A Twist in the Cycle

by Sunga Azul

Madara committed a grave sin. By surviving when he should have died, he disrupted the cycle of reincarnations that had been ongoing for centuries, and now Ashura has reincarnated in an Uzumaki, which could only lead to more chaos. Fūinjutsu Naruto!

2. Chapter II - Scars

Chapter II - Scars

The moon was already high in the sky over Konoha. Thanks to the lack of clouds, its glow covered the entire village, including the Hokage's office. Normally, the place would be empty at this hour, but for the past three days, it had remained occupied by the Sandaime Hokage, who worked late into the night to deal with the repercussions of the "traitorous teacher" incident, as it had come to be known.

The Hokage's tired eyes scanned the reports scattered across his desk, and the smoke from his pipe lingered in the air, mixing with the weight of the decisions he had to make. His first problem was dealing with the clan heads, who were furious. During the meetings, voices rose in protest, demanding answers for the absurdity of a traitor being allowed to teach at the Shinobi Academy.

'As if they were the only ones angry about this…' Hiruzen thought. Of all people, he was the one most enraged by the incident. The village bureaucracy functioned in such a way that he didn't need to personally assign each shinobi to a specific position. There were several divisions, and he merely appointed those in charge, who then distributed the shinobi as they saw fit. However, upon discovering that the director of the Shinobi Academy, Chie Bukiyou—someone he had known for a long time—had appointed Mizuki as an assistant instructor without thoroughly checking his background, Hiruzen felt a deep irritation.

Bukiyou tried to justify himself, claiming that the Torture and Interrogation Department had assured him that Mizuki was clean and that it would be better to place him in a position where he could be monitored. However, this explanation was not enough to absolve him of responsibility. His face paled as he realized that the Hokage's decision had already been made. He still attempted to argue, but the firmness in the old man's gaze made it clear that there was no room for reconsideration. When he left the office, Bukiyou knew that he had lost not only his position but also the trust of the village leader.

That did not mean the T Department went unpunished. Their negligence had not gone unnoticed, and the Hokage made sure to remind them of that. The punishment had yet to be decided, but it was only a matter of time.

This action was not just to punish Bukiyou—it also served to appease the dissatisfaction of the clan heads, and it was more than enough. A Hokage was, above all, a politician, and for the village to function cohesively, it was necessary to keep everyone satisfied. Punishing failures, rewarding good work, and addressing legitimate grievances were indispensable measures for the village's stability.

If a clan felt wronged, more radical ideas could arise among its members, and a revolt could break out. 'Like what almost happened during that incident…' Hiruzen thought with regret.

Letting out a quiet sigh, the old Hokage slowly rose from his chair, feeling the weight of the years on his body. He walked to the window that offered a panoramic view of the village as he took a drag from his pipe, allowing the smoke to drift into the night air. However, his mind was elsewhere. The report he had just finished reading brought him a new concern.

During the autopsy of Mizuki's body, a seal was identified—one all too familiar to the Sandaime, the Fūinjutsu: Hebi no Shita. This seal had been widely used by shinobi sent on infiltration missions during the last Great Ninja War. Its main characteristic was its extreme difficulty to detect, along with its ability to self-destruct the moment the bearer died. More than that, the seal prevented the marked person from speaking about certain topics defined by the one who applied it. If they attempted to go against it, they would suffer excruciating headaches, and if they persisted, they would eventually die.

Hiruzen knew all these details for one simple reason: it was his student, Orochimaru, who had created this seal. And it was no stretch to imagine that he himself had been the one to mark Mizuki.

The discovery of this fūinjutsu was a true stroke of luck. According to the autopsy team, part of the Kyūbi's chakra had seeped into the seal, disrupting its function and preventing it from completely self-destructing. Thanks to this chance occurrence, the Hokage was now certain that his former student had eyes and ears inside the village. A thorough investigation would be necessary to uncover who else was connected to the Serpent.

That brought the matter back to Mizuki. 'What could Orochimaru possibly want with someone like him?' the old elder wondered, exhaling smoke from his lungs as he gazed out at the village through the window.

Earlier, Hiruzen had met with his jōnin commander to try to clarify the true intentions of the Hebi Sannin. After analyzing Mizuki's behavior over the past few months, they concluded that Orochimaru was interested in one of the heirs of the great clans—more specifically, either the Uchiha heir or the Hyūga heiress. However, the Sandaime's instincts screamed that it was the Uchiha who piqued his former student's interest.

This, in itself, already represented a huge problem. The last loyal Uchiha, who had claimed the name Sasuke for himself, had his own circumstances. Hiruzen couldn't simply lock him in the village and hope he would recreate his clan. But at the same time, allowing the Sharingan to fall into the hands of the traitorous Sannin was out of the question.

This concern only reinforced the decision that had been growing in his mind: to assign Kakashi as Sasuke's sensei. The experienced jōnin would not only ensure the young heir's safety, but he could also teach him to master his bloodline, something essential for the future of the Uchiha clan and the village itself.

And this brought him to another student he was considering assigning to Kakashi—and his main concern at the moment: Naruto.

Without a doubt, the redhead was the greatest victim of this incident. His injuries were the most severe, and according to the report from the medical-nin, it was a miracle he survived. But the old man knew better. If anything had been responsible for his surrogate grandson's survival, it was the heritage that ran through his veins.

'He almost died… and the blame would be mine.'

This would just be another mistake among the many the Sandaime had made regarding Naruto.

The first—and most serious—mistake the Hokage had made was taking away the young boy's chance to grow up with his family. Hiruzen had arrived too late. His successor and his wife were already dead, leaving behind their children and stealing from the Sandaime the opportunity to sacrifice himself, as he should have.

After this tragedy, he had to make another difficult decision. A jinchūriki was, above all, a weapon—and Konoha could not afford to lose one, especially at that moment, still weakened from the Kyūbi's attack. Fortunately, the jinchūriki of the Kyūbi had always been a deterrent; his mere existence was enough to serve that purpose. This spared Naruto from being raised solely as a tool of war, something Hiruzen wanted to avoid at all costs.

In light of this, the best decision the Sandaime Hokage could have made was to keep his identity a secret. He informed the council only that a new Jinchūriki existed but withheld any information that could link him to his parents. If the boy were recognized as their son, it would only take a little reasoning for people to point out that he was the container of the beast. Moreover, his heritage would attract dangerous enemies—or even worse: those who would try to steal it for themselves.

'Like what almost happened with his mother.'

Thus, the redhead was named Naruto by the Hokage himself and placed in the village orphanage. An orphan's childhood was never easy, but it was much better than it could have been—and that was what the old Hokage clung to.

At least until the boy's fifth birthday.

It was on that day that a rumor began to spread like a plague: Naruto was the container of the Kyūbi.

The Sandaime did his best to suppress these rumors, but even the creation of a law punishable by death for anyone who speculated about the Jinchūriki's identity was not enough. Over time, the situation worsened so much that Naruto was eventually kicked out of the orphanage.

The worst part? Hiruzen only found out three months later, when he learned that the boy was living on the streets.

Needless to say, the repercussions were harsh. All those responsible for that felt the wrath of the one known as the "Kami no Shinobi," who dissuaded many from trying anything against the boy. From that moment on, the old man did his best to make it up to Naruto, providing him with an apartment, clothes, shinobi equipment, and a monthly allowance.

Of course, despite all of this, the rest of the redhead's childhood was far from ideal. Although the elder had never confirmed his true status, many still suspected that Naruto was the jinchūriki, and the treatment he received was, at best, cold. To cope with this, Naruto began terrorizing the population with his pranks, something that only worsened after the boy failed the academy's final exam for the first time. Another of my mistakes, he thought.

As soon as he learned of the failure, the old man understood what the problem was. However, to him, it was convenient for Naruto not to graduate yet. And so, he left him in the academy for three long years, wasting all the immense potential the boy had, to his own regret.

But this was going to change. In this exam, he planned to ensure that Naruto would pass. He even went to the academy to discuss it with Bukiyou and Iruka, and things were almost settled, but it all went down the drain because of Mizuki.

Since the incident, the old Hokage had fought several narrative battles. The first was to make sure that Naruto was seen as a victim and not as an accomplice of the traitor chūnin. This was a battle he managed to win, but the other was much harder. Even with his influence, it was impossible to prevent the news that Naruto had used the demon fox's chakra from spreading. The number of people who felt the demonic chakra was too large to ignore. With no choice, the old man discreetly circulated the information that the redhead was a pseudo-jinchūriki who, by fate's misfortune, had absorbed a bit of the fox's chakra during the incident fourteen years ago. However, this insignificant amount of chakra did not represent a risk, like that of other jinchūriki.

'I just hope the village's treatment of Naruto doesn't worsen…'

The old man, having finished smoking his pipe, returned to sit at the table, picking up the last report of the day, which, by coincidence, was about Naruto. It stated that the delinquent would wake up the following morning. This was the moment the old man had feared most in recent days. I've seen better men succumb to traumas like what Naruto endured, the old man thought, letting out a sigh. 'I just hope I can ease a little of the pain he's suffering…'

---

Tic tac... tic tac

In that quiet hospital room, the only thing that could be heard was the sound of the clock and a calm breath. Naruto, lying on his bed, absentmindedly stared at the white ceiling of the room. It had been about half an hour since he had woken up. As soon as the redhead opened his eyes, a wave of panic took over his body. Luckily, the doctor in charge was in the room at that moment and was able to calm him down, explaining his situation: how long he had been there, how he would soon be discharged, and finally, how Iruka was.

With those questions answered, the only thing left for the redhead was to lie there, as the events of that night replayed in his mind, like a curse.

Soon, a cold sensation began to creep around his neck, as if a rope of cold air was wrapping around him. And with it, came the sound of footsteps. Naruto lightly ran his hand across his neck, but there was nothing there. The closer the footsteps got, the greater the feeling of suffocation. When the door opened, the teenager turned his face to see the newcomer, trying to hide his discomfort. Upon recognizing the old Hokage, for a brief moment, his mind was filled with a sense of security, but his discomfort soon overpowered it, forcing him to look back up at the ceiling.

"How are you feeling, Naruto?" asked Hiruzen.

Once again, silence filled the room. The redhead seemed lost in his own thoughts as he scratched his neck. After what felt like an eternity, the young man spoke, his voice hoarse:

"Hokage-jiji... am I a monster?"

The Third Hokage, caught off guard by the question, took a few moments to choose his words.

"You are not a monster, Naruto..." The old man began. "The Kyūbi was sealed inside you by the Yondaime Hokage. You are the one who prevents the fox from causing more destruction. You are a hero, Naruto."

Turning his face and finally meeting the Hokage's gaze, the teenager said, "I liked... I cared about Mizuki-sensei, and yet I enjoyed every second of it..."

For a moment, the old man looked away, and a sigh escaped his lips as he reflected to himself: 'So this is what it's about…'

"Naruto... in this world, feeling anger towards an injustice is natural for everyone, just as it's natural to feel satisfaction when justice is done." The old man slowly moved closer to his surrogate grandson, kneeling down to bring his gaze to the boy's level. "Our dilemma is knowing how to identify injustices. Mizuki manipulated you into committing a crime, tried to kill you, and tried to kill someone you cared about... There is no greater injustice in his actions, Naruto."

The Hokage could still see the doubt in the redhead's eyes, and as a way to comfort him, he held his left hand and raised it to their faces.

"The being sealed inside you will amplify those feelings: your anger, your hatred, your sadness... all to manipulate you, so that thing can escape from its prison. That's why I need you to be strong, Naruto, to keep your emotions in check and not fall into the temptation the Kyūbi will offer you. I, more than anyone, know you can."

The cold wind around the redhead's neck disappeared as if it had never existed, and as the Hokage spoke, another strange sensation took over Naruto's skin. Something like the warmth that only the morning sunlight can bring was felt on the young boy's forehead. It was thanks to this sensation that the redhead was able to digest everything the old man had said and find some comfort, despite the whirlwind of emotions he felt.

