"Lightning Style: Ground Surge!"
Seeing Kakashi momentarily distracted, Sasuke flickered out of the crowd and slammed both hands onto the ground. Crackling! Bolts of electricity burst out from his palms in a wide arc, flashing toward Kakashi's feet in the blink of an eye.
Zzzzt—
Blinding light filled the air. Sasuke narrowed his eyes—but Kakashi hadn't moved an inch. His right palm hovered over the ground, lightning arcing densely across his entire body, fully neutralizing Sasuke's jutsu.
"This... could it be…"
Realizing his Lightning Style attack had no effect, Sasuke deactivated his Sharingan, though he was deeply surprised. There was no shrill chirping sound, but this technique Kakashi used—it was all too familiar.
"Sasuke-kun~"
Sakura groggily sat up. Hearing the crackling noise, she focused—and gasped.
"Visible chakra being sustained directly in the hand like that?!"
"That's it for today."
Kakashi glanced at Naruto—still unconscious on the ground—and at the scattered shadow clones. Dispersing the lightning in his hand, he said casually, "Overall, not bad today. Once Naruto wakes up, let him know—meet at the village gate at 9 a.m. tomorrow."
Sasuke's expression shifted. "Another mission outside the village?"
"Mhm." Kakashi nodded lightly. "Don't worry—it won't interfere much with your training. We're heading to the Land of Waterfalls. The mission is similar to the last time we escorted a trade caravan."
With that, Kakashi turned and left.
As Sasuke watched his retreating figure, he appeared calm—but his mind was on high alert.
Kakashi… saw right through what I was thinking.
"Do I really wear everything on my face, like Naruto says...?"
Compared to Naruto, still lying unconscious on the ground, Sasuke felt utterly defeated.
"Sasuke-kun~"
Sakura walked up to him.
"What is it?" Sasuke asked flatly, his expression emotionless—cold as ever.
But Sakura immediately fell into a daze. "So cool…"
Sasuke frowned. "Huh?"
"Ah—" Sakura quickly snapped out of it. "Um... should we just wait here for Naruto to wake up, or...?"
"Let him wake up on his own."
Sasuke sighed. How long was that guy planning to sleep? Then, looking at one of the Naruto clones still disguised as him, Sasuke suddenly got an idea.
He walked over to one of the Narutos, squatted down, and smirked. "Maybe waking him up is better."
"Sasuke-kun, what are you—"
POW!
Before Sakura could finish her question, she saw Sasuke punch Naruto square in the face.
Puff!
The Naruto clone exploded into smoke.
Sasuke's smirk widened.
At the Hokage's Office.
The Third Hokage stood at the window, puffing on his pipe, deep in thought.
Behind him, Yamato suddenly raised a hand to his ear.
"Hokage-sama, Team 7 has dispersed."
"Hmm…"
The Third slowly turned around. "You said earlier… during the trial, Naruto used a shadow clone to launch a suicide attack using explosive tags against Kakashi?"
"Yes."
Yamato nodded solemnly. "Kakashi-senpai specifically brought it up during the debrief. He warned Naruto about how dangerous that move was."
"And Naruto fainting suddenly… must be related to that."
The Third said nothing for a long moment.
Today's performance by Team 7 had surprised him. But Naruto using a shadow clone in such a desperate tactic—that was beyond what he had expected.
Now he wondered… was that the clone's own last-minute decision? Or had Naruto and Sasuke planned it together beforehand?
Or worse—had Naruto already decided to do that even before the trial began?
If it was a clone's spontaneous idea or something improvised with Sasuke, that was still acceptable—it was a simulation for the Chūnin Exam's Forest of Death scroll battle, and Kakashi's Jonin-level strength was a major factor. While dangerous to the real body, it was a legitimate trump card.
But if Naruto had planned it from the very start...
That would be a serious problem.
His expression darkened. After taking another puff from his pipe, he asked, "Has Naruto gone home yet?"
Yamato pressed a hand to his earpiece, then frowned in surprise. "No. He doesn't seem to be heading home. He used a Transformation Jutsu and appears to be heading toward the village hospital."
"The hospital?"
The Third's eyes narrowed. "You said he wasn't injured. Why's he going there?"
"No idea." Yamato shook his head.
The Third suddenly felt a surge of irritation. He strode over to the balcony. "Hayate!"
"Lord Hokage!"
Hayate Gekkō appeared outside the balcony instantly.
"Bring Kakashi here."
"Yes, sir!"
At the Konoha Memorial Stone.
Hayate soon found Kakashi in front of the stone monument.
At the Konoha Hospital.
A middle-aged man in a white coat with a red 医 ("Medical") symbol over his chest slowly shook his head.
"Sorry, young man. You're just not suited for medical ninjutsu."
Looking at the dead fish on the operating table, a 14- or 15-year-old boy silently walked toward the lab door. Once he stepped outside—
Puff!
He transformed back into Naruto.
"Seriously, Naruto? You went all the way there just to kill some fish?" came Isobu's voice in his mind.
"No reason. I just wanted them to think I was frustrated," Naruto replied, picking up his pace toward home.
"Then why the Transformation Jutsu?"
Isobu sounded puzzled. "Wouldn't using your real face be more convincing?"
"You don't get it. Using a disguise makes it more convincing."
Naruto found it a little amusing. Then he changed the subject: "Why are you out? Did you get another fun reward?"
"No," Isobu grunted. "But Zabuza and his group found a lead on Kinken."
"Oh?"
Naruto slowed his pace. "Where's Kinken and his Jinchūriki now?"
