Konoha's Seventh Training Ground was quiet, save for the faint rustling of leaves in the breeze.
Standing lazily against the wooden railing, Kakashi Hatake held a small orange book in one hand, his visible eye scanning its contents with apparent disinterest in everything else. The three newly graduated Genin stood before him, waiting.
"Alright," Kakashi said without looking up, "let's start with self-introductions."
His tone was casual, almost bored, as if this were nothing more than a routine chore.
Kenta scratched his head, looking slightly confused. "Sensei, what exactly should we say?"
Kakashi finally lowered his book a little and gestured vaguely. "Anything you want. Your likes, dislikes, dreams for the future, hobbies… that sort of thing."
"Oh! Then I'll go first!"
Tanaka Kenta stepped forward eagerly, flashing a wide, carefree grin.
"My name is Tanaka Kenta! I like Ichiraku Ramen, I hate green peppers, and my dream is to become an excellent ninja!"
His voice was loud and full of energy, his enthusiasm almost overflowing.
Aoki Yoru glanced at him from the side.
His personality really matches his appearance.
Kenta had a sturdy build, broad shoulders, and stood a head taller than most kids their age. It was clear he had a natural advantage in physical strength.
For someone from a commoner family, growing this well was no small feat. Most civilians struggled just to eat their fill, let alone develop such a physique.
He's practically made for taijutsu, Aoki concluded silently.
Next, Aoki stepped forward.
"My name is Aoki Yoru," he said calmly. "I like researching things quietly on my own. There's nothing I particularly hate. As for my dream… it's to live safely until the very end."
His tone was steady, almost indifferent, but his words carried a strange weight.
Kakashi paused, glancing at him more carefully this time.
"…That's a surprisingly good dream," he remarked.
In the shinobi world, surviving to old age was far more difficult than becoming strong. Countless ninja perished young, swallowed by war, missions, or internal conflict.
Aoki's goal, while simple, was anything but easy.
Finally, it was Shimizu Yui's turn.
She clenched her fists slightly, as if gathering courage, before speaking.
"My name is Shimizu Yui. I like tri-color dango. I hate war. And my dream is to become an excellent medical ninja… and restore glory to the Shimizu Clan."
Her voice was soft, but there was unmistakable determination behind it.
Though she appeared gentle and somewhat fragile, her eyes revealed a quiet strength.
Aoki understood why.
The Shimizu Clan had nearly fallen into ruin. Only a handful of children remained, and Yui—despite her age—was already the pillar supporting what was left of her family.
She didn't have the luxury of weakness.
As the introductions ended, Kenta turned back toward Kakashi.
"Sensei, what about you? We don't even know anything about you yet!"
Kakashi closed his book with a soft snap.
"My name is Kakashi Hatake," he said lazily. "As for what I like or dislike… I don't feel like telling you. My hobbies… well, I have many."
The three Genin fell silent.
That was it?
They had learned absolutely nothing useful.
Kenta's smile stiffened. Yui blinked in confusion. Even Aoki felt a trace of speechlessness.
Kakashi ignored their reactions.
"We'll begin a survival exercise in half an hour," he continued. "A word of advice—if you fail, you'll be sent back to the Academy."
The atmosphere instantly changed.
"What?!" Kenta's face paled. "But we already passed the graduation exam!"
"That doesn't matter," Kakashi replied flatly.
Aoki remained calm, his expression unchanged.
He had seen this before.
Yui also seemed relatively composed, though for a different reason—her clan's records had mentioned similar tests. She had assumed it was more of a formality.
Now, it clearly wasn't.
"If you don't want to be sent back," Kakashi added, "then try your best."
With that, his figure flickered—and vanished.
The three were left standing in silence.
Kenta looked shaken, his earlier confidence gone.
Yui frowned slightly, deep in thought.
Aoki, however, stood up calmly.
"Let's not waste time," he said. "We should first discuss what each of us is good at, then come up with a strategy."
His voice was steady, immediately grounding the group.
Kenta and Yui nodded.
Under Aoki's lead, the three quickly shared their strengths.
Kenta specialized in taijutsu—direct combat and raw power.
Yui had a talent for ninjutsu, particularly wind-style techniques, and some basic medical knowledge.
Aoki…
He didn't reveal everything.
Instead, he simply stated that he was proficient in kenjutsu and had decent chakra control.
After exchanging information, they formed a rough plan.
Once finished, Aoki closed his eyes.
