Naruto: Heaven Rewards Diligence

Naruto had already finalized the deal with Kakashi, so the next day, Lee went to find him. Might Guy wasn't around—he was reportedly out on a mission.

Although Kakashi's own missions were never light, his mind now was focused entirely on growth. He wanted to become stronger, and the Third Hokage had personally granted him leave to train.

Konoha wasn't short on elite jōnin. What it truly lacked was high-level combat power—shinobi who could stand on the same level as a Kage. The village had become increasingly desolate in that regard.

How many Kage-level fighters did Konoha still have?

That was why the Third Hokage placed such hopes on Kakashi. In his eyes, Kakashi stood firmly on his side.

Kakashi had once shone brilliantly, dazzling as a prodigy in his youth. Yet, in recent years, he had been a source of regret.

At Kakashi's age, the Hokage himself had already entered the Kage-level. But Kakashi's progress had slowed to a crawl. His ninjutsu development had stagnated. He relied too heavily on the Sharingan, which disappointed Hiruzen Sarutobi. Kakashi's talent went far beyond just wielding the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

When it came to potential, Kakashi's genius even surpassed that of the White Fang in his youth.

—

Several figures soon appeared at Training Ground Eight.

Kakashi had reserved the training ground for the entire month, leaving it off-limits to others. Unless he gave it up, no one would disturb them.

Naruto arrived, with Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Neji, and Lee following at his side.

Naruto stepped forward. "Kakashi Hatake, regarding the deal you mentioned yesterday—Lee is a taijutsu specialist. He has no use for your ninjutsu. But Sasuke, on the other hand, is a perfect fit. If possible, I'd like you to change the exchange to him instead."

Kakashi narrowed one eye, the other still hidden under his forehead protector. He studied Naruto in silence.

He understood now—his little test had been seen through, and Naruto had deliberately allowed it. The fact that Naruto was here, openly confronting him, was both an answer and a sign of tacit understanding.

They met eyes. No words were exchanged, yet both understood.

"…Alright."

Kakashi's reply was concise. He spoke in a way that kept Sasuke and Neji from realizing anything deeper.

The two young shinobi, however, were already sizing him up.

The man Naruto had called a genius wore a jōnin vest, his silver hair standing unruly, his headband tilted to hide one eye—that eye which was said to hold the Sharingan.

He looked lazy, almost careless, but his gaze carried a sharp edge.

He didn't seem overwhelming, but neither Sasuke nor Neji underestimated him. Naruto had instructed them clearly: Kakashi was no ordinary shinobi. His rumored mastery of over a thousand ninjutsu alone made him a terrifying opponent, with more combat strategies than they could predict.

This reputation had earned him another nickname: the shinobi who could fight evenly with anyone—the "Copy Ninja Kakashi".

"From today," Naruto said, turning to Sasuke, "this will be your teacher. Study hard. His ninjutsu will suit you well."

Sasuke gave a short nod. Naruto had told him before: if he could learn Kakashi's ninjutsu, his strength would increase drastically.

Fixing his gaze on Kakashi, Sasuke took a deep breath before saying, "Kakashi Hatake. I've heard you're one of the strongest shinobi in the village—the Copy Ninja of Konoha. Before anything else, I want to challenge you."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow, faintly amused. A brat like Sasuke challenging him? If it were Naruto, maybe he'd take it seriously—but Sasuke? He didn't even register him as a threat.

"I also wish to challenge you, Kakashi Hatake."

This time, it was Neji who stepped forward, bowing slightly in respect. His words carried the elegance of the Hyūga clan.

Naruto, on the other hand, stood off to the side, placing himself at Kakashi's level rather than below him.

"Fine," Kakashi said casually. "Come at me together."

His gaze flickered briefly toward Naruto, who hadn't moved. Clearly, Naruto was tacitly approving the challenge. Whether this was a deliberate test or simply youthful recklessness, Kakashi couldn't tell.

Naruto gave a soft chuckle and stepped back with Lee, clearing the area. He gave Sasuke and Neji a small nod.

They understood immediately: don't go all out.

"Then let's begin, Kakashi-sensei!"

Sasuke and Neji took their stances, and through the chakra communication method Naruto had devised, they coordinated instantly.

Sasuke's fingers blurred through hand seals. His practice over the years had honed his speed until it rivaled many jōnin.

"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"

"Eight Trigrams: Whirlwind Palm!"

Wind fanned the flames, boosting the fire's destructive power as it roared toward Kakashi.

The blazing torrent struck him head-on.

Boom!

Smoke burst apart—Substitution Jutsu!

Neither Sasuke nor Neji hesitated. Their eyes locked on another point in the field—where Kakashi's true figure had already appeared.

Kakashi's fingers blurred through a rapid sequence of hand seals—his speed was slightly faster than Sasuke's. Facing the combined assault of the two, he countered each strike with practiced ease.

His ninjutsu flowed effortlessly, one technique into another.

Sasuke and Neji's eyes sharpened. Kakashi's mastery—the seamless combination and timing of his jutsu—was on a different level altogether.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

Stone surged upward, forming a massive barrier—but as always with Kakashi, the wall was sculpted into the heads of dogs.

Was this supposed to strengthen the jutsu?

When their attacks slammed against the wall, they found it no sturdier than any other Earth-Style Wall.

Watching from the sidelines, Naruto nearly rolled his eyes. Seriously? Is Kakashi overflowing with chakra or just showing off? Even I don't waste chakra like that!

Heads can break, blood can flow… but the dog-headed Earth Wall must stand tall!

Even Sasuke and Neji's faces grew more serious. Kakashi wasn't simple at all. Facing the two of them together, he still had the leeway to carve a dog head into his Earth Release.

And that was when they weren't even fighting at full strength.

"Unbreakable Golden Body!"

The two activated the technique simultaneously. Their bodies glowed with a golden sheen, their chakra flaring to a higher intensity than before.

Kakashi's expression grew cautious. This is… the taijutsu Lee practices? No, something similar but refined.

Besides the color shift and power increase, their bodies showed no signs of strain. Unlike the Eight Gates, this transformation didn't seem to tear them apart from within—or at least, its side effects were within tolerable limits.

In the next instant, their speed spiked. Kakashi's uncovered eye spun scarlet as the Sharingan flared open.

A flash of lightning cut the air as their attacks met.

Steel clashed against chakra-empowered strikes—Kakashi's White Fang Blade Style intercepting them.

The collision drove Neji and Sasuke back three steps. Kakashi himself slid only one.

Their speed had reached the level of an ordinary jōnin.

Their strength was close to matching one as well.

And with their techniques and bloodline abilities added to the mix, each of them alone could already stand toe-to-toe with a jōnin.

Kakashi was forced to admit—he was impressed.

These two are even more monstrous than I was back then.

True, his youth had been forged on the battlefield, where experience was earned in blood rather than training grounds. But looking at Sasuke and Neji now, Kakashi couldn't decide—was their path harder, or his? Who was truly stronger? It was a matter of perspective.

...

TN:

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