Naruto: I Am Uchiha Sasuke!?

Thump!

Naruto's body crashed into the small river with a splash.

"Where are you..." Kakashi muttered with a smirk as he turned another page of his book.

"Huh? That was it?" Sakura blinked in disbelief. "I thought it was some kind of secret technique..."

She expected something grand, but it turned out to be just a ridiculous prank.

Hidden in the trees, Sasuke observed everything unfold. "Naruto really is an idiot..." he muttered. "But this might be my chance."

—Boom!—

Water erupted as multiple Narutos shot out from the river.

"No matter what, I will become a real ninja!" he declared, launching a volley of shuriken straight at Kakashi.

Kakashi barely glanced at them, tilting his head slightly to evade every single one.

"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique... So that's what he took from the Scroll of Seals yesterday." Kakashi mused. "Well, it suits him as an Uzumaki."

Meanwhile, the Shadow Clones charged in unison, attacking from all directions.

—Whoosh!—

Sasuke seized the moment. Hidden in the shadows, he flicked his wrist, sending shuriken on a sharp trajectory towards Kakashi's blind spot.

"Oh? Using Naruto as a distraction while launching a sneak attack?" Kakashi's eye narrowed. "Sasuke... He's got good instincts."

Reacting swiftly, Kakashi sidestepped—placing Naruto between himself and the incoming weapons.

—Poof!—

Naruto's Shadow Clone vanished in a puff of smoke as the shuriken struck it.

But Kakashi's relief was short-lived.

A second Naruto latched onto him from behind. "Gotcha!" he grinned.

—Poof!—

The ground shuriken suddenly transformed—Sasuke sprang up from the disguise, reaching straight for the bells.

"What?! He was the shuriken?!" Kakashi's eyes widened in surprise.

Just as Sasuke's fingers brushed against a bell, Kakashi twisted, forcefully tossing Naruto off his back and knocking Sasuke away.

—Bang!—

Sasuke tumbled across the ground as Naruto groaned from where he landed.

Kakashi exhaled, shutting his book with a soft snap. "Impressive, Sasuke. I underestimated you. Looks like I'll have to take this seriously."

"Hmph, don't take us lightly, Kakashi-sensei." Sasuke wiped the dirt from his cheek. "This is Team 7."

"Yeah! This is teamwork!" Naruto added.

From her hiding spot, Sakura watched in awe. "I didn't expect them to work together like that..."

Kakashi smiled under his mask. "Teamwork, huh?" He slid into a ready stance. "Alright then, let's see what you've got."

"Naruto, I'll create an opening with shuriken. You attack!"

"Got it!"

Naruto's clones rushed forward while Sasuke hurled another set of spinning projectiles at high speed.

—Clang!—

Kakashi deflected them with his kunai, but the clones had already reached him.

They unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks. Kakashi dodged with ease, weaving through their attacks. "Naruto, your Taijutsu is still too weak."

But then—

One of the Narutos struck with unexpected speed and force, forcing Kakashi back several steps.

"Huh?" Kakashi frowned. "Something's different..."

That Naruto followed up with a powerful roundhouse kick.

—Boom!—

Kakashi barely blocked it with his elbow.

At that moment, two identical Sasuke clones appeared behind him.

"Take this! Double Lion Combo!"

—Bam!—

Kakashi skidded backward, his feet digging into the dirt.

Sasuke didn't waste a second. He stepped onto a fallen clone and propelled himself high into the air.

—Seal formation complete!—

"Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Jutsu!"

Dozens of scorching fireballs rained down toward Kakashi.

"Water Style: Water Wave!" Kakashi countered, unleashing a torrent to extinguish the flames.

—Boom!—

Steam burst into the air, obscuring the battlefield.

Hidden among the fading mist, several shuriken shot toward Kakashi at a terrifying speed.

"Shuriken hidden inside the flames?!" Kakashi realized too late.

—Whoosh!—

He twisted his body at the last second, barely dodging the deadly projectiles.

—Clink!—

A single bell tumbled to the ground.

As the mist cleared, Sasuke stood there, twirling the bell between his fingers, a smirk playing on his lips. "Got it."

Naruto's face lit up. "We did it! Kakashi-sensei, did you see that?! You underestimated us!"

Kakashi stared at them, stunned.

Sasuke's strategy had been flawless—his attacks precise, well-timed, and expertly executed. It was far beyond what a Genin should be capable of.

"A genius of the Uchiha Clan..." Kakashi murmured. He could see traces of Itachi and Shisui in Sasuke's movements.

No—perhaps Sasuke might even surpass them one day.

A heavy sigh left Kakashi's lips as he disappeared with a flicker.

"Ah! Where'd he go?!" Naruto shouted, looking around frantically. "Come back and fight, you coward!"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Finding a hiding Elite Jōnin? This is going to be tough."

He glanced at Naruto. "Let's split up and search. We're not done yet."

Naruto nodded. "Right! Let's finish this!"