A gentle breeze drifted into the room.
Sasuke left without saying a word.
Sakura clenched her fists, frustrated. If Naruto hadn't suddenly said those strange things, this could've been her chance to be alone with Sasuke—it was all ruined now.
Three hours later.
At the ninja academy gates, the three of them regrouped.
"Did everyone gather information?" Naruto asked softly. "Let's start with Haruno-san."
Haruno-san.
That name made Sakura freeze.
Once upon a time, she had desperately wanted Naruto to call her that—instead of shamelessly yelling "Sakura-chan" all the time.
But now that he finally used it…
Why did it feel… strange?
"I went home and asked my dad," Sakura replied. "He said Kakashi-sensei is an incredibly powerful jonin."
"He's known as the 'Copy Ninja', 'Leaf Technician', and 'Sharingan Kakashi.'"
Sasuke nodded, his voice heavy: "The intel I got is pretty much the same as Haruno-san's."
His brows furrowed in confusion, ignoring Sakura's bashful comment, "Just call me Sakura."
Sharingan.
That was a bloodline limit exclusive to the Uchiha clan—an ability only someone with Uchiha blood could possess. So how could someone with the surname "Hatake" have it? Could it be that he wasn't the only Uchiha left in the village?
"I found something a little more detailed than you guys." Naruto pulled out a sheet of paper.
"Hatake Kakashi, 26 years old. Said to be the most talented ninja in Konoha's history."
"Graduated from the academy at 5, became a chunin at 6."
Sasuke couldn't help but look up.
Chunin, at what age?
Six?!
"He's really that amazing?" Sakura gasped. Her father's vague description hadn't really hit her—but this age comparison suddenly made it clear.
Naruto continued reading: "His father is Hatake Sakumo."
"After graduation, his mentor was Minato Namikaze—the Fourth Hokage."
"His teammates were Rin Nohara and Obito Uchiha."
At this, Naruto paused and stared at the name Minato Namikaze.
As expected.
Connected to his father—it was his student after all.
Sasuke clenched his fists—he'd heard his clan name mentioned.
The source of the Sharingan?
"At twelve, he became the youngest jonin in Konoha history."
"From fourteen onward, his records are blank—sealed."
"At twenty, he reappeared and quickly earned all the titles Sakura mentioned."
"He's mastered over a thousand jutsu."
"His summoning contract is with ninja dogs."
Sakura stared at the paper in Naruto's hands, and suddenly realized something felt off. "Naruto, where did you get such detailed intel? What's that paper?"
Naruto calmly replied, "I took Kakashi-sensei's personnel file."
The two were stunned.
He stole a file?!
You can do that??
"Naruto, that's not okay!" Sakura was flustered.
Naruto replied matter-of-factly, "It's the fastest and most accurate source of information."
Before Sakura could object further, he handed the paper to Sasuke: "Normally, three freshly graduated genin, even working together, wouldn't be able to beat a top-tier jonin like him."
"The survival exercise is likely to test our potential and mindset."
He naturally thought from the perspective of a "superior," a "strategist."
"If we understand what type of person he is and prepare accordingly, we should pass."
Even if the test was harsh—
There's no way they'd expect three rookie genin to defeat a battle-hardened jonin.
Sasuke didn't immediately look at the file—he stared at Naruto.
What did he mean by "normally"?
That tone—did he seriously think they had a chance against Hatake Kakashi?
"Memorize this information." Naruto stood up. "I'm heading home."
He was looking forward to tomorrow—
Looking forward to Kakashi, a man directly connected to his father.
The next day.
Training Ground Three.
Kakashi was late again.
Faced with Sakura's complaints, he just smiled cheerfully, not the least bit ashamed. He pulled a clock from his backpack and set it on a stump.
The hour and minute hands pointed to the current time: 10:15 AM.
"Yesterday, I said we'd be doing a mission today."
"Now, I'll explain the goal."
Kakashi pulled two bells from his pocket. "I've set the alarm to ring at noon."
"Before it rings, your mission is to take these bells from me."
"And—"
"Did you notice how many bells there are?"
He shook them gently. Ding-a-ling.
"There are only two."
"That means one of you is destined to fail and be eliminated."
Naruto and Sasuke's expressions didn't change.
Sakura, however, was shaken—just the pressure of those words made her uneasy.
"Nice determination in your eyes—but it's not enough." Kakashi lifted the bells and said, "Naruto's bold—stealing my personnel file like that."
"But now, you all understand what kind of ninja I am."
Naruto wasn't surprised Kakashi found out.
When he went to the Hokage building yesterday, aside from the Third Hokage, there were four chakra signatures watching him.
He had seen them all—without a single mistake.
Kakashi tied the bells to his waist and said lightly, "Since you're doing so well, I'll give you one more hint."
"If you don't fight with the intent to kill, you won't get them."
"Well then—"
"Begin."
The moment his voice dropped, two figures leapt left and right into the woods to hide.
Naruto didn't move.
Kakashi looked at him. "Not following the same strategy?"
"Concealing your presence is a basic skill."
Naruto shook his head and replied softly, "Kakashi-sensei, the target—the bells—are on you."
"You already know about us. You know we'll come for you."
"There's no difference between hiding or not."
Kakashi murmured, "So that's your thought process?"
"But I'm a jonin—fighting me head-on isn't to your advantage."
Naruto smiled gently. "Maybe I'll surprise you."
He slowly drew his sword.
Unlike in the academy, he now carried two swords, both hanging at his waist.
"Swords, huh?" Kakashi's lone visible eye gleamed with nostalgia. "Didn't know you used those."
"And two, even. Is the other a backup? Isn't that burdensome?"
"Looks good though."
"But swordsmanship isn't something you can master in a few days."
"And as a ninja blade, that one's too long."
Naruto grinned, chakra gathering at his feet—
Swoosh!
He moved in an instant.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed sharply.
This wasn't the standard Body Flicker Technique—but a refined version.
And faster than when Kakashi last saw it two weeks ago.
Clang!
Naruto slashed with his blade—Kakashi blocked with two kunai. Sparks flew as the weapons clashed.
Kakashi's eyes twitched.
The kunai were nicked—one even cracked.
Not because of strength—
But because of the sword.
That dark red blade was a masterpiece.
Where did he get it?
You wouldn't find a better sword even in all of Konoha.
Naruto twisted his body, swinging again diagonally.
After just a dozen exchanges, Kakashi was shocked.
Naruto's swordsmanship wasn't overwhelmingly powerful or flawless—but it was skilled, and had almost no major weaknesses.
That's not something one could achieve overnight.
Even he—with his father's guidance—took four to five years to reach that level.
He hadn't heard the Third Hokage mention Naruto secretly training with blades.
Which meant…
Natural talent?
What is it with these blond-haired monsters?
(End of Chapter)