"Lightning Release: Earth Flash!"
Aoki Yoru's fingers moved in a blur, forming hand seals with practiced precision—Boar, Ram, Snake!—all completed in a single breath. His movements were clean, efficient, and devoid of hesitation, a sign of countless hours of training.
He slammed his palm onto the ground.
In the next instant, pale blue lightning surged outward with a crackling roar, racing across the earth like a swarm of frenzied serpents. The electric currents twisted and forked, tearing through the ground in jagged patterns as they shot directly toward Kakashi.
Kakashi, however, merely shifted his weight slightly.
With a light push from the soles of his feet, he leapt effortlessly into the air, his body rising just enough to evade the incoming lightning. At the same time, his hand flicked forward.
Three kunai cut through the air with deadly precision, whistling as they flew straight toward Aoki.
Aoki's pupils shrank.
Without hesitation, he activated the Body Flicker Technique, his figure blurring as he vanished from his original position. The kunai struck the ground where he had been standing just moments ago.
Even as he retreated, Aoki's gaze remained sharp. His peripheral vision scanned the battlefield, calculating every movement, every angle, every opportunity.
Kakashi is airborne—this is the opening!
As if sharing the same thought, Kenta and Yui moved simultaneously.
In a flash, the two appeared beside Kakashi mid-air.
Kenta lunged forward, his hand reaching straight for the bells tied at Kakashi's waist. His expression was filled with determination, his muscles tensed to their limits.
At the same time, Yui appeared behind Kakashi, her body twisting gracefully as her right leg swept toward his back with fierce momentum.
Aoki's eyes flickered with surprise.
Kenta's speed… is incredible.
Yui's speed was expected—her clan's Body Flicker Technique had been refined over generations, incorporating countless subtle enhancements.
But Kenta?
He came from a civilian background.
And yet—
Aoki could clearly see it.
Kenta lacked refined chakra control, but he compensated by concentrating chakra at the soles of his feet in explosive bursts. Combined with his powerful physical strength, he achieved a crude yet highly effective form of acceleration.
It wasn't elegant.
It wasn't precise.
But it worked.
And more importantly—it was fast.
He's not inferior to a standard Body Flicker Technique…
Aoki couldn't help but feel a trace of admiration.
As expected, the world was full of hidden talents.
Compared to someone like Naruto, who still relied on raw instinct and stubbornness, most people had already begun carving out their own unique paths.
"I've got it!"
A triumphant grin spread across Kenta's face as his hand closed in on the bells.
After all—
One couldn't dodge in mid-air.
Or so he thought.
In the next instant, his expression froze.
Kakashi's body twisted unnaturally mid-air, performing a smooth rotation that defied expectation. With a single motion, he avoided both Kenta's grab and Yui's kick.
The two attacks passed through empty space.
Kenta's hand grasped nothing.
Yui's kick struck only air.
Before either of them could react—
"Water Release: Water Mirror Flash Technique."
Aoki's calm voice rang out.
In the next moment, countless bursts of intense light erupted across the battlefield.
The ground, the air—everything seemed to shimmer.
It was as if hundreds of mirrors had appeared simultaneously, reflecting sunlight in all directions.
The brightness exploded outward.
Blinding.
Overwhelming.
Kakashi's vision was instantly swallowed by white.
Even someone as experienced as him couldn't avoid the sudden assault on his senses. His eyes stung sharply, as if pierced by scorching light, forcing them shut instinctively.
For a brief moment—
He could see nothing.
Aoki, however, had already closed his eyes the instant he released the technique.
He moved.
Using the Body Flicker Technique, he appeared beside Kakashi in a heartbeat. His hand shot forward with precise timing, snatching one of the bells from Kakashi's waist.
The moment he succeeded, he retreated without hesitation, putting distance between them.
When the light gradually faded, Aoki opened his eyes.
He looked down.
The bell rested in his palm.
A long breath escaped his lips.
Success…
From the initial Lightning Release to the final execution of the flash technique, every step had been carefully planned.
If even one part had failed—
They would have been forced into a direct confrontation.
And against Kakashi, that would have likely ended in complete failure.
Compared to Naruto's original team, their outcome might not have been much better.
As the battlefield returned to normal, Kenta and Yui slowly regained their vision.
When they saw the bell in Aoki's hand, both of them broke into smiles.
"You did it!"
"Nice work!"
Their voices carried genuine excitement.