"Thank you, Hokage-jiji," Naruto said, with a small smile on his face, which spread to the old man, who now wore his own smile.

Releasing the young man's hand, the Hokage stood again and, with a playful tone, asked his first question once more: "So, how are you feeling, Naruto?"

The delinquent closed his eyes as he tried to organize his thoughts.

"I… I don't know… there are so many things… How is Iruka-sensei?" asked the redhead, averting his gaze.

"He'll recover well, Naruto, you don't need to worry," the old man said with a sigh. The redhead's awkward attempt to change the subject didn't go unnoticed by him. "If there's something else troubling you, Naruto, you can tell me. I'll try to resolve it as best I can."

Swallowing hard, the boy once again met the Hokage's gaze.

"Why… why did the Yondaime choose me? Why was I the one who had the Kyuubi sealed inside me?"

This time, the old Sarutobi had to look away. Lowering the tip of his hat slightly, the old man walked slowly to the window of the room.

"The Yondaime was my student's student. I knew his character and integrity, and I can say he was one of the best men I've ever had the pleasure of calling a comrade-in-arms. I don't know why he chose you, Naruto, but I'm sure he trusted that you would be able to handle the burden he imposed on you."

During this speech, the comfortable warmth the redhead had been feeling began to fade, and the sensation of cold on his neck returned with full force, almost choking him. It took a few moments before Naruto was able to speak, and even then, all he could manage was a soft, "I understand..."

"... Before I go, I have good news for you."

Turning to the young boy, the Sandaime approached while putting his hands in his pockets, and Naruto couldn't help but be surprised by what the Hokage was now holding.

"Congratulations, Naruto, you're officially a shinobi of Konoha," said the old man, handing a Konoha Hitai-ate with a black cloth to the redhead.

"I..." The boy began, but before he could finish, the Hokage interrupted him.

"It's good that you're aware that you made a mistake, Naruto, but you need to learn from it and not let it stop you from moving forward." While speaking, the old man made sure to tie the headband on his surrogate grandson's forehead. "You could've continued believing in Mizuki, or worse, run away, abandoning Iruka. But no, you came back, risking your life to defend a fellow shinobi. You deserve this headband, Naruto. Never let anyone tell you otherwise," the elder finished, rubbing the young boy's hair, who could only nod in agreement.

"Well, I have to go now. Remember, once you're released, you need to bring me a photo along with your paperwork to start your registration. I'll be waiting for you, my boy."

With that, the old man left, leaving Naruto lost in his own thoughts.

For years, the boy had dreamed of the moment he would become a shinobi, when he could proudly tie the headband with the village symbol on his forehead. And now that it had finally happened, the only thought echoing in his mind was:

'Do I deserve to be a shinobi?'

---

He was running through a deep, dark forest where the moonlight didn't reach. What he was running from, he didn't know. The only thing on his mind was that he needed to escape.

"Where do you think you're going, Naruto?!" A very familiar voice questioned, but the redhead didn't dare look back. "You think you can escape after what you've done?"

The young boy tried not to let the voice affect him, but the myriad of sensations spreading across his skin kept him from focusing on anything. This distraction was his fate, and soon enough, the boy rolled on the ground after tripping on a root he had missed.

Naruto tried to get up quickly, but it was too late. His pursuer was already in front of him. Mizuki was completely unrecognizable: half of his face was a mixture of necrotic skin and rotten flesh, while the other half was as pale as his hair.

Seeing the state of his former teacher, a wave of nausea rose in his throat, and a huge effort was needed to keep from vomiting everything out.

"Oh? My appearance bothers you, Naruto? Funny, considering it was you who made me look like this, you monster!" With that, the traitor charged toward the redhead, holding a large shuriken in his hand.

The delinquent closed his eyes, awaiting the inevitable, only to feel cold drops of blood spreading across his face. Even after opening his eyes, things were still unclear, but even more confusing.

Naruto was on top of Mizuki, his fist deeply piercing the traitor's chest, who, at that moment, had tears streaming down his face in pure shock. "Cough... cough... After everything... you still... keep torturing me..." Soon, a crooked smile adorned the traitor's features. "To do this to me... you are truly a monster..."

In desperation, Naruto tried to pull away, murmuring repeatedly, "No, I didn't want to do this," but soon the redhead bumped into someone behind him. When he turned, he easily recognized Iruka, who was looking at him with a deep sense of disappointment. Before the boy could try to do anything, a crowd began to appear in the clearing. Among them, many familiar faces could be seen, like the Ichirakus.

Almost immediately, a chorus began, with screams like "monster" or "damned fox" filling the crowd, and Naruto could only curl into a ball as he tried to block out the screams.

Suddenly, Mizuki's lifeless body rose and began to slowly approach Naruto, who was too stunned by everything happening around him.

"I took you off the streets, gave you a place to live, clothes to wear, and food to satisfy your hunger, hoping you'd become a splendid shinobi, but..." And as these words were spoken, the face that had once belonged to Mizuki began to take on the old appearance of the Third Hokage. "In the end, your demonic nature proved stronger... I can't allow you to walk free in this world. Goodbye, Naruto."

And as the last words left the old man's lips, darkness took over the redhead's vision, and the scream that had been trapped in his throat was finally set free. With his breath racing, it took Naruto a few moments to realize that it had all been just a nightmare.

'Again... At least today I managed to sleep until 5 AM,' thought the redhead as he spotted his alarm clock. Without wasting any time, the young man headed to the bathroom to take a shower and rid himself of the cold sweat that covered his body.

When he looked at himself in the mirror, a scowl appeared on his face. Since that night, his face had been marked with six lines, three on each side, resembling the whiskers of a fox. These marks were proof that he would never be the same.

---

"Are you sure you want to take the photo like this, kid? I don't want to have to do this again," the old man, visibly displeased, asked the young man sitting in front of him as he prepared the rudimentary photography equipment.

"Just take the damn picture, old man," Naruto replied indifferently.

The old man, in turn, let out an exasperated sigh as he got ready to do his job.

With a click, the photo was taken. "Done, kid, now get out of here," the old man said, handing the result of his work to the young man, who wasted no time grabbing the photograph.

Pausing for a moment to observe the figure captured in the photo, Naruto couldn't help but lament. His sleepless nights were taking their toll, and his tired appearance, with dark circles around his eyes, was clearly visible in the freshly taken photo.

With a small sigh, the redhead tucked the photo into his pocket and began to leave. Before stepping out into the streets, the delinquent made sure to pull the hood of his new orange jacket over his head. Unlike before, now the last thing Naruto wanted was to draw the attention of a crowd.

Since waking up, Naruto had found himself facing a bizarre problem: a myriad of new sensations crawled across his skin. At first, he thought it was just an impression, but after almost fainting while walking through the crowd, the boy was sure it was real.

As for what these sensations were, the redhead's guess was that, somehow, he could not only sense the presence of living beings through his skin but also their emotional state. This might seem like something incredible if Naruto weren't looked upon with disdain by most of the villagers. To physically feel hatred and fear was much worse than simply being stared at with disgust.

But all of this was still very new to him. The redhead still didn't know what each sensation meant. For now, the most predominant one was the incessant burning, as if lava were dripping down his skin, which he felt every time a villager recognized him while he walked through the streets of Konoha. Naruto interpreted this sensation as hatred.

But that was just one of the many sensations that tormented Naruto now. It could even be a useful tool, but since he had no control over it, all he could do was try to endure it, hoping that it would become more tolerable with time.

Since the intensity of the sensation was even stronger when directed at him, the young man could only remedy this by trying to go unnoticed most of the time. His new jacket was quite useful for this. Since his previous one had been destroyed that night, the old Hokage made sure to gift him a new one when he was discharged from the hospital. This jacket, like the previous one, was predominantly orange, but it had black details on the lower part, the cuffs, and the hood, which was what helped the redhead move around without being recognized.

And it was in this way that Naruto arrived at the Hokage's tower. Upon entering, it didn't take long for Sarutobi to welcome him into his office. It was well known that the redhead had almost free access to the tower.

"Oh, Naruto, I was expecting you," Sarutobi greeted his surrogate grandson with a smile. "I hope you brought the photo for your registration."

Naruto tried, as best as he could, to hide his agitation as his gaze met the elder's. His ability to sense emotions seemed to be even stronger when it came to someone he was emotionally close to, and this became a huge problem when he had to interact with the Sandaime.

Most of the time, the sensations on his skin were positive— a cozy warmth or a fresh spring breeze. But there was always a moment when his surrogate grandfather's gaze would change. Naruto still couldn't recognize what it was, but whenever that happened, a sharpness around his neck would be felt, as though he were being choked by a rope.

It was for this reason that the delinquent chose not to reveal this ability to anyone. This, combined with the fact that the Hokage had already lied about the Kyuubi, made the trust between them shaky. The young man no longer knew if he could trust the old man. In the worst of his nightmares, Sarutobi might think that this ability was, in fact, the fox possessing his soul, and Naruto didn't even want to imagine what measures the Sandaime would take in that case.

In a great effort to keep his inner conflict from being exposed, Naruto forced his famous fox-like smile and gave his response: "Of course, jiji! Here you go!"

Upon seeing the photo, a slight gleam of melancholy filled the Sandaime's gaze. 'He really looks just like you... If it weren't for his red hair and these marks on his cheeks, everyone would recognize his heritage.'

After lifting his gaze, it was impossible for Sarutobi not to notice the slight discomfort of the young man before him, a state that had become quite common after the incident. The old man still didn't know the source of this behavior, but he hoped it was something temporary.

"Well, Naruto, you surprised me," the old shinobi began. "I expected you to bring something ridiculous, but this photo is quite decent. I just missed your Hitai-ate. Why aren't you wearing it?" he added with an ironic smile.

"I was afraid of getting it dirty, that's all. And who do you think I am, huh, jiji? I'm a shinobi now, seriousness is my last name!" the delinquent replied arrogantly.

"In that case, I hope you went to have a chat with Inoichi, like I told you?" The old man's rhetorical question made the boy look away guiltily.

"Sigh... It's a standard procedure that all shinobi go through after a 'complicated' mission..." The Sandaime paused to let the young man absorb what he was saying. "Remember that a shinobi needs to take care of both his body and his mind. This consultation is to ensure that your mind is healthy."

The redhead could only cast his gaze to the floor in embarrassment.

"Alright... I'll go to that stupid consultation."

The old man wondered if he should add a few more words, but before he could, a loud sound interrupted any intention he might have had.

Everyone in the office turned their gazes toward the source of the noise, which turned out to be a little boy who couldn't have been older than 8 years. The boy had slammed the door open and, without wasting any time, ran toward the Sandaime while wielding a shuriken. But before his attack could succeed, the little boy tripped over his ridiculously long scarf, face-planting into the floor.

"Ssshh..." The old man couldn't help but sigh at the scene. 'Of all the things my grandson could inherit from me, stubbornness might not have been the best. It's his seventh attack this week alone.'

"Damn it! Who set a trap here?!" the little boy yelled, getting up from the floor with his hands on his face, which was still red from the fall.

"Are you alright, honorable grandson?!" asked a newly arrived voice. "I don't see any traps here!"

'Who is this brat?' Naruto thought, watching the bizarre scene.

The redhead's gaze didn't go unnoticed by the little boy. Upon seeing Naruto, the child quickly made his way toward him.

"Go on, admit it, you knocked me down, didn't you?!" the little boy exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at him.

"Tch, you just tripped over that ridiculous scarf, idiot!" Naruto yelled, already lifting the boy by the collar of his shirt. Normally, the redhead would have been more patient, but with his ability to feel emotions so intensely, his sensitivity was on edge.

"Hey, take your hands off him immediately! You're holding the Sandaime Hokage's grandson!" shouted the older shinobi who had just arrived.

