Although Sakura had followed Chinatsu's guidance and trained seriously during the past years, her foundation was still far below Naruto and Sasuke. She had improved her chakra control and basic three-body techniques, but that was still only within the range of a solid genin.
Sakura could be considered an above-average graduate at best, while Naruto and Sasuke had already crossed into elite chunin territory. With their current coordination and output, most opponents below jōnin level would struggle to suppress them.
Sakura: I really thought… I had gotten closer…
Kakashi was sent skidding back through the aftermath of Sasuke's combined Fire Release barrage, landing lightly amid drifting smoke. His posture steadied, but his expression under the mask was slightly more serious than before.
"…This isn't what I expected at all."
He dusted his shoulder calmly.
"How exactly did your older sister train you two? You're both acting like monsters for newly graduated genin."
Even Kakashi had to admit it this level of growth wasn't normal. Even Minato's old team didn't come out of the Academy like this.
But he quickly exhaled.
No more holding back.
He formed hand seals.
Shadow Clone Technique.
With two soft bangs, multiple Kakashi clones appeared, spreading across the battlefield in formation.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Several massive fireballs surged forward like a rolling tide of flame, sweeping across the training field with overwhelming pressure.
This level of jutsu would have been excessive against normal graduates but Kakashi had already realized something important.
These weren't normal graduates.
But mid-cast, a thought flickered.
Sakura…!
Too late.
Sasuke and Naruto both moved instantly, positioning themselves in front of Sakura without hesitation.
Sasuke's eyes sharpened.
"Lightning Release: Black Lightning Black Fang!"
He rapidly formed hand seals, channeling the Lightning Release technique Chinatsu had once demonstrated, which he had adapted through her guidance.
Black lightning erupted, shaping into a ferocious beast-like construct that collided head-on with Kakashi's fireball barrage.
Fire and lightning clashed violently.
BOOM!!
The impact detonated into a massive explosion, shockwaves ripping across the terrain. Sakura was protected behind them, shielded by Naruto's clones and Sasuke's positioning.
Sasuke immediately reacted again.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
A defensive barrier rose from the ground, absorbing most of the remaining blast force.
Kakashi exhaled slowly.
"…Good reflexes."
He glanced at the smoke clearing.
At least no one got seriously injured.
But before the smoke fully dispersed
"Multi Shadow Clone Technique!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Naruto's chakra exploded outward.
Hundreds… then nearly a thousand shadow clones filled the battlefield.
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed slightly.
"…This is getting ridiculous."
Naruto's clones surged forward in waves, overwhelming the field with sheer numbers. Kakashi moved rapidly, dispersing clones with precise strikes, but every clone destroyed was instantly replaced.
His expression gradually went flat.
This chakra volume…
It wasn't normal.
He finally understood.
Uzumaki lineage, massive vitality, and the Nine-Tails sealed inside him. If fully controlled, Naruto's reserves would be on a completely different scale.
Kakashi muttered under his breath while continuing to move.
"…This is beyond double digits of me."
Naruto's real body stayed hidden among the clones, waiting.
Now.
An opening.
A clone behind Kakashi narrowed its eyes. In its palm, chakra began compressing into a spiraling sphere.
Rasengan.
Chinatsu had already obtained the technique from Jiraiya and passed it on without hiding it, allowing Naruto to train it openly using shadow clones.
With hundreds of clones assisting, Naruto had accelerated mastery far beyond normal training speed.
Sasuke, meanwhile, had already seen it before.
"Tch… that spinning chakra ball…"
He clicked his tongue slightly.
"It's not stylish at all."
Naruto's clone pushed forward.
Now!
Kakashi turned slightly at the last second
His eye widened.
"…That technique…"
A familiar shape.
Minato's chakra form.
For a brief moment, Kakashi hesitated.
But his body still reacted.
He twisted away but not fully.
BOOM!!
The Rasengan struck, sending Kakashi flying back into the smoke.
He stabilized mid-air, landing on one knee.
"…Minato-sensei…"
A rare flicker of emotion crossed his gaze.
But battle awareness returned instantly.
He had underestimated them.
And in that moment of recovery
Clink.
Two bells slipped free from his gear, falling toward the ground.
Sasuke landed smoothly, picked them up without hesitation, and held them up slightly.
"Kakashi-sensei… we got them."
Silence.
Kakashi blinked once.
He had truly lost them.
His original intention was only to test them to show them the gap between genin and jōnin, to break their arrogance a little.
Not this.
He sighed.
"…I guess I really underestimated you."
Sasuke casually tossed one bell to Naruto. Sakura stood a few steps away, completely frozen, her hands trembling slightly.
Sakura: …I… what am I even supposed to do here…
Her voice didn't come out.
Everything she imagined about teamwork, balance, and shared growth collapsed in front of her.
I'm… too far behind…
A tear slipped down her cheek.
Kakashi noticed immediately.
He walked over and gently placed a hand on her head.
"…Don't rush it."
Sakura looked up, eyes shaking.
"Kakashi-sensei… I… will I ever catch up to them?"
For a moment, Kakashi didn't answer.
Because for once…
The answer wasn't something he could soften.
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