"Everyone, follow me outside and form a line."
Instructor Suzuki stepped outside first and waited patiently.
Soon, the children formed a neat line and exited one by one.
Then Instructor Suzuki led the class to the training field.
Normally, new students wouldn't begin training so soon after enrollment.
However, since most of the students were from ninja clans, Instructor Suzuki believed it was necessary to conduct an initial assessment.
"This will help me adjust my teaching pace accordingly."
"Do you see that wooden target over there?"
He pointed to a distant wooden target set up for practicing throws.
"Yes, Teacher!"
The students had grown more comfortable and replied in unison.
"Those with prior experience should stand on the left. Those without should stand on the right."
Instructor Suzuki quickly issued instructions, and the children divided into two lines accordingly.
Clearly, there were many more students on the left side.
Only a handful moved to the right—children like Rin, who came from non-ninja families.
They hadn't been trained at home and might never have even touched ninja tools.
"Better than I anticipated."
Instructor Suzuki murmured softly as he distributed kunai and shuriken to the students on the left.
The children on the right watched with wide-eyed envy.
"Today isn't practice time, but you'll all get your chance in the future."
After finishing the distribution, he comforted those on the right.
He wasn't as intimidating as he appeared.
"Yes, Teacher."
Rin bravely responded first, sensing the gentle side of Instructor Suzuki.
"Mm, all of you need to work hard."
"Falling behind once isn't something to fear. What's truly frightening is staying behind."
"Understood?"
He said earnestly, understanding just how hard it would be for ordinary civilian children to catch up with the ninja clan kids.
"Understood."
This time, the students on the right answered together.
"Good. Then for now, just stand aside and observe."
With that, Instructor Suzuki began having the students from the left line up to throw their tools.
Two throws each. The test proceeded quickly.
Their skill levels varied widely.
Some couldn't hit the target at all, while others landed both throws directly in the center.
Only around five managed that level—Kakashi included, along with two others.
One of them was Asuma Sarutobi.
He stared at Kurenai without blinking, completely transfixed.
If it weren't for her two personal guards standing nearby, he probably would've charged over by now.
The final one belonged to some unknown clan—definitely not Obito.
That guy didn't hit the target even once.
"All right, next we'll move to sparring."
"This part is entirely voluntary, no pressure."
At some point, Instructor Suzuki had acquired a pen and paper and begun carefully recording each student's performance.
"Teacher, I want to challenge Kakashi!"
As soon as "sparring" was mentioned, Gai couldn't contain himself anymore.
He couldn't have loved this teacher more.
Talk about perfect timing—like someone handing you a pillow just as you start to doze off.
"Excellent. Then you and Kakashi can go first as examples."
Before Kakashi could protest, Instructor Suzuki had already made the decision.
"I'm really fed up with this..."
Kakashi's words died on his lips as Gai suddenly pulled him out of the group.
"Go for it, Gai!"
Kurenai, never one to miss a chance for some fun, enthusiastically cheered him on.
Even if you poured oil on him, it wouldn't make him budge an inch.
Kakashi dismissed the idea carelessly, showing absolutely no jealousy.
"I will defeat Kakashi!"
Gai flashed his signature pose at Kurenai, full of excitement.
Kurenai imitated him and gave Gai a thumbs-up in response.
Clearly Dai's son.
Instructor Suzuki recalled the green whirlwind from the battlefield—clearly, this one was made from the same cloth.
"Fight freely. No need to hold back."
Although Instructor Suzuki had a lame leg, he still had enough confidence left.
If not for being injured on that mission, he would have already been promoted to Jonin by now.
"Got it."
Kakashi exchanged an OK gesture with Gai before they both stepped aside and immediately faced off at the training field.
"Three, two, one."
"Begin!"
At Instructor Suzuki's signal, Gai moved first.
He knew he still couldn't match Kakashi. If he didn't take the initiative, he'd have no chance at all.
"Nice move."
Kakashi slightly lifted the corner of his mouth, his silver hair gently swaying in the breeze.
Unknowingly, once again capturing someone else's admiration.
So fast.
Squinting through his lone eye, Instructor Suzuki felt shocked at Gai's speed for someone his age.
His earlier relaxed mood vanished in an instant, replaced by tension.
If either of them ended up injured, he'd basically be slapping himself in the face.
Asuma wore an expression of complete shock as well—he always considered himself diligent in his training.
Yet facing such speed, he knew he wouldn't be able to keep up.
Though he once thought himself at least decent among his peers, reality had struck hard from the very first day of school.
To those less skilled, Gai completely shattered their understanding.
Is this level of speed achievable at our age?
Just as these thoughts crossed Asuma's mind, a loud explosion rang out.
Gai's powerful kick landed squarely on Kakashi's arm.
Blocking the strike, Kakashi's feet sank several inches into the ground.
The hand he had free shot out to grab Gai's leg.
"There's no way I'll fall for the same technique twice."
Gai had learned his lesson too many times already—once caught by the leg, the duel was effectively over.
Ooooh!
Kakashi swiftly executed a series of precise moves that immediately took away all of Gai's fighting spirit.
"You've gotten smarter."
Failing to land a solid hit, Kakashi wasn't discouraged.
How dull it would be if no one grew stronger alongside him.
"Good job, Gai."
Kurenai remembered how brief their previous fight had been—Gai had been utterly defeated in under thirty seconds.
"My turn now."
Kakashi launched the attack this time.
Even before his words fully settled, he shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.
The ground, already slightly sunken from previous blows, now bore a fresh crater where his foot struck.
"Impressive burst of power."
Instructor Suzuki's eyes narrowed slightly as he muttered a compliment.
He thought to himself, "No wonder he's the son of Sakumo."
"That strong."
Asuma whispered under his breath. He knew there was no way he could defeat Kakashi.
Kakashi approached Might Guy and launched into a seamless series of consecutive moves.
Both were employing Dai's Shadow-Style Taijutsu, and as long as neither made a mistake, breaking through each other's defenses would remain difficult.
Still, this resulted in an extremely exciting match.
It gave all the students in the class an exhilarating duel to watch.
It also made them aware of the gap between themselves and a "prodigy."
In this life, Might Guy definitely wouldn't be the dead last.
At this point, if they relied purely on Taijutsu, no one in the class except Kakashi could match him.
After half an hour of intense battle, Kakashi claimed victory.
He had held back only slightly—otherwise, Guy wouldn't have lasted this long.
"Now you understand why I warned you not to challenge me."
Kakashi pulled Guy up from where he lay flat on his back in a spread-eagle position.
"That was awesome."
"Once I recover, I'll fight you again."
Guy casually threw his arm over Kakashi's shoulder, and the two walked off unaware of anyone else, coming to a stop beside Kurenai.
"I really feel like killing you right now."
Kakashi shot Guy a harsh glare. He was completely fed up.
"Hahaha~"
Might Guy laughed happily by himself.
"Kakashi wins."
Only then did Instructor Suzuki announce the result.
He hadn't imagined that two five-year-olds could be this strong.
Even average Genin would likely struggle to match the boys' Taijutsu prowess.
Back in those days, when he was five, he was still playing in the dirt.
When you compare goods, you throw them away; when you compare people, you wish you were dead.
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