Chapter 18: Thousand Years of Death.

Naruto kept complaining in the classroom, getting so bored that he was almost climbing the walls. It seemed intentional that their teacher for Team 7 hadn't shown up yet, even after everyone else had left.

"Naruto, you're so annoying! Stop acting like an idiot."

"But why do we have to wait here for so long?"

"Maybe the teacher had something important to do on the way here." Sakura was also getting furious inside, but she couldn't show it in front of Sasuke. It was quite challenging to hold back.

"I should have gone home with Hinata and left a clone here." Naruto sighed in frustration.

"Speaking of which, Naruto, you've been close with Hinata since you entered the Ninja Academy. How old were you when you met?"

"Probably around four years old."

"Oh, that early? By the way, Naruto, don't you worry about being too clingy? Both for girls and boys." Sakura sneaked a glance at Sasuke and noticed him staring at Naruto. She felt a bit uneasy and unwillingly asked.

"Why would I be disliked? Both Hinata and I enjoy being with each other. Since the day I climbed over the wall and saw her, it's like she has never disliked me. We've always been happy together, and today she even made a bento for me." Proudly, Naruto took out his lunchbox, even though he had already finished eating it. He still cherished it and wrapped it up carefully to carry it with him.

"Does Hinata do these things too?" Sakura couldn't quite understand. After the Uchiha clan was wiped out, the Hyuga clan had become the top noble family in Konoha, and Hinata's status was rising. How could a privileged young lady like her be willing to cook for Naruto?

"Hinata has never been interested in inheriting the main family. Most likely, it will be Hanabi who takes over in the future. Hinata is happy about it and spends a lot of time playing with me. Hehe."

"Ugh, there must be so many people lining up to marry the Hyuga princess. You'll never have a chance, Naruto, you loser." Sakura was deeply hurt. Why did idiots like Naruto and Hinata move faster on the path of love? It was unfair!

"That's why I want to become Hokage even more, to make everyone acknowledge that Hinata's choice was right."

"Making everyone acknowledge him... Sensei, you've raised a good son." Kakashi, who had been eavesdropping outside the door, smiled slightly and pushed the door open, walking in. "Let me introduce myself. I am Kakashi Hatake, and starting today, I will be your teacher... or so I'd like to say, but if you can't pass my second test, our journey together will end here."

After a brief self-introduction, Kakashi took note of the names and characteristics of the three individuals. His already lazy eyes seemed even more lackadaisical.

"Three individuals: a genius, a loser, and a love-struck girl. Oh, Sandaime, you've given me a difficult task."

"Kakashi-sensei, why do we have a second test? Do you know how hard I worked to earn this forehead protector?"

"Well, the so-called graduation exam from the Ninja Academy is just a test to see if you can apply the knowledge you've learned in school. It's too early for you rookies to be on the battlefield. Anyway, remember to gather near the Memorial Stone in the forest tomorrow at 5 am. And don't eat breakfast."

Before leaving, Kakashi looked at the three of them with eyes that couldn't be described as friendly.

"Sasuke, um, would you like to have a meal together?" Sakura, blushing, approached Sasuke and gathered her courage to invite him, but he dismissed her with a cold glance.

"Not interested."

"Sasuke, make sure you don't fail tomorrow." Naruto cheekily teased.

"Hmph, if you can pass, then I definitely can." With a mocking smile, Sasuke left without turning back.

"Be a bit nicer to girls, you blockhead!" Naruto pitifully glanced at Sakura and chased after Sasuke.

"...Sasuke and Naruto have more to talk about than me. Ahh!" Sakura screamed.

...

The next day, the sky was still dark at 5 o'clock when the three of them arrived at the meeting point. After exchanging greetings, they began to wait for Kakashi's arrival.

One hour passed. Two hours passed. Three hours passed.

"Naruto!!! Don't fall asleep. Wake up!" Sakura, going crazy, pulled Naruto, who was lying on the ground, catching up on sleep. Anyone would go crazy waiting for five hours. Even Sasuke was impatiently looking around, hoping to see Kakashi.

"Why am I so stupid to agree to this?" Naruto, as soon as he got up from the ground, muttered words that no one could understand.

"What are you saying? It's already 11 o'clock, and Kakashi-sensei hasn't shown up. Did he trick us?"

"Even if you tell me that, I can't do anything about it."

"Sorry, sorry, I'm late. There was an old lady who fell on the roadside, so..." Just as Naruto was feeling helpless, Kakashi suddenly appeared in front of the three of them, spinning a completely unbelievable lie.

"You liar! Kakashi-sensei, you're a liar!" Naruto was the first one to not believe him, pointing his finger at Kakashi's nose and scolding.

"Ahem, let's not waste time. This alarm clock is set for 12 o'clock. All you have to do is take two bells from me before then, and that will be considered a pass."

Kakashi awkwardly changed the topic and placed an alarm clock on top of a stump, along with two bento boxes.

"Two? But there are three of us." Sakura looked at Kakashi, puzzled by the two bells hanging from his waist.

"No one said that all of you could pass. Those who fail to grab a bell will be considered losers and will be tied to a stump to watch us eat the bento. You must be hungry."

"Not being allowed to eat breakfast is for this..."

Sasuke's eyes flashed with anger. It turned out that yesterday's restriction wasn't for intense training but rather this guy's malice.

"Let's get started then. Ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, attack me from any angle."

With Kakashi's order, Sasuke and Sakura each dispersed and found their hiding spots. Only Naruto stood dumbfounded in front of him.

"You?"

"A true man faces things head-on. I will take your bell directly from the front. Prepare yourself!"

Naruto showed a confident smile, took out a shuriken, and charged toward Kakashi, aiming for his waist. If the shuriken hit the bell, it would surely fall.

"Fool, you're such a fool."

Kakashi's lazy eyes remained devoid of any emotion. He easily dodged Naruto's shuriken, grabbed his right arm holding the shuriken, and threw him into the air. Then he formed the tiger hand seal with both hands and shouted, "Leaf Village Secret Finger Jutsu: One Thousand Years of Death!"

"Yaaah!"

Naruto, predictably, let out a scream as he was hit right in the anus, and then 'poof'—he turned into smoke and disappeared.

"Shadow clone? That's impossible. He was always within my sight. How did he do it?"

Kakashi's eyes were filled with astonishment. If Naruto had hidden and then launched an attack, he could easily accept it, but Naruto managed to switch between his clone and himself right in front of his eyes. Even Kakashi couldn't do that.

"Naruto, how did you do it?"

Not only Kakashi, but Sasuke, who had been observing from a tree, was also shocked. He knew that achieving such a feat in front of a Jonin was almost impossible, especially considering Naruto was always lagging behind.

"Sasuke."

A gentle call came from behind, and Sasuke was startled and immediately turned around, only to have Naruto cover his mouth with his hand.

"Don't make a sound. We'll get caught."

Naruto made a gesture to remain silent, and Sasuke calmed down and nodded.

"Mmm."

"Kakashi-sensei's strength, you've seen it. Sasuke, it's impossible for one person alone. We need to work together for a chance."

The feeling that came from the shadow clone made Naruto's butt still ache. To protect his own butt and increase the success rate, he chose to cooperate with Sasuke.

"Okay, but you have to tell me how you did it afterward."

Sasuke agreed. After Naruto used that move, Sasuke no longer saw him as a mere straggler. He saw him as a useful straggler, and if necessary, he would step on Naruto's head to take away that bell.

"No problem!"