Back to the present
Kakashi's stance was relaxed, yet his visible eye glimmered with renewed focus. He was testing them, not just physically but mentally, probing to see how they would handle an enemy who could adapt to their every move. After a quiet moment, he sighed, almost disappointed. "You're good... but I hope you weren't expecting that to be enough."
In a flash, Kakashi formed a series of hand seals, too quick for most eyes to follow. "Earth Release: Mud Wall!" With a rumbling eruption, a towering earthen barrier rose between him and the team, obstructing their line of sight.
Shino signaled to Hinata, who used her Byakugan, her gaze saw through the wall with ease. She could see Kakashi's chakra flickering as he moved just behind the structure, setting up his next move. "He's preparing something..." Hinata whispered to her teammates.
Aizen remained calm, his gaze sharp. "Then we'll have to apply some pressure."
With a slight motion of his fingers, he raised his arm, pointing at the mud wall. "Hadō #33: Sōkatsui!" A blast of blue fire burst from his palm, illuminating the area as it crashed into the wall with explosive force. The impact shattered Kakashi's defensive barrier, sending chunks of earth in every direction. Aizen's reiatsu still lingered in the air, a heavy, oppressive force that Kakashi couldn't ignore.
But Kakashi was already on the move, leaping from behind the crumbling wall and landing a safe distance away. As his feet touched the ground, he raised his hands once more. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A roaring sphere of flames erupted from his mouth, hurtling toward the team with blistering heat. The flames' intensity distorted the air, casting flickering shadows around the clearing.
Aizen's reiatsu rised as he prepared another technique. He didn't know if it would work, but stilled went through with it. "Water Release: Tearing Torrent!" A spinning stream of water surged around him.
The water collided with the incoming fireball. Steam exploded from the impact, creating a thick fog that momentarily obscured their surroundings.
Shino nodded to himself, pleased at the timing, as his insects poured forth, moving into the mist in silent waves. Kakashi's Sharingan could detect chakra, but the dense fog made it difficult to identify specific sources. The insects moved quietly, forming an almost invisible net, intending to surround and disorient Kakashi.
The plan seemed to work; Kakashi shifted uncomfortably as he sensed the subtle, encroaching chakra of Shino's insects. But his eyes remained sharp, tracking any flicker of movement.
Before he could react further, Aizen's voice cut through the haze. "Bakudō #4: Hainawa!" A glowing rope of energy shot forward, binding Kakashi's movements, restricting his arms and torso. Though Kakashi struggled against the Kidō binding, Aizen's technique held firm, its energy pulsing in rhythm with Aizen's reiatsu.
"Your teamwork is improving," Kakashi admitted, even as he felt the tightening restraint around his body. But he wasn't finished. A quick surge of his chakra cracked the Kidō's hold, and with a swift leap, he broke free, landing a few feet away. His stance shifted, signaling his readiness for the next move.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!" Kakashi's voice echoed as he thrust his hands forward, unleashing a powerful gust that dispersed the mist and the insects swarming him. The sudden force forced the team to brace themselves, Hinata covering her eyes while Shino's insects scattered, momentarily losing their cohesion.
Aizen merely held his ground, a faint smile gracing his lips. As Kakashi's gale subsided, he gestured, almost tauntingly. "Is that all, Kakashi?"
Kakashi's eyes narrowed. He was beginning to realize that Aizen's confidence wasn't just arrogance, it was an unshakable belief in his own abilities. That calm, unsettling smile seemed to invite Kakashi to give his best, as if he were the one being tested.
"Very well," Kakashi muttered. His hands moved swiftly into another sequence of seals. "Lightning Release: Lightning Beast Tracking Fang!"
A fierce bolt of lightning arced from his hand, forming into the shape of a snarling hounds that lunged toward Aizen with electrifying speed. The beasts were a dangerous technique, designed to home in on the target's chakra, locking onto Aizen's position with lethal accuracy.
Aizen's expression didn't waver. He raised his palm, his voice calm and focused. "Hadō #63: Raikōhō!" A crackling beam of yellow energy shot forth, meeting Kakashi's lightning beast head-on. The two attacks collided with a deafening explosion, sending electric arcs and residual energy tearing through the air.
The shockwave pushed back the team, each of them bracing themselves against the intensity. Kakashi's eye narrowed, scanning the smoke for any sign of Aizen. But even with his Sharingan, the overwhelming reiatsu made it difficult to gauge Aizen's exact location.
And then, without warning, Aizen was in front of him, emerging from the dissipating smoke. His eyes held a glint of amusement as he studied Kakashi's surprised expression.
Kakashi shifted his weight, his stance becoming defensive as Aizen's reiatsu flared around him. "You're impressive, Naruto. But this test isn't over."
Aizen tilted his head, almost mockingly. "Oh, I wouldn't dream of it, Kakashi."
____
Kakashi's breath was shallow as he stared down his team, gauging them through narrowed eyes. Training Ground 7 bore the marks of their battle, the earth scorched and littered with broken foliage. Aizen stood confidently, his sharp gaze unwavering. Shino's insects hummed faintly around them, while Hinata's Byakugan remained vigilant.