But before they could celebrate further—
"Congratulations on getting the bell."
Kakashi's lazy voice drifted over.
"So… have you decided who's going back to the Academy to repeat the year?"
The smiles on Kenta and Yui's faces froze instantly.
The atmosphere shifted.
The weight of reality settled in.
They turned toward Aoki.
Under their gazes, Aoki remained calm.
Without a word, he tossed the bells toward them.
"Here," he said simply. "You two take them."
Kenta caught one bell instinctively, staring at it in disbelief.
Aoki continued, his tone steady.
"For me, graduating a year earlier or later doesn't matter. But you two… you carry expectations. It's better if you graduate early."
Silence fell.
Kenta looked down at the bell in his hand.
Then, after a moment, he shook his head.
"No," he said firmly. "I'll go back."
Aoki blinked.
Kenta clenched his fist.
"I thought I was strong compared to others," he admitted. "But this test showed me how much I'm lacking."
He looked up, determination burning in his eyes.
"Someone like you shouldn't waste time repeating a year."
Before Aoki could respond, Yui spoke.
"I won't accept it either."
Her voice was calm, but resolute.
"We're a team. I won't abandon my teammates just to pass."
She glanced at both of them.
"And honestly… I need this too. Going back to the Academy will help me refine what I've learned."
The three stood there.
Each one refusing to take the opportunity at the cost of the others.
Each one willing to sacrifice for the team.
Kakashi watched silently.
Behind his mask, his expression softened.
A faint smile appeared.
"All three of you… pass."
The words landed like a shockwave.
Kenta and Yui froze.
"What?" Yui asked, confused. "Kakashi-sensei… what do you mean?"
"You've all passed the test."
Kakashi looked up at the sky, his gaze distant.
"This exercise wasn't about the bells."
"It was about teamwork."
His voice grew quieter, yet heavier.
"In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum…"
He paused.
"But those who abandon their comrades… are worse than scum."
The words struck deeply.
The three of them straightened instinctively, their expressions turning serious.
Even Aoki, who already knew this lesson, felt a subtle shift in his heart.
Kakashi wasn't just teaching.
He was passing on something far more important.
"Remember this," Kakashi said.
The three nodded solemnly.
"Then," Kakashi clapped his hands lightly, breaking the atmosphere, "Team 6 is officially established."
A brief pause—
"And to celebrate… let's go have barbecue. My treat."
For a second, there was silence.
Then—
"Really?!"
Kenta practically jumped into the air, his earlier seriousness completely gone.
One of the main reasons he had become a ninja…
Was to eat meat freely.
Aoki couldn't help but chuckle.
Yui smiled as well.
The tension dissolved instantly.
Together, the three followed Kakashi toward the village.
Meanwhile—
Inside the Hokage's office.
The Third Hokage sat behind his desk, reviewing documents.
When the Anbu reported the results, a hint of surprise appeared on his aged face.
"Kakashi… actually passed them?"
He set down his brush and picked up his pipe, taking a slow puff.
Smoke curled into the air as his expression shifted.
Then, gradually—
He smiled.
"That works too."
"In two years, they should reach Chunin level."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Just in time."
Originally, Kakashi had been assigned as a jonin instructor to pull him away from the darkness of the Anbu.
It wasn't about the students.
It was about Kakashi.
He needed something—
Someone—
To reconnect him to the world.
And in two years…
Naruto and Sasuke would graduate.
Kakashi was the ideal leader for their team.
Everything had been planned for that.
But now—
A pleasant surprise had appeared.
"These three might change things."
With students to teach, Kakashi would gradually open up again.
Just like before.
After his father's death, Kakashi had closed himself off.
But Minato…
Obito…
Rin…
They had brought him back.
The Hokage's expression dimmed slightly.
"Fate is cruel…"
The loss of those bonds had pushed Kakashi into darkness once more.
He exhaled slowly.
"It's a pity about Minato."
"If he were still alive… Konoha would be very different."
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Then the Hokage straightened.
He couldn't afford to dwell on the past.
There was still work to do.
The next generation needed time to grow.
And he—
Had to ensure that time was secured.
As for Aoki's team…
If they failed to grow strong enough—
Their futures would already be decided.
In this world—
Reality was unforgiving.
Unaware of all this—
Aoki, Kenta, and Yui sat around a grill, laughter filling the air.
The aroma of sizzling meat drifted upward.
For now—
They were simply happy.
And for this fleeting moment—
That was enough.