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The only thing that could be considered a lie was his claim that he had heard about it before.
Naruto hadn't had the time, much less the inclination, to ask around Konoha for this sort of information. It wasn't as if anyone would approach him, and even if he knew the Transformation Technique, he wouldn't be bored enough to use it just to ask about such things. At most, it was an excuse he'd prepared in advance so he could pretend he knew the plot. In truth, Naruto had indeed asked Iruka to confirm it, and Kakashi's "reputation" in the village really wasn't all that small.
"Then, Naruto, why didn't you just tell us yesterday?"
Sakura looked at Naruto with a deeply resentful expression, her tone tinged with complaint.
Sasuke, sitting across from them, looked rather displeased too.
If they'd known earlier...
They wouldn't have foolishly shown up at five this morning.
They'd already been waiting here for a full five hours!
And according to Naruto, they might have to keep waiting. Kakashi might not show up at all today and could just reschedule for another day.
At the thought of it,
Sasuke felt a knot of frustration in his chest. His mood grew even more irritable, and the impatience on his face became more obvious.
"Didn't I warn you yesterday? I said you could come a little later. Besides, Kakashi-sensei was more than three hours late to yesterday's meeting, too. I thought you'd at least look into Kakashi-sensei a bit. It's not something you can learn by asking just anyone, but it is one of Kakashi's more well-known traits. In a lot of ways, really. Who knew you'd just... well... you know..."
A peculiar expression flickered across Naruto's face. He shrugged as he spoke.
The implication was left unsaid.
But the other two could understand it perfectly well.
And Naruto was right.
He'd done his duty as a teammate and warned them yesterday.
They were the ones who hadn't paid attention, even assuming their teammate was joking and brushing him off.
They'd wasted five hours here for nothing, and might waste even more.
They had only themselves to blame.
Sakura wasn't the only one who felt that way.
Sasuke's expression faltered slightly, though he quickly composed himself.
"Then what about breakfast? Naruto, did you eat before you came?"
As if she'd just remembered something important,
Sakura suddenly looked up, her eyes fixed intently on Naruto.
The timing couldn't have been more perfect.
Just as Sakura finished speaking,
not only did Sakura's stomach growl, but Sasuke's did too. Sakura blushed slightly, and even the usually expressionless Uchiha Sasuke looked a little uncomfortable.
What a failure!
This was just too humiliating!
Their squad's Jonin instructor had played them, and they'd foolishly waited for hours.
On top of that, they'd skipped breakfast, and now their stomachs were growling while their bodies felt faintly weak.
That only made Sasuke feel worse.
"Well, yeah, I did eat. Kakashi-sensei has led teams before, after all. He's had graduating squads in the past, and this isn't the first time he's pulled something like this."
Naruto looked at Sakura, who seemed utterly drained, and at Sasuke, who was still trying to tough it out. He chuckled.
After hearing Naruto's explanation,
"Okay..."
Sakura could only sigh in resignation. She really had no one to blame but herself for being so foolish. She rubbed her stomach, which felt as though it were sticking to her backbone, pouted, and replied.
It was cold, hungry, and sleepy that morning.
It was probably the most miserable morning Sakura had ever experienced.
And there was nothing she could do to vent her frustration.
All she could do was mentally whip her absent instructor in the depths of her mind.
As if that might help,
she could feel a little better.
"Hello, everyone! Good morning!"
Just as Naruto had said, even Naruto's arrival at ten had been a little too early. The three of them waited together until nearly eleven. Sasuke was just about at his limit and was about to leave when Kakashi finally appeared before them. He strolled up at the most leisurely pace imaginable, wearing a cheerful smile, and casually greeted them.
Honestly, if she hadn't known she couldn't beat him,
Sakura would have wanted to charge straight at Kakashi and kick him in the face.
"You're so late, Kakashi-sensei! You said five, and it's already eleven!"
Sakura spoke with overwhelming resentment.
"Ahaha, sorry about that. It's not that I wanted to be late. There was a black cat blocking my way when I left this morning, so I got held up. Haha, it's no big deal, no big deal. Don't sweat the details."
Kakashi laughed it off with an excuse that was obviously completely insincere.
Sakura was too exhausted to even respond.
If he was going to make something up, couldn't he at least come up with a halfway decent excuse?
That was it?
Sigh...
Sakura felt a headache coming on. How had she ended up with an instructor like this? Was this really what a Jonin was supposed to be like?
At that moment,
Sakura began doubting Kakashi's identity all over again.
"Ahem. All right, never mind that. Let's get back to today's business. I already told you yesterday: today's task is a Survival Exercise. But this exercise is completely different from the ones you did at the Ninja Academy. And if you fail, heh, you won't be allowed to go on missions as a ninja. You'll have to return to the Ninja Academy and study all over again!"
Kakashi cleared his throat, finally showing a trace of seriousness. But the farther he got into his explanation, the more frightening his expression became.
Especially when he said that if they failed, they'd have to return to the Ninja Academy and study all over again.
Sakura and Sasuke both changed expressions.
"What? If we fail, we have to go back and study? Why, Kakashi-sensei?"
Sasuke merely frowned.
Sakura shouted the question aloud.
This was nothing like what Sakura had expected.
Hadn't they already passed their graduation exam at the Ninja Academy? Why did they have to take another one here?
Sakura looked utterly confused and extremely shocked.
Of the three of them, only Naruto remained calm and composed.
"Heh. Those are the rules, Sakura. You can only officially become a ninja after passing my test. Don't think that putting on a Forehead Protector makes you a qualified ninja. For now, you're only provisional ninja."
Kakashi gave a soft chuckle, his expression seeming to turn cold.
"But Naruto, you're awfully calm. I'm curious—did you know from the start?"
Kakashi shifted his gaze to Naruto and narrowed his eyes slightly as he asked, seeming to hint at something.