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As the group settled the matter with just a few words, Naruto hesitated. He wanted to speak up but held back. Something felt off. If he refused, Sarutobi Hiruzen would undoubtedly keep pressuring him to become a ninja. The Hokage might even send people to pester him daily, an unbearable thought.
But becoming an instructor? That was different.
He could take missions when he wanted and rest when he didn't. The only downside? Dealing with Sasuke's constant nagging.
'Still…'
This arrangement suited his preference for a quiet, stable life. And it would stop people from questioning him for not being a ninja.
Naruto made up his mind.
"What's the test?" he asked.
Hiruzen's eyes gleamed. Naruto's agreement meant he would become a ninja one way or another, whether he passed or failed. More importantly, this was a chance to gauge Naruto's true strength.
After all, the boy had faced the Nine-Tails without fear. That kind of confidence had to come from somewhere.
Hiruzen already had a candidate in mind.
"You need to defeat Hatake Kakashi," he declared.
Sasuke's brow furrowed.
'Kakashi?'
If this incident hadn't happened, would Kakashi have been his future sensei?
He'd heard of the man, Copy Ninja Kakashi the Sharingan wielder. The title suggested a connection to the Uchiha, yet Kakashi wasn't one of them.
But more importantly…
Kakashi was an elite jĹŤnin.
Pitting a genin hopeful against him seemed excessive.
Sakura didn't hold back. "Hokage-sama, if you don't want Naruto-kun as our instructor, just say so! Why make him fight an elite jĹŤnin? What if he gets hurt?"
Hiruzen coughed awkwardly but didn't respond.
Naruto, however, remained unfazed. "Kakashi's already here, isn't he?"
As if on cue, a lazy voice drifted from the doorway.
"Right here…"
All eyes turned to the white-haired man leaning against the frame. His mask obscured half his face, and his forehead protector covered one eye, leaving only a single, droopy gaze visible. His posture was straight, but his energy screamed chronic exhaustion.
Sasuke's hopes sank.
'This guy doesn't look impressive at all.'
Hiruzen addressed Kakashi. "This time, take it seriously."
Kakashi shrugged. "Of course. These three were supposed to be my students. Now someone's trying to steal my job. I'm very upset."
His tone was sharp, but his delivery was so flat it lacked any real bite.
The group moved to the academy's training grounds. Naruto and Kakashi stood opposite each other, the tension palpable.
Kakashi studied the calm blond before him.
'He really does look like Sensei…'
He'd heard the rumors, Naruto was the boy who'd rescued a comrade from Cloud shinobi.
"Show me what you've got," Kakashi said, lifting his forehead protector to reveal his Sharingan.
Sasuke's breath hitched.
'That's a Sharingan! But how?'
No one had answers for him yet.
Kakashi's hand hovered over his weapon pouch. Naruto mirrored him, drawing a kunai.
Then… Kakashi froze.
He stood completely still, staring.
Naruto tilted his head. "What are you doing?"
Kakashi mirrored the motion. "There's an obvious age gap between us. Physically, I have the advantage. With my Sharingan, I can copy your movements perfectly. You'll never land a hit."
He smirked. "So go ahead. Attack."
His logic was sound.
An adult's physical prowess should outmatch a child's. And with the Sharingan replicating Naruto's every move, Kakashi could counter anything.
Sakura fumed. "This Kakashi guy is so shameless! Acting all high and mighty just because he's older!"
Sasuke shot her a look. "An enemy's an enemy. Age doesn't matter in battle. Sometimes, underhanded tactics are necessary."
Iruka frowned. "I wonder how Naruto will handle this."
Naruto's response?
He formed a single hand seal.
Kakashi copied it instantly, his hands moving even faster than Naruto's.
But then, Kakashi's eye widened.
"Wha...?!"
Boom!
A thick cloud of white smoke erupted across the field. When it cleared, the space was packed with hundreds of Naruto clones, so many they spilled beyond the training grounds.
Sakura reached out, giddy, but her hand passed right through one.
"Ah… just Clone Technique."
Not Shadow Clones, just illusions with no physical form.
But the sheer number was staggering.
Seconds later, the clones vanished.
Kakashi knelt on one knee, panting heavily.
Sasuke was baffled. "What just happened?"
Hiruzen chuckled. "Brilliant."
Sakura blinked. "Huh?"
Hiruzen explained, "Kakashi's Sharingan copies everything, even hand seals. Naruto exploited that. He used a jutsu that creates the maximum number of clones. Since they're illusions, they couldn't harm Kakashi, but…"
He grinned. "For every ounce of chakra Naruto used, Kakashi also had to expend the same amount. And Naruto has far more chakra than him."
A flawless counter.
Kakashi had been outplayed in seconds.
Naruto peered at him. "You okay, Kakashi-senpai?"
Kakashi exhaled roughly. "How… do you have this much chakra?"
For a moment, he thought of Kushina.
'Right… he's her son.'
But still, this was absurd.
Kakashi had built his reputation on his Sharingan's copying ability. He'd recorded thousands of jutsu. Yet Naruto had dismantled his entire strategy with one move.
"I lost," Kakashi admitted, standing. "Your tactics and chakra reserves are more than enough for an instructor's role."
The prodigy of his generation had been outshone.
Sakura cheered. "Yes! So Naruto-kun's our instructor now, right, Hokage-sama?"
Hiruzen nodded. "Very well. Naruto will lead Team 7."
Team 7's Official Formation
Captain & Instructor:Â Uzumaki Naruto
Members:Â Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura
Sakura beamed. "Naruto-kun! It's our first day as a team! Shouldn't we celebrate?"
This was her chance! Normally, Naruto was swarmed by Hinata or other girls. Now, she had him all to herself.
Sasuke scowled. "Celebrating is a waste of time. We should train."
He was very interested in Naruto's methods.
Sakura huffed. "We're not the captain! Naruto-kun decides!"
Both turned to him.
Naruto, ever the slacker, shrugged. "Sure. Let's celebrate."
Sasuke sighed but didn't argue.
After a lively meal, Naruto stretched. "Alright, rest up. We'll discuss the team's plans tomorrow."
Sasuke hesitated. "Where do we meet?"
Naruto pondered. "Same place. We'll set our schedule then."
The Next Day, Naruto presented his masterpiece a weekly plan for Team 7:
Monday:Â Party
Tuesday:Â Hot springs
Wednesday:Â Check for missions (if they feel like it)
Thursday: One training session (mandatory… barely)
Friday:Â Team bonding (eating, hot springs, movies, shopping, etc.)
Saturday & Sunday:Â Day off (absolute laziness)
Sasuke stared at the paper, his expression priceless.
'This… is our training regimen?'
Naruto grinned.
'Perfect.'