“Naruto, is this some new form of performance art?”
Kakashi shook his head helplessly and walked over to take Naruto down.
But he wasn’t about to let him off that easily.
With a quick motion, he tied Naruto to one of the wooden posts.
“Since you performed the worst and even tried to attack your teacher, you don’t get lunch today.”
After announcing the punishment, Kakashi signaled for everyone else to eat.
As Haruto, Sasuke, and Sakura dug into their lunch boxes, Naruto’s stomach let out a loud growl from where he was tied up.
Grrrrrrr—
The sound echoed across the clearing.
The atmosphere became awkward in an instant.
Sasuke paused midway through his meal.
With his usual cold expression, he held his lunch box out toward Naruto.
Seeing this, Sakura hesitated for a moment before gritting her teeth and offering her own portion as well.
Haruto, however, didn’t move.
He simply sat there, leisurely enjoying his food while watching the touching scene with a smile.
At times like this, staying out of it was the best choice.
Watching secretly from a distance, Kakashi couldn’t help rubbing his forehead when he saw Haruto’s detached attitude.
“What a headache…”
“I originally wanted to test him too.”
“But he saw through everything.”
“And I can’t even force him to reveal his true abilities.”
“Who knows how many cards that little fox is still hiding?”
Kakashi knew perfectly well that Haruto had never gone all-out during any assessment.
That so-called “jonin-level strength” was definitely watered down.
Still, since Haruto only wanted to display strength around that level, Kakashi could only play along.
At most, he suspected Haruto might already be at elite jonin level.
He didn’t dare imagine anything more outrageous.
After all, a twelve-year-old elite jonin was already terrifying enough.
Far stronger than Kakashi himself had been at the same age.
Not only had Haruto mastered a wide variety of basic ninjutsu, he’d even learned several derivatives of the Chidori series.
And that was only what Kakashi knew.
As for how many trump cards Haruto was still hiding…
Only heaven knew.
Just as Naruto had managed to take a few bites of food, a puff of smoke exploded nearby.
Kakashi appeared with a furious expression.
“You dare openly disobey my orders?!”
Dark clouds suddenly gathered overhead.
Thunder rumbled across the sky.
The overwhelming pressure turned Sasuke and Sakura pale.
At that critical moment, Naruto unexpectedly shouted:
“Kakashi-sensei! Don’t blame them!”
“I forced them to feed me!”
“If you’re going to punish someone, punish me!”
His words instantly softened the coldness in Kakashi’s eyes.
He swept his gaze across the three trembling children.
Then his eyes landed on Haruto.
Who was still calmly eating.
The corner of Kakashi’s mouth twitched.
“This brat…”
“Could you at least cooperate with the atmosphere a little?”
“Give me some face here!”
Kakashi coughed awkwardly.
Only then did Haruto reluctantly set down his lunch box and slowly stand up.
The grease still visible at the corner of his mouth left Kakashi completely speechless.
Still, today’s main objective was testing Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura.
Ignoring the mood-killer, Kakashi looked back at the three rookies.
Just as they thought they were about to be sent back to the Academy—
Kakashi suddenly revealed his trademark eye-smile.
“Congratulations.”
“You all passed.”
The reversal was so abrupt that Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura froze.
Their brains couldn’t keep up.
“You’ve all passed.”
Kakashi’s expression turned serious.
“The rules and regulations of shinobi are important.”
“But those who don’t value their comrades…”
“…are the worst kind of trash.”
As he spoke, he suddenly turned toward Haruto.
“Haruto.”
“Am I right?”
The question immediately drew everyone’s attention.
Four pairs of eyes focused on the grease stain at the corner of Haruto’s mouth.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Haruto quickly wiped it away before answering seriously.
“That’s right.” You are reading on g.com, the official source.
“Kakashi-sensei couldn’t be more correct.”
“Anyone who doesn’t care about their comrades doesn’t deserve to be called a ninja.”
“After all, teamwork is what allows shinobi to unleash their greatest strength.”
The textbook-perfect answer earned an approving nod from Kakashi.
“Exactly.”
“As Haruto said.”
“Those who break the rules are scum.”
“But those who abandon their comrades…”
“…are worse than scum.”
The words struck Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura like a hammer.
Even Sasuke, usually so cold and aloof, showed a hint of agreement.
This was one reason why, even years later after joining Orochimaru, some small part of him still retained a moral bottom line.
Kakashi’s lesson today had genuinely been engraved into his heart.
As for Haruto…
He was completely indifferent.
He’d heard enough motivational speeches to last several lifetimes.
Looking at his thoughtful students, Kakashi smiled.
“Congratulations.”
“Starting today, the four of you are officially genin of Konoha.”
The moment the words fell, Naruto and Sakura cheered loudly and high-fived one another.
Even Sasuke’s perpetually tense face relaxed into a faint smile.
Watching the warm scene, Haruto smiled as well.
At least outwardly, he appeared fully integrated into the group.
In a good mood, Kakashi waved a hand.
“You all worked hard today.”
“You’ve used up a lot of energy.”
“To celebrate Team 7’s formation, how about your teacher treats everyone to Ichiraku Ramen?”
Sasuke and Sakura had no objections.
Naruto nearly jumped three meters into the air.
“YES!”
“I want the biggest bowl of chashu ramen!”
“Kakashi-sensei, you’re the best!”
Haruto nodded.
He wasn’t particularly interested in ramen, but there was no need to spoil everyone’s mood.
After officially becoming genin, Sasuke continued sneaking glances at Haruto.
