"You're late, Kakashi-sensei!" Facing a Kakashi who didn't play by the rules, Sakura complained powerlessly, while Naruto's gaze remained fixed on the bento boxes in Kakashi's hands from start to finish; he was simply too hungry.

"Alright, gather round!" Ignoring their gazes, Kakashi placed the bento boxes on a nearby wooden stake and took out two bells.

Hearing Kakashi's words, Sasuke slowly jumped down from the tree and walked over to the listless duo.

Kakashi looked at the refreshed-looking Sasuke, his expression somewhat surprised. This guy actually ate breakfast; he really was a handful!

"Two bells, two lunch boxes. The two who get the bells can eat lunch, and the remaining one will just have to be tied to the post!" Shaking the bells in his hand, Kakashi hung them on his clothes and slowly walked to an open area.

"I forgot to mention, the person who doesn't get a bell will be sent back to the Ninja Academy!" Kakashi said nonchalantly as he pulled out a copy of "Icha Icha Paradise".

"What!"

Hearing Kakashi's words, Naruto shouted out loud; the rules were simply too cruel.

"You're joking, right!" Facing Kakashi's words, Sakura was also in disbelief. After all, based on skill, Sasuke definitely wouldn't be eliminated, so the most likely candidates were herself and this guy Naruto.

"Begin!" Facing Kakashi's psychological warfare, Sasuke wasn't interested in the slightest. After all, he knew the final plot, and there shouldn't be any major surprises—or rather, there were people in Konoha who didn't want any surprises to happen.

"Alright, then let's begin!" Looking at the three with their varying expressions, Kakashi announced the start of the battle.

"Whoosh!"

As Kakashi announced the start, Sasuke immediately threw a "special" kunai at Kakashi.

"No need to be in such a rush, Sasuke!" Easily dodging the kunai, Kakashi continued to read his "bible" nonchalantly.

"Too bad it didn't hit!" Finding that Kakashi had dodged Sasuke's kunai, Sakura sighed and immediately entered the forest to hide herself.

"Are you useless? If you can't do it, let me!" Seeing Sasuke's attack miss, Naruto couldn't help but complain, then took out a kunai and attacked Kakashi.

After a bout of teasing Naruto, Kakashi appeared behind him and formed a hand seal with both hands.

Standing in place, Sasuke curled his lips helplessly at Kakashi's hand seal posture, then with a thought, he vanished from the spot.

The kunai Sasuke had thrown earlier was transformed using the Shadow Secret Technique: Clone, so Sasuke could swap positions with that kunai at any time.

After swapping positions, before Sasuke could even dispel the shadow clone, he heard a heart-wrenching scream!

"Ah..."

"Konoha Secret Finger Jutsu: 1000 Years of Death, it truly lives up to its reputation!" Hearing this sound, Sasuke wiped the sweat from his forehead and continued running deeper into the forest.

Although Sasuke thought this technique was a bit "evil," that didn't affect its power! After all, no one should be able to withstand this ninjutsu head-on!

Perhaps after developing the Chidori Sharp Spear, he could try an enhanced version of the "1000 Years of Death"! See if it could cause irreversible damage to someone.

After Kakashi poked Naruto into the water using the 1000 Years of Death, his gaze turned toward Sasuke on the side.

"I'm very curious how you became number one. That girl's approach was much better than yours!"

Looking at Sasuke, who was still standing in place, Kakashi's gaze was somewhat stunned.

Practical assessment in progress, Konoha Secret Finger Jutsu: 1000 Years of Death!