Early morning.
Kakashi was in the courtyard, guiding Haku as he practiced sword techniques.
"A bit faster. Your blade path needs to be cleaner and more decisive."
Haku swung the short blade again, his speed increasing.
Swish—swish—swish!
The blade light flickered, already faintly carrying the shadow of the White Fang Technique.
Just then—
A ninja hawk descended from the sky and landed on Kakashi's shoulder.
Kakashi untied the scroll from the hawk's leg and opened it.
[Emergency Jōnin Meeting — Hokage Office — Immediate Attendance]
"A Jōnin meeting?" Kakashi narrowed his eyes.
Calling a Jōnin meeting at a time like this…
"Are the Chūnin Exams approaching?"
He put the scroll away and turned to Haku.
"Haku, train on your own today. I need to handle something."
"Yes, sensei," Haku replied, nodding.
---
The Hokage's Office.
Kakashi pushed the door open and walked in.
Many Jōnin were already present.
Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yūhi, Might Guy…
Along with several other Jōnin instructors from different teams.
"Yo, Kakashi!" Guy waved enthusiastically. "Rare to see you on time!"
"Yeah," Asuma said with a grin, a cigarette in his mouth. "No tardiness today, huh?"
Kurenai nodded at him in greeting.
Kakashi walked to the side and stood quietly.
Before long, Hiruzen Sarutobi entered the room.
"Everyone is here."
"Let's begin."
Hiruzen sat down and swept his gaze across the room.
"It has been nearly two months since you began leading your teams."
"I've called you here today regarding the Chūnin Selection Exams."
"As per tradition, the biannual Chūnin Exams will be held in seven days."
"Additionally, this time several villages—including Sunagakure, Amegakure, and Kusagakure—will be sending participants."
"The scale will be larger than usual."
He paused briefly.
"Now, I want each Jōnin instructor to report whether your students are qualified to participate."
"Might Guy."
"Yes!" Guy snapped to attention. "Team Three: Rock Lee, Hyūga Neji, and Tenten. I recommend them!"
Hiruzen nodded.
"Kurenai Yūhi."
"Yes," Kurenai said calmly. "Team Eight: Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, and Hyūga Hinata. I recommend them as well."
Hiruzen nodded again.
"Asuma."
"Team Ten: Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chōji, and Yamanaka Ino. I recommend them," Asuma said.
Finally, Hiruzen looked at Kakashi.
"Kakashi. What about Team Seven?"
All eyes turned toward him.
Team Seven—
Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, and Haruno Sakura.
One was the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki.
One was the sole surviving Uchiha.
One was a civilian-born prodigy.
And their instructor was Sharingan Kakashi.
Kakashi was silent for a few seconds.
"Team Seven: Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, and Haruno Sakura."
"I recommend them for the Chūnin Exams."
A wave of murmurs spread through the room.
"Kakashi actually recommended his team?"
"He's never done that before…"
"Are this year's Genin really that strong?"
Even Hiruzen looked slightly surprised.
"Kakashi, are you certain?"
"You've never made a recommendation before."
Kakashi nodded.
"This time is different."
"The three of them already possess the strength required for the Chūnin Exams."
"And…"
He looked directly at Hiruzen.
"They need stronger opponents to continue growing. D-rank missions are no longer enough."
Hiruzen studied him for a moment, then nodded.
"Very well. I understand."
"Team Seven will be added to the participant list."
He stood up.
"These Chūnin Exams are extremely important."
"They are not just an internal selection for Konoha, but also an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of our next generation to other villages."
"Guide your students carefully."
"This meeting is adjourned."
The Jōnin began to leave one by one.
Guy walked over to Kakashi.
"Kakashi, are your students really that strong?"
"How about letting them spar with mine?"
Kakashi smiled.
"Your students are impressive—especially Rock Lee."
"But mine won't lose either."
Guy's eyes burned with excitement.
"Good! Then we'll see the results in the Chūnin Exams!"
"Ah, the fire of youth!"
Kakashi shook his head with a small chuckle.
Kurenai approached him.
"I heard you took in an unofficial disciple?"
"Yes," Kakashi replied. "A very talented kid."
"Ice Release?" Kurenai looked surprised. "No wonder."
Then she hesitated slightly.
"Still… are you sure Team Seven is ready? The Chūnin Exams aren't simple."
"Don't worry," Kakashi said calmly. "They're stronger than you think."
---
Training Ground.
Kakashi gathered Team Seven.
"Sensei, why'd you call us here?" Naruto asked curiously.
Kakashi looked at the three of them.
"In seven days, the Chūnin Exams begin."
"Do you want to participate?"
"The Chūnin Exams?!" Naruto's eyes lit up. "Of course I do!"
"Finally, no more boring D-rank missions!"
Sasuke nodded. "I'm in."
Sakura hesitated for a moment, then said firmly, "Me too."
Kakashi nodded in satisfaction.
"Good."
