Naruto: I Am Uchiha Sasuke!?

"My name is Uchiha Sasuke. There aren't many things I like or dislike."

"Dreams don't interest me."

"My only goal is to kill a certain man and restore the Uchiha Clan's former glory."

Sasuke spoke in a cold, detached manner.

Kakashi sighed inwardly. "Yeah... I figured as much."

Naruto and Sakura looked at Sasuke in shock, but Kakashi simply rubbed his temple. As a Konoha elite, he knew about the Uchiha Massacre, but the deeper truth behind it remained a mystery.

"Alright, I understand where you all stand," Kakashi said, bringing the conversation back on track. "Tomorrow, we'll meet at the training ground in the western woods of Konoha for a survival exercise."

"Survival exercise?" Naruto and Sakura exchanged confused looks.

"Why do we need to do that? We already did survival training in the Academy!"

Kakashi's visible eye curved in amusement. "You didn't think passing the graduation exam made you real ninjas, did you?"

"Let me tell you now: the real test begins tomorrow. If you fail, you'll be sent back to the Academy."

"What?!" Naruto nearly jumped out of his skin. "That's so unfair! I worked my butt off to graduate!"

"Really?" Sasuke scoffed. "The exam was hardly difficult."

"Tch!" Naruto clenched his fists in frustration, unable to counter Sasuke's smug remark.

"Naruto, the graduation exam was just a preliminary selection," Kakashi explained. "Tomorrow will determine whether you're truly fit to become Genin. So, be ready."

With that, he vanished in a puff of smoke.

"Hmph, don't hold me back tomorrow, dead last," Sasuke smirked before disappearing with a Body Flicker Technique.

Naruto gritted his teeth. "Damn you, Sasuke! I won't lose!" He stormed off to begin special training.

The Next Morning

Naruto and Sakura arrived early at the training ground, but both looked exhausted, dark circles under their eyes.

"Ugh, I was too excited to sleep last night," Naruto groaned, rubbing his eyes.

Sakura yawned. "Same here…"

"Wait a second... where's Kakashi-sensei? And Sasuke?"

They fidgeted impatiently, waiting. Eventually, Sasuke arrived, looking calm and composed.

"Hey! You're late!" Naruto barked.

"Kakashi isn't even here yet," Sasuke replied indifferently.

Naruto grumbled but had no comeback.

An hour passed before Kakashi finally showed up.

"Good morning, everyone."

"YOU'RE LATE!" Naruto and Sakura yelled in unison.

Kakashi just waved them off. "You'll get used to it. Anyway, let's start."

He pulled out two small bells from his waist and dangled them in front of them.

"Your task is simple: snatch these bells from me. There are only two, which means—"

"At least one of us will fail," Sasuke deduced.

"Exactly. The one who doesn't get a bell goes back to the Academy. You'll be up against me, so give it your all."

"What?!" Naruto shouted. "That's so unfair!"

"Tough luck," Kakashi shrugged. "You're allowed to use any ninja tools, but if you don't come at me with the intent to kill, you won't stand a chance."

"Kakashi-sensei, that's dangerous!" Sakura protested.

"Right?!" Naruto added. "If I go all out, you might actually die!"

Kakashi tilted his head, unimpressed. "People with no strength always talk big."

"You—!" Naruto was already seething, but before he could react—

Whoosh!

Kakashi vanished and reappeared behind him, grabbing his kunai mid-swing with one hand.

"You're too impatient, Naruto," he chided casually.

Naruto barely had time to process it before noticing Sasuke's absence. Suddenly, a piece of wood clattered to the ground where Sasuke had been standing.

"A Body Replacement Technique that fast?" Kakashi mused. "Not bad. This kid is quick on his feet."

Naruto, however, was still fuming. "Damn it! I won't lose!"

"Then try harder," Kakashi said, letting go of Naruto's kunai and stepping back. "Now, the real test begins."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Sakura bolted into the trees, her chakra masked.

"Hiding her presence well—she has the basics down," Kakashi noted.

Meanwhile, Naruto took a more… direct approach.

"HEY! KAKASHI-SENSEI! LET'S FIGHT!"

Kakashi sighed. "Naruto, do you even have a strategy?"

"Yeah! Charge in and kick your ass!"

"..."

Kakashi shook his head and pulled out a small book from his pouch.

Icha Icha Paradise, Volume Two—a novel by Jiraiya.

Naruto blinked. "Wait... WHAT?! You're reading a book?!"

"Mm-hmm," Kakashi hummed, flipping a page. "I stayed up late last night, so I'm really curious about what happens next."

"You… YOU'RE UNDER-ESTIMATING ME!"

Fueled by rage, Naruto lunged forward, throwing a punch.

Smack!

Kakashi caught his fist effortlessly.

Naruto tried kicking next, but Kakashi dodged without looking up from his book.

"Naruto, you shouldn't leave your back open."

Before Naruto could react, Kakashi formed a hand seal.

"Witness the secret Taijutsu technique of Konoha—Thousand Years of Death!"

"HUH?!"

Naruto barely had time to process the name before Kakashi's hands jabbed him—right in his rear.

BOOM!

Naruto shot into the sky like a rocket, his agonized wail echoing across the training ground.

Sakura gawked in horror. "Kakashi-sensei's ultimate move…!"

Sasuke, watching from the shadows, let out a quiet snort. "Hn. What an idiot."

Meanwhile, Kakashi turned a page in his book and sighed. "This generation sure is lively."