Having allowed his team two days of rest, Kakashi sent a clone to inform Sasuke and Sakura to meet up at training ground seven at six in the morning for training. After they arrived, Kakashi explained the upcoming Chunin Exams and the Third Hokage's wish for them to dominate them.
Pulling out a Chakra paper, Kakashi handed one to Sasuke, Sakura, and instructed them to pour chakra into it.
As Kakashi expected, Sasuke produced both Fire and Lightning, though his affinity for Lightning proved to surpass his long-trained fire-release. Sakura's affinity was Earth; it was the perfect foundation, adding a solid layer of defense to an otherwise aggressive team.
The three genin were quickly split up. Sasuke and Sakura went with the clones that ordered them here, and Kakashi, who explained and tested their natures, poofed in a puff of smoke, having been a shadow clone.
The real Kakashi, having received the memory of his clone, crouched by a large, clear pond. Placing his hands in the pond, Kakashi starts to circulate the water, creating a small whirlpool effect in a matter of moments.
"This is an advanced form of elemental training, Naruto. I want you to create twenty clones and attempt to do what I'm doing now. Like the Rasengan, this requires rotation and control. too much and water splashes in your face, too little and you make it ripple a bit. This doubles as a chakra control exercise and chakra transformation training."
Kakashi stands, tucking his hands in his pocket and watching as he begins to train.
"Dispel them the moment they hit a breakthrough—no point in letting them waste energy. If they exhaust themselves, you'll feel it too. Stick to twenty-minute shifts, rotating them out to keep fresh."
"Yes, Sensei."
Naruto replied and quickly got to work on the exercise, with Kakashi leaving a clone to watch over him and offer advice when needed as he went to do some training of his own, not wanting to rely solely on the rewards he received.
6 hours later, 12 Pm -
Calling for a break, Kakashi placed a packed bento on each of his students' laps, ensuring they were fueled with proper nutrients for the rest of the day's training.
Kakashi sat beside them, opening his own bento and preparing to eat, feeling eyes on him and smiling internally.
"You all really should eat, the training won't be stopping, and we'll be very busy until the chunin exams come up. You'll only have a break for a couple of days before it to ensure you're at your best."
They nodded, Sasuke wanting to improve, Sakura excited but nervous at the same time, and Naruto hoping for an opponent that he can fight to the fullest.
In their moment of distraction, Kakashi finished his bento, rubbing his stomach and sighing at his full stomach.
"Ahh, that was delicious."
"H-how is that possible?"
Sakura gazed at the empty bento in Kakashi's lap with equal amounts of concern and amazement.
"Doesn't that hurt your stomach? Did you even chew?"
"Maa maa."
Kakashi waved it off, having been doing this for years and knowing what his body can and can't handle when it comes to food.
"No big deal, just a fast eater it all."
"That's putting it lightly."
Sakura muttered before going back to eating like the other two had been doing.
"Sakura, I plan on teaching you some Earth Release techniques and how to properly set traps. You'll be the support for now."
Kakashi made sure to emphasize 'For now', not wanting the girl to get discouraged.
"Once the chunin exams finish, I'm going to recommend you to the Medical department. Your chakra control would make you a good medic ninja. With that taking up a majority of your time, I plan to teach you some earth release as I mentioned earlier, and maybe some genjutsu if you manage to learn them quickly."
Kakashi internally smiled as he watched her eyes blaze in determination before he looked to Sasuke.
"Sasuke, being a Uchiha, you likely have many scrolls on fire release, so I plan to teach you some lightning release, and kenjutsu if you're interested."
"You know kenjutsu?"
Sasuke asked, not knowing his sensei was skilled in that area too.
"I'm no master at it, but I'm more than proficient to train you in it. The main thing I want you to learn is to channel lightning chakra into the blade. Throwing techniques around is flashy, but sometimes something simple can get the job done without leaving you exhausted. Do you have any blades with chakra metal in them? While it's possible to do it without, it's much harder."
Sasuke thought about all the blades in his storage, nodding, knowing that at least a few had to be chakra blades.
"Good, bring it for tomorrow's training."
Kakashi said before looking at Naruto.
"You'll be doing the same thing as today, but I want you to reduce your clones from twenty to ten once you manage a breakthrough. After that, bring it down to five, and finally, just you. The reason is I need you to focus your clones on fuinjutsu, and I want you to be free for physical training."
Kakashi explained before looking at the other two.
"That goes for you as well. Tomorrow, I'll bring something to help train your bodies: a weight seal that distributes weight based on how much chakra the creator pours into it. It's usually used for capturing enemies, but the Anbu often use them to improve themselves and stay sharp."
Kakashi took a moment to observe their reactions.
"Any complaints?"
Kakashi asked with an eye-smile that was far too innocent.
"No, sensei."
They replied instantly, feeling that they'd be run to death at the slightest complaint, not that they planned on complaining.
"Good, glad to see you all working so hard. I have full confidence in you all. If you train hard, I have no doubt you'll be chunin by the end of the exams."
Kakashi spoke his honest opinion, his praise genuine and mostly towards Sakura and Sasuke, Naruto having long since been viewed by him as a jonin combatant that simply lacks experience.
Kakashi stood, raising a hand to stop them from standing.
"Let your food settle. Once you feel that you've let it settle, then you can get up and continue."
He ordered, body flickering to the area he was training, downed trees all over the place as he was practicing his armament haki, trying to reach the hardening stage where his arm is enveloped in a black sheem, occasionally catching glimpses of his arms when he punched the trees. A terrifying speed, considering that he just got this kekkei genkai.
'Almost there, I can feel it. In a few days, maybe less if I really focus on this alone, but fuinjutsu takes up time, and I'm almost through the intermediate book on fuinjutsu. another full day of reading tops.'
Kakashi smiled, feeling that his grasp on all of his abilities was an addictive feeling. The feeling of improvement was intoxicating; now he knew why Guy always spouted his 'youth' when he ran around the village like a man possessed. Maybe my best friend is on to something.'
Kakashi shook his head, imagining what Guy would say if he saw him now. He'd probably smile and challenge him to something to 'fan the flames of their youth'.
Kakashi shuddered. No, Guy was just crazy. Social nightmare, loud, far too much energy, and far too good a person. But Kakashi wouldn't complain about it. Guy saved him more times than not. Not just physically.
'Maybe I should take time to visit him soon; it has been a while since we last talked.'
Chapter End -
Hope you enjoy the chapter. I'm attempting to flesh out the characters and make them more human. I'm trying my best and only hope I'm not doing horribly.