Naruto's irritation only grew. Even though the shinobi was wearing sunglasses, the delinquent had no trouble noticing the disdain emanating from the man. It was palpable, like a layer of mud dripping down his body.

The shinobi's words soon processed in Naruto's mind, and he looked at the little boy in his hands, starting to question whether it could be true. There was a striking resemblance in the boy's eyes and features, but given his youth — he still didn't have all his teeth — it was hard to believe he was actually related to the most powerful shinobi in the village.

The little boy, thinking his protector's intervention had been effective, couldn't help but think to himself, 'Humph, he's just like all the others. Now that he knows who my grandfather is, he won't do anything!'

"So? Aren't you going to hit me? Or are you scared of my grandpa?" the boy provoked, a smug smile on his face.

Naruto, however, didn't react well. A new sensation began to manifest, like an irritating itch in his ear. He quickly realized it could only be the representation of the arrogance the boy was transmitting in his tone of voice. The redhead's anger reached its peak, and without thinking twice, he punched the little brat in the forehead.

"You think I give a damn, moron?!" the redhead exclaimed, puffing out in frustration.

"WHAT?" shouted the older shinobi, shocked and desperate.

Without wasting time, Naruto turned and walked toward the Sandaime, not looking back.

"Do you need anything else, jiji?" the delinquent asked, clearly impatient, wanting to leave as soon as possible.

"No, Naruto. You're dismissed. Oh, and don't forget to see Inoichi afterward."

"Alright, alright, I got it." With that, the redhead quickly pulled up his hood and left the office.

What he didn't notice was the little boy's gaze, watching him closely as he walked away.

---

A fresh breeze scattered the leaves of the trees, and a warm glow came from the sun already rising in the sky. It was an atypical climate for a winter day, but this year, the cold had given way to a milder temperature. It was under this pleasant weather that Naruto made his way to the shinobi academy.

Along the way, the redhead reflected on the week he had. Now that his injuries had fully healed, he could finally focus on training. And it was something he did with pleasure. Exhausting his body until he almost lost consciousness had become a way of dealing with the frequent nightmares that haunted him.

Of course, the most important thing was to improve his skills. The incident with Mizuki had been a wake-up call, a call to awakening for the delinquent, who was now much more aware of the dangers he would face from then on and how unprepared he still was. 'I almost died... If it weren't for the fox, not only I, but Iruka-sensei would also be dead. If I'm not stronger, I might die next time!' This thought constantly lingered in his mind and became the fuel for his intense training.

It was clear that there was a limit to what could be achieved in a week. Naruto wasn't completely helpless compared to his peers, who had graduated with him that year. But when compared to others his age, it was undeniable that he was behind. After all, repeating the academy for two extra years had left marks that might be irreparable for his development. Or at least, that was the fear the delinquent carried with him.

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, the redhead barely noticed that he was already in the classroom. He only realized this when a classmate poked him.

"Ugh?" He exclaimed, surprised.

"Finally back on Earth, Naruto! What are you doing here, anyway?"

It wasn't just that kid who was curious about the redhead. A good part of the class was also curious, and when someone finally questioned the delinquent, all attention turned to him. With that, the issue of his sensory ability was brought up again.

During the week of training, this was what the redhead had tried to focus on: finding a way to turn off this ability. He aimed to gain control over it as soon as possible. Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful. Worse still, it seemed that if he wanted to, he could make this perception even more sensitive.

The only advantage was that he was more accustomed to dealing with it. Although it was uncomfortable, the sensation of almost losing consciousness was no longer an imminent risk.

"See this, Shikamaru?" The redhead said arrogantly, holding the hitai-ate loosely tied around his neck.

"Who'd you steal this from, dead last?" Asked another mocking voice.

"Humph! I should break your nose just for suggesting that, dog breath!" The redhead replied, shooting an irritated glance.

Before the other boy could retort, Shikamaru pressed the delinquent: "So, how did you get this? As far as I know, there's no 'make up' test, and what are those marks on your face?"

Looking away, Naruto could only respond: "It's complicated... but, if you're so suspicious, just ask Iruka-sensei when he gets here!"

Seeing it would be more trouble than it was worth to get more information from the redhead, Shikamaru shrugged and moved to a seat further away.

PRAAA!

"I ARRIVED FIRST!"

With that loud sound, two girls came running into the room. Looking at them, Naruto couldn't help but internally sigh: 'Here they come…' Throughout his years in the academy, the redhead had seen all kinds of people, but the most annoying, without a doubt, were the fangirls. Especially, Haruno Sakura, who held the title of most annoying.

When Naruto saw her for the first time, he couldn't help but admire her beauty, but as soon as she opened her mouth, he lost all interest in the younger girl. Not just because he was already interested in someone else, but mainly because of her attitude toward everyone who wasn't the object of her affection.

'Good thing she's not my age. If I had spent the early years of the academy with her, I definitely would've fallen for her…' The redhead shuddered just imagining it.

While Naruto was lost in thought, the girl in question approached his seat. Her appearance, as expected, reflected a growing beauty. Despite her age, anyone who saw her would know that, in the future, she would become a stunning woman. Her long hair, a color reminiscent of cherry blossoms, her big emerald-green eyes, and her delicate features were attributes that would guarantee her a breathtaking appearance in the future. Her only flaw was her large forehead, which one hand couldn't cover.

"Hey, Naruto, move out of the way! I want to sit next to Sasuke-kun!" The girl demanded, much to the redhead's displeasure.

'I should tell her to screw off, but... seeing her annoy Teme is so much more fun.' The redhead thought, glancing sideways at the infamous Sasuke.

"Of course, Sakura, make yourself comfortable!" And with a somewhat sadistic smile, Naruto made room for Sakura to pass.

"Hey, move over, forehead! I got here first!" Complained the blonde girl, who had arrived with Sakura. In response, Sakura stuck out her tongue.

Naruto, watching the whole scene, couldn't help but let out a little laugh. Not because of the two girls, but because of how Sasuke was squirming, trying to maintain his cool pose. To Naruto, as stupid as it was, it wasn't anything new. He'd seen other descendants of prestigious clans, and they all seemed to have a stick up their butt. With Sasuke, a descendant of the legendary Uchiha clan, it was no different. On the contrary, it seemed even more glaring with him, as most of the time, he was scowling, haughty, and, most annoyingly, wouldn't accept being defeated.

It was this kind of behavior that made the redhead dislike him, and it became mutual after their first sparring match. Even though Naruto had repeated a year in the academy, when it came to Taijutsu, the redhead didn't fall short. This became even more evident during the years he repeated; in this last year, his already high strength was further enhanced by the age difference. For Sasuke, who had entered his last year as the best in his class, it was a shock to have his nose broken by a delinquent who had failed twice. This created a kind of rivalry between the two. Naruto, who rarely attended classes, made sure to show up for the Taijutsu spars. 'Like I'd miss a chance to break that arrogant nose of his!' Meanwhile, Sasuke, although he denied it, was happy to face someone stronger than him. The challenge the redhead represented was crucial to his growth in the last year.

Because of all this, it was safe to say that both of them knew each other better than anyone else in their class. Not in the sense of knowing things like favorite color or favorite food, but in perceiving each other's mood changes. For the majority of the newly graduated students in that room, Sasuke's expression didn't betray any emotions, but for the redhead, it was glaring how bothered he was by the two girls trying to get his attention. 'Gyahahaha! That face is priceless!'

Naruto couldn't understand the reason for all the discomfort. Despite everyone in the room being quite young, most had already become aware of the opposite sex. Being in Sasuke's position, being courted by the two most beautiful girls in the class, was the wet dream of many of the boys there. This made Naruto wonder several times if Sasuke played for the other team. The appearance of the Uchiha heir only made this question more complicated. The boy had straight, short black hair, with two strands framing his face, but what drew attention was his androgynous look, which made many mistake him for a girl, a mistake Naruto had even made the first time he saw him. 'Argh! Just thinking about it makes my stomach turn!'

All the attention Naruto was giving to Sasuke's misfortune didn't go unnoticed by him. As soon as he realized, he made sure to give the redhead an irritated look, and Naruto couldn't hold back, bursting into laughter.

"Gyahahahahahahahahahah! This is hilarious!"

Which only served to annoy Uchiha even more, his eyebrow twitching. But before he could do anything, the redhead suddenly stopped laughing.

It turns out that a very familiar sensation took over the redhead's body. During that week, while trying to deactivate his sensory ability, he had started to understand that the sensation wasn't just linked to the emotion someone was feeling, but also had a sort of "signature." It was hard to put into words, but somehow, the sensations were similar, yet unique at the same time. This allowed him to identify people based on those sensations. Therefore, he was able to feel Iruka-sensei approaching the classroom from this.

It took no more than 30 seconds for Iruka to enter the classroom. Although he didn't carry any visible wounds, anyone paying attention could notice a slight dragging in his steps. Something Naruto couldn't help but feel guilty about.

"Good morning, class! Today is a big day for all of you, so go to your seats right away!" Iruka said, in a cheerful mood that contrasted with his usual serious demeanor. A myriad of emotions passed through his gaze as he looked at each of his students, especially when his eyes briefly landed on a certain redhead.

"Today marks the end of your days as students and the beginning of your lives as shinobi. But don't be fooled: this is just the first step on a long path you'll walk from now on."

Iruka paused briefly in his speech, watching the students, waiting for them to absorb his words with the necessary seriousness.

"A difficult path, which will require a lot of sacrifice and, at times, will make you think about giving up. But know that this path is worth much more than prestige or money. It is worth everything around you — your classmates, your future team members, your senseis, and even your families. This path represents the defense of everyone in the village. It is the will that burns like fire in our hearts to protect everything we call home, and that is priceless."

Iruka looked once more at his students, and couldn't help but feel pleased seeing the sparkle in their eyes, the sparkle he hoped to awaken.

"Always remember what I said. In the worst moments, it will be this that keeps you standing and leads you to victory! Understood?!"

"HAI, IRUKA-SENSEI!"

A chorus of responses filled the classroom in unison, most visibly emotional, with one peculiar exception: Naruto, who did nothing but cast a blank stare toward the floor.

"Well, with that said, let's move on to the next item. As you all know, starting today, you are all genins. What many of you might not know is that you will be divided into teams of three members, and each of these teams will be assigned a jōnin as their leader and sensei. So, pay attention while I announce each assigned team!"

'Teams... I just hope I'm not in the same team as Sakura or Kiba. If it was already annoying to deal with those two, now, with this damn ability, it's unbearable!' Thought the redhead.

As the teams were announced,'Not Sakura or Kiba, not Sakura or Kiba, not Sakura or Kiba'was repeated like a mantra in the delinquent's mind.

"Team 7: Naruto!"

When Iruka called his name, the redhead intensified the volume of his inner prayers.

'Not Sakura or Kiba.'

"Haruno Sakura!"

'No way!'

With a mental scream, the redhead grabbed his head in agony.

"And Uchiha Sasuke!"

"YEAH!" The girl shouted aloud, without any shame, while the raven beside her couldn't avoid lowering his head.

"Ahem!" Clearing his throat, Iruka shot a disapproving look at Sakura and continued: "Your sensei will be Hatake Kakashi."

'Sakura and Sasuke, huh... I guess I'll have to settle for that.' Thought Naruto, consoling himself as he looked at his two teammates.

"These are all the teams. You are dismissed for lunch. After that, return to this room to meet your senseis."

'Hatake Kakashi... Why do I feel like I've heard that name before?' The redhead wondered as he left the classroom.

---

Tic tac... Tic tac

The sound of the clock, which would normally go unnoticed, echoed loudly in the now silent classroom. The other teams had already left with their respective senseis, and only Team 7 remained, having been waiting for almost two hours for their sensei to arrive.

