"That huge explosion was because of Kakashi's training?!" Danzō asked, stunned by this news, sitting in his self-made Hokage chair in the dark, gloomy Root base. In front of him, three Root Anbu knelt, making their report.
"Yes, Danzō-sama! It was because Kakashi Hatake was training in some new Jutsu of his," one ninja said immediately, not making Danzō wait for a second.
"After the explosion in the Forest of Death, he followed the Anbu to the Hokage's office and made his report," another Root ninja immediately interjected, continuing the report.
Danzō then waved his left hand dismissively, after getting the report, signaling for the three Root ninjas to leave quickly. Understanding his signal, all three kneeling ninjas flickered away.
Danzō then moved his chair to the side of the brown rectangular table, placed his left hand on it, and mused, 'I never noticed... When did Kakashi get this strong? That level of flames from a Fire Release Jutsu could only be compared to Madara Uchiha's Fire Release Jutsu back then when he fought against the First Hokage-sama. But Kakashi never had much chakra, and that Sharingan in his left eye is just a burden for him. Without being a Jinchūriki or having the First Hokage-sama's cell transplantation, he shouldn't have that much chakra to perform this level of Jutsu.'
Danzō then snorted. "Humph! Now that even Kakashi has shown such strength, Hiruzen will definitely get the idea of grooming him as a successor for the Godaime Hokage's position. I can't let another fool take the Hokage's position. Only I am deserving of that position. Hiruzen... you are just old and senile now, it's my time to take over the Hokage's position, which only worthy of me."
As he spoke, Danzō softly touched his right eye, which was covered, more like hidden in bandages, before moving his sharp, ugly gaze to a documents on the table and picking it up. On the table were three, document that were heading with "Chūnin Exams Participant" details with a picture of a Shinobi with Konoha forehead protector on them.
The shinobi in the picture of the left and right documents, has their faces concealed with masks, they wore around their mouth that hung around their necks, one had dark other had rimmed sunglasses that obscured their eyes, and forehead protector was wore like a bandanna. But the one in center document, had onyx eyes and ash-gray hair, which he kept in a ponytail, but his most striking feature was his black-rimmed, circular glasses.
Danzō snorted again, before taking his cane in his left hand, getting up from his seat, and beginning to walk out of the Root base.
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Meanwhile, Kakashi, after telling Yūgao Uzuki and the other Anbu about the situation, also decided to personally go and make things clear to Hiruzen Sarutobi. He followed the Anbu and made his report, confirming that he was just training in the Forest of Death to Sandaime. After that, he walked back to Training Ground Three.
"Good to see that Naruto is training diligently," Kakashi commented jokingly upon his return. He then dispersed the Shadow Clone he had left there.
Naruto glared at him and muttered under his breath, "You call this symbols learning a training!"
Kakashi, however, easily heard him complaining. "Naruto, you know that until you memorize these symbols completely, I won't tell you about the next part of your Rasengan training with natural elements, which you can train with Fūinjutsu. So... you have to practice these symbols if you want to move forward."
Naruto groaned, his brow furrowed and complained. "Ugh! But this is so boring."
Kakashi chuckled and suddenly remembered something. "Naruto, Sasuke, how much weight have you been using with your gravity seals for the last week?"
Naruto replied first. "I'm using 15% of my overall weight with the gravity seals."
Sasuke paused his training. "I'm currently using 8%," he replied.
Kakashi nodded. "Hmm... I see. Naruto, you will increase it directly by 5%, and Sasuke, you will increase it by 2% when you feel you get used to current weight."
Naruto and Sasuke both nodded and got back to their training. Kakashi once again sat under the shade of a tree, letting his thoughts drift. 'Sasuke won't be needing training in Genjutsu until he's done training in Kenjutsu. So, what do I do with the Genjutsu scrolls I've collected? Should I teach them to Sakura?'
He thought casually. 'Hmm, I thought it would be good if she just continued to train in basic medical ninjutsu until I have Tsunade teach her further, later on. But maybe teaching her Genjutsu would also be good, considering her great chakra control, which also helped her to resist some high-level Genjutsu in the anime.'
Kakashi concluded and decided he would teach Sakura Genjutsu by taking some time out of her medical ninjutsu training each day until the Chūnin Exams began. The level of Genjutsu she could learn in the next two months before Chūnin Exams would be up to her and the time. Despite deciding this, he didn't immediately go to find Sakura and let the day pass as it always did, with only difference— today, he didn't have his Shadow Clones training in his inventory seals.
"Since I already demonstrated my Kirin training today, it would be alright to continue training in Kirin outside with Shadow Clones. But what do I train in Fūinjutsu or Sealing Techniques?" Kakashi pondered aloud. He closed his eye and casually sat under the tree with his back against its trunk.
Suddenly, Naruto walked toward him and spoke, pulling him from his thoughts. "...Kakashi-sensei..."
Kakashi opened his visible right eye. "...What is it, Naruto?"
Naruto said, "Sensei, you didn't show me that Rasengan with Fire Release chakra you said you would..."
Kakashi chuckled, got up, and ruffled Naruto's hair. "Naruto, I already told you about the next training for Rasengan with elemental nature and showed you the Fire Rasengan once you learn all the symbols and start with Fūinjutsu training. Now don't come up with excuses to slack off, otherwise, I'll give you vegetables for dinner."
Hearing Kakashi's smiling threat, Naruto shuddered at the thought of vegetables for dinner. He meekly walked back, sat on the mat, picked up the scroll, and diligently began to learn the Fūinjutsu symbols again.
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Later in the day, in evening, Kakashi took his students out to dinner and had a talk with Sakura about teaching her Genjutsu from tomorrow onward. He let her decide on a time she felt was suitable for Genjutsu learning besides her medical ninjutsu, before they all went back to their places.
As he and Naruto approached Kakashi's modest house, Kakashi sensed the presence of a ninja. "Naruto, you go first. I have something to do," Kakashi said. Naruto just shrugged casually, and with a leap, he entered the house.
"What's the matter, Yūgao? Do you have something to talk to me about?" Kakashi asked, turning to the figure of Yūgao, who was still in her Anbu attire.