Time flew; in a blink, several years passed.
"Kakashi, have you decided which students to take? You haven't accepted a single one these last few years." In the Hokage's office, the Third looked across the desk and asked.
"Heh, of course." Kakashi's right eye curved like a crescent as he smiled.
"Minato's child?"
"Yeah. And the Uchiha survivor."
"Oh, you mean Sasuke. I was planning to place him with you anyway—your understanding of the Sharingan is considerable. And Sasuke seems to be this year's top student."
"Yeah… but the kid lives only for revenge. Hokage-sama, that thing with Itachi—one man destroying his entire clan—that's terrifying power. Could there be more to it?" Kakashi probed, though he already knew.
"Kakashi, don't forget he was reputed to be the Uchiha clan's greatest fighter."
"Right… I've heard that."
"All right, go meet the students you'll be taking." "Yes, Hokage-sama."
In a Konoha classroom— "I hope I get teamed with Sasuke." A pretty girl with pink hair sighed dreamily—Sakura.
"Don't even think about it, billboard brow. Sasuke should be on my team," a girl seated nearby shot back.
"What did you say, Ino-pig? Sasuke wouldn't be on your team!"
A teacher stepped onto the platform. "We'll begin team assignments. Team One… Team Two… Team Seven: Naruto, Sakura—"
"Yeah! I'm with Sakura!" The shout came from Naruto, the Fourth's orphan—though he himself didn't know his lineage yet. "Ugh…" Sakura groaned.
"Sasuke."
"Y-yes! I'm on Sasuke-kun's team!" Sakura's mood flipped to giddy.
"Tch. Just don't hold me back," Sasuke said, face blank.
"Hey! What makes you think we'll hold you back? You're underestimating us!" Naruto shot to his feet.
"What, you wanna fight, dead-last?"
"Say that again! Bring it on! I'm gonna be Hokage!"
*Thump.* While Naruto was yelling, Sakura punched him. "Ow! Why'd you hit me, Sakura?!"
"Don't you yell at Sasuke like that!"
"Enough," the teacher cut in. "If I've called your names, come with me."
"Iruka-sensei, what are we doing next? Huh? Who's the white-haired guy?" Naruto squinted, still floating on the high of being with Sakura. *Bonk.* "You idiot," Iruka snapped. "That 'white-haired guy' is your jōnin instructor."
"Oh."
"Tch." Sasuke looked like he couldn't care less. Kakashi sighed on the side. "You three—follow me."
"First, self-intros. I'm Kakashi. From now on, call me Kakashi-sensei. Next, tell me your likes, dislikes, and goals." "Okay! Me first! I'm Naruto, and I'm gonna be Hokage! I love Ichiraku ramen!"
"Ugh, such a stupid dream. I'm Sakura. I hate Naruto." "Hey, why me?!" "Because you're an idiot. And what I like—can I keep that secret?" "Of course."
"I'm Sasuke. No hobbies, no dislikes. I have one ambition: I'll kill *that man* with my own hands." The words were ice.
*Just as I thought. But with me here, that path won't hold,* Kakashi thought. "Tomorrow, 6 a.m., Training Ground Three. Dismissed."
At dawn the next day— "Didn't he say six? Why isn't Kakashi-sensei here? Did we mishear?" Sakura fumed.
"It's fine, Sakura. We can just hang out," Naruto said, carefree.
"Hmph. I don't have time to waste with you two." Sasuke turned to go—
"Yo. Sorry, I got lost on the road of life, so I'm late." Kakashi popped up before them, eye smiling.
"Kakashi-sensei, it's ten already! Way too late!"
"Just tell us what we're doing. You've wasted enough time," Sasuke said coolly.
"All right, let's begin. From now until noon: if you can take these bells from me, you pass. Okay—start. Disperse." *Fwish, fwish.* Sasuke and Sakura vanished into hiding.
