My Techniques are a bit off

The Next Afternoon – Ninja Academy Classroom

"What's going on? Why hasn't our jonin instructor arrived yet?"

Teammate A complained loudly. The classroom was almost empty; all the other students had already been taken away by their assigned jonin instructors, leaving only the three of them behind.

Beside him, the bob-cut-haired female teammate, Teammate B, chimed in with a few comments of her own.

They shared a common trait: neither of them had the slightest respect for their eight-year-old teammate.

Link let out a barely perceptible sigh. His luck was truly awful. Getting stuck with teammates like this—if their jonin instructor turned out to be the one he dreaded—this was shaping up to be a disastrous start.

"Creak."

The door opened as the sun dipped toward the horizon. Standing in the doorway was a silver-haired man with a mask covering his face and a forehead protector concealing one eye. His posture was lazy as he greeted them casually:

"Yo."

"I'm your jonin instructor, Kakashi Hatake."

It was over.

Link calmly accepted the reality that he would likely be sent back to the academy for another year of training.

Before meeting the original Team 7, every group assigned to Kakashi had failed his test and been sent back to the academy.

Kakashi's evaluation criteria were almost anti-ninja: while the academy trained students to be tools who prioritized missions above all else, Kakashi valued teamwork above everything.

Whether Kakashi's eventual acceptance of Team 7 was due to Sarutobi Hiruzen's personal request, Uchiha bloodline considerations, or the fact that Naruto was the Fourth Hokage's son remained unclear.

The only certainty was that no one had ever passed his test before the original trio.

…

"...That's all," Kakashi said lazily after rambling a bit about being delayed by a black cat crossing his path.

Teammates A and B, as classic genin, showed no emotional reaction to their superior's words, following the academy's strict teachings about respecting authority.

"Tomorrow morning, meet me at the Third Training Ground for a survival exercise," Kakashi continued, skipping any attempt to get to know his team or make jokes. "This exercise will determine whether you remain as genin or return to the academy for further training. So—"

He likely hadn't even considered the possibility of letting the three of them pass.

"See you tomorrow," Kakashi said with a warm smile before leaving.

Teammates A and B immediately started discussing the survival exercise, but one of them turned and addressed Link:

"Hey, kid, do you—"

Link stood up without acknowledging them and walked out, leaving the two to grumble about their uncooperative teammate and cold jonin instructor.

He saw no point in forming bonds or trying to get along with them.

If his instructor hadn't been Kakashi, Link might have considered playing along, building camaraderie with his teammates, and demonstrating leadership to increase his chances of promotion to chunin.

But now, it didn't matter.

…

Outside the classroom, Link felt irritated. The disruption to his plans left him frustrated. The thrill of successfully graduating the day before was now replaced by awkwardness and anger. He took a deep breath to clear his mind.

[Does having Kakashi as my instructor offer any advantages?]

He thought seriously about it. The downsides were obvious: he wouldn't become a genin this year, delaying his promotion to chunin.

But there were benefits, too. Spending another year at the academy could help him refine his physical abilities and gain more time to master his unique Three Techniques.

Additionally, Kakashi's status in the village wasn't low. As someone directly connected to the Third Hokage and the future mentor of Team 7, making a strong impression on Kakashi could be advantageous.

Link concluded that leaving a memorable impression—positive or negative—was beneficial for his future promotions.

[So, tomorrow's survival exercise—the bell test—can't be taken lightly.]

[Let's see what I can do at full strength.]

…

The Next Day – Third Training Ground

"What the heck? He's late again!"

Teammate A grumbled while sitting on a wooden stump, complaining about Kakashi's tardiness.

"Is this guy really a jonin?" he asked, turning to discuss it with Teammate B.

Link sat a short distance away, silently running battle simulations in his head, making it clear he wasn't part of their conversation.

He had no illusions about defeating a jonin. His taijutsu was subpar, his ninjutsu limited, and he doubted he could even beat a chunin, let alone an elite jonin like Kakashi.

His only viable strategy lay in his Substitution Jutsu, which allowed him to randomly summon a substitute. After months of training, his chakra reserves now allowed him to maintain a substitution for thirty seconds.

If he was lucky enough to summon Star Platinum, its raw power—capable of shattering three-meter-thick, diamond-hard objects with a punch—might give him a chance against a weakened Kakashi.

But if he ended up summoning Hierophant Green…

"Sorry, sorry!" Kakashi finally arrived just before noon, offering an insincere apology. He casually placed an alarm clock on a wooden stump and said, "If you can take a bell from me before noon, you pass the test."

He held up two bells, dangling them in front of the team before attaching them to his waist. Then, pulling out a copy of Icha Icha Paradise, he added, "Well then—"

"The exercise begins."

"Whoosh!" X2

[Idiots.] X2

Teammates A and B immediately hid themselves, concealing their presence like proper ninjas, and silently cursed the "stupid kid" who had stayed in plain sight.

"There's no point in hiding. A jonin would see through it anyway," Link said, stretching his body as he spoke in a calm, measured tone.

"Three participants, but only two bells. So, one of us is guaranteed to fail and return to the academy?"

Kakashi's eyes glinted with amusement. He had, of course, reviewed their files beforehand. A boy suspected of possessing a unique kekkei genkai, attempting to graduate after just one year at the academy—

Even the Third Hokage had taken an interest in him, which was why Kakashi had been assigned as his instructor.

Given Kakashi's history of sending all his students back to the academy, the Third Hokage's intentions were easy to deduce.

"Whoosh~"

Kakashi flipped open his book with one hand and said with a chuckle, "Heh. Real missions are this cruel. Even in a test, one of you is destined to fail and return to the academy."

Link had already adjusted his body to peak condition. Without hesitation, he quickly formed hand seals—

Transformation Jutsu! Clone Jutsu!

In full view of everyone, Link's left arm detached and transformed mid-air into a chainsaw, landing in his right hand. A mysterious smile appeared on his face as he pressed the switch.

"Vroom! Rumble!"

~~~

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