"I'm sure you've heard that before you can become real ninja, you still have to pass a test set by your team leader."
Shinichi smiled at the three youngsters. "But don't worry. Your teacher isn't some kind of demon. There will be a test, but even if you fail, I won't send you back to school. At most, you'll receive a teensy-weensy bit of punishment."
Only then did the three youngsters breathe a sigh of relief.
If they failed the test and got sent back to school, they'd die of embarrassment.
"Whatever the test is, bring it on, Big Brother Shinichi!"
Naruto was as energetic as ever.
Sasuke nodded coolly, while Sakura alone looked anxious.
There was no helping it. That confidence came from strength.
Among Shinichi's disciples, aside from the absurdly powerful Itachi, Naruto, Sasuke, and Neji were the strongest. Naruto and Sasuke, those two children of destiny, were particularly impressive. Under Shinichi's tutelage, their strength had already come infinitely close to where it would have been three years later.
Against the other young ninja who had graduated alongside them, they were simply in another league.
"My test is simple. I have a collector's edition of Icha Icha Paradise here. I dug it out from under that brat Kakashi's bed."
Shinichi casually pulled out an exquisitely packaged dirty book and gave them an amused smile. "If the three of you can snatch this book from my shadow clone, you'll pass the test with flying colors. Still, it's no big deal if you can't get it. I'll score you based on your performance."
"Oh, right. This book seems to be Kakashi's favorite. If you accidentally damage it, I'm sure he won't let you off easily."
Kakashi: Meow, meow, meow?
*I hid it so well, and you still managed to dig