Even now, he couldn’t figure him out.
He hadn’t witnessed the brief battle between Haruto and Kakashi because he’d been buried underground at the time.
In his mind, Haruto had become increasingly mysterious.
And he couldn’t shake a strange feeling.
Kakashi’s attitude toward Haruto was completely different from how he treated the other three.
It was as if Haruto were his prized disciple.
While the rest of them were merely students—or subordinates.
In truth, Sasuke’s instincts were frighteningly accurate.
In Kakashi’s eyes, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were indeed simply his subordinates.
Haruto, however, was his true personal disciple.
The difference between the two was enormous.
After enjoying a hearty meal at Ichiraku Ramen, everyone went their separate ways.
Tomorrow would be their first official day taking missions.
However, when Haruto pushed open the gate to his courtyard, he found an unexpected guest waiting for him.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Dressed in his Hokage robes.
Standing quietly in the middle of the yard with his hands behind his back.
Haruto froze briefly.
“Hokage-sama?”
The moment he’d entered, he’d already sensed the powerful and familiar chakra within.
What he couldn’t understand was why the busy Third Hokage would personally visit him late at night.
And alone at that.
Without even an ANBU escort.
Turning around, Hiruzen smiled kindly.
“You must be Haruto.”
“Kakashi talks about you quite often.”
“He says you’re exceptionally talented.”
“That your potential is no less than his own was back then.”
Haruto closed the gate behind him and put on an appropriately surprised expression.
“Kakashi-sensei?”
“He really says things like that about me?”
From the moment he saw the Third Hokage, Haruto had already put on his mask.
At least for now, the old fox hadn’t noticed anything unusual.
The Third nodded.
“He praises you highly.”
“I’ve heard he’s been privately teaching you for years.”
“In a sense, he’s your first teacher.”
“Is that right?”
Haruto smiled modestly.
“That’s true.”
“In my heart, he’s my most respected teacher.”
Every answer was careful and measured.
Not a single unnecessary word.
Ironically, this made him seem even more normal.
After all, he was supposedly just a twelve-year-old speaking to the Hokage.
A bit of restraint was expected.
“I’m curious.”
“Exactly how many techniques have you mastered?”
The Third finally revealed his true purpose.
“Kakashi told me he’s taught you at least five B-rank ninjutsu.”
“Mastering five B-rank techniques already exceeds the standard of a genin.”
“If you accumulate enough mission experience, becoming a Special Jonin—or even a Jonin—would only be a matter of time.”
This wasn’t flattery.
The Third genuinely believed it.
Once someone passed the Chunin Exams, the rest was simply a matter of accumulating merit.
But Haruto had no interest whatsoever in shinobi ranks.
Smiling politely, he declined.
“I think I’m still too young.”
“There are many things I don’t understand yet.”
“I’d rather continue learning under Kakashi-sensei and take things one step at a time.”
His words were effectively a polite refusal.
The Third’s earlier comments had actually been an attempt to recruit Haruto away from Kakashi.
Perhaps into the Hokage’s direct forces or even ANBU.
Though Haruto refused, he emphasized his loyalty to Kakashi.
And Kakashi was unquestionably one of the Third’s people.
By extension, Haruto appeared to belong to the Hokage’s faction as well.
At least, that was the image he intentionally presented.
The Third wasn’t offended.
Instead, he appreciated Haruto even more.
“Following Kakashi is indeed a good choice.”
“Among all of Konoha’s jonin, his overall abilities are second to none.”
“There’s much he can teach you that books never could.”
The Third paused.
“Oh, and I saw that Fire Style technique you used today.”
“It was impressive.”
“Officially it may only be C-rank, but its power rivals many B-rank techniques.”
“The fact that you developed something like that proves your abilities are already at least chunin level.”
“If you ever need resources for your training, come to me.”
“As long as it’s within reason, I’ll help.”
After a brief moment of thought, Haruto bowed politely.
“Thank you for your generosity, Hokage-sama.”
“But I don’t lack anything at the moment.”
“If I need something, I’ll definitely ask.”
The Third nodded in satisfaction.
For the next ten minutes or so, they chatted casually.
Mostly the Hokage asking questions and Haruto answering them.
Throughout the entire conversation, Haruto was flawless.
Neither arrogant nor servile.
The impression he left was excellent.
The Third became increasingly convinced that he’d discovered a hidden gem.
Late that night.
After seeing the Third Hokage off, Haruto lay on his bed with his hands behind his head.
Silently staring at the ceiling.
In the darkness, his eyes suddenly changed.
The black pupils turned crimson.
Then intricate and eerie Mangekyō patterns slowly emerged.
“With my current enhanced physique, activating the Mangekyō Sharingan no longer has any side effects.”
“My eyesight remains completely unaffected.”
“It’s just…”
“The ocular power still seems stuck at a bottleneck.”
“It hasn’t reached the limitless level of the Eternal Mangekyō.”
“I wonder if continued physical evolution will eventually cause it to evolve on its own.”
Haruto sighed as he felt the power flowing through his body.
“As for Wood Release…”
“It’s only partially integrated so far.”
“At the moment I can use ordinary techniques like Deep Forest Emergence and Wood Clones.”
“But things like True Several Thousand Hands…”
“Those absurdly overpowered techniques are still far beyond my reach.”
In reality, Haruto had successfully fused Wood Release chakra as early as the previous year.
By combining Water and Earth nature transformations—
Then infusing them with his overwhelmingly powerful Yang Release life force—
Wood Release had finally been born.