Chapter 12

[Sakumo Hatake: What do you mean by that?]

[Naruto Uzumaki: Just wait until my jōnin sensei shows up. Then you'll understand.]

[Sakumo Hatake: I have a bad feeling about this.]

[Minato Namikaze: Me too.]

[Nohara Rin: Me too.]

Unlike the original Naruto, I never placed an eraser over the door as a prank or revenge against our jōnin sensei for being late.

When Kakashi walked through the door... suddenly, an eraser fell on his head!

Even though I said I didn't put anything on the door as a prank for Kakashi...

Well... I lied about that!

Why would I pass up something so fun?

Kakashi slowly looked at us and sighed heavily.

"Let's see, my first impression of you all..."

He observed us for a few seconds and then concluded in a monotone voice:

"I hate you."

[Nohara Rin: IT'S KAKASHI!! Uncle Sakumo, look, it's Kakashi!]

[Sakumo Hatake: I can see that...]

[Minato Namikaze: Kakashi being late? That's very strange!]

[Nohara Rin: Minato-sensei is right, Kakashi has always been strict and rigid with the rules.]

[Naruto Uzumaki: When Obito died, Kakashi realized he didn't have to be so strict about them. In the end, he does it as a kind of tribute to Obito. He even uses some of Obito's old excuses when he's late.]

[Nohara Rin: So that's how it is...]

Kakashi didn't say anything else and turned around.

The three of us followed him to the academy rooftop.

"Start by introducing yourselves," he told us.

[Sakumo Hatake: He tells them to introduce themselves when he hasn't done it himself?]

[Nohara Rin: Typical Kakashi.]

Sakura wasn't sure how to introduce herself.

"Start by saying things like what you like, what you hate, your dreams, or hobbies... those things," Kakashi answered.

"Can you introduce yourself, sensei?" Sakura asked.

"Me? My name is Kakashi Hatake. I have no intention of telling you my interests. I wouldn't know what to say my dream is. And I have many hobbies."

"H-he only told us his name..." Sakura complained.

Both Sasuke and Naruto agreed.

"Now it's your turn," Kakashi said.

[Sakumo Hatake: Foolish boy.]

[Nohara Rin: He acts like a fool. He reminds me a little of Obito. It seems Naruto was right; Kakashi has adopted Obito's behavior as a tribute. That's sweet, but also...]

[Sakumo Hatake: Stupid?]

[Nohara Rin: Yeah... I was going to say that.]

[Sakumo Hatake: I understand my son's suffering. I've also lost comrades and friends in war. But this is not the way...]

[Minato Namikaze: If only I had arrived on time... if I hadn't been separated from them...]

[Nohara Rin: It's not your fault, Minato-sensei!]

I was the first to introduce myself.

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I like ramen. I hate many things. My hobby is... sleeping? As for my dream...!" I got more serious. "I will become the most powerful man in the world."

Kakashi narrowed his eyes at me before shifting his gaze to Sakura.

"Alright. Next," he said in a completely uninterested tone.

"I'm Sakura Haruno. What I like is... well, the person I like is..." she glanced at Sasuke. "As for my hobbies..." she looked at him again. "My dream is..." she looked at him once more and screamed excitedly.

"And what do you dislike?" Kakashi asked, noticing she had skipped that part.

"Without a doubt, Naruto!" she exclaimed.

"Well, you're among the many things I hate, so the feeling is mutual," Naruto muttered from the side.

[Kushina Uzumaki: And to think I tried to defend her in the chat group a while ago! Screw this girl!]

[Minato Namikaze: Now, now, Kushina, calm down. They're just kids.]

[Sakumo Hatake: But seriously, does that girl think the path of a kunoichi is easy? This isn't some youthful love story.]

"Lastly..." Kakashi looked at Sasuke with a hint of interest.

"My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I hate many things and don't particularly like anything."

[Mikoto Uchiha: Liar. He loves tomatoes. When he was little, I always had to watch him because he would eat them all in secret.]

[Fugaku Uchiha: He also likes learning new techniques.]

[Mikoto Uchiha: Idiot. What he liked was spending time with you, not just learning new techniques.]

[Fugaku Uchiha: ...]

Sasuke continued his introduction.

"I have a dream, but I won't let it remain just that. I will restore my clan and kill a certain man without fail."

I scoffed.

"Man, that was sinister."

Sasuke glared at Naruto.

Kakashi, noticing a fight brewing, intervened.

"Tomorrow will be our first mission."

"We'll start with something we can do as a team. A survival test."

"Why are we taking a test? We already did enough at the academy!" Sakura complained.

"Want to know? Well, here it is..."

"Out of 27 graduates, only nine will be accepted as Genin. The other 18 will go back to the academy. That means it's a difficult test with a 66% failure rate."

"Anyway, with tomorrow's test, I will decide if you pass or not. Bring weapons and such. We'll meet at 5 a.m. at Training Ground Three."