*Not as hopeless as I thought,* Kakashi mused. Then, the inevitable shout he knew was coming—second time around for him. "Come on! Fight me fair and square!" Sasuke and Sakura stiffened at the voice. "That ultra idiot…" Kakashi stared at Naruto, bored. "You're an idiot."
"Huh? What'd you say, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto scratched his head.
"I said you're an idiot. You know you can't beat me head-on but charge anyway. If that's not idiocy, what is?" Kakashi sighed.
"Don't look down on me! You won't know who's stronger till we fight!"
"Fine, I'll teach you—Ninja Combat Basics: taijutsu." Kakashi's hand dipped toward his pouch. Sasuke's eyes widened. "No way—taijutsu is barehanded. Why reach for tools?" Kakashi pulled out… a novel. "Huh." Sasuke deflated. *Is he even a jōnin?* Naruto blinked. Sakura palmed her face. "Two giant idiots…"
Book in one hand, Kakashi thought, *Still excited for the next chapter even on a reread. As expected of Jiraiya-sama.* "Okay then, Naruto—start."
"Here I go!" Naruto rushed with a kunai. Kakashi tilted his head. "You think that'll work on me?" A casual sidestep—*thud.* Naruto flew, blood beading at his lip. "Damn it! Take this!" He charged again. Kakashi flipped behind him. "Rule one—never show your back." From cover, Sakura winced. *Isn't Kakashi-sensei going too hard? He'll kill him at this rate…* Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "That seal… tiger? A fire jutsu?"
"Konoha Ryū Taijutsu Ogi—Sennen Goroshi (Thousand Years of Death)."
"GYAAAH!" Not fire at all. Kakashi… struck Naruto's rear.
"Bastard… making a fool of me! Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Shadow Clone Technique)!"
"Hm? You think shadow clones alone can beat me?" *Smack, smack, smack.* Kakashi knocked them down. "I told you—shadow clones—oh, crap—" "Heh! See? I got you now!" Naruto used clones to bind him, then a mob rushed in to pummel— "Stop! That's me!" From the side, Sasuke thought, *Kawarimi no Jutsu (Substitution). Swap with a nearby object while hiding yourself… He used Naruto's *real body* as the stand-in. That's a jōnin for you.*
"Damn it! Where'd you go, Kakashi-sensei?—Wait, bells!" Naruto spotted a bell on the ground. "He dropped it when he panicked! Jackpot!"
"Waaah—what is—put me down!" As he reached, a snare whipped his ankles, hoisting him upside down. "Kakashi-sensei, let me down!"
"As a shinobi, you mustn't—gah!" A hail of shuriken clipped him—
Sasuke had timed a kunai throw for that opening.
"Sasuke! That's too much! He's still our teacher!" Naruto yelled. "Tch. What a pain. Kawarimi again? Don't hide!" Sasuke called him out, eager to clash head-on.
"Right here, Sasuke." Kakashi's lazy drawl came from behind. Sasuke lunged with a straight punch—caught. A flip-kick—blocked by Kakashi's elbow. His other leg snapped up—snagged by Kakashi's free hand. Sasuke smirked, right hand darting for Kakashi's waist—*jingle.* The bell. Kakashi reacted instantly, booting him away. *Exactly like before,* he thought, tucking Jiraiya's book back into the pouch. "Boar—Tiger—Ram…" Sasuke's seals flowed.
"You can already use that…" Kakashi feigned surprise. "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique)!" A blazing sphere roared from Sasuke's mouth.
"Where'd he—above? Left? No—right? Where—" Sasuke lost track, scanning frantically.
"Down here. Ninja Combat Basics: ninjutsu—Doton: Shinju Zanshu no Jutsu (Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu)." Kakashi's voice floated up from underground.
"Aaagh—" Sasuke was yanked into the earth to the neck. "You're good. You'll shine soon."
From there, events played out as before (in short: they passed). "You're the first team to pass under me. We start missions tomorrow. Meet at the village gate at 10 a.m. Dismissed."
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