In the meantime, the newly graduated genins spent their time in different ways. Sasuke spent the entire time in silence, meditating. What was going on in his mind was a mystery. The only thing breaking his concentration was the frequent twitch in his eyebrow, which happened every time Sakura tried to get his attention. The girl, on the other hand, found herself trapped in a cycle: she would look at her crush, think of ways to approach him, try, fail miserably, feel down, and repeat the process. This went on for a while, but even she got tired of it. Now, she was trying to control her growing irritation with the lateness of their sensei.

As for the redhead, the moment he realized that their sensei was late, he tried to take a nap to recover some energy. Of course, it was a total failure. Every time he was almost falling asleep, Sakura started to chatter. At some point, he thought about giving her a piece of his mind, but quickly discarded the idea. He didn't want their new relationship, now that they were on the same team, to start off on the wrong foot.

Seeing that his nap was impossible, the redhead resigned himself to waiting patiently for their sensei's arrival. However, his patience had long run out. Unable to stand it anymore, he got up from his seat and started pacing back and forth.

"Hey, Naruto, can you be quiet?!" Sakura asked, accusatory. To the more cynical, it might even seem like the girl was venting her irritation on the redhead.

"Tch, what the hell is this guy Kakashi doing to be so late?! It's been more than two hours since he was supposed to be here!"

"Humph, do you think I don't know that? Walking back and forth and complaining won't make him show up. It's just annoying me and Sasuke-kun!"

Upon hearing the pinkette's response, the redhead couldn't help but scowl. 'If this bitch keeps fawning over Uchiha at every chance, I'm going to end up choking her!'

But before the delinquent could reply with a sharp retort, his eyes widened, and a big grin spread across his face.

"Oh, yeah? Then what's this?" As soon as the last words left the delinquent's mouth, the classroom door opened, revealing a man. He was about 1.81 meters tall (5' 11"), wearing the standard attire of high-ranking Konoha shinobi, with the particularity of a mask covering the lower half of his face and his hitai-ate, which covered his left eye like an eye patch. In short, the only visible part of his face was his right eye, which was a dark gray color. Other than that, his hair was silver, and paired with his spiked hairstyle, it made his appearance striking.

"Hmm, I assume you are Team 7?" The newcomer asked.

When Sakura realized that this was their sensei, she was left speechless, an expression that didn't last long as, as soon as she saw Naruto's shit-eating grin, the pinkette huffed angrily and turned her face away, pouting.

After savoring the expression of his teammate, the redhead turned to his teacher and said, irritably:

"You're late!"

"Mah, mah, a black cat crossed my path, so I had to walk around the village to avoid bad luck." The newly graduated genins could only stare in disbelief at the unbelievable excuse their sensei had given.

The silver-haired shinobi took his time and looked at each of them. His gaze lingered a bit longer on Sasuke's appearance and especially on Naruto's, something that caught the redhead's attention, as he noticed the extra attention came with a sense of oddness from the older shinobi.

"Hmm, how should I put this... my first impression... I don't like you guys!" The eye that appeared to be smiling only served to irritate his students even more. "Anyway, meet me on the roof!"

And with that, Kakashi vanished in a puff of smoke.

Looking at his teammates and wondering if everything that just happened was real, the redhead thought to himself 'What's up with that guy?'

---

'Almost four minutes... faster than I expected, but slower than I'd like.'

"Alright, everyone, take a seat in front of me." Seeing his students drag themselves breathlessly to their seats, Kakashi couldn't hide the joy in his gaze.

"Okay... how about we start with some introductions?" Kakashi asked casually.

"What do you want to know, sensei?" Sakura asked, somewhat unsure.

"The basics, you know... things like likes, dislikes, hobbies, dreams. That kind of stuff." Kakashi replied with a shrug.

"Why don't you start first?" Naruto said, quickly supported by Sakura.

"Yeah... you seem a little suspicious."

Once again, Kakashi couldn't help but find amusement in his new "students'" behavior.

"Oh... me? My name is Hatake Kakashi. I'm not really interested in telling you my likes and dislikes. As for dreams for the future... Hmm... Well, I have several hobbies."

"So, all we've learned is... your name?" Sakura muttered, in disbelief, to her teammates.

"Now it's your turn. How about you, the redhead, start?" Kakashi asked, seemingly oblivious to the reception of his introduction by the students.

"Alright, my name is Naruto. I like ramen, especially when someone else is paying for me." The smile that had been on the redhead's face at the beginning of his introduction soon faded. "What I dislike... are traitors."

'The Mizuki incident certainly left its scars... This will be a valuable lesson for him,' Kakashi reflected.

"As for my dreams... I want to be Hokage," said the redhead uncertainly, looking down at the floor. This didn't go unnoticed by either his sensei or the stoic raven.

"As for hobbies, I guess pranks count, right?" The delinquent added, in a lighter tone.

"Right..." Kakashi said. "Your turn, sulking."

"My name is Uchiha Sasuke. There are many things I don't like, and nothing I truly like. What I have is not a dream, but an ambition: I will revive my clan and kill a certain man," Sasuke finished dramatically.

'So cool!' Sakura screamed inwardly.

'Hrrr!' It was a challenge for the redhead not to vomit right there, given the storm of sensations Sasuke was emitting. A hatred as hot as lava flowed through his body, accompanied by a suffocating feeling of sorrow and a congenital coldness of sadness.

'Whoever it is Sasuke wants to kill, he should just do it already. I won't be able to stand being on the same team as him if it's always like this when he brings it up,' Naruto thought, trying to recover.

'...As expected,' Kakashi thought, narrowing his eyes.

"Okay, lastly, the girl."

"My name is Haruno Sakura, what I like is... hihihi... well, the person I like is... hihihihi... hmm, should I say my dreams for the future...? HIHIHIHI, OH MY!" The way the pinkette stole glances at Uchiha made it obvious who she was talking about, which only served to annoy the boy.

'Sigh... Girls at this age are more interested in romance than jutsus...'

"And what about your dislikes?"

"INO-PIG!" The girl shouted at the top of her lungs.

"Okay, now that the introductions are done, let's get to the point. Our test will be tomorrow." Kakashi's words surprised the genins.

"Test? What kind of test?" Naruto asked, suspicious.

"A survival test." Kakashi answered.

"Why that? We've already done plenty of those in the academy!" Sakura asked.

"Hehehehe." Suddenly, Kakashi started laughing, causing discomfort among the newly-formed genins.

"Hey, what's so funny?" The redhead asked.

"It's just that, if I tell you, you'll definitely freak out."

Upon hearing the response from their sensei, the three genins began to have a bad feeling about what was coming out of Kakashi's mouth.

"Out of the 27 graduates, only 9 will become genins. All the others will be sent back to the academy. This is a test with a 66% failure rate!" Kakashi said, dead serious.

'Something's wrong here... If so many students were sent back to the academy, I would have noticed!' Naruto thought, suspicious.

'Tch, I can't fail here!' Sasuke reflected.

'If I fail, I won't be able to stay on the same team as Sasuke-kun!' Sakura thought, alarmed.

"Hehehe, I warned you." The jōnin began. "Anyway, meet me tomorrow at Training Field 7, at 5:00 AM. Bring all your shinobi gear."

"Ah... I almost forgot, don't eat breakfast or you'll vomit. Ja ne!" Just like before, the jōnin disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Without wasting a second, Sasuke was the first to leave, and Sakura followed him, trying to call him out for a date.

'Sigh... here I was thinking those two would want to discuss tomorrow's test... now that I think about it, it's better this way. If I got too tangled up with them, I wouldn't have time to go to my appointment and investigate this "test."' The redhead comforted himself as he left.

---

In the commercial center of Konoha, you could find all kinds of shops. The village, being one of the most bustling urban centers of the Land of Fire, had a high demand for various types of goods and a large population to supply its ranks, as well as to consume. Still, Konoha was a military hub, so the most influential shops in the village were those that supplied the shinobi forces. Entire clans of artisans had taken root since the founding of the village, and today, they were responsible for most of the internal trade. At this moment, Konoha's number one delinquent was standing in front of one of those shops, owned by the Higurashi clan. Although it was just a subsidiary of a larger clan, the Higurashi carried a certain reputation, especially when it came to custom-made products. Of course, Naruto knew nothing about that. Today, he wasn't there to buy anything, after all.

"Look who finally showed up, did you actually make it this time?" said the young attendant in a playful tone. She looked to be around the same age as the redhead, and her dark brown hair was tied into two buns, with a short fringe framing both sides of her face.

"They say the third time's the charm, Tenten," the redhead replied, flashing his characteristic grin.

The two young people had known each other for a long time, with their first meeting at the orphanage. Since then, a lot had happened, including a fight after Tenten was adopted by the Higurashi clan. However, it didn't take long for them to reconcile, and since then, their friendship had only grown stronger, especially because the shop owned by Tenten's clan was one of the few that treated Naruto without mistreating him. Despite their friendship, lately, they hadn't seen each other much, not only because of everything that had happened with the redhead over the past year but also because Tenten herself had been busy balancing her time between helping out at the shop, training, and fulfilling her duties as a genin.

"Hehehehe, alright, alright. What can I help you with today, aniki? A new set of shuriken or kunai? And what's up with those marks on your face?"

"It's a long story, I'll tell you another time. Actually, I need your help with something."

"Ssshh... here we go. If it's something involving your pranks, I'm out." The young woman complained, frowning.

"No, no, no. I've retired from pranks, Tenten. What I need is some information." The former troublemaker replied quickly.

"Heh? What kind of information could I have that you'd want?" Tenten asked, suspicious.

"So it's about that... I don't know if I'll be much help, every jōnin sensei has a different testing method, you know?"

Hearing that, the redhead couldn't help but groan in displeasure.

"Hugh, that complicates things... How about this: I tell you how my meeting with my sensei went, and you help me understand a few things?"

"Humm... I don't know, it's almost dinner time, and I'm starving." Anyone could see what the young woman was hinting at, and Naruto was no exception.

"Okay, I got it, I'll buy you some ramen at Ichiraku." The redhead said, rolling his eyes.

"I like how quickly you catch on, aniki. Just let me go tell Dad!" The girl replied, taking off her apron and leaving quickly.

---

Glup-glup

Without ceremony, the young kunoichi swallowed the remaining broth of the ramen she had just eaten while finishing listening to what the redhead beside her had to say.

"So, is that it? What do you think?"

"Humm, I don't think you're crazy, this whole situation is really strange. When did you start wearing that thing between your ears, aniki?" Tenten asked, chuckling.

For a moment, a melancholic gleam took over the delinquent's gaze, but, like a mirage, it quickly disappeared, leaving behind his usual smile.

"Hey, know that I'm very good at using my brain, you guys just don't recognize my genius yet."

"Humph, keep telling yourself that. Back to the subject, this whole sending students back to the academy... as far as I know, the success rate is correct, but those who fail are sent to the reserves."

"And what's this reserve?" Naruto asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Two more years at the academy didn't help at all, huh?" The kunoichi replied with a sigh. "The reserve is a pool of various genins, they don't have a fixed team, and all their training is self-taught. Passing the genin exam gives you the chance to have a jōnin training you, and trust me, it makes a huge difference."

"I see... but then, why would Kakashi lie about this?"

That was what confused the redhead the most. Throughout Kakashi's presentation, he had made sure to pay close attention to what his sensory ability could pick up from the jōnin, and all he got was indifference, amusement at times, and melancholy when looking at Sasuke. The amusement mostly came when the masked jōnin spoke about the test and not having breakfast. Naruto wasn't completely familiar with his ability yet, but if he had to guess, he would say that what Kakashi was feeling at that moment was the same emotion he felt when tricking someone in one of his pranks.

"My best guess is that he wants to put you under pressure. That idea that, under pressure, you get to know someone's true colors, you know?"

Glup-glup

"Humm, well, that's not going to work on me." Naruto bravely responded as he finished swallowing the broth of his ramen.

