Chapter 5: The Monk vs the Copy Ninja
Naruto leaped through the forest with a steady, controlled rhythm, his face calm as he effortlessly moved through the branches. He wasn't in any particular hurry; after all, his opponent was part of the test, and he could sense that his teammates were faring well enough. This was nothing more than an exercise for him, a mere warm-up.
The figure closing in behind him grew more distinct. The man's chakra was strong, but Naruto didn't feel even a flicker of concern. In fact, he didn't even need to look back to know who it was, he had already identified the man as Kakashi Hatake, the infamous Copy Ninja of Konoha.
Naruto's lips curled into a small smile. "This should be interesting."
He came to a sudden stop atop a large tree branch, casually turning to face his pursuer.
"You've led me on quite the chase," Kakashi said, his voice low and gruff.
Due to the genjutsu his appearance also looked different
"But this is the end of the line, kid. Hand over that scroll." Kakashi
Naruto's lips curled into a smirk. "Sorry, I don't feel like it."
Kakashi chuckled darkly, pulling out a kunai. "I was hoping you'd say that." His hands flew into a series of hand signs, faster than Naruto had expected. "Let's see how long you can last."
In an instant, Kakashi slammed his hands into the ground. "Doton: Yomi Numa!" (Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!)
The earth beneath Naruto's feet liquefied, transforming into a deep, muddy swamp that began swallowing everything, dragging trees into its depths.
Naruto, however, was already prepared. With a single step, he vanished from the swamp's grasp, reappearing mid-air with a burst of Shunpo, as if he had never been there. His eyes glinted with amusement as he watched the swamp churn below him.
"Is that the best you've got?" Naruto teased.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed, but he didn't respond. Instead, he weaved another set of hand signs. "Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu!" (Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!)
The air hummed with chakra as an enormous water dragon erupted from the nearby trees, its serpentine body twisting toward Naruto with incredible speed. The dragon's roar shook the forest as it struck with the force of a tidal wave.
Naruto didn't flinch. Instead, he raised his hand, pointing two fingers toward the incoming dragon. "Hadō #33: Sōkatsui." (Blue Fire, Crash Down!) A blast of blue energy surged from Naruto's fingers, slamming into the water dragon with explosive force. The resulting clash sent shockwaves through the air, evaporating the water dragon in an instant.
Kakashi's eyes widened briefly, but he recovered quickly. "You're full of surprises, aren't you? But I'm far from done."
Before Naruto could respond, Kakashi disappeared in a blur, reappearing directly in front of him with his kunai aimed at Naruto's throat. His speed and precision were impressive,any other genin would have fallen to the strike.
But Naruto was no ordinary shinobi. He sidestepped the attack with grace, twisting his body to dodge the strike. Kakashi pressed forward, launching a flurry of punches and kicks, each one aimed with deadly precision. Naruto deflected them with ease. The forest echoed with the sound of fists colliding with air, and sparks flew as Kakashi's kunai clashed against Naruto's spiritual energy.
Naruto's eyes gleamed with excitement. Kakashi was a skilled opponent, not on Maru's level but he was certainly skilled.
As Kakashi attempted to land another blow, Naruto thrust his hand forward. "Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō!" (Six Rods Prison of Light!) Six beams of golden light erupted from Naruto's palm, slamming into Kakashi's midsection and pinning him in place.
Kakashi grunted, his body frozen in the air by the Kido spell. But instead of panic, a dangerous smile spread across his face. "Nice trick, kid. But I've faced worse."
With a surge of chakra, Kakashi substituted himself with a log.
Kakashi created earth hounds, charging toward Naruto with fangs bared.
Naruto's hands moved in a blur. "Bakudō #73: Tozanshō!" (Inverted Mountain Crystal!)
A transparent, pyramid-shaped barrier formed around Naruto, deflecting the hounds' attacks. They collided with the barrier, their teeth scraping uselessly against the surface. Naruto lowered the barrier with a flick of his wrist, vanishing again with Shunpo and reappearing behind the hounds.
"Hadō #31: Shakkahō!" (Red Flame Cannon!) A sphere of crimson energy formed in Naruto's hand before he unleashed it toward the hounds. The blast struck the ground with a fiery explosion, destroying them.
Kakashi gritted his teeth as he surveyed the battlefield. Naruto had already demonstrated formidable power, far beyond that of a typical genin. He wasn't to be taken lightly.
"Let's see how you handle this," Kakashi said, performing another series of rapid hand signs. "Raiton: Gian!" (Lightning Release: False Darkness!)