"Now, you can leave. Oh, and one more thing: don't eat breakfast... or you'll throw up."

"Kakashi-sensei!" I called out before he left.

"Yes?" he asked.

"I never skip breakfast!"

[Kushina Uzumaki: Well said, Naruto! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.]

A drop of sweat rolled down Kakashi's forehead.

"Is that so...?" he muttered indifferently before disappearing.

Well, I warned him.

I just hope I don't puke on his face during the bell test.

...

Sakura once again tried to get Sasuke's attention as soon as Kakashi left.

"Duck hair, want to train?" Naruto asked Sasuke.

Without meaning to, he also glanced at Sakura, hoping she would join.

It would be good for all three to get stronger together before facing real missions as a team.

After all, as Naruto had stated in front of the whole class, he took becoming a ninja very seriously.

"Who the hell are you calling duck hair?!" Sakura shouted indignantly at Naruto.

Naruto held his head dramatically.

"Your voice... it's deadly... it's killing me... it's too shrill..."

"Y-you...!! Naruto!!" Sakura kept yelling at him.

Sasuke sighed and decided to go with them, partly because he wanted to see how far behind his teammates were compared to him.

Of course, he was about to be surprised.

The three headed to Training Ground Three, where Kakashi had told them to meet at 5 a.m.

There was still plenty of time, but at least they could familiarize themselves with the terrain before the Survival Test.

"So, are we fighting?" Sasuke asked indifferently, not bothering to look at them.

[Mikoto Uchiha: Why is he acting like this? He finally has friends; he should try to have fun with them!]

[Izumi Uchiha: Naruto, help him, okay?]

[Naruto Uzumaki: And what do I get out of it?]

[Shisui Uchiha has bestowed upon the group leader all his experience and mastery in the Body Flicker Jutsu and Afterimage Clone!]

[Shisui Uchiha: Thanks to these two techniques, I earned my nickname as Shisui of the Body Flicker. If possible, I'd like you to teach Sasuke someday. And also, to get along with him from now on.]

[Mikoto Uchiha: Shisui...]

[Shisui Uchiha: You don't have to say anything, Aunt Mikoto. Sasuke, just like Itachi, was like a little brother to me.]

[Naruto Uzumaki: I still can't teach Sasuke something like this until after the Chūnin Exams. I don't know if I can trust him yet until certain upcoming problems are resolved.]

[Tobirama Senju: Never trust an Uchiha.]

[Izuna Uchiha: Stop messing with us, damn Senju!]

[Tobirama Senju: Do you want me to kill you again?]

[Izuna Uchiha: Try it if you can, idiot!]

[Mikoto Uchiha: The most important thing here… Why do you say my Sasuke is not trustworthy? What will happen during the Chūnin Exams?]

[Naruto Uzumaki: I'll give you this information because I'm satisfied with what Shisui has given me. During the Chūnin Exams, Orochimaru will attack Sasuke and mark him with the Cursed Seal of Heaven, intending to take over his body later. After the exams, Sasuke will decide to defect from the village and join Orochimaru to gain more strength and kill Itachi.]

[Mikoto Uchiha: Sasuke will do that?!]

[Fugaku Uchiha: It's not surprising. After what Itachi did, Sasuke must be obsessed with becoming stronger, finding him, and killing him.]

[Shisui Uchiha: If only Sasuke knew that Itachi did it for the village...]

[Naruto Uzumaki: Don't excuse Itachi's actions, Shisui. The fact that he did it for the village doesn't absolve him of the sin of massacring the entire Uchiha Clan, including many small children. Moreover, if Sasuke were to discover the truth, he would turn all his hatred against the village and seek its destruction. I assure you, I've lived it.]

[Hashirama Senju: And what can a small and weak child like him do? I don't think he's strong enough to wipe out the entire village in the future…]

[Naruto Uzumaki: As you see him now, Sasuke will awaken the Sage of the Six Paths' Eyes, known as the Rinnegan, the most powerful dōjutsu ever known.]

[Fugaku Uchiha: My son will become that powerful in the future? I've been blind all this time! Sasuke is the greatest pride of the Uchiha Clan!]

[Mikoto Uchiha: Husband, you're a fool.]

[Madara Uchiha: That's impossible!!]

[Naruto Uzumaki: Shut up and don't make me talk, Madara.]

[Madara Uchiha: …]

Madara finally understood just how much Naruto knew.

Although he had already suspected it when the boy mocked him by mentioning the moon, now it was as clear as day.

If he knew about the Rinnegan and the Eye of the Moon Plan, then he must also know about Nagato, Obito, and therefore, Akatsuki and their plan to gather all the Bijū.

Madara wished with all his soul that he could return to life at that precise moment and kill that boy before his entire plan fell apart.

There was no doubt: if Naruto revealed information in the group chat, the others would support him and grant him all their power.

If that happened...

Everything Madara had fought to build would crumble before his eyes.