"But this Kakashi seems pretty tough, doing this kind of mental game even before you're a team... I don't know if I should congratulate you or be worried." The girl said, showing a worried expression.

Scratching the back of his neck, the redhead let out a small characteristic laugh.

"Hehehe, honestly, I'd prefer it to be like this than having someone pamper me." The memory of a certain white-haired chūnin crossed the redhead's mind.

"If you say so... Well, if I stay longer, dad's going to get mad that I left him alone. Good luck on the test tomorrow, aniki. Don't be a stranger!" Tenten said as she got up to leave.

"Bye, Tenten, see you around." The redhead waved, already preparing to leave, but before he could, a light cough caught his attention.

"Don't forget the bill, Naruto-kun." Said the young Ichiraku waitress, Ayame.

"H-heh, of course not, Ayame-nee." 'Sniff-sniff, Gama-chan's going to get so skinny...', the redhead thought, tears in his eyes.

---

In the middle of a small open field next to a stream, three figures could be seen. They had been there long before the sun rose, and by now, several hours had passed.

The first to arrive was Sasuke. His training routine always began very early, so waking up at this hour was no problem for him. Of course, this didn't make the time he was wasting waiting for his sensei any less frustrating.

'I hope this isn't a frequent thing. The time I lost at the academy is enough. If this keeps up, I'll never be able to catch up to him!' Thought the Uchiha.

And as if that weren't enough, he was also starving. Even though skipping breakfast had been Kakashi's order, the raven was starting to wonder if he should have really followed it.

His situation wasn't worse than Sakura's. The young kunoichi, unlike him, wasn't used to waking up this early. It didn't help that, in an attempt to impress her crush, the pinkette had gotten up even earlier to take care of her appearance. Not that it had been very effective, as she was too tired to flatter the Uchiha heir that morning. She was so exhausted that she even considered taking a short nap while they waited for their sensei to show up, but the fear that he might suddenly appear and reprimand her kept her from taking the risk.

To top it off, Sakura was absolutely starving. Not only had she skipped breakfast, but she also hadn't had dinner the previous night.

'I think starting a diet this week wasn't such a good idea.' Thought the girl, in despair.

Looking around, Sakura's gaze fell on her teammate, the redhead, who was comfortably sleeping under the shade of a tree.

'Seriously, how can he be so carefree?!'

Naruto was the last of the three to arrive, and as soon as he realized Kakashi wasn't showing up anytime soon, he didn't think twice and decided to take a nap, much to Sakura's displeasure.

'You know what?! I should just go over there and wake him up with my fists!'

'How dare he sleep while we're exhausted?! Cha!' Thought Inner Sakura.

But before Inner Sakura's wishes could be realized, a cloud of smoke appeared in front of the trio.

"Hey, everyone, good morning!" Kakashi greeted them casually.

"YOU'RE LATE!" The pinkette shouted, pointing her finger at the newly arrived.

This outburst was enough to wake Naruto from his nap, who lazily sat up, rubbing his eyes. Meanwhile, Kakashi walked over to one of the three wooden posts in the middle of the training field. When he reached the one in the center, he placed an alarm clock on top of it.

"Okay, it's set for noon." Kakashi said, turning to face the newly graduated students, who were all watching, confused.

"Here are two bells. Your task is to steal them from me before noon." The jōnin announced, holding up the two bells for everyone to see.

"Whoever doesn't get a bell will miss lunch," he continued, narrowing his eyes as if he were smiling. "Not only that, but I'll tie you to one of those posts and make sure I enjoy a nice meal right in front of you."

And, as if on cue, the sound of two stomachs growling filled the air.

'Tch! So that's why he told us not to eat!' The Uchiha grumbled mentally.

"Ah, I see one of you didn't follow my order..." Kakashi said, as his one eye turned to look at the redhead.

"A shinobi should not follow absurd orders." The redhead responded, shrugging.

"Hehehe, if there's anyone here who learned that rule, it's you, isn't it, Naruto-kun?" Kakashi asked with another of his "eye smiles," almost mocking the delinquent, who simply responded with a scowl.

"Ahem... As I was saying, you have to get one of the bells, and since there are only two, someone will inevitably be left out..." As Kakashi's words left his mouth, his tone became serious. "And that person won't just suffer all the things I said, they'll also be sent back to the academy."

The trio could only stand in shock at this statement.

'That ticklish feeling again... If he was lying last time, it means he's lying again now.' The redhead thought, frowning.

"You can use any weapons you brought, face me with the intent to kill or you won't succeed." The jōnin stated casually.

"But sensei, you'll be in danger!" Sakura exclaimed, concerned.

"Don't worry, your attacks are so weak it doesn't matter."

This statement from Kakashi only served to irritate the two boys in front of him. Naruto, who was already at the limit of his patience, was ready to charge at his sensei, but the memory of how strong Mizuki was stopped him from acting on impulse.

"These are the rules of the test, any questions?" Kakashi asked.

As none of them said anything, the jōnin continued:

"If you don't have any more questions... go!"

As soon as Kakashi finished speaking, the trio didn't waste any time and disappeared.

---

In the middle of a clearing, Kakashi stood, reading a book titled Icha Icha Paradise. A few minutes had passed since the test began, but none of his students had made a move. 'Not that I'm complaining, more time for me to read this gem, after all.'

Discreetly looking around, Kakashi couldn't help but be impressed.

'Well, they can hide pretty well. In fact, where is Naruto?'

As if answering Kakashi's thoughts, a figure landed in front of him.

"Hey, Kakashi-sensei, let's face off in a fair and clean manner!" the redhead announced pompously.

'What is that idiot doing?' Sasuke wondered, watching the bizarre scene from his hiding spot.

"You know... out of the three of them, you're the weirdest." Kakashi replied without taking his eyes off his book.

"That's rich, don't you have a mirror at home?!" the delinquent retorted, already running toward the jōnin.

Kakashi seemed little concerned with his student's charge. The academy produced a report on all the graduated students, which was made available to the team leaders. The jōnin knew very well the level of the three of them, and because of that, there was no reason to worry; there was nothing the newly graduated could do that would force him to use more than his left hand. However, surprise was inevitable when the one-eyed shinobi saw his student trip in the middle of his run. 'Hmm, the report wasn't very flattering, but to trip like that…'

While Kakashi was disappointed, another pair of eyes was watching closely. Sasuke, well familiar with Naruto's fighting style, couldn't help but smile slightly when he saw him trip. 'At least now, I'll get to see Kakashi's level.' The Uchiha heir thought to himself.

It was at this moment that something unexpected happened. Instead of falling face-first to the ground, Naruto spun his body and jumped, using only the strength of his left toes. As if everything had been planned, he delivered a kick with his right leg. Kakashi couldn't help but widen his single eye at the redhead's bizarre move, but even though surprised, it wasn't hard for him to dodge the attack.

What followed was a series of blows, all coming from strange directions, mixing feints with unexpected movements. The strangest thing was that, despite his posture being far from ideal, his movements carried a surprising strength, more than what would be expected from a newly graduated student. 'I see... that explains the report.'

In the report Kakashi had received, it was noted that the delinquent had excellent physical aptitude for his age but was a complete disaster when it came to Konoha's standard style, the Konoha Mai Kenpō. This caused discomfort for the jōnin, who knew very well how the academy's grading worked. Someone who didn't use any specific style wouldn't be able to achieve the redhead's grades. 'The instructors must have thought it was just random, but there are clear patterns.'

Sasuke knew better than anyone how dangerous the redhead's wild style was, and that's why he was the most incredulous seeing how Kakashi didn't even break a sweat facing a style that had always pushed him to his limits. 'I knew the difference was big... but this much?'

'Did someone teach him this, or did he come up with it himself? Meh, I guess I'll have to find out if they pass. It's a very unorthodox style, but it shows potential. Gai would love to work on this.' Kakashi thought as he lazily dodged Naruto's attacks.

"Dammit! Stay still already!" Naruto shouted, enraged.

"Since you asked so kindly..." Before Kakashi finished the sentence, his figure vanished.

When Naruto lost sight of his sensei, he began looking around desperately.

Sakura, who was also watching from afar, was shocked by the speed with which Kakashi moved behind her teammate.

'Isn't that the tiger seal?' The kunoichi thought, alarmed. 'No way! If he uses a ninjutsu at this distance, Naruto is dead!'

'That seal... it's for Fire-style ninjutsu. Does he really want to kill Naruto?' Sasuke wondered, already preparing to throw shurikens at Kakashi.

"Naruto, get out of there NOW!" Sakura shouted, desperate.

Startled by the shout, Naruto quickly glanced at his back, but it was as if Kakashi's next words had hit him before he even realized.

"Too late," the jōnin said, initiating his move.

But what no one had noticed was the small smile the redhead wore. And, surprising everyone in the clearing, Naruto simply exploded like a bomb.

'What?! Was that Kakashi's jutsu?' Sasuke thought, already fearing the worst.

Soon the smoke cleared, and the place where the two had been now only had charred pieces of wood.

'They must have used the Kawarimi,' Sasuke thought, relieved. 'Worrying me like that... you'll pay for this, Dobe.'

'Huh? Where are the two of them?' Sakura was the most confused at that moment, but soon one of her questions would be answered.

From behind a nearby tree, Kakashi emerged, with only a little dust and soot covering his clothes.

'That was close. If it weren't for that little smile, I might've had to pay a visit to the hospital,' Kakashi thought, impressed. 'The information I got said he only learned the Kage Bunshin. Did he hide that he learned the Bunshin Daibakuha from the Scroll of Seals, or did he learn it somewhere else?'

What Kakashi couldn't imagine at that moment was that it wasn't something Naruto had learned, but rather a creation of his own. In the training he had been doing over the past few days, the main thing he focused on was different ways of using Kage Bunshin, combining it with other techniques he already knew. During one of these tests, Naruto created a clone using one of his original explosive tags, resulting in a clone capable of self-destructing at any moment. Of course, there were weak points, such as the fact that the clone's density ended up containing part of the explosion, reducing its destructive power.

'Dammit, I increased the power of the explosive tag, but even so, my Bunshin Bakuha no Jutsu turned out to be just a firecracker! I won't be able to surprise him again!' Naruto thought in frustration, watching from his hiding spot.

Sakura, seeing her sensei safe and sound, was able to sigh in relief. That is, until she realized that she had given away her position by alerting her redheaded teammate.

'Dammit, Naruto! You'll have to make it up to me later!' Sakura thought as she ran desperately deeper into the forest.

Her escape was so rushed that she didn't even notice how the trunks of the trees around her began to fade, and how, little by little, the forest grew darker.

After five minutes of running, the young kunoichi was already out of breath.

"Harf... Harf... I think I lost him..." the girl said quietly, trying to catch her breath.

"What should I do? I guess my only choice is to form an alliance with Sasuke-kun." Having made her decision, the pinkette was ready to go in search of her crush, but the rustling of leaves interrupted her.

Looking around for the source of the noise, the kunoichi soon found it, and as soon as she saw it, her face was overtaken by terror.

Before her stood Sasuke, but his appearance was dramatic. His left arm seemed to have been cut by a saw, his left leg was twisted 180 in a grotesque way, and his body was covered in blood, littered with countless kunai and shurikens. His expression of pain was simply miserable.

"Harf... Sakura-chan... harf... help me..." the dying Uchiha tried to say, but Sakura was unable to hear anything. The terror of seeing her object of affection in that state was too much for the young girl to bear, causing her to faint.

From high up in a tree, Kakashi, still holding his book, couldn't help but sigh as he watched the state of the pinkette.

"I guess I went too far..." the jōnin said before being hit by a barrage of shurikens.

It turns out that Sakura wasn't the only one following her; Sasuke had also followed, hoping that when his sensei attacked, an opening would be created.