Kakashi took a moment to wipe a trace of blood from his lip. "Well, it seems I'll have to go a little harder on you three. Let's see if you can keep up."
Aizen's lip curled into a faint smirk, his eyes glinting with what could only be called amusement. "Keep up? I think it's you who should worry about keeping up, Kakashi."
Kakashi's brow twitched at the remark, but he quickly refocused. This was the last round, and he could sense they were preparing something big.
"Shino," Aizen commanded calmly, his voice radiating authority. Shino nodded, summoning a massive swarm of insects. The cloud began swirling around them, forming a dark, pulsing veil that acted as both a shield and a screen, obscuring Aizen and his team from view.
"Impressive," Kakashi murmured to himself, but he wasn't intimidated. With swift precision, he made several hand seals and muttered, "Fire Release: Great Blaze Ball!"
The massive fireball streaked toward the veil of insects, but Aizen's voice cut through the darkness, calm and assured. "Hadō #58: Tenran!" With a casual sweep of his hand, a fierce, spiraling gust burst from his palm, catching Kakashi's fireball midair and redirecting it skyward. The flames dissipated harmlessly above, casting flickering shadows over the battlefield.
Kakashi's eyes widened slightly. The boy's Kido intrigued him.
But he had no time to dwell on it; Hinata, seizing the distraction, surged forward. She appeared in front of him in an instant, her Byakugan blazing as she executed her strikes. Her fingertips met Kakashi's chakra points with relentless speed and accuracy, each touch weakening his chakra flow. Despite her normally reserved demeanor, her determination was fierce, and Kakashi was forced on the defensive as her assault continued.
He grimaced, feeling his chakra stutter and strain under the pressure. She was landing every strike with unnerving accuracy. But he managed to dodge her final attack, leaping back, but it was only to find himself ensnared once again in Aizen's Kidō. This time, Aizen's tone was sharper.
"Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō." The six radiant bars of light struck from nowhere, pinning Kakashi mid-movement, locking his limbs in place. He struggled against the restraints, but they held firm, fueled by Aizen's potent spiritual energy.
Aizen's calm expression didn't falter as he approached. "Stay still, Hatake," he murmured, a hint of disdain in his voice. "You've danced enough."
Kakashi's pulse raced. He could feel Shino's insects closing in, a dark wave creeping closer as they filled the space around him. In that split second, he knew he had to act or risk capture. With a deft substitution technique, he vanished, leaving a log in his place as Shino's insects enveloped it.
Kakashi reappeared several feet away, crouched low, breathing heavily. He could no longer deny the seriousness of the situation; they were systematically cutting off his options.
Aizen's voice echoed through the clearing, smug, as though delivering an undeniable truth. "Running only delays the inevitable," he intoned, his tone almost dismissive.
Without a hint of hesitation, Kakashi's hands blurred through another sequence of seals, his eyes fierce. "Lightning Release: Thunderclap!" A bolts of lightning formed in the sky.
As Kakashi unleashed it on Aizen, he looked almost bored. With a casual raise of his hand, he chanted, "Hadō #63: Raikōhō." A beam of yellow energy surged from his palm, crashing into Kakashi's lightning. The two forces collided with a resounding explosion that shook the clearing, and Aizen didn't even flinch as the shockwave passed.
As the smoke began to clear, Kakashi found himself looking directly at Aizen, who had closed the distance. Aizen's eye held a glint of superiority. "Is that it, Kakashi? Or are you simply outmatched?"
Kakashi clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stay calm. Aizen's power, his arrogance, it was more than unsettling. But he couldn't give up here; he couldn't look weak in front of his other students.
___
Kakashi's body was exhausted, his chakra dangerously low. But seeing the three of them, each one standing firm, resolute, prepared to go to any lengths to subdue him, he knew they had already proven their strength.
After a deep breath, Kakashi straightened and looked at them with a rare, genuine smile. "Alright. You win."
The tension broke, and the team allowed themselves a small moment of victory. Kakashi continued, addressing each of them. "Naruto, your command over those energy techniques is... terrifying, to say the least.. Shino, your tactical awareness is something that can't be taught, it's instinct. And Hinata... you surprised me. I could feel every strike you landed."
Each of their faces reflected the pride they felt. And then Kakashi added, more solemnly, "Remember, those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum. Today, you showed that you don't leave each other behind, that you know how to trust each other even under pressure. And in the field, that trust is what will keep you alive."
Aizen's expression was unreadable, though a faint smirk remained. The god-like confidence still radiated from him, unshaken.
Kakashi dismissed his students and told them they would meet up tomorrow.
Shino and Hinata departed. Only Aizen and Kakashi remained, a lingering tension between them. Kakashi's outwardly calm stance was belied by the cautious way he observed Aizen, every instinct in him attuned to the boy's unsettling presence.
After a quiet moment, Kakashi tilted his head, the easy-going façade still intact. "So, Naruto… what do you need?"
