Kaito burped with satisfaction, then left the barbecue spot with Hinata and the others, looking completely content. As for what happened with Asuma? That wasn't his problem.
He thought to himself, "Being a glutton feels pretty good once in a while."
He created a shadow clone to escort Hinata home, while he and Ino returned together.
The next morning.
Kaito didn't bother heading to the training ground behind the mountain early. Knowing the original events, he wasn't about to waste his time waiting.
After a light breakfast, he made some Tremella and lotus seed soup for the girls, dropped it off, and then strolled casually toward the back of the mountain.
By the time he arrived, it was nearly noon.
Naruto and the others looked visibly frustrated, their faces tense like they were about to explode.
As soon as Kaito showed up, Naruto shouted, "Kaito! Why are you so late?!"
He clutched his stomach, groaning. "I'm starving!"
"Late? Not really," Kaito said with a relaxed smile. "Kakashi-sensei isn't here yet either, is he?"
"But we've been waiting forever!" Naruto grumbled.
"Hey, you're all shinobi now. Beyond ninjutsu, you need to learn how to gather intel too."
"Kakashi-sensei has a bit of a reputation among the jonin. If you'd asked around, you'd know he's famous for being chronically late."
"He told you to come early and skip breakfast, and you actually listened?" Kaito looked at the three of them, a little pity in his eyes.
Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura: Furious.
Sasuke: "This guy's always one step ahead of me..."
Sakura: Kaito is so cool...
Naruto: Damn it! If I'd known, I'd have slept in!
"Yo! You're all here," Kakashi greeted them casually, eyes half-lidded as he waved.
"Sensei! It's already noon! We've been waiting all morning! Did you and Kaito plan this or something? You're both late!" Naruto exploded, his voice reaching Iruka-level roar.
"Yeah, Kakashi-sensei, this is too much!" Sakura added.
"Ahh, sorry, sorry! I was helping an old lady cross the road," Kakashi said, calm as ever.
His eye twitched slightly as he glanced over at Kaito. That kid… did he figure out my habits?
Noticing Kakashi's gaze, Kaito shrugged. "Don't look at me like that, Kakashi-sensei. You've earned the title of 'King of Tardiness' in Konoha. Just ask any jonin. I had a barbecue with Kurenai and Asuma last night—they spilled the beans."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "So that's how you knew…"
"Well! Let's get started then. Time for your survival drill!"
Kakashi pulled out four bells from his pouch. "Anyone who manages to grab a bell from me passes."
"Those who pass get lunch," he added, gesturing toward three bento boxes nearby.
"I'll give you ten minutes. Whether you work together, set traps, or come at me head-on, I'll find you in the woods."
His expression turned serious.
"Come at me with the intent to kill."
"Tch," Sasuke clicked his tongue and darted toward the woods. He knew better than to underestimate a jonin.
Sakura quickly followed.
In the blink of an eye, only Kaito and Naruto remained standing in front of Kakashi.
"You two planning to take me head-on?" Kakashi asked, genuinely surprised.
It made sense for Naruto to do something reckless—but Kaito? According to the Hokage's report, this kid wasn't the impulsive type. That could only mean one thing: he thought he had the skill to take a bell directly.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed as he thought it through.
Interesting.
"Alright, let's do this! Get ready, Kakashi-sensei! I'm coming for you!" Naruto shouted.
He quickly formed hand seals. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Poof! Poof! Poof!
In a thick cloud of smoke, dozens of Naruto clones appeared.
"Charge!" he yelled, and the horde of clones surged forward.
If there was a picture next to the word "reckless," it would be Naruto's face.
Kaito facepalmed. "What the hell is this idiot doing…?"
Sasuke's eye twitched. "Idiot."
Sakura's brow twitched as dark lines formed on her forehead.
All three of them thought the same thing: No brains!
The strength of a jonin was far beyond Naruto, who had just graduated from the Academy. The difference was like night and day.
It didn't take long for Naruto to end up tied to a tree.
"Next," Kakashi said, turning toward Kaito, a bit more serious this time.
A few days earlier, the Third Hokage had mentioned that this year's top student was particularly skilled. Kakashi hadn't paid it much mind… until now.
If the Hokage went out of his way to say something, there had to be truth in it.
Kaito wasn't going to be simple.
Without another word, Kakashi flipped his hands—six kunai appeared between his fingers. He launched them all at once.
Six sharp blades whistled through the air.
"Come on, Kakashi-sensei. Don't throw softballs at me," Kaito smirked.
In a flash, six kunai appeared in his hands. He flicked his wrists.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks exploded mid-air as the blades clashed and deflected. All twelve kunai dropped to the ground at the same time.
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