Unfortunately, it would take much more skill to surprise someone of Kakashi's caliber. The shurikens thrown earlier had only hit a wooden trunk that the jōnin used for his Kawarimi no Jutsu.

Knowing this could happen, Sasuke didn't waste any time and ran as fast as he could. Unfortunately for him, the escape didn't last long, and he ended up stopping in the middle of another clearing.

"Tired of running, Sasuke-chan?" the jōnin asked, leaning against one of the many trees around the clearing, calmly reading his Icha Icha Paradise.

"I'm not like them," said the Uchiha heir, turning to face his sensei.

"Say that after you get a bell," replied the sensei with his characteristic "eye smile."

Without wasting any time, the Uchiha charged at the jōnin with a left punch. Kakashi didn't even bother to defend; for him, it was enough to slightly twist his body to dodge.

Sasuke, not at all shaken, continued his sequence. First, taking advantage of the jōnin's minimal movement, the Uchiha, who had passed by, stopped his momentum and, without turning around, jumped to attempt an elbow strike.

Seeing this, Kakashi couldn't help but narrow his single eye. 'So that's it… Not bad. Using the Hangeki Kenpō without the Sharingan and taking the initiative would be worse than not using any style. But, to have such mastery of two styles at this age... looks like I've got a little monster on my hands.'

From the reports, the jōnin knew that the raven used his family's style, Hangeki Kenpō, in sparring. That's why he was surprised to see the boy using Konoha Mai Kenpō.

Of course, just like Naruto, the Uchiha couldn't even touch the jōnin. Still, his expression showed no nervousness or discouragement. 'Almost there... Now!'

It was at this moment that the Uchiha jumped into a hurried retreat. When Kakashi saw this, he quickly connected the dots and easily evaded the barrage of shurikens that the newly triggered trap shot out.

Expecting this, Sasuke began making hand seals and advanced toward the spot where the jōnin had dodged.

Once again that day, Kakashi was caught off guard. 'A genin shouldn't have enough chakra to use this jutsu!' thought the jōnin.

Before he could evade again, Sasuke unleashed his jutsu

"Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!"

A huge fireball was expelled from the Uchiha's mouth, and its size was more than enough to engulf an adult man.

After finishing his jutsu, the Uchiha didn't waste time and went to check the results of his attack. To his surprise, there was nothing there.

'Nothing?! Did he dodge again? If so, where? To the sides? Up?' thought the raven, frantically searching for his sensei.

"Below you," Kakashi replied in a playful tone.

Without giving Sasuke time to process the answer, Kakashi's hands burst from the ground and grabbed the Uchiha heir's ankle.

"Doton: Shinjuu Zanshu no Jutsu!"

"AHHHH!" screamed Sasuke, alarmed, as his body was pulled beneath the earth.

"You said you weren't like the other two, but your performance was no different from Naruto-kun's. Actually, since he wasn't caught... he even did better than you, huh, Sasuke-chan?" Kakashi said with his trademark "eye smile."

"Hrrr..." The Uchiha could only growl in displeasure.

---

Naruto, who was watching Sasuke's attempt to grab the bell, couldn't help but feel sorry for himself. 'We don't stand a chance, he's too strong. This can't be the test.'

The doubt Naruto had felt since the very first moment turned into certainty after seeing how Kakashi handled him and his teammates. The problem was, the redhead had no idea what the right answer was.

'What could it be? Come on, think, Naruto. The whole sending us back to the academy thing is a lie, and we don't have the strength to grab a bell by ourselves... wait, by ourselves? That's it!' thought the redhead.

Naruto waited a few minutes until he could no longer sense Kakashi's presence. At that point, he jumped toward the clearing and quickly approached his buried teammate.

The redhead had barely gotten close when he began to provoke the Uchiha.

"Well, well, who would have thought that the great heir of the Uchiha would be in such a state. I wonder what the girls at the academy would say if they saw your crush buried up to the ground like this... Tsk, tsk." With a poorly disguised smile, the redhead shook his head from side to side, feigning disappointment.

"Tch, shut up! If you came just to provoke me, you can leave!" shouted the Uchiha, irritated. 'It's bad enough that I was defeated by Kakashi, now I have to listen to this idiot's taunts!'

With amusement evident in his eyes, the redhead began to speak:

"Hummm, and here I am wanting to lend a hand and help—"

With amusement clearly showing in his tone of voice, the redhead continued speaking to his companion, until suddenly, his eyes fixed on the forest.

"Ha! Great, I was going to look for her, but she spared me the trouble."

Before Sasuke could question him about what he was talking about, the team member dashed out of the forest.

"Hey, Sakura, we were already coming to find you—"

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Naruto was interrupted by Sakura's terrified scream, which was followed by her fainting, leaving the two young men stunned.

'You know what? I don't even want to know what's going on with her…' thought Naruto to himself.

"Alright, Teme, I'll dig you up and you take care of waking up Sakura. I need to talk to both of you!" exclaimed the redhead, quickly making the hand sign and summoning five clones, who wasted no time and began digging up the Uchiha heir.

"I don't have time for your nonsense, Dobe. The time's almost up," said the Uchiha as soon as he was dug up, already turning his back on the redhead and the unconscious pinkette.

Naruto dismissed the clones who had already completed their task and approached his teammate again.

"Trust me, Teme, I figured out how to pass this test!" The redhead was unfazed by the raven's refusal, already used to this attitude.

The Uchiha narrowed his eyes in distrust, wondering if it was worth listening to what the redhead had to say.

"You know he's too strong for any of us to handle. Stop being stubborn and listen to me."

Sasuke knew this all too well. The only thing he could rely on now was the element of surprise, but now that he had revealed the Gōkakyū no Jutsu, Kakashi would be on high alert.

"Alright, Dobe, but if this is one of your stupid ideas…"

"I give you my word, it's worth it. Now wake up Sakura, we have to move fast. Our time is almost up."

If there was one thing Sasuke knew about Naruto, it was that the older boy valued his word highly. And seeing his confidence, the Uchiha decided to give him a chance. 'As he said, Kakashi is too much for any one of us to handle. I just hope what he has to say is really something important.'

"Humph." With nothing else to say, the raven set to work waking up the unconscious kunoichi.

"Hey!" called the Uchiha, shaking Sakura's shoulders.

'Huh? Is that Sasuke-kun's voice?'

"Hah! Sasuke-kun, are you okay?!" screamed the pinkette, hugging the Uchiha desperately.

"Hey! Stop hugging me."

"Ahem! If the lovebirds are done, we have more important problems to deal with," teased Naruto, to Sasuke's displeasure and Sakura's embarrassment.

"L-lovebirds? Um... what's going on here?" asked the pinkette, looking alternately between Sasuke and Naruto.

"I'll explain later. Let's get out of here before Kakashi shows up," said the redhead, already heading toward the forest, with Sasuke in tow.

Seeing her crush following the delinquent, Sakura didn't think twice and started to follow them as well.

"We don't have much time left, so I'll be direct: Kakashi is playing with us. This whole sending someone back to the academy thing is a lie."

"And how are you so sure about that, Dobe?" questioned the Uchiha, raising one of his eyebrows.

"To start with, if students were sent back to the academy, I would know. I've repeated enough years for that," said the redhead, thinking to himself, 'Let's leave the part about going to reserves out. If Sasuke knows, I doubt he'd want to take the risk.'

"That makes sense, but what does that have to do with passing the test?" asked Sakura.

"Simple: in order for the real reason behind this test to exist."

"Spit it out, Dobe! Didn't you say we don't have much time left?!"

"I was getting to that. The real purpose of this test is sacrifice!"

Sasuke and Sakura exchanged glances, somewhat skeptical about what the redhead had just said. Seeing their reaction, Naruto couldn't help but sigh and tried to explain more clearly.

"Look, isn't it obvious? He made up this whole story about sending back anyone who didn't get a bell to see if we were willing to put the mission above ourselves. This whole test is about the Will of Fire that Iruka-sensei talked about yesterday, remember?"

After hearing this, Sakura agreed, albeit reluctantly.

"I hate to admit it, but that makes sense."

On the other hand, Sasuke, still reflecting, stared at the redhead and asked about the main doubt that remained.

"And who will be the sacrifice?" Sasuke asked, his gaze already making it clear that he wouldn't accept that role.

Sakura averted her eyes almost guiltily.

Naruto, already expecting these reactions, couldn't help but remember the conversation he had with Inoichi last night.

Flashback

"Yamanaka Inoichi-san, right?" Naruto asked, sitting in front of a platinum-blond man. The redhead didn't know why, but he felt nervous. Something about consulting with someone simply made him uncomfortable.

"That's right, Naruto-kun. I believe this is the first time you're seeing a psychologist?" Inoichi asked, his face adorned with a gentle smile. His eyes were watching the young man before him with more care than usual. The jōnin was more than used to his job, but the status of his patient made him uneasy. Even though the Hokage had assured him that the boy was just a pseudo-jinchūriki, Yamanaka had a family waiting for him at home.

"Yeah, it's my first time doing something like this. To be honest, if it weren't for Hokage-jiji's insistence, I wouldn't have even come, gyahahaha!" The delinquent laughed, scratching the back of his neck, something that didn't escape the jōnin's notice.

"Don't worry, Naruto-kun. We're just going to have a little chat, and you don't have to talk about anything you don't want to."

The young man visibly relaxed at what he had heard. Since entering the office, he had felt like a spotlight was shining on him, something he could only assume was Inoichi being alert, observing him. Despite that, the redhead didn't feel any insincerity from Yamanaka.

Inoichi took pleasure in seeing the young man in front of him becoming more comfortable. If the boy was nervous, the consultation would be pointless. 'But this is just the first step.'

"So, how about we start with what you've been up to this week?"

"Not much, I haven't trained seriously in a while, so I did a lot of that this week. Other than that, same old." The redhead began enthusiastically, until a realization took over his face.

"Ah! I also met Konohamaru, the Hokage-jiji's grandson, you know? At first, he was a handful, but we ended up getting along."

"Oh? And what made you two get along?"

"He's a really determined kid, you know? He came after me, asking to be my pupil, gyahahaha!" The sound of laughter filled the room. The redhead couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous the situation he was describing was. Even Inoichi let out a chuckle, caught up in the young man's amusement. It took a few moments for the boy to compose himself and continue where he had left off.

"Haff... at first, I thought he was making fun of me, so I made him work to the bone."

"But that stubborn little guy refused to give up." Despite sounding dismissive, Naruto's tone carried respect for Konohamaru.

"In the end, not only did he master the henge in one day, but he also said I was his rival. Can you believe that?"

"Rival? What do you mean?"

A shiver ran down the redhead's spine at hearing that question. 'I and my big mouth!' Naruto thought to himself. He couldn't help but feel uncomfortable, not from the question itself, but from the follow-up questions that would come after he answered. 'Should I lie?' The redhead wasn't fond of lying. He was more than used to omitting and manipulating, but lying directly? That wasn't his style, not to mention that he was a terrible liar. 'Forget it, he said I don't have to talk about what I don't want to, so I'll just stay quiet if it comes to that.'

"He and I share the same dream... he understood that makes us rivals."

"And what dream would that be?" Inoichi asked, aware of Naruto's discomfort. His years of experience dealing with shinobi who hid their emotions far better than the troublemaker in front of him were evident.

"To be Hokage," Naruto replied, looking away.

Yamanaka, sensing that things were heading toward the real troubles of the delinquent, sharpened his senses. 'This is where things begin...'

"Why do you dream of becoming Hokage, Naruto-kun?"

Naruto's reaction was one of total surprise. He had been expecting a question about his discomfort, something he knew wouldn't go unnoticed by a seasoned shinobi like Inoichi, but not about the origin of his dream.

The redhead's gaze was filled with a feeling of nostalgia as he spoke.

