Kakashi chuckled softly, wiping the blood from his chest with a casual motion. "It seems I underestimated you," he admitted, his tone still lazy but with a hint of seriousness. "Naruto, you're the most gifted ninja I've ever seen. But relying too much on your Bloodline Limit is a dangerous habit. Never underestimate the versatility of a ninja."
With that, Kakashi closed his eyes and began forming a series of intricate hand seals. The speed and complexity of his movements left Sakura wide-eyed and Sasuke impressed.
"Is he going to use a high-level ninjutsu?" Sasuke muttered, his Sharingan flickering as he tried to follow Kakashi's movements.
Naruto, however, remained calm. He stood still, his blue eyes fixed on Kakashi. "Let's see how you handle my Kyoka Suigetsu," he said quietly.
He could have attacked during Kakashi's seal-forming, disrupting the jutsu before it was complete. But Naruto chose not to. He wanted to see Kakashi's full strength, to understand the depth of his abilities.
"Naruto doesn't fight like a ninja," Sasuke thought, a strange realization dawning on him. "He's too… composed. It's like he's always in control."
Kakashi's voice broke the silence. "Your Bloodline Limit is impressive, Naruto. It manipulates vision, effectively neutralizing half of a ninja's combat ability. But it has two major flaws. First, it's less effective against those skilled in genjutsu. Second, it only affects vision—it doesn't enhance your physical abilities. The way to counter it is simple: abandon vision… or use area-of-effect ninjutsu."
As he spoke, Kakashi completed his seals. "Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
A massive surge of water erupted from Kakashi's mouth, crashing toward Naruto with overwhelming force.
Naruto raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "This jutsu is only slightly larger than a Fireball. It won't trouble me." He swung Kyoka Suigetsu, the blade glowing faintly as it cut through the water. The torrent split in two, the water scattering harmlessly around him.
Sasuke watched closely, his Sharingan capturing every detail. "He's combining chakra and spiritual energy with his blade," he realized. "That's how he's able to cut through the water so easily."
But Naruto frowned, his expression thoughtful. "Why does this jutsu feel so weak? Is he holding back?"
Kakashi's voice answered his unspoken question. "This is your first lesson, Naruto. The efficient use of ninjutsu."
Before Naruto could react, Kakashi formed another set of seals. "Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"
The water that had been scattered by Naruto's blade suddenly surged back to life, flowing upward and forming a swirling vortex around him. The liquid prison closed in, trapping Naruto within its confines.
"By abandoning vision and using restraining ninjutsu, I can counter your Bloodline Limit," Kakashi explained, his tone calm but firm. "It's over, Naruto."
The water prison solidified, Naruto's form barely visible within its translucent walls. Kakashi opened his eyes, his gaze steady. "You're the best student I've ever taught, but you made a critical mistake. In a ninja battle, individual strength is important, but teamwork is the key to overcoming stronger opponents. If you had worked with Sasuke and Sakura, you might have stood a chance."
For a moment, Kakashi's mind drifted to his own genin days, to the lessons he had learned under Minato's guidance. He had once been like Naruto—confident, independent, and unwilling to rely on others. But time and loss had taught him the value of teamwork.
Sasuke watched the scene unfold, his thoughts racing. "So the Great Waterfall Technique was just a setup for the Water Prison Technique. He used the scattered water to his advantage, minimizing his chakra expenditure while maximizing the effect. This is the level of a jonin."
Sakura, meanwhile, looked on in dismay. "Naruto lost…"
But then, something unexpected happened. The Naruto trapped in the water prison dissolved into smoke, revealing itself to be a shadow clone.
Kakashi's eye widened in surprise. "A shadow clone? When did he—?"
"Sensei," Naruto's voice came from behind him, calm and composed. "It's over."
Kakashi turned to see Naruto standing beside Sasuke, a bell dangling from his fingers. Kakashi reached for his ninja bag, only to find it empty. The bells were gone.
"When did you…?" Kakashi muttered, a mix of frustration and admiration in his tone.
Naruto smiled. "You underestimated me, sensei. I took the bells a while ago."
Sasuke smirked, crossing his arms. "Hmph. It seems Kakashi-sensei isn't as strong as I thought. He didn't even force me to step in."
Kakashi sighed, giving Sasuke a light tap on the head. "Don't get cocky, kid."
With the test concluded, Kakashi handed out two bento boxes. "Since Naruto took both bells, lunch is on me."
Naruto opened the box, revealing a generous portion of fish and rice. "This looks delicious."
Sakura's eyes lit up. "Wait, isn't this the famous bento from that shop in the village? It's always sold out!"
Sasuke, despite his earlier bravado, couldn't hide his interest. "I guess I'll have some," he said, trying to sound indifferent.
The three sat together, sharing the meal and chatting amiably. The atmosphere was warm and lighthearted, a stark contrast to the intensity of the battle moments before.
Kakashi stood to the side, watching them with a faint smile. They're a good team, he thought. They just don't know it yet.
After a while, he cleared his throat. "Meet here at the same time tomorrow. We'll start taking missions."
As Kakashi disappeared in a swirl of leaves, Sasuke couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement. "Finally, we'll start taking real missions."
Naruto nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Kakashi-sensei may seem unreliable, but he's strong. I'm looking forward to what he can teach us."