Both Kakashi and Sukuna were right. They hadn't even thought about it before, but after being pointed out like that, even the most knuckle-headed of them, Naruto, could see that switching opponents back then would have been the best option for them.
"But I don't wanna do that, Kakashi sensei. That's just running away. I want to beat that annoying water boy myself," Naruto shouted out with irritation and unwillingness.
There is a big difference between doing what one must do and actually doing it. Yes, they could win if they switched their opponents; however, none of them wished to do that. Not even Sakura and Karin.
They wanted to fight the same opponents and win. Them almost losing the last time was yet another reason why they had to do that.
Besides Naruto, none actually spoke out, but one glance at their faces was enough to tell what they were thinking.
"I wish to fight my earlier opponent again if he comes back. This time I will win," Sasuke finally opened his mouth. He was the most unwilling—stubborn as he was, with his Uchiha pride in the way, he wouldn't back down.
"Yes, Kakashi sensei, I—we too wish to fight our earlier opponents when they come back," both Karin and Sakura also nodded.
"Sigh... I knew this would happen," Kakashi let out a weary sigh, the kind that said he didn't particularly like teenagers.
"Hahaha..." Sukuna just laughed.
"Oi, what are you laughing at?" Naruto, being Naruto, was the first one to burst a fuse.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm laughing at you all. After all this time, you're still as idiotic as you once were," he replied, laughing, making all of them form a tick mark on their faces.
Before some colorful profanities came his way though, he spoke again.
"But it's good. History is witness that it's the idiots who wrote it." His grin got bigger.
Kakashi let out another big sigh at this, one that reminded him why he didn't like teenagers.
"So you wanna get strong, is that it?" he asked.
Sasuke and the others were mad at him, but when he asked, they immediately nodded. They knew that tone—this was Sukuna pre–rough training session mode.
Usually, they would be running the other way around, but no pain, no gain.
"YES...!" all of them shouted out.
...
The next morning, the air in the Land of Waves was fresh but heavy with tension. Everyone knew that Zabuza and his team could return at any time. Because of that, Kakashi decided there was no time to waste. Training had to begin immediately.
Though the lazy ass didn't plan to train all of them by himself. His little exposure to Sukuna was enough to tell him that not only was he strong, but he thought like a shinobi.
More importantly, he was hiding his power. What happened back with Zabuza and his water clones was proof enough.
So, putting a bit of the work on his shoulders wouldn't be wrong, right?
Kakashi definitely wasn't doing this to slack off, not at all.
Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Karin all stood in the small clearing near Tazuna's house, their expressions eager but serious. Kakashi faced them with his hands in his pockets, looking far less lazy than usual. "Alright, listen up," he said. "Normally, I'd take it slow with new genin teams, but you kids are already past the basics. You can all climb trees without using your hands, so I guess I can't slack off anymore." He almost gave a resentful glare at the pink-haired boy who wasn't paying attention to him.
Was it because he wasn't paying attention or because he increased his workload? No one knew.
Naruto smirked. "Heh! About time, sensei! I was starting to think you just liked reading that dumb book all day!"
Kakashi's eye curved in amusement. "Oh, these? Of course, I like reading them. Reading is good for the mind, you know. Shame neither of you have done it—then perhaps Sukuna wouldn't have had to save you back then."
Naruto's grin dropped instantly. "That's mean, sensei!"
Sasuke folded his arms, not showing how much that comment from Kakashi hit the mark. Mentally noting to visit the library at least once a week—no, perhaps a month should be fine—he called out, "Stop wasting time. What are you teaching us?"
Kakashi sighed, glancing at the group. "That's the problem. We don't have much time. If Zabuza attacks again, you'll need to rely on what you already know. Learning a new jutsu now would take too long."
He turned his eye toward Sukuna, who stood a few meters away, arms crossed. "That's why I'm asking for your help, Sukuna. You've been training these kids before. Think you can help me out again?"
Sukuna looked slightly annoyed. He knew this was coming—that smile from yesterday, he could practically see the malice brewing in this scarecrow's head—but ultimately nodded. Kakashi indeed was in no shape to teach all of them. Not only was his chakra inadequate, but his recovery time also sucked.
That Sharingan of his was too problematic. Sukuna, for a second, even regretted giving Kakashi that ordinary Sharingan back then. Perhaps he would have been better off without it.
"Fine. But I'm not teaching any ninjutsu. You already know I can't do those."
Kakashi shrugged. Even though he knew the brat did some jutsu back then—something about Naruto pestering him to teach—it was best to let that slide for now. "I'm aware. I just need you to sharpen them up. Make sure their basics are unshakable."
Sukuna exhaled sharply and stepped forward. "Then we won't waste time on new tricks. We'll fight."
Naruto blinked. "Fight? Like, fight-fight?"
Poor Naruto recalled what fight-fight meant for Sukuna, and he didn't like this plan one bit. He wasn't alone.
Sukuna gave a small smirk. "Yeah. All of you are against me. I'll see what you've got, and you'll learn what it means to fight someone who's not holding back."
Karin sighed. "Why do I feel like this is going to hurt?"
"Because it will," Sukuna replied bluntly.
Without wasting another moment, Sukuna signaled them to begin. Naruto immediately rushed in with a horde of shadow clones, filling the field. Sasuke flanked to the right, his Sharingan was off—this was mostly melee fighting. Rather than going all out, it was about sharpening fighting skills.
He'd only activate it when he couldn't handle the fight anymore.
Sakura and Karin stayed back, setting traps and preparing tags.
Sukuna moved like a blur. His foot slammed into one clone, then another, dispersing them in puffs of smoke. "Too predictable, Naruto," he said.
"Damn it!" Naruto shouted, creating more clones and charging again.
Sasuke used the moment to close in from behind, but Sukuna ducked under his punch, swept his leg, and sent him tumbling back.
"Still too slow," Sukuna said calmly.
Karin unleashed her chakra chains, trying to bind Sukuna from behind, while Sakura launched kunai laced with tags. Sukuna twisted midair, barely dodging the explosions before landing. "Not bad," he said. "However, those chains are slow. Using them to guide the target or bind them when you're sure to hit is the only wise option. In pure melee fights, they're not effective against faster opponents."
Kakashi, watching from the side, smiled behind his mask. "He's surprisingly good. What the kid have been through to be able to teach this well..." Kakashi, for once, couldn't say.
Geniuses are always there—he himself was one. However, learning something fast is different from teaching someone. That requires talent. Sukuna was a good teacher.
After several rounds, the genin were exhausted, panting heavily. Sukuna barely looked tired. "Again," he ordered.
Naruto groaned. "You've got to be kidding me."
"Do it," Sukuna snapped. "And no jutsu this time around. Sharpening your pure skills is the objective here."
Sukuna smirked slightly. "Of course, if you wish to use jutsu, then I won't hold you back—but in turn, I will use some of my own techniques I haven't shown so far. What do you think? Your wish."
They paused. They were interested now about the so-called techniques he was holding back. However, isn't this like hitting their own foot with a hammer? Would they even be in working condition by the time Zabuza and his genin came back at this rate?
"Whaaa? Who's afraid? Bring it on! I'll beat you today! Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
And, of course, Naruto was the first one to charge ahead.
"Stop, you idiot!" Sakura and Karin practically leaped out to stop him, but it was too late.
The fight had begun.
...
A/N : do you guys like my writing ? Like the way I joke around when writing. Do tell or I can keep it a bit more straight and plain.
When I read others fic, i finds them a bit more fomal sounding. Not sure which one would you guys prefer.