"I wanted to discuss my… living arrangements. Am I expected to remain in my cell when not on missions, or will there be somewhere more fitting provided for my time in Konoha?"Aizen
Kakashi's visible eye studied him, the depths of his own thoughts hidden beneath his mask. "I'll speak with the Hokage. For now, your cell is where you'll stay."
Aizen's face betrayed no sign of disappointment or frustration; he simply gave a small nod, as though he had expected as much. "Very well," he replied, his tone as calm and distant as ever. Without another word, he vanished, his Shunpo carrying him back to his cell with a swiftness Kakashi found unsettling.
Only once Aizen's presence had completely dissipated did Kakashi allow himself a slow exhale. His hands relaxed, and he rubbed the back of his neck, trying to dispel the persistent tension that lingered in his muscles. The boy's power… it gnawed at his mind. Six years, six long years in confinement, without freedom to move or train. And yet, Aizen had shown strength and precision that seemed beyond natural growth. The sheer force of his movements, his profiency in kenjutsu, his uncanny mastery of those strange energy-based techniques… none of it added up.
He'd seen powerful chakra auras before. But the aura Aizen exuded was different, its intensity was haunting. Kakashi shook his head, feeling the vague sense of dread creeping in again. He needed to talk to the Hokage.
---
The Hokage's office was quiet by the time Kakashi arrived, a thin wisp of smoke curling up from the pipe in Hiruzen's hand. The other Jonin senseis had already come and gone, having shared their reports on their Genin's performance in their respective tests. Kakashi was the last to arrive, as usual, but this time his lateness was weighed down with concern. He moved into the room, and the Hokage looked up, his sharp eyes immediately catching the tension beneath Kakashi's casual demeanor.
"So, how did it go?" Hiruzen asked, his tone calm but curious. He put down his pipe and focused his full attention on Kakashi, sensing this might be more than a routine report.
Kakashi took a breath, organizing his thoughts. "Team 7 passed," he replied, allowing himself a slight, approving nod. "They figured out the true purpose of the test faster than I anticipated. Even more impressive, they worked together seamlessly, something I didn't expect, given that Naruto, Shino, and Hinata have never worked together before."
Hiruzen's lips lifted in a small smile, and he chuckled softly. "Promising indeed. Those three may just surprise us all."
But the Hokage's gaze darkened as his thoughts shifted to Aizen. "Tell me… how did Naruto perform?"
Kakashi hesitated, his expression hardening as he chose his words carefully. "He… displayed a level of skill and power I hadn't anticipated. Immense strength, remarkable speed, refined kenjutsu… he's proficient in techniques I've never seen before." His mind drifted briefly to the kido spells Aizen casted. "He has these energy-based techniques, Hokage-sama. I've never seen jutsu like them. And his presence… his aura is intense. Overwhelming, even."
Hiruzen's brows furrowed, his gaze shifting to the distance. "No illusions?"
Kakashi shook his head. "I forbade him from using any illusions during the test." He hesitated, his own eyes shadowed with worry. "But his kenjutsu alone… it was enough to bring me to my limits."
Hiruzen absorbed this, his mind churning as he considered the ramifications. "Where did the boy get a sword?" he finally asked, his voice carefully controlled.
Kakashi's expression tightened. "The sword may be a spiritual weapon. He summoned it at will, and just as easily made it vanish once he was done."
A faint grimace crossed Hiruzen's face as he considered this. But Kakashi hadn't finished. His voice lowered as he spoke, unable to hide a hint of the sorrow lingering beneath his words.
"Before I could free him of his bindings, Naruto broke through the seals, Hokage-sama. He kept most of the seals intact, but that isn't enough to stop him"
Hiruzen's expression remained neutral, though the shadow behind his eyes deepened. It was unsettling, but not entirely unexpected. Six years ago, when they had first attempted to restrain Naruto, he had shattered the initial binding seals within days, forcing Hiruzen to call upon Jiraiya's expertise in fūinjutsu to craft more powerful seals. It had been a necessary, yet brutal, precaution. For Aizen to break them now… it was a development that filled him with a creeping unease.
Silence stretched between the two men, each caught in the weight of their thoughts.
After a few moments, Kakashi cleared his throat, breaking the quiet. "Naruto raised a question about his living arrangements. He wanted to know if he would continue to stay in his cell, or if something else would be arranged."
Hiruzen nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps it's time for a change. He's shown remarkable control, and if he's to be trusted on missions, he'll need a space more suitable than a cell. I'll consider the options."
"Understood." Kakashi inclined his head, though he couldn't shake the faint knot of apprehension in his gut.
But Hiruzen only watched the slow drift of smoke curling up from his pipe, the calculated weight of his gaze fixed on the distance, as though watching the future unfold in the tendrils of smoke. "For now, Kakashi," he said softly, "continue to watch over him. And if you see anything… unusual, you will report it to me immediately."
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Kakashi turned, his thoughts heavy as he left the office, feeling the quiet dread linger. For years, he had been the one observing Naruto from the shadows. But now, standing face-to-face with the boy, that dread had become something altogether more tangible.