The initial draft was quickly prepared by Lin Yu and Namikaze Minato, though the rewards they set made Minato wince.
"The champion gets to choose three S-rank ninjutsu. You might as well just say they can view the Scroll of Seals!"
"Won't this drain Konoha dry? If another village takes the championship, we'll be at a total loss!"
"Don't be so tense, Minato. The bigger the hype, the more we'll earn later."
Lin Yu continuously soothed Minato, signaling him not to worry too much about the champion, as he had already decided who would participate, guaranteeing a victory.
Namikaze Minato then pointed at the monetary figures, saying, "Konoha can't afford this ten billion ryo prize money. If you want to pay, you pay yourself!"
"It's just ten tiny billions, what are you so worked up about."
Lin Yu said nonchalantly, "Don't even mention the prize money. I'll even cover the construction of the venue and the surrounding security work!"
"You said it. It's a deal."
Lin Yu waved the draft in his hand, "Then let's not delay. Let the news spread. It'll take quite some time to reach the entire ninja world."
"Leave that to me, with confidence."
"As for subsequent matters, I won't participate much. Remember to notify me when you're drafting the exam rules."
After Lin Yu left, Namikaze Minato rubbed his temples and said softly, "Really, putting so much pressure on me."
"Go call Shikaku Nara here, and summon all the department heads to the conference room!"
...
The next morning, shrouded in mist, the sun had not yet clocked in. Three figures walked slowly from three directions. As they converged, surprise flickered across their faces.
"Naruto, that idiot, actually this punctual!"
"As expected, my teammates are as excellent as me!"
"Why are these two gays arriving together? If I had known, I should have arrived later!"
The three exchanged glances. Sakura gave an awkward laugh, "Hi, you guys are all here so early."
"Of course, I have to prove myself to Sasuke today."
Despite feeling sleepy, Naruto forced himself to stay alert. He planned to surprise Sasuke with his newly mastered ninjutsu.
"Idiot!"
"What did you say, Sasuke! Keep your eyes wide open later and watch my performance!"
"Idiot!"
Sakura wore an awkward smile. Indeed, these two were acting strangely, and their words sounded odd.
Time slowly passed... after the sun had risen high.
"Hi, good morning, everyone."
Kakashi walked out of the woods with his hands behind his back. The corner of a book peeked out from his ninja pouch, seemingly having been read and not yet put away.
"What time is it now? Kakashi-sensei, you're too slow!"
Naruto's eyelids drooped. He should have slept instead of fooling around with Sasuke earlier.
Sakura also looked at Kakashi speechlessly, feeling that their instructor was not very reliable.
Sasuke, as usual, maintained his scowl and said nothing.
"Well, okay, how should I put it? If you can snatch these two bells from me before noon, you win."
"You can use any means!"
Naruto initially felt a surge of excitement, but upon seeing what Kakashi pulled out, he exclaimed in surprise, "Kakashi-sensei, why are your bells rectangular?"
"Damn it! I was too engrossed and brought the wrong things!"
Kakashi quickly hid the manga he was holding and frantically searched his ninja pouch.
To his dismay, after searching, he still couldn't find the bells. Kakashi said with a straight face, "Well, the rules remain the same. As long as you can touch this book in my hand, you win."
Kakashi couldn't help but praise himself for his improvisation. He could now read his book openly!
As for the plan to make Naruto and the others understand the importance of teamwork and comrades, those could be taught later. What was more important than a manga!
"Alright, ready, go!"
*Swish swish!*
Sakura and Sasuke quickly retreated and concealed their presence. Before a ninja is certain of the opponent's true strength, they don't act rashly, but there are exceptions.
"Hmph, let me, Naruto Uzumaki, experience Kakashi-sensei's strength!"
Naruto stood in place, rubbing his fists. Today, he would prove to Sasuke that he, Naruto Uzumaki, was different now!
"Uh, excuse me, is there something wrong with you?"
Although Kakashi really wanted to complain about how the Hokage educated Naruto, he held back.
"Less nonsense, take this!"
Naruto lunged forward, pulling three shuriken from his ninja pouch and throwing them at Kakashi. But Kakashi simply swayed his body and dodged them all, his gaze not even leaving the manga.
"Don't underestimate me!"
Naruto attacked Kakashi with his kunai, but Kakashi easily dodged every attack.
*Bang!*
Kakashi casually caught one of Naruto's spinning kicks, grabbed his ankle, and flung him away, saying nonchalantly, "If your attacks are only this level, then you should prepare to return to the Ninja Academy."
"Curses!"
Naruto realized the gap between himself and Kakashi and stopped probing. He formed hand seals and unleashed his ultimate move.
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
With a *poof* and a puff of white smoke, seven Narutos appeared. Without the Nine-Tails' chakra enhancement, Naruto could only maintain about seven shadow clones, and only for a short time.
"Let's all go together!"
Kakashi looked at the Narutos rushing at him from all directions and turned a page of his manga, saying, "Interesting!"
"But it's still not enough."
Kakashi held his manga in his left hand and used only two fingers of his right hand to defeat all of Naruto's shadow clones.
"It seems the finger techniques depicted in 'Icha Icha Paradise' are quite extraordinary."
Sakura and Sasuke, hiding in the bushes, were shocked by Kakashi's strength after seeing Naruto so easily defeated, especially Sasuke.
"Naruto, that idiot, has mastered shadow clones already? Damn it!"
Sasuke's left hand, which had been resting above his ninja pouch, twitched slightly. Naruto's growth in strength made him feel threatened, but fortunately, he could still accept it.
"I need to find an opportunity to act. The strength of a Jonin is truly unfathomable."
"Anything else?" Kakashi asked, hands in his pockets, holding 'Icha Icha Paradise' in one hand.
Naruto rubbed his slightly swollen cheek, angered, "I originally wanted to save this move for Sasuke, but Kakashi-sensei, you've made me very angry. Take this!"
"Sexy Reverse Harem Jutsu!"
*Poof poof poof!*
Another puff of white smoke filled the open space. Numerous female-Naruto clones, revealing their slender waists, surrounded Kakashi. This caused Sasuke, hiding in the bushes nearby, to widen his eyes.
"This... Oh, this..." Sasuke felt a warm flow in his nose, but it seemed something was missing, and it didn't flow out.
Sakura, not far away, had already collapsed on the ground.
"Naruto, you big dummy!"
Kakashi, standing in the center of this "paradise," remained unmoved. It was just Naruto, not Obito or Guy; he had no attraction whatsoever!