Twin bolts of lightning crackled through the air, forming into sharp, spear-like projectiles that flew toward Naruto with blinding speed.
Naruto's response was instantaneous. "Bakudō #81: Dankū!" (Splitting Void!*) A translucent barrier appeared in front of him, absorbing the lightning spears as they collided with it, leaving Naruto unharmed.
Kakashi's frustration was evident now. His chakra reserves were running out, it irritated him that Naruto countered each one of his jutsu with ease.
Naruto's eyes narrowed as he decided to end it. "You're strong," he admitted, "but this is the end for you."
Kakashi braced himself.
Naruto raised his hand to the sky, summoning an enormous amount of spiritual pressure. The air around him crackled with energy as he muttered, "Hadō #90: Kurohitsugi." (Black Coffin!)
A massive black box formed around Kakashi, its walls etched with dark energy. The box slammed shut, trapping Kakashi inside. The crushing force within the Black Coffin was overwhelming, tearing at his body with sheer pressure. Kakashi enhanced himself with chakra.
His scream was muffled as his chakra was being suppressed by the Kido's power.
When the Black Coffin faded, Kakashi grunted in pain, his body weakened but still intact.
"Kakashi Hatake," Naruto said suddenly, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.
Kakashi froze, his eye widening slightly at the sound of his full name.
Naruto smirked, his gaze never leaving Kakashi's. "That's right. I know who you are. I know more than just your reputation as the Copy Ninja. I know your true name."
Kakashi's breath caught in his throat. He hadn't mentioned his name at any point during their encounter, and Asuma hadn't briefed Naruto about him either. Yet, this boy had just spoken his name without hesitation.
Naruto's smirk grew wider. "Oh, don't be so shocked. Asuma didn't tell you, did he? I have the ability to identify the true names of all living things. Nobody can hide their identity from me, not even you."
Kakashi was silent, his mind racing as he processed Naruto's words. The ability to know someone's true name... it was a power unlike anything he had encountered before.
"Now," Naruto continued, his tone more serious, "are we done here, or are you going to keep testing me?"
Kakashi knew he had reached his limit. This wasn't a battle he could win, not under these conditions. And perhaps more importantly, this test wasn't about defeating Naruto. It was about gauging his abilities.
With a sigh, Kakashi relented. "You're right. There's no point in continuing you've already passed."
Naruto's expression remained calm, almost indifferent. "Good call."
Without another word, Naruto turned his back to Kakashi, walking away as if the battle had never even happened. Kakashi sat there for a moment, watching Naruto's retreating figure, a thousand thoughts running through his mind.
As soon as Naruto disappeared from sight, Kakashi pulled out a familiar orange book, "Icha Icha Paradise". Flipping it open, he allowed himself a small chuckle, though his thoughts remained on Naruto.
"Naruto's power... it's unreal," Kakashi muttered to himself. "He's not just some genin. Being able to use such high-level techniques without breaking a sweat. He's a genius"
He closed his book and glanced up at the sky, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Looks like I'll have to keep an eye on him. There's no telling what he's capable of."
____
Naruto returned to his teammates soon after, the scroll still in hand. "Took you long enough," he said with a grin, tossing the scroll to Asuma, who caught it effortlessly.
Shikamaru shook his head. "So this was a test from the beginning..."
"Welcome to the real world of ninja," Asuma said. "You'll face things far worse than a genjutsu in the future, so get used to it."
Hinata smiled softly, feeling a sense of pride welling up inside her. She had survived her first real test, and while it had been terrifying, she knew she had grown from the experience. Shikamaru, on the other hand, just shook his head, muttering under his breath about how much of a hassle it all was.
Naruto stretched, clearly unaffected by the whole ordeal. "Well, that was fun. What's next?
Asuma asked where Kakashi was.
With a scary expression Naruto told them" I killed him"
Seeing their shocked expressions Naruto told them" Relax I am joking" He chuckled
Asuma arched a brow at Naruto, visibly trying to shake off the initial shock of his words. "Joking, huh?" he muttered, his tone heavy with suspicion. "You've got a twisted sense of humor, Naruto."
Shikamaru groaned, rubbing the back of his head as he shot Naruto an unimpressed look. "Troublesome..."
Hinata, on the other hand, merely smiled,relieved that Naruto had returned safely and apparently unfazed. The tension from earlier seemed to melt away in the wake of Naruto's nonchalance, but there was still a lingering air of curiosity surrounding what exactly had happened between him and Kakashi.