He wasn't resting—he was focusing.
Because of his two lifetimes of experience, his mental energy far surpassed that of ordinary people. This granted him heightened perception, allowing him to sense even subtle changes in his surroundings.
In essence, it was like a primitive form of sensory ability—almost akin to observation haki from another world.
At the same time, this mental strength enhanced his learning ability and chakra control.
It was his greatest advantage.
And also his greatest danger.
I can't reveal too much…
If someone like Danzo noticed him, things could take a very dark turn.
The Root organization was always searching for talent.
A boy with abnormal abilities?
That would be more than enough reason to drag him into the shadows.
Aoki had no intention of gambling his life on whether the Third Hokage would protect him.
So he restrained himself.
He practiced only basic chakra control techniques like tree climbing and water walking, along with the kenjutsu and ninjutsu left behind by his parents.
Even something like the Rasengan—which he knew how to develop—was completely off-limits.
There was no way to explain it.
And in this world, unexplained power invited suspicion.
Better safe than dead.
"Swish—"
Kakashi suddenly reappeared in front of them.
"It seems you're ready."
In his hand were two small bells.
"The rule is simple," he said. "If you manage to take a bell from me, you pass."
Kenta frowned.
"But… there are only two bells. There are three of us."
Kakashi's visible eye curved slightly.
"Exactly. Only two of you will pass. The remaining one… goes back to the Academy."
Silence fell.
Kenta's hands trembled slightly.
Yui's face turned pale.
This wasn't just a test.
It was a forced elimination.
"Stop standing there," Aoki suddenly said sharply. "The exercise has already begun."
Without waiting, he leaped into the forest.
The others snapped out of their shock and followed, disappearing into the surrounding vegetation.
Aoki crouched behind a tree, suppressing his presence completely.
Kenta and Yui hid separately, using the terrain for cover.
From a distance, Kakashi observed them.
Not bad.
For newly graduated Genin, their concealment was above average.
Especially Aoki.
If not for Kakashi's sharp senses, he might have missed him entirely.
That level… already beyond a typical Chunin.
"Whoosh—!"
Kunai and shuriken suddenly flew from three different directions.
Their trajectories perfectly blocked Kakashi's escape routes.
A flicker of surprise crossed his eye.
Good coordination.
But—
"Too slow."
His body blurred as he used the Body Flicker Technique, effortlessly evading the attack.
Aoki watched carefully.
As expected… attacks like this won't work.
But—
This is only the beginning.
Two kunai with explosive tags collided midair.
"Boom!"
A cloud of smoke erupted, obscuring Kakashi's vision.
"Now!" Aoki signaled.
In an instant, he moved.
His body vanished, leaving behind a faint afterimage.
Using a chakra-enhanced stepping technique inspired by Soru, he closed the distance in a blink.
His blade flashed.
"Clang!"
Kakashi blocked with a kunai.
The impact sent sparks flying.
"So fast…" Kakashi murmured.
Aoki didn't stop.
His leg swept out in a powerful kick—but Kakashi blocked it with his elbow.
Without losing momentum, Aoki adjusted his stance and launched a flurry of strikes.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Dozens of slashes rained down in rapid succession.
Each one was precise. Each one deadly.
And each one—
Was blocked.
Kakashi parried everything with minimal movement.
At that moment—
Kenta appeared behind him.
"Got you!"
His fist shot forward like a cannon.
Kakashi's expression shifted slightly.
In a split second, he deflected Aoki's blade and spun—
"Bang!"
His kick connected with Kenta.
Kenta was sent flying, crashing into the bushes.
"Now!"
Yui seized the opening.
"Wind Release: Air Cutting Technique!"
A sharp crescent of wind sliced toward Kakashi.
The three watched—
Did it hit?
"Poof!"
Smoke.
A clone.
"He substituted at the last moment…" Aoki muttered, his expression tightening.
"I almost got caught," Kakashi's voice echoed as he reappeared nearby.
Though his tone remained lazy, his demeanor had changed.
He was no longer holding back as much.
Aoki narrowed his eyes.
Kenta is strong. Yui has good timing. But against a Jonin…
Kakashi stood there calmly, his chakra steady and unfazed.
Not even his clothes were wrinkled.
We haven't even scratched him.
Aoki raised his hand slightly.
Kenta, who had just gotten up, and Yui looked toward him.
He made a subtle gesture.
Next plan.
The real test—
Was only just beginning.