Konoha's Seventh Training Ground.
"First, let's have some self-introductions." Kakashi leaned listlessly against the railing, his eyes fixed on icha icha paradise as he spoke.
"Sensei, what should we say for our self-introductions?" Kenta, who seemed a bit simple and straightforward, asked directly.
"Well, things like what you like, what you hate, your dreams for the future, hobbies, and stuff like that." Kakashi put down his book and spread his hands.
"I'll go first. My name is Tanaka Kenta. I like Ichiraku Ramen, hate green peppers, and my dream is to become an excellent Ninja." Kenta took the lead to introduce himself with a grin, his smile clean and bright.
"His personality really matches his appearance!"
Aoki Yoru looked at Kenta's sturdy build and his height, which was a head taller than others his age, thinking he was quite suited for Taijutsu.
Coming from a commoner family, one could usually only eat until half full; growing like this was a kind of innate talent.
"My name is Aoki Yoru. What I like is researching things quietly by myself. There's nothing I particularly hate, and my dream is to live safely until the grand finale," Aoki Yoru said.
"Well, that's a very good dream!" Kakashi glanced at Aoki and offered a rare comment. In this Ninja World, living peacefully until old age was no easy feat.
Finally, it was Shimizu's turn. She clenched her fists and said, "My name is Shimizu Yui. I like tri-color dango, hate war, and my dream is to become an excellent medical Ninja and bring glory to the Shimizu Clan."
The young girl looked soft and weak, but her tone and movements seemed quite capable.
This fit the girl's current situation; the whole clan only had a few members left, and they were all just little kids. As the oldest Ninja of the clan, all expectations rested on her shoulders.
"Sensei, you too. We don't even know your name yet," Kenta asked immediately after Yui finished.
Kakashi closed his book. "My name is Kakashi Hatake. I don't feel like telling you what I like or hate. As for hobbies... I have many."
In the end, they only learned his name. The three were instantly speechless.
"We'll have a survival exercise in half an hour. A word of advice: if you fail the exercise, you'll be sent back to the Academy."
At those words, Kenta's face changed instantly. "How can this be? We already passed the graduation exam."
Aoki Yoru and Yui's expressions remained unchanged. Aoki had seen the original series; Yui knew about this from her family records, though she saw it as just a formality that usually wouldn't result in being sent back.
"If you don't want to be sent back, then fight hard." After saying that, he vanished from before them.
While the others were stunned, Aoki stood up. "Let's talk about what we're good at first, then formulate a battle plan."
The three then devised a strategy based on their specialties and prepared themselves.
Aoki Yoru closed his eyes to rest his mind.
Perhaps because he had lived two lives, his mental energy far exceeded that of ordinary people. This was his 'cheat'—it allowed him to perceive subtle movements around him, essentially a Ninjutsu version of Observation Haki.
Furthermore, his powerful mental energy brought about superior learning ability and control over his body and Chakra.
But he didn't dare show it. Who knew if Danzo would pop up and say he was destined for Root after seeing such monstrous talent, then brand his tongue with the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal?
Aoki didn't dare bet that the Third Hokage would stand up to Danzo for his sake and say the line, "Danzo, I am the Hokage!"
After all, the 'Shinobi Legend' was old and constantly compromising for the so-called 'greater good.'
So even though he knew the training method for the Rasengan, he didn't dare practice it. After all, he couldn't explain the source, and it would likely result in the Yamanaka clan performing a Ninja World version of a soul search on him.
In the end, Aoki Yoru only practiced water walking and tree climbing based on the original series' methods for basic Chakra control, along with the Kenjutsu and Ninjutsu left behind by his parents.
"Swish..."
Kakashi instantly appeared before the three.
"It looks like you're all ready." Kakashi picked up two bells. "The rule is: if you get a bell from me, you pass."
"But Kakashi-sensei, why are there only two bells? There are three of us," Kenta asked, confused by the two bells in his hand.
"This means only two of you will pass, and the remaining one will be sent back to the Academy to repeat the year."
As soon as he spoke, Kenta and Yui's faces turned pale, and their lips trembled slightly; this was beyond their expectations.
"Stop dazing off, the exercise has begun," Aoki Yoru barked as he saw them freeze.
After saying that, he instantly leaped into the dense forest, crouching behind a tree and using his sensory talent to completely suppress his presence.
The other two also snapped out of it, leaping into the bushes from different directions and using the terrain to hide their forms.
"Unexpectedly impressive!" As newly graduated Genin, their hiding techniques couldn't possibly fool Kakashi, but they were outstanding for their rank.
Especially Aoki Yoru; if not for his keen senses, Kakashi might not have even noticed him. This level already surpassed an average Chunin.
"Whiz, whiz, whiz..."
Kunai and shuriken from three directions shot toward Kakashi.
A flash of surprise crossed his eyes; those three directions perfectly blocked his room to maneuver.
Kakashi used the Body Flicker Technique to dodge them all.
"He's fast, as expected. This kind of attack is child's play to a Jonin," Aoki Yoru thought with a slight shock while watching from behind a tree. "But it's not over yet."
Two Kunai with explosive tags attached detonated in mid-air, kicking up a large cloud of dust and obscuring his vision.
"Now!" Aoki gave a low signal to his teammates, then used the Body Flicker Technique to draw his blade and slash at Kakashi.
He was confident in his speed. The'Soru' from the Marine Six Powers in One Piece involved stepping on the ground dozens of times in an instant to generate explosive high speed.
After he was able to extract Chakra, he had figured out how to learn it, and it was easy to perform when combined with Chakra.
Coupled with his mastery over Chakra control and bursts, he vanished like a ghost, leaving a faint afterimage and appearing in front of Kakashi the next second.
"So fast!" Aoki's speed was beyond Kakashi's expectations, forcing him to block with a Kunai.
"Clang!"
The katana and Kunai collided, sparks flying everywhere.
Aoki's body quickly followed up with a sweeping whip kick, which was again blocked by the other's elbow.
Regaining his stance, Aoki held his blade with one hand and delivered dozens of slashes within a single breath.
Clang... Clang... Clang...
Kakashi, holding a Kunai, blocked every single one of Aoki Yoru's slashes.
At that moment, Kenta instantly appeared behind Kakashi and threw a powerful punch at his back.
Kakashi's expression changed. In that split second, he forcibly parried Aoki Yoru's blade and delivered a side kick that sent Kenta flying.
Bam...
Kenta's body crashed into the nearby bushes like a cannonball.
"Wind Release: Air Cutting Technique"
Shimizu Yui seized the opportunity to perform a Ninjutsu.
A crescent-shaped wind blade slashed toward Kakashi's body.
"Did it work?" The three looked toward him.
Poof! Kakashi turned into a cloud of smoke.
"He actually used a Clone Technique at the last moment." Aoki Yoru looked back with a grim expression; he had sensed Kakashi's Chakra.
"I really can't underestimate you guys. I almost got caught!" Although he spoke in a lazy tone, he had put away his nonchalant expression.
As expected, a Jonin wasn't that easy to deal with. Aoki Yoru frowned at Kakashi, whose clothes weren't even wrinkled; the man's Chakra was very stable, with almost no fluctuations.
So, he made a gesture to his two teammates.
Execute the next strategy.