Naruto:Dark Return

The moment Kakashi uttered the word "start," Naruto and his team dispersed into the surrounding trees. They maintained a calculated distance from their opponent, hiding in the foliage while suppressing their presence.

"Maintaining distance and staying concealed—seems like they didn't completely forget their academy lessons," Kakashi muttered, glancing at their positions through the corner of his eye. His calm demeanor remained unshaken as he flipped open his book, Young Aito, continuing to read.

However, his apparent disinterest in their actions didn't sit well with Naruto.

"Kakashi-sensei isn't even trying to hide!" Naruto growled, clenching his fists. "He doesn't take us seriously at all!"

"Then why not let Ichiro out?" Sakura asked eagerly, her voice betraying an odd excitement. "If he comes out, we'll definitely get the bells."

Naruto blinked at her, surprised by her suggestion. "Ichiro? No way! We're supposed to pass this test ourselves." His eyes darted to Sasuke, hoping for backup. "Right, Sasuke?"

Sasuke shot Sakura a cold glare, his tone dripping with disdain. "Didn't Naruto already say he doesn't want to rely on Ichiro? Or is your memory so bad you can't even remember that?"

Sakura flinched, her confidence crumbling under Sasuke's sharp words. "I didn't mean anything bad… I just thought…" Her voice trailed off, tears welling in her eyes.

Ignoring her reaction, Sasuke addressed the team. "Let's stick to the plan. Naruto attacks, I'll assist, and Sakura provides support from a distance. Any objections?"

Naruto shook his head, while Sakura quietly agreed, brushing off her embarrassment.

"Good," Sasuke said. His body crouched low as his muscles tensed, ready to spring into action. "Let's move."

Naruto dashed forward, while Sasuke flanked him. Sakura took position on a high branch, shurikens at the ready.

"Naruto, use your clones to keep him busy," Sasuke instructed as they neared Kakashi. "I'll distract him."

"Got it!" Naruto formed a quick hand seal and shouted, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Ten identical Narutos appeared in a puff of smoke, rushing toward Kakashi.

Meanwhile, Sasuke leapt into the fray, his hands a blur as he threw shurikens from both sides.

"An open and honest attack with projectiles? Too obvious," Kakashi said, sidestepping the shurikens effortlessly. His movements were so fluid that he didn't even glance up from his book.

Sakura launched her own shurikens from behind, but Kakashi ducked, avoiding them with ease.

"Not bad," Kakashi commented. "If your aim were better, I'd have to block."

"You won't get away so easily!" Naruto shouted, his clones lunging toward Kakashi and grabbing his arms and legs.

"Quantity over quality won't help," Kakashi sighed. With a few well-placed strikes, he dispelled the clones, the puffs of smoke clearing to reveal his calm, composed figure.

But the momentary distraction gave Sasuke his opening. Quickly forming hand seals, he completed his jutsu.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!" Sasuke shouted, spitting out a massive ball of flame that engulfed Kakashi.

"Did we get him?" Naruto asked, his eyes wide with shock.

But before Sasuke could answer, Sakura's voice rang out. "No! It's a substitution jutsu—he's above you!"

Naruto and Sasuke barely had time to react before Kakashi descended from the branches above, ropes in hand.

"Points deducted for arguing mid-battle," Kakashi said, his voice light but firm. He moved with blinding speed, ensnaring both boys in his ropes and tying them to a nearby tree.

"So fast!" Sasuke muttered, frustration and disbelief etched on his face.

"This isn't fair!" Naruto shouted, wriggling in vain against the ropes. "If you're so strong, why don't you fight me head-on instead of sneaking around?"

Kakashi shook his head, clearly unimpressed. "There's no such thing as fair on the battlefield, Naruto. If you can't adapt, you'll never survive as a ninja."

He turned his attention to the book in his hand, flipping a page nonchalantly. "Let's make this interesting," he said, looking up briefly. "Why don't you let that other guy take over? Ichiro, was it? I'm curious to see what he can do."

Naruto's face turned red with anger. "Ichiro doesn't need to come out to deal with you! I'll beat you myself!"

"Oh?" Kakashi said with a smirk. He tugged the ropes, causing Naruto and Sasuke to bounce up and down like yo-yos.

Naruto's temper flared, and he shouted into the recesses of his mind. "Ichiro! Are you hearing this? He's mocking us! Help me out!"

In the quiet of Naruto's mind, Ichiro's voice finally responded, calm but laced with amusement. "He's testing you, Naruto. If I come out now, you'll fail the real test."

"Then what do I do?" Naruto asked, his frustration palpable.

Ichiro's voice softened. "Relax. I'll guide you. Trust me—you can do this without me taking control."

Back in the real world, Naruto stopped struggling and took a deep breath.

"You've got a plan, don't you?" Sasuke asked, narrowing his eyes.

Naruto smirked. "Just wait. You'll see."

End of the Chapter.

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