A Bet with Fifty-Fifty

The classroom was empty. The other students had all left with their teachers, but Team 7's teacher still hadn't arrived.

"Why isn't our teacher here yet?"

Naruto complained, bored out of his mind.

Then an idea struck him, and he balanced a blackboard eraser atop the doorframe.

"A Jonin wouldn't fall for a trap like that!" Sasuke scoffed.

He was apparently still hung up on that unspeakable incident. Just seeing Naruto put him in a foul mood.

Then the door opened. A masked figure stepped inside and, sure enough, fell for the trap.

The eraser struck his head. His mask hid any expression as he rubbed his chin and said, "My first impression of you three is pretty bad."

"Who's there?"

A figure burst in through the window.

"Hey, Kakashi! Hey, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura!"

"I'm your team leader. You can call me Uchiha Yoru!"

"What?"

All four stared at him in confusion.

Kakashi was the most bewildered of them all. If he's their team leader, then what am I?

Sakura Haruno: This team leader looks way more dependable than the masked teacher. He's way more handsome, too!

Naruto Uzumaki: Isn't he the guy who always buys me ramen?

Sasuke Uchiha: Why is it him?

"I thought I was supposed to be the Jonin leading these three," Kakashi Hatake said. One was his teacher's son, another was the Uchiha Clan leader's third son, and Sakura Haruno was there to balance out the group, so he could set her aside for now.

No one was better suited to lead this team than he was.

"That changed."

"When?"

"Just now. I said so!" Uchiha Yoru turned to the three Genin. "Why don't we let them decide? They can choose who they want to follow."

Their preferences were already obvious. Apart from Sasuke, the other two thought Uchiha Yoru seemed more dependable.

Uchiha Yoru spread his hands helplessly. "When you're this outstanding, people can tell at a glance."

"How about we compete to see which of us is better suited?" Uchiha Yoru suggested.

"How?" Kakashi bristled. He had to restore his reputation. Why didn't I dodge that eraser?

"A fight. The loser walks away! But we need a wager to make it interesting. If you lose, I get the Sharingan in your left eye!" Uchiha Yoru pointed at Kakashi's left eye.

Sasuke was about to speak.

"His closest friend gave it to him, and the Uchiha Clan approved," Uchiha Yoru said.

"Precisely because it's all my closest friend left me, I can't wager it," Kakashi said.

"I haven't told you what I'll give you if I lose."

Uchiha Yoru leaned close to Kakashi's ear and whispered something.

Kakashi's pupil widened. He seemed stunned.

"Well? Not a bad wager, is it?" Uchiha Yoru asked.

"I agree."

"Let's go."

The two vanished. From the distance came a voice: "You three, hurry up! Last one there gets no dinner!"

By the time the three arrived, the two men were standing still, apparently waiting for them.

"Sasuke, how strong is your brother?"

"Him? He might not even be Jonin level. Just watch him get thrashed!" Sasuke Uchiha said. If anyone knew Uchiha Yoru, it was him.

All the guy did was eat snacks and sleep. When had he ever trained?

Sasuke would have been grateful if his brother was even Genin level.

As soon as the three arrived, the two began exchanging Taijutsu blows.

This isn't right! Isn't Uchiha Yoru a lazy bum who lies in bed all day? How is his Taijutsu this good?

The longer they fought, the more Kakashi felt something was wrong. Fighting Yoru felt like fighting Guy without the Eight Gates. Every punch was crushingly heavy.

Kakashi could clearly sense Uchiha Yoru's lack of practice, but Yoru adjusted quickly and was soon matching him blow for blow.

Kakashi Hatake lifted his forehead protector, revealing his spinning Sharingan. It was time to get serious.

"Earth Release: Earth Flow River!"

The earth beneath Uchiha Yoru's feet began to flow. Kakashi wanted to push him back and fight at range.

His Taijutsu is already this strong. His Ninjutsu can't be that good too!

Uchiha Yoru jumped back, looking thoughtful.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

Four Shadow Clones appeared around Uchiha Yoru.

Kakashi was puzzled. Won't that split up his Chakra?

Then he saw Uchiha Yoru and all four clones forming Hand Seals. A sense of dread seized him.

"Five Release: Small Combo Technique!"

Uchiha Yoru launched fire, lightning, water, earth, and wind Ninjutsu at Kakashi all at once. The five different Chakra natures collided in a tremendous explosion.

Did I overdo it?

Uchiha Yoru stared at the blast. It seemed Kakashi might not survive it.

He had reduced the Ninjutsu's power as much as he could, but even so, it was unquestionably an S-rank technique.

Kakashi staggered out of the smoke, his body covered in wounds.

He raised a trembling finger and managed to say, "You're so damn handsome! (Go to hell!)"

Then he collapsed.

"Don't tell anyone what happened here today, you three. If anyone asks, say Kakashi did all this. Uchiha Yoru had nothing to do with it!"

"Otherwise, you know what'll happen!"

Uchiha Yoru hoisted Kakashi over his shoulder and ran.

The three left behind could only stare at one another.

"Sasuke, that's the Genin-level brother you were talking about? Are Genin all that strong now?"

Sasuke Uchiha shook his head blankly, baffled. Is that really my brother, the one who eats more than anyone and goes to bed before anyone else?

"What happened here?"

Several passing Jonin and Chunin had rushed over. They looked at the three Genin for an answer.

Afraid they might interfere, Sasuke Uchiha quickly said, "Kakashi-sensei was testing a new Ninjutsu!"

"Is that so?"

The Jonin looked at Naruto and Sakura. Both nodded repeatedly, too afraid to speak.

"All right. We'll believe you for now. I'll report this to Lord Hokage later and discuss compensation with Kakashi!"

With a few quick leaps, they were gone.

Uchiha Yoru took Kakashi to the hospital and used Medical Ninjutsu to make him look a little less miserable. Then, carrying a container and grinning to himself, he left the rest to Konoha's nurses.

On the way home, Uchiha Yoru thought of the Sharingan in the container and couldn't hide his smile. At last, he had somewhere to throw his trash.

Wasn't the Kamui Dimension basically a portable trash bag?

If he could figure out how to make it work endlessly like Obito Uchiha's, he'd never have to take the trash outside again. He could handle it himself.

When Fifty-Fifty woke, he was still a little sore, but his body felt unexpectedly light, and his Chakra seemed much more plentiful than before.

He touched his empty eye socket and gave a wry smile. "That guy really doesn't waste any time."

A nurse noticed that Kakashi was awake and handed him a small note.

"The young man who brought you in asked me to give you this!"

Kakashi Hatake read the note. The look on his face was priceless.