"I've known Hokage-jiji for a long time, you know? He's always been really nice to me, took me off the streets, gave me clothes and food. I think that's when I first wanted to be like him... but it was when I saw how the rest of the village looked at him that I started wanting to be Hokage. Those looks of admiration and respect... back then, I didn't know what it was. I just wanted that kind of attention for myself, too."

It took a few seconds for Inoichi to absorb what he had just heard, before proceeding with his careful questioning.

"That's great, Naruto-kun. Having goals is something that helps us keep moving forward, even during tough times. But I feel there's something about this dream that's bothering you?"

The redhead didn't know what to do at that moment. His instinct was to run away without looking back, but at the same time, a part of him wanted to just spill everything and expose what had been deeply buried in his heart. In the end, he chose the second option. He swallowed hard and began to speak.

"Heh, I thought you'd let this pass... This isn't the first time I've had a rival. There was someone very important to me, with whom I made a promise that one of us would be Hokage. But we ended up parting on bad terms, and since then there's been a little voice in my head questioning me, whispering: 'You don't even deserve to dream about something like that.' And after the recent events... that voice has turned into almost a certainty."

A helpless smile adorned Naruto's face, along with tears that gathered in the corners of his eyes. It was the first time in a long while that he exposed himself this way. If it weren't for his sensory abilities confirming the goodwill from Yamanaka, this would never have been possible.

"And why do you feel that you can't want to be Hokage? What part of you makes that a sin?" Inoichi asked, dead serious. He knew that from here on, he would be walking on thin ice, given how shaken the young man in front of him was.

"Are you kidding me? I don't want to play the pity card here, but I know my reality. I'm just an orphan who failed twice because I couldn't make a lousy clone, and the third time, I almost died and killed one of my teachers because I trusted a traitor, almost becoming a monster in the process. Something that could still happen... forget Hokage, I don't even deserve to be a shinobi, hahaha," the delinquent finished with a dry laugh.

Inoichi sighed to himself as he tried to choose the best words to say to the young man in front of him.

"Naruto-kun... I'm a veteran of the last war. Every time I went on a mission, I'd question if I should even be doing it, if I was capable of completing that mission, if I wouldn't fail and end up losing my own life, or worse, the lives of my comrades. Do you know what made me keep going?"

The Yamanaka fixed his gaze on the redhead's eyes, who looked at him with curiosity, wanting to know where this was going.

"I feared failure, but I feared even more the idea that the worst would happen if I did nothing, that my comrades, my family, would die because I was too scared to act. So, could you live with yourself knowing that someone important to you died because you judged yourself inadequate, Naruto-kun? The incident with Mizuki is a clear example of this. You could have run away, hidden, or even sought help, but you chose to risk your life to defend Iruka. More than a shinobi, this is the kind of courage a man should have. And rest assured, many older men than you wouldn't have done the same."

Naruto's eyes widened at this realization. Over the past few weeks, he had been trying to rationalize what he was feeling, as if accepting his inadequacies. But in truth, he was just scared—scared of dying, scared of failing the people he cared about, scared of becoming a monster. He knew very well that someone with fear wouldn't be capable of anything. And yet, he had fallen into this pathetic state. It was so silly that he let out a genuine laugh, his shoulders lightening as though a mountain had been lifted off of them.

"Gyahahahahaha, you're right, I feel kind of dumb for only realizing this now." The redhead replied with a smile, still a little downcast.

"You're not an idiot, Naruto-kun. You've just been hurt, and those wounds are still open. It's normal to be afraid of being hurt again. But the longer you stay fixated on those wounds, the more they will rot and never heal. To heal them, you need to accept that you won't always be right and that punishing yourself for mistakes does nothing. Only through our bonds can we overcome these struggles and move forward. If you need to talk to someone about this, don't hesitate. The door to my office will always be open for you."

It took Naruto a few minutes to digest everything Inoichi had said, and in the end, he saw that the Yamanaka was right. 'Sitting around crying isn't my style anyway. If I made a mistake before, then all that's left for me is to try ten times harder to make sure it doesn't happen again.'

"Thank you, Inoichi-san." The redhead said, this time with a small, sincere smile that hadn't been seen on his face for some time.

Flashback End

'Heh... I have to thank Inoichi-san again. If it weren't for him, I might not have had the courage to do this. Even if everything goes wrong, I don't want to be a shinobi at the cost of others' future.'

"As I came up with the idea, I would obviously be the sacrifice." The delinquent spoke loudly and clearly, wearing a look of absolute confidence.

Sakura and Sasuke exchanged glances, as if confirming each other's intentions.

"Alright, Dobe, I'll trust you. The question now is: how are we going to get those bells?"

"Don't worry, Teme. I have a plan!"

---

There were 15 minutes left before the test ended, and Kakashi was standing in front of the posts where the alarm was, reflecting on his potential students while reading his beloved book.

'Naruto-kun is a pleasant surprise. Even though he's two years behind, he shouldn't be underestimated.' After reading the report the academy provided about the boy, Kakashi wasn't too impressed. Even after facing his strangely familiar appearance yesterday, that impression didn't change. But the boy's performance today didn't reflect his grades, far from it. He would hardly lose to any of his classmates who graduated with him. His physical aptitude shone when combined with his unorthodox fighting style. Another thing was his mastery in Ninjutsu. The boy had learned the Kage Bunshin just a month ago, but already had a good command of the technique. That was not something to be underestimated, considering that freshly graduated shinobi have little experience in that area of the shinobi arts. Not to mention that explosive clone technique... 'At first, I thought it was the Bunshin Daibakuha, but if it were, I'd be missing some limbs.'

Kakashi wasn't sure, but he suspected that explosive clone was an original jutsu of the redhead. 'The report mentioned that he had some knowledge of Fūinjutsu. Maybe he used that to create this clone... Anyway, he has quite a bit of potential.'

The jōnin hadn't expected much from the redhead. All he knew was that the boy was known for being a troublemaker, due to an old rumor that he was the jinchūriki of the Kyuubi. When Kakashi first heard this years ago, he went straight to the Hokage to find out if it was true. The Hokage assured him that it was just a rumor. Years later, Hatake confirmed this for himself, having to deal with the real jinchūriki. This unfortunate situation was something Kakashi felt pity for the boy. 'It's sad to think that his life almost got ruined because of an unfounded rumor... or almost unfounded...' The jōnin thought, recalling what the Hokage had told him earlier.

'Well, Hokage-sama assured me that the amount of chakra he absorbed from the Kyuubi was negligible, enough to give a boost to his abilities, but not enough to become a threat to the village.' Although uncommon, the existence of pseudo-jinchūriki wasn't unheard of. Kakashi himself knew of another, a boy who lived at the Fire Temple and who his friend Asuma had met.

'Putting the redhead aside, Sasuke was exactly what I expected.' Kakashi couldn't help but feel a pang in his chest when thinking of the last Uchiha. The memory of his deceased teammate and friend was a constant, always lurking in the back of his mind. Seeing Sasuke just brought it to the surface. As if that weren't enough, Kakashi also had some history with the Uchiha heir.

'If I had known what Itachi would do, I would have killed him myself.' The perpetrator of his possible student's misfortune had been his kōhai during his time in the ANBU. Back then, Itachi was not only praised as a genius but also had an excellent reputation. No one could have imagined what he would end up doing. 'The least I can do now is protect him, especially ensuring that no one finds out about that.'

'A good mastery of Taijutsu and enough chakra reserves to use an elemental Ninjutsu, as expected from the main Uchiha bloodline. If I play my cards right, I'll have two jōnins specialized in Ninjutsu and Taijutsu in about three years.' Both were the perfect students for Kakashi, who shared the same strengths as the veteran, much to his joy.

'As for Sakura-chan... I can't help but be disappointed in her, as unfair as that may be.' Unlike her two teammates, Sakura performed worse than expected, considering the academy's report. 'Even though the report highlights her talent for Genjutsu, she wasn't able to identify what I cast on her. And worse, she didn't even try to grab a bell.' Contrary to what Kakashi's harsh judgment may imply, Sakura's performance wasn't unusual. It was rare for a newly graduated student to perform as well as the other two; most lacked the maturity and experience to handle such a tough test as Kakashi's.

'Anyway, it would be unfair to tie anyone to the post who wasn't her. Well, there are still about twelve minutes left. Maybe they'll figure it out, hehehe.' Kakashi mocked in his mind. As talented as the trio was, they still lacked the maturity needed to see the true purpose of the bell test. 'With some luck, they might end up discovering the make-up test.'

Kakashi's thoughts were interrupted as footsteps could be heard slowly approaching the clearing.

"Back for another round, Sasuke-chan?" teased the older shinobi, without even bothering to look at the newcomer.

"Humph." Not bothering to respond to the jōnin, Sasuke drew six kunai from his pouch and threw them at Kakashi.

Sasuke didn't wait for the kunai to hit the older shinobi; he charged forward. Kakashi, in turn, calmly caught the first kunai in midair and quickly used it to deflect the other six. Finally, he threw the kunai in his hand at the Uchiha.

The Uchiha barely managed to dodge. He almost tripped over his own feet but quickly regained his balance and closed the distance to the jōnin, aiming a punch at his face.

Kakashi simply tilted his head slightly to dodge. Obviously, the Uchiha didn't give up and soon launched a series of attacks: kicks, punches, elbows, and knees. None of his attempts succeeded, but the more he tried, the more uncomfortable Kakashi felt. 'Sasuke-chan, Sasuke-chan, your mastery of the Leaf style wasn't this sloppy. What are you plotting?'

Soon, a glint of realization appeared in Kakashi's eyes, something that, somehow, the boy in front of him noticed. As soon as he did, his body exploded.

Kakashi, as if already expecting it, jumped out of the blast zone. 'Not bad, Naruto. Henge into Sasuke-chan was a good move.'

To Kakashi's surprise, a wave of heat engulfed his back. Not wanting to take any chances, the jōnin quickly fled the area. Once he distanced himself, Hatake turned around to see what had been thrown. Where he had been standing, there was now a crater filled with flames. Behind the fire, a figure could be seen. 'Hmm, Sasuke-chan teamed up with Naruto-kun, or was this just an opportunistic attack?'

As if answering Kakashi's thoughts, several smoke bombs were thrown around him. But before his lone eye could capture the person responsible, he realized who had targeted him. 'Sakura-chan... so you figured it out, huh? Well, what's your plan to get the bells?'

Taking advantage of the smoke, Naruto, who had been hiding among the trees, lunged at Kakashi and quickly engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the jōnin.

Kakashi wasn't too concerned. If the smoke affected his eyes and sense of smell, it would affect a newly graduated shinobi even more. And that was how, for the first time since the start of the test, a blow connected with Kakashi's body. A right hook aimed at his face almost landed, if not for the jōnin, who, with quick reflexes, blocked it with his Hitai-ate.

Seeing this, Naruto didn't want to miss the moment and attempted a follow-up with a kick aimed at Kakashi's calf. Unfortunately for him, Kakashi had already regained his composure. 'Somehow, he's able to track my movements perfectly,' Hatake thought to himself.

Dodging the kick with a small leap, the jōnin went on the offensive. With a strong kick to the chest, he launched the delinquent out of the smoke-covered area. 'Damn! I hope I didn't overdo it.'

As Kakashi started moving out of the smoke, he was once again surprised. A figure appeared out of nowhere and snatched the bells that had been tied to his pants. 'Don't think you're getting away!' Thought the jōnin, running toward the figure, who was on all fours on the ground, and landing a kick to their ribs, which immediately cracked. The figure dissipated as if it had never existed. 'A clone?!'

"YES!" Naruto shouted excitedly, waving the two bells in the air.

Hearing this, Kakashi was able to deduce the rest. 'The clone must have thrown the bells before I hit it.' And before he could think about acting, the alarm went off, signaling the end of the test.

'These kids are really something else,' Hatake thought, amused, as he waited for the smoke to clear. 'But what would happen to my reputation if I let it end like this? Hehehe.'

