Kakashi's expression turned serious—well, as serious as a man with most of his face covered could look.
"An error in intelligence can lead to mission failure. Or death." He let that hang in the air for a moment. "Consider this your first real lesson as ninja."
Sasuke's jaw tightened. I could practically hear his internal monologue: I'm so weak. I need to get stronger. Revenge. Itachi. Brooding.
'Same old Sasuke.'
"Alright," Kakashi said, his tone shifting back to casual. "Let's begin the actual test."
I expected him to pull out the bells—the legendary two-bell test that had been used on generations of Konoha ninja. The test designed to teach teamwork through apparent competition.
But he didn't.
Instead, he looked at Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke.
"You three didn't eat breakfast, so you'll have a... special test." Then his eye shifted to me. "As for you—your test is solo."
'Solo?'
That was unexpected.
"Your objective is simple," Kakashi said, hands still in his pockets. "Try to defeat me."
"WHAT?!"
Sakura's voice cracked. "Sensei, that's impossible! You're a Jonin! We just graduated! How could anyone—"
"He gathered intelligence," Kakashi interrupted, nodding toward me. "He showed he can think independently. That's worth testing separately."
'Okay, I'll take the compliment.'
But then his tone shifted.
"Unless... you're scared?" He tilted his head, eye crinkling with what might have been mockery. "You talked big about protecting the people you care about. But now that you're facing a real opponent, you freeze up? Maybe that dream of yours is just... empty words."
'Oh, you manipulative bastard.'
I knew exactly what he was doing. Classic provocation tactics. Get the student angry, make them attack recklessly, then teach them a lesson about the gap between Genin and Jonin.
Textbook stuff.
"That's going too far!" Naruto shouted. "You can't just—"
I held up a hand, silencing him.
Then I stepped forward, settling into a combat stance.
"My dream of protecting the people I care about," I said, letting just enough edge into my voice, "is the one thing I won't let anyone mock."
Kakashi's eye narrowed slightly.
'Good. He thinks I'm actually angry.'
In reality, I was perfectly calm. If he wanted a fight, I'd give him one. But on my terms.
"Then come," Kakashi said. "Prove your dream isn't just talk."
[Combat Initiated: Hatake Kakashi (Jonin)][Objective: Demonstrate capability][Recommendation: Don't hold back]
'Wasn't planning to.'
I moved.
One moment I was ten meters away. The next, I was right in front of him, fist already in motion.
I could see the thought process in Kakashi's eye—he's fast, but he's still just a kid. I'll block this easily and show him the difference in our levels.
His hand came up to intercept.
Our fist and palm connected.
And then—
"What the—"
Kakashi went flying.
Not stumbling backward. Not sliding back a few feet. Flying. Like he'd been hit by a truck.
To his credit, he recovered mid-air, flipping twice before landing in a crouch. But the shock on his face—or what I could see of it—was absolutely priceless.
"What... is this strength?"
'Surprise, motherfucker.'
[Hatake Kakashi: Visibly Shaken][First Impression Updated: "What the hell?"]
"Just basic Academy Taijutsu," I said casually, rolling my shoulder. "Nothing special."
"Basic... Academy...?"
Yeah, technically true. The moves themselves were standard Academy curriculum. The difference was that I'd trained them to Level 80.
[Taijutsu: Level 80][Derived Ability: Superhuman Physique][Effect: Strength and recovery far exceeding normal human limits]
Kakashi's eye had gone from lazy to laser-focused.
"You're telling me you trained basic Taijutsu to this level?"
"Is that a problem?"
He stared at me for a long moment.
"...You're a monster."
'I'll take that as a compliment.'
I pressed the attack.
BANG. BANG. BANG.
Each exchange sent shockwaves through the training ground. Kakashi was no longer treating me like a fresh Genin—he was fighting like he was facing a genuine threat.
Which, to be fair, he was.
"Holy crap..." Naruto's jaw was somewhere on the ground. "Is Saiki actually... fighting Kakashi-sensei equally?!"
Sakura looked like she'd forgotten how to breathe.
And Sasuke...
I caught a glimpse of his expression between exchanges. That look of someone who'd just realized the gap between us wasn't a crack—it was a canyon.
'Good. Use that frustration. Get stronger.'
"Alright," Kakashi said, leaping backward to create distance. "I'll admit it. I underestimated you."
He rolled his shoulders, loosening up.
"Time to get a little serious."
His hands blurred through seals faster than most eyes could track. Fortunately, my eyes weren't "most eyes."
[Hand Seals Detected: Earth Style technique]
"Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
The ground exploded.
A massive dragon head formed from rock and soil, rising beside Kakashi like some kind of ancient guardian. Its mouth opened, and a barrage of earth bullets came screaming toward me.
Dense. Fast. Relentless.
'Impressive. But not enough.'
[Activating: Iron Body]
I felt the familiar sensation of my skin hardening, my muscles condensing into something far denser than normal human tissue. My entire body became a living fortress.
And then I did the last thing Kakashi expected.
I charged straight into the barrage.
"WAIT—!"
Kakashi's eye went wide. He clearly thought I'd dodge. Any sane person would dodge.
But I wasn't about to play by sane rules.
BANG. BANG. BANG.
The earth bullets slammed into me.
And shattered.
Every single one of them broke apart against my body like they'd hit a wall of steel. I didn't slow down. Didn't flinch. Just kept running straight through the storm of rock and debris.
By the time Kakashi processed what was happening, I was already in his face.
"What—"
My fist connected with his guard.
BOOM.
'Yeah. That felt good.'
Kakashi skidded backward, arms crossed in a defensive block. He'd managed to guard in time, but I could see him shaking out his arms.
That hit had hurt.
"You..." He looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite read. "What exactly are you?"
[Hatake Kakashi's Assessment: "Monster"][Respect Level: Significantly Increased]
I cracked my knuckles.
"Just a Genin who takes training seriously."
Behind me, I heard Naruto whisper to Sakura: "Is... is Saiki even human?"
'Technically? Yes. Practically? Debatable.'
Kakashi straightened up, and for the first time since this test began, he actually looked... interested.
"Well then," he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice even through the mask. "Let's see what else you've got."