"Don't know." Isobu sounded disappointed. "Zabuza only found out that the Jinchūriki was seen last month entering the Land of Demons with a group of mercenary ninja."
"The Land of Demons? Mercenary ninja?"
Naruto immediately recalled when Jiraiya went there to help the shrine maiden reinforce a seal.
"So Kinken is in the Land of Demons?"
"Not confirmed," Isobu said. "Zabuza only got the info today. They're already heading there. I'll keep tracking them."
"Let me know the moment anything new comes up."
Isobu went silent—likely returning to the Mirror World.
If Kinken isn't in the Land of Demons, then he must be in the Land of Marshes...
Naruto was sure Jiraiya's trip had been arranged by that old toad from Mount Myōboku. Now that Kinken was spotted in the Land of Demons, Naruto knew he'd have to go there soon.
Still, even if he was going to rescue Kinken, what did that have to do with Jiraiya reinforcing the demon's seal?
Back at the Hokage's Office.
The Third Hokage was still mulling over why Naruto had gone to the hospital under a disguise and taken the medical-nin exam again.
After a while, he turned to Kakashi and Yamato. "Your thoughts?"
Kakashi answered first, "On the surface, it looks like Naruto wanted to confirm if he had any talent for medical ninjutsu."
"And in reality?"
Kakashi fell silent for a moment, then said, "He's probably starting to doubt himself. His lack of progress in training is shaking his confidence."
"I agree," Yamato added seriously. "I completely understand how he feels. Back when I was stuck in my Wood Style training, I nearly spiraled into self-doubt."
The Third Hokage nodded thoughtfully, then looked at Kakashi. "How is Sasuke's strength now?"
"Judging by this afternoon—now that his Sharingan is active—Sasuke is much stronger than Naruto."
Kakashi's voice was calm. "Naruto only knows the Shadow Clone Jutsu, and even Sakura has better resistance to genjutsu than he does."
"Hmm."
The Third picked up his pipe again. "You said Sasuke awakened the Sharingan by saving Rock Lee?"
"That's right."
Kakashi lifted his forehead protector, revealing his left eye. "They were both training near a cliff. When Lee suddenly slipped, Sasuke risked his life to save him. It's just like how I got this eye—Sasuke awakened his Sharingan in that life-or-death moment."
"Obito Uchiha…"
The Third Hokage shook his head. Kakashi still hadn't moved on. But he'd read the notes left behind by his own teacher. The way Sasuke awakened his Sharingan matched the pattern.
He was pleased to see Sasuke cherish his comrades like Obito had.
And yet… he felt regret too. If more of the Uchiha clan had understood the Will of Fire, their downfall might've been avoided.
The Next Morning.
At 9:00 AM, Team 7 gathered at the village gate.
Kakashi walked at the front. Naruto wore his usual gear. This time, both Sakura and Sasuke carried large travel packs like him.
The three didn't walk side-by-side—instead, they moved in a triangular formation behind Kakashi.
Naruto was at the front, Sakura and Sasuke behind him, with a long-haired young man wearing a Takigakure forehead protector walking between them.
His name was Shibuki—the client they were escorting.
And of course, Yamato trailed the group from behind, as always.
"Look at that guy from Takigakure. A bird flaps by and he hides behind the girl!"
"Naruto, just grab Chōmei's Jinchūriki when we get there."
"Hard to believe a village leader can be that much of a coward…"
"..."
Before long, the three tailed beasts in Naruto's body were already arguing inside the seal. Naruto wasn't surprised. In the original timeline, Shibuki had been a coward from the start.
That Night.
On a large flat rock, Kakashi and Shibuki sat across from each other, separated by a campfire. Naruto and his teammates stayed inside their tents. Before sundown, Naruto had dispatched clones to patrol the perimeter.
"Kakashi-san, you really didn't bring a tent?" Shibuki asked nervously, glancing around at the bugs chirping in the darkness.
"I don't use tents," Kakashi replied without looking at him.
Whoosh, whoosh!
Cold wind stirred the grass. The night felt more sinister.
Shibuki shivered—then suddenly darted into the nearest tent.
"Shibuki-sama, you…" Naruto blinked. He was just about to sneak off—he'd already copied Shibuki's puppet earlier that day.
"I'm sleeping here tonight!" Shibuki said firmly. "Don't worry, I'll pay extra."
"No problem."
Naruto turned to pour some warm water. Handing it to Shibuki with a smile, he said, "Have some tea first. I'll get you a blanket."
3:00 AM.
Naruto hovered 100 meters above a dense forest near Takigakure, clad in chakra armor.
"This is the place."
Just as he was about to descend, he paused—Kurama had just contacted Chōmei.
Moments later, a buzzing sound filled the air as a figure shot up, stopping right in front of him.
"Huh? Your wings are fake?" came a girl's crisp voice.
Naruto smiled. "And yours are real?"
Inside his body, the three tailed beasts were already communicating with Chōmei.
"It's been a long time, old friend!"
"Chōmei, you gave your power to that little girl? She doesn't even look strong." Kurama sounded displeased.
"What's so strange about that? I don't like fighting anyway. I should be the one asking—why are three of you inside one person?"
Chōmei's voice was filled with curiosity. She had heard Kurama's call earlier, but upon arriving, found two other familiar chakras.
Isobu sighed, "What if someone comes to capture her?"
"So what?" Chōmei replied instinctively. "You know my speed. She's got 70% of my power. If someone comes for her and she can't win—she can run!"
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