"For the next few days, I'll put you through intensive training."
"Show me how far you've come."
He looked at Naruto.
"Naruto, how's your Rasengan?"
Naruto grinned and held out his right hand.
Chakra condensed rapidly in his palm.
Zzz—zzz—zzz—
A blue sphere spun violently, humming with power.
"Rasengan!"
He slammed it into a nearby wooden post.
Bang!
The post exploded instantly, splinters flying everywhere.
"Not bad," Kakashi nodded. "You've mastered it."
"Heh!" Naruto said proudly. "That's not all!"
He formed hand seals again.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A powerful gale burst forth.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"
Three Wind Release techniques in succession, each stronger than the last.
Kakashi nodded approvingly.
"With your chakra reserves, high-consumption Wind Release suits you."
"And when combined with the Rasengan, the power will be even greater."
Naruto's eyes shone. "Sensei, then teach me the Wind Release Rasengan!"
"That's too dangerous," Kakashi replied immediately. "We'll discuss it later."
Wind Release: Rasenshuriken was far beyond Naruto's current limits.
He turned to Sakura.
"And you?"
Sakura took a deep breath and formed hand seals.
"Genjutsu: False Surroundings Technique!"
The scenery around them distorted.
Kakashi sensed the chakra fluctuations.
"Good. Stronger than your Demonic Illusion: Descending Hell Technique."
Sakura continued.
"Genjutsu: Sly Mind Affect!"
"Genjutsu: Tree Binding Death!"
Two genjutsu in rapid succession.
While ineffective against someone of Kakashi's level, they were more than enough against Genin.
"And your medical ninjutsu?" Kakashi asked.
"Well…" Sakura scratched her cheek. "I've learned the basics, but it's hard to go further."
"So I focused more on genjutsu."
"That's fine," Kakashi said. "Medical ninjutsu requires exceptional talent and time."
"Specializing in genjutsu suits you."
"With your chakra control, it's a deadly combination."
Sakura let out a relieved breath.
Finally, Kakashi turned to Sasuke.
Sasuke's lips curled slightly.
Zzz—zzz—zzz—
Blue-white lightning erupted across his body.
"Lightning Release: Body Flicker Enhancement!"
Electricity stimulated his cells, and his speed surged instantly.
His figure blurred into afterimages as he dashed across the field.
"Faster than before," Kakashi commented. "And the duration's up to ten seconds."
"That's not all," Sasuke said.
He stopped and condensed chakra in his right hand.
Zzz—zzz—zzz—zzz—
A sharp chirping sound rang out.
Lightning gathered densely in his palm.
"Chidori!"
Sasuke charged a nearby boulder.
Boom!
The Chidori pierced straight through it, leaving a scorched hole.
The boulder cracked and collapsed.
"So strong…" Naruto stared in shock.
"Sasuke-kun…" Sakura murmured.
Kakashi nodded.
"Excellent. You've fully mastered the Chidori."
"And your Lightning Release enhancement has improved a lot."
"However—"
He looked at Sasuke seriously.
"Can your Sharingan keep up with the Chidori's speed?"
Sasuke activated his Sharingan, two tomoe spinning.
"Barely. But yes."
"Good," Kakashi said. "Keep refining the coordination between the Sharingan and Chidori."
"Yes."
Kakashi looked at the three of them, calculating silently.
Two months of training had paid off.
Naruto had mastered the Rasengan and multiple Wind Release techniques.
Sasuke had fully grasped the Chidori and enhanced Lightning Release.
Sakura had focused on genjutsu, mastering several B-rank techniques.
"With this level of strength…"
"They're already among the top Genin."
Kakashi opened the system interface.
[Uzumaki Naruto (C-rank) — Favorability: 78 — Progress: 85% (Approaching B-rank)]
[Uchiha Sasuke (Special C-rank) — Favorability: 72 — Progress: 80% (Approaching Special B-rank)]
[Haruno Sakura (C-rank) — Favorability: 70 — Progress: 75%]
"All of them are on the verge of breaking through…"
He checked his own points.
[Current System Points: 1800]
[Inventory: Kiba, the Lightning Blade (Sell value: 3000 points)]
"Still two hundred points short of the Bloodline Awakening Potion…"
[Bloodline Awakening Potion: Stimulates latent bloodline potential, with a chance to awaken hidden bloodline abilities. Price: 2000 points]
Sakura came from a civilian family, but who knew what her ancestors might have carried?
"If I sell Kiba, I'll have 4800 points—more than enough."
"But…"
Kakashi scrolled through the system's weapon catalog.
[Kusanagi Sword — A-rank legendary weapon, extremely sharp, chakra-conductive. Price: 15,000 points]
[Sword of the Thunder God — A-rank legendary weapon, once wielded by the Second Hokage alongside the Flying Thunder God Technique. Price: 18,000 points]
[Samehada — S-rank living weapon, capable of absorbing chakra. Price: 25,000 points]
"…All far too expensive."