'Hah! I knew the plan would work! I'm so glad I saved the Bushin Heiki for the end!' The plan Naruto had devised with Sasuke and Sakura was quite clever. The idea was for the boy to use his jutsu early on and then engage in hand-to-hand combat with the jōnin, so he would forget about the kunai. After that, Sakura would throw smoke bombs around the area to obscure Kakashi's vision and increase the chances that the clone could grab the bells without being seen. Sasuke, at first, was meant to be a support, distracting Kakashi in the smoke with Naruto. But after some deliberations, the trio decided that he would be tasked with "pushing" Kakashi toward the kunai if he moved too far away and also making sure the alarm was triggered once they got the bells. They didn't know if Kakashi would try to recover the bells, so it was better not to take any chances. Not to mention, with little time left, the Uchiha would also be able to prevent the alarm from going off too early.

"Well done, Naruto-kun. If you don't mind answering, where did that last clone come from?" Kakashi asked, amused by the cleverness of his future students.

"Remember that first kunai? That was my Bushin Heiki no Jutsu. It's basically a jutsu that turns a Kage Bunshin into a weapon. Cool, right?" The redhead explained enthusiastically, very proud of his creation.

"An ingenious jutsu, indeed. But now, back to the matter at hand, I see you managed to get two bells. What will you do? Will you give one of the bells to one of your teammates or try to pass on your own?" Despite the smile in Kakashi's eyes, his statement landed like a bomb, making Sasuke and Sakura shoot nervous glances at their teammate.

"Humph." Huffing, the redhead easily tossed a bell to Sakura and another to Sasuke, both of them sighing in relief. "Cut the act, Kakashi, we already know the true purpose of this test!"

"Oh, really? And what would that 'true purpose' be?" asked the older shinobi, raising one of his eyebrows.

"Sacrifice. The test is about whether we're willing to sacrifice ourselves for the good of the mission."

"Hehehehe... HAHAHAHA!" Slowly, the jōnin began a small chuckle that quickly turned into a loud laugh. The trio was stunned by this behavior, with Naruto being the most impressed. For the first time since the redhead had met Kakashi, he felt something different from amusement and indifference emanating from the older shinobi. 'What's with all this coldness?'

"Hehehe... haff... haff... uh, it's been a while since I laughed so much. Well, that's an interesting interpretation of the bell test, but I'm sorry to tell you, there is no such thing as a 'true purpose.' The test is what it is," Kakashi explained, throwing the redhead a pitying look.

Naruto, with no other choice, decided to double down. 'Maybe he just wants to see if the others are willing to sacrifice too.' "Alright, I've already spent two extra years in the academy. A third one is no big deal."

Sakura, unlike Naruto, was very nervous. Her head was lowered, overwhelmed by the guilt and shame she felt at that moment. She, more than anyone, knew that, out of the three of them, she was the one who least deserved to pass. Unable to bear the situation any longer, she threw her bell back to Naruto.

"Naruto is the one who contributed the most, he has to pass!" asserted the kunoichi, glaring directly at Kakashi. However, her gaze quickly averted. "Besides, I think I deserve to spend another year in the academy..."

Kakashi didn't say anything and quickly shifted his gaze to the Uchiha heir.

Sasuke was also going through his own internal dilemma. He was the one who most wanted to pass among the trio. The rest his clan clamored for since that incident depended on him, and for that, he needed to pass. However, he knew he didn't deserve it. 'Naruto could have gotten the bells by himself. His plan didn't depend on us!'

His pride couldn't bear the idea of passing without merit. 'How am I supposed to kill him if I can't even pass a test?' It was with this thought in mind that the Uchiha threw his bell toward the redhead.

"If I'm going to pass without merit, I'd rather go back to the academy!" exclaimed the young Uchiha, resolute.

Naruto was holding back the big smile threatening to take over his face. 'That's it, they got it!' The redhead cast a hopeful look at Kakashi. "Come on, Cyclops, spill it already!"

"Well then, I have no choice. Congratulations, Naruto-kun. From today on, you are my apprentice. The other two can go back to the academy starting tomorrow. As consolation, they can keep the two bento. My new apprentice and I will have lunch at a restaurant."

Naruto was bewildered. 'Huh? No way... he was serious? No, no, no, he can't be!' The redhead turned toward Kakashi, expecting something, anything. But the jōnin was calmly picking up the alarm, while Sasuke and Sakura, already resigned, grabbed their bento boxes.

"Alright, everything's picked up. Shall we go, Naruto-kun?" With that question, the redhead finally accepted reality. He couldn't help but lower his head in embarrassment. 'I... I want to pass like this?'

Kakashi stood there, staring at Naruto as if waiting for something, until the redhead lifted his head, threw the two bells on the ground, and shouted:

"To hell with this! Screw you and this stupid test! I don't want to be an apprentice to someone who makes a test like this! If those two are going back to the academy, then I'll go with them!" The redhead finished, flipping him the bird.

Naruto was so angry that he didn't even notice the wave of pride that filled Kakashi's heart at that moment. 'They really deserve it.'

"Mah, mah, what am I going to do with you all? This is the first time everyone I test refuses to pass," said the jōnin, scratching his hair in feigned concern. "You know what? Naruto's right. Screw the test, you three passed!"

"Huh?"

"WHAT?!"

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!"

"You know, Naruto was right. The test had a hidden objective, but it wasn't about sacrifice. It was about teamwork. The moment you all worked together to get the bells from me, you had already passed."

The trio's surprise was only surpassed by their growing anger as they looked at the smile on their new sensei's face.

"SO, WHAT WAS ALL OF THIS ABOUT?" It was no surprise that this outburst came from Sakura. Of the three, she was the most shaken, whether due to her personality or the circumstances.

Kakashi, as quick as a hummingbird's wings, shifted from a playful, carefree expression to one that was deadly serious.

"It was to teach you a lesson." As the trio noticed the shift in the older shinobi's posture, they quickly calmed down. "See that stone over there? It bears the names of Konoha's greatest heroes. They all sacrificed themselves for the village, dying on missions."

At first, Naruto almost shouted that he wanted his name on that stone. Fortunately, he held back and, after hearing the rest, a melancholic expression took over his face.

"What you said about the test is kind of right, actually, Naruto. It's also about sacrificing yourself for Konoha's good. It's about instilling in you the rule that the mission comes above all else." Kakashi's gaze passed over each of his students before resting on the stone again. "You know what they say? Those who break that rule are trash. And they're right—many times, the outcome of a mission carries the existence of the entire village."

As Kakashi spoke, he placed his hand over his Hitai-ate, where his covered eye was. Memories flashed in his mind. Then, he opened his eye with a melancholic yet resolute gleam.

"But you know something? Those who break the rules are trash, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash!"

The three of them were stunned by this declaration, and respect for their new teacher filled their hearts.

"That was the lesson I wanted to teach you. This ends our training. Starting tomorrow, Team Seven begins its duties!"

'This guy... he's really cool.' The redhead watched his sensei walk away while reflecting, 'What happened with Mizuki will forever be a scar on my soul, but maybe... maybe, by being part of this team, I can forget that this scar even exists.'

To be continued

---

Technique Glossary

Konoha Mai Kenpō (Leaf Dance Martial Art):

The standard combat style taught in Konoha, with two variations adapted to the user's sex: one that takes advantage of the natural flexibility of the female body and another that exploits the brute strength of the male body.

Its distinguishing feature is the versatile use of strikes, combining punches, kicks, elbow strikes, and knee strikes in fluid sequences. When performed correctly, the style resembles a dance due to the high speed of the movements, aimed at overwhelming the opponent with relentless attacks.

Hangeki Kenpō (Counter-Attack Martial Art):

A fighting style created by the legendary Uchiha Clan to use the Sharingan to its maximum potential. Its foundation is the counter-attack, utilizing the dojutsu's ability to read the enemy's movements and react with lethal precision.

Although it is mainly defensive, Hangeki Kenpō can also be used offensively. However, to do so, the user must have a high mastery of the Sharingan, enabling them to anticipate the opponent's movements without relying solely on counter-attacks.

Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique):

The signature jutsu of the Uchiha, known as a rite of passage within the clan. It involves the user expelling a massive fireball from their mouth, large enough to engulf an adult man.

Despite being a destructive technique, its range is relatively short, and although its temperature is lethal to a living being, it is not strong enough to melt metals or even sand.

Doton: Shinjū Zanshu no Jutsu (Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique):

An Earth Element ninjutsu that allows the user to hide beneath the ground and then pull the target by their ankles, burying their body and leaving only their head exposed on the surface.

Its main weakness is that the earth the user travels through becomes looser, making it relatively easy for the victim to escape after a while.

Bunshin Daibakuha no Jutsu (Clone Great Explosion Technique):

The user creates a clone of themselves with the same properties as the Kage Bunshin. Its distinguishing feature is the clone's ability to detonate in a large explosion, either by its own will or when the opponent attempts to dissipate it.

Its main weakness is the high chakra cost, as well as the inability to transmit memories to the user, which the Kage Bunshin can do.

Bunshin Bakuha no Jutsu (Clone Explosion Technique):

An original technique by Naruto, which consists of creating a clone with an explosive tag sealed inside its body.

Unlike the Bunshin Daibakuha, the clone does not explode when dissipated. It must be manually activated, and there is a slight delay before the explosion occurs, giving the opponent a chance to dissipate it before detonation.

Another difference is the destructive power of the explosion, which is significantly smaller. Since the detonation occurs inside the clone, its body itself acts as a buffer, absorbing part of the impact.

Bunshin Heiki no Jutsu (Clone Weapon Technique):

Another of Naruto's creations, this technique combines the Henge no Jutsu with the Kage Bunshin. Its distinguishing feature, for now, is the element of surprise, allowing the clone to suddenly dispel the Henge to attack the opponent.

---

Reviews's Responses

FrankOceanLover911:

I'm glad you liked it! I hope I can continue meeting your expectations.

As for the couples, this fanfic will definitely not be a harem. I simply can't imagine a scenario where that type of development wouldn't feel forced, given what I plan for the future of the story.

However, that doesn't mean it will be pure romance either. Naruto will have more than one relationship throughout the story, but not at the same time, of course. My goal is for each of them to have significant narrative weight.

As for the love interests... well, for now, that's still a secret.

bibidibabidiboom:

As it's clear in this chapter, this was intentional. I've always thought it was strange that Naruto belonged to a powerful clan, but no one mentioned it until halfway through Shippuden—felt like a retcon to me.

Since I'm not bound by that limitation, I opted for the simplest solution: I made him not carry his family's surname. But don't worry! He's an Uzumaki, and this will be explored more in the future of the story.

Moonlight Slayer:

That wasn't the impression I wanted to give, but I guess I can only blame myself for not making it clear enough.

It's not that this Naruto is weaker than the original—what happens is that I wanted to make all the other ninjas stronger. It always bothered me that the ranks within the series didn't reflect the expected strength.

In this chapter, I made sure to clarify that, among the freshly graduated, he's the strongest. So don't expect a genin to beat a chūnin easily in this story. Here, hierarchies matter.

---

Author's Notes:

Wow, this took longer than I would have liked! I hope the length makes up for the wait.

This was the first chapter where I had to create scenes practically from scratch, and it was a challenge for me. The session with Inoichi was the part I struggled with the most. I've never been to a psychologist, so at first, I had no idea how to structure the scene.

To help, I ended up watching The Sopranos since I remembered the various scenes of Tony Soprano with his therapist. It was a great find and helped me get unstuck. Now, I just hope the scene turned out at least decently.

One more thing: in this chapter, I dropped hints of another change in the canon universe. So, what may seem like a typo could very well be one of those clues.

I think that's it! The next chapter will focus on training, Rank D missions, and maybe the beginning of the Wave arc. Ja ne!