"Wait a sec — isn't a Genin team supposed to have three people? Why am I here alone?"
Naruto stood in the middle of the empty training field, scratching his head.
He'd been told to meet his Jonin instructor here — his new team leader. Even though Naruto was already strong, he was still excited. Being an official ninja felt like living in a real Roleplaying — everything was new and thrilling.
Of course, during the graduation exam, he hadn't even shown a fraction of his true strength.
Now, as a real ninja, maybe he'd finally get to fight someone strong enough to make him move seriously again.
"Why isn't this teacher here yet?"
He'd already been waiting for half an hour, but the Jonin still hadn't appeared.
Naruto didn't complain — he just kept practicing. Forming hand seals one after another, he trained his wind-style techniques.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
"Wind Style: Air Bullets!"
"Wind Style: Wind Snare!"
They were the same techniques the examiner, Misugi Ryoda, had used before — except now, Naruto's versions were several times stronger.
Gales ripped through the field, scattering leaves and dust everywhere.
Hidden nearby, a silver-haired man frowned beneath his mask. "He found me already? Damn kid…"
A wind sphere shot straight toward the trees where the man was hiding. Before it even hit, the sheer air pressure sent leaves flying.
Crackle!
Lightning sparked — and the wind attack shattered apart.
A silver-haired ninja with a mask over his face appeared in front of Naruto.
Naruto stopped his training and looked at him silently.
The two stared at each other. Neither spoke.
"…Why aren't you saying anything?" the man finally asked.
"Why should I?" Naruto shot back.
"Don't you want to know who I am?"
"Why should I ask who you are?"
The man sighed. This kid was going to be trouble.
He had just left the Anbu, and this was his first time leading a Genin — and of course, his student had to be this brat.
"Ahem," the man said, straightening up. "I'm your Jonin instructor. My name is Hatake Kakashi. You can call me Kakashi-sensei."
"Take out your ninja card," Naruto said instantly.
"What?"
"Your ninja registration card. You say you're my teacher, but how do I know you're not some scammer pretending to fool an innocent, adorable seven-year-old like me? Show me the card!"
Kakashi blinked, completely thrown off. Against his better judgment, he pulled out his ID — and Naruto immediately snatched it.
"Take off your mask, too. What if you're not the same guy as in the picture? Seriously — you've got a decent face, so why hide it behind all that? Are you that self-conscious?"
Naruto glanced from the ID to Kakashi, then sighed dramatically.
Kakashi felt a vein pop. "Hold on — I'm your teacher, not your prisoner! Why are you interrogating me? You're too bold, kid."
Naruto nodded solemnly. "Now that sounded like a teacher. I approve of you, Kakashi."
"You're supposed to call me Kakashi-sensei," Kakashi corrected, exasperated.
"Okay, Kakashi."
"Kakashi-sensei."
"Kakashi…"
The two stared at each other again — this time like roosters in a standoff.
Then Kakashi suddenly laughed. "You may recognize me, but I don't recognize you. Pass my test first. Otherwise, go back to the academy."
Naruto smirked. "That line might scare a three-year-old, Kakashi, but you'll have to do better than that."
"I'm serious," Kakashi said, his voice sharp. "Don't get cocky just because you beat a Chūnin. The world's full of people stronger than you."
"Alright then," Naruto said calmly. "What's the test?"
"Of course…"
"Don't tell me — the bell test?" Naruto cut in, crossing his arms. "Kakashi, are you seriously still using that ancient, overused game? How old are you?"
Kakashi's eyebrow twitched. "What did you just say? This test is tradition!"
"Yeah, a tradition that's been around since the dinosaurs," Naruto said flatly.
"Anyway," Kakashi snapped, "if you can't grab the bell, you fail. Go back to the academy and study for a few more years."
Despite his irritation, Kakashi's eyes softened as he looked at the boy. That blond hair, that grin — Naruto looked so much like his late teacher.
He sighed quietly. He didn't want the kid to step too soon into the dangerous life of a shinobi.
"Is this the bell you're talking about?"
Naruto held up two tiny bells that jingled softly in his hand.
Kakashi froze. "When did you—"
He checked his belt. The bells were gone.
"…Forget it," Kakashi sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "You pass."
But inside, he was completely lost. He'd prepared this whole bell exercise — and Naruto had just blown right past it before it even started.
Now what?
"Kakashi… sensei," Naruto said, emphasizing the word with a smirk, "you have no idea what to do next, do you?"
Kakashi frowned. "What do you mean?"
"The next steps — taking me on missions, teaching me ninjutsu, helping me get used to real ninja life. You're the Copy Ninja, right? You do know all that, don't you?"
Naruto gave him a teasing look that said exactly what he was thinking — my teacher might be more clueless than I thought.
Kakashi sighed. This kid was going to give him gray hairs — if he didn't already have them.
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