Naruto smirked, clearly enjoying the attention. "Relax. He's fine. Just taking a break." He waved off their concerns, but there was something in his eyes, something that hinted at the fact he had something interesting happened during his encounter with Kakashi.
Asuma watched Naruto carefully, his gaze sharpening. "A break, huh? What kind of break exactly?"
Naruto shrugged nonchalantly. "The kind where he needs to rethink some things."
Asuma frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. "You're too calm about this. Kakashi is not someone to be taken lightly, even for a joke."
Naruto's eyes glinted, his smirk widening slightly as he crossed his arms, mirroring Asuma's stance. "I know. That's what makes it fun."
Before Asuma could press further, Shikamaru intervened, clearly wanting to avoid another long-winded discussion. "So... can we be done with this test now? I'd rather get back to something less troublesome, like cloud watching."
Asuma sighed, shaking his head. "You're never going to change, are you, Shikamaru?"
The lazy genius grunted in response, clearly unbothered. "Not if I can help it."
Naruto chuckled softly, turning his attention to Hinata, who had been quiet but observant. "You alright, Hinata? You did well out there."
Hinata blushed faintly, her eyes flickering between Naruto and the ground. "Th-thank you... Naruto-kun. I-I'm just glad I didn't get in the way."
Naruto's expression softened, his usual teasing demeanor shifting into something more genuine. "You weren't in the way. You are part of the team. You passed, just like the rest of us."
Hinata's face brightened at his words, her lips curving into a shy but warm smile. She nodded quietly, her confidence bolstered by his praise.
Asuma took a deep breath, glancing at the three genin standing before him. "Alright, you've passed this stage. But don't think it's going to get any easier from here on out. The life of a shinobi is full of unexpected challenges, and this was just a taste of what's to come."
Naruto stretched his arms over his head, looking as carefree as ever. "Yeah, yeah, we get it. More tests, more missions, more fighting. I'm ready."
Shikamaru sighed. "More like more headaches..."
Asuma couldn't help but chuckle at the contrast between Naruto's enthusiasm and Shikamaru's apathy. "You'll get used to it." He turned to Hinata, who was still quietly standing off to the side. "Hinata, you did great today. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
Hinata blushed again, bowing her head respectfully. "Th-thank you, sensei."
Asuma smiled, but there was a seriousness in his eyes as he continued. "Remember this, strength isn't just about power or technique. It's about how you use your mind and your heart in battle. Keep that in mind as we move forward."
Naruto nodded, his expression a bit more thoughtful now. "Right. Got it."
Just as Asuma was about to wrap things up, a figure appeared in the distance, casually strolling toward them with his nose buried in a familiar orange book.
"Kakashi," Asuma said, turning his head. "Glad you decided to join us again."
Kakashi looked up from his book, his expression as unreadable as ever beneath his mask. "Sorry, I got a little... caught up in something."
Naruto smirked knowingly, but said nothing.
Kakashi's single visible eye flicked toward Naruto for a brief moment before he turned his attention back to Asuma. "Your students did well today. They're promising."
Asuma nodded. "They are your students as much as they are mine."
Kakashi closed his book with a soft snap, slipping it back into his pouch. "That they are."
The tension that had been present earlier seemed to dissipate entirely as Kakashi's casual demeanor reassured the group. Whatever had happened between him and Naruto was over now, and there was no need to dwell on it further. At least, not for the moment.
"So, what now?" Shikamaru asked, clearly hoping for a break.
Asuma gave him a wry smile. "Now we head back to the village. You've earned some rest."
Naruto grinned, clearly pleased with the outcome. "Finally. I could use some ramen."
Hinata glanced at Naruto, her eyes softening at the mention of his favorite food. "I-I'd like that too."
Shikamaru sighed but didn't protest. "Fine. But I'm not paying for everyone's meal."
Asuma chuckled, motioning for the team to follow him as they made their way back toward the village. "Let's go. You've all earned a break."
As they moved through the forest, Naruto couldn't help but glance over his shoulder at Kakashi, who was now walking a short distance behind them. Their earlier encounter was still fresh in his mind, and though Kakashi had played it cool, Naruto knew he had left an impression.
Kakashi, for his part, simply smiled beneath his mask, his thoughts hidden behind that ever-present air of mystery.
"Sensei your son, really is something else," Kakashi thought to himself. "Looks like things are going to get interesting from here on out."
Tbc