Naruto woke up early the next morning.
After a quick shower, he did some light workouts to loosen his muscles. Push-ups, stretches, and chakra circulation exercises helped him wake up fully.
Once he finished, he ate a quick breakfast and grabbed his jacket.
Today was the team evaluation day.
Instead of heading straight to his own training ground, Naruto decided to visit someone first.
He arrived near Training Ground 10, where Team 10 was waiting.
Naruto waved his hand as he approached.
"Yo Ino, Shikamaru, Choji! Ready for your test?"
Ino immediately perked up when she saw him.
"Hey Naruto, good morning!"
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow lazily.
"Hey… what are you doing here, man?"
Choji paused mid-chip crunch and looked curious as well.
Naruto casually dropped an arm around Ino's shoulder.
Then he tossed two packets of potato chips toward the boys.
Choji caught one instantly with expert reflexes.
Naruto shrugged casually.
"Our sensei is a pervert who is always late and reads porn books in public."
Shikamaru sighed immediately.
"Troublesome…"
Naruto continued with a grin.
"So instead of waiting for him, I thought I'd come watch you guys."
Before anyone else could respond, a loud laugh came from behind them.
"Pfff—HAHAHAHA!"
Everyone turned around.
Standing there was their instructor, a tall man with messy brown hair and a cigarette between his lips.
"Asuma-sensei," Shikamaru muttered.
"That's definitely Kakashi," Asuma Sarutobi said while laughing.
Naruto waved casually.
"Yo old man Asuma."
Naruto had met him before.
After all, Asuma was the Third Hokage's son, and Naruto occasionally visited the Hokage Tower.
Asuma's smile froze instantly.
Ino blinked.
Then she nodded slowly.
"Now that Naruto says it… you really do look like an old man."
Shikamaru and Choji immediately tried to hide their laughter.
Asuma's eye twitched.
"You brat… I'm not an old man yet."
Naruto looked at him thoughtfully.
Then he shrugged innocently.
"But you look like one."
Everyone froze for a moment.
Naruto continued without realizing the damage.
"Every time I see you, it just slips out."
Ino burst out laughing.
Shikamaru covered his face.
Choji nearly choked on a chip.
Ino dramatically grabbed her stomach while pointing at Naruto.
"Naruto! You shouldn't say the truth directly to someone's face!"
Naruto blinked.
"Oh."
He looked back at Asuma.
Naruto placed a hand over his chest dramatically.
"I'm sorry for telling the truth."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then everyone exploded into laughter again.
Even Shikamaru couldn't hold it anymore.
Asuma's mouth twitched violently.
It wasn't his fault he looked older than his age.
He took a long drag from his cigarette and sighed.
"Brats… all of you."
After the laughter finally calmed down, Asuma waved his hand.
"Alright, enough messing around."
He looked at Team 10.
"Let's begin your test."
Naruto stepped back while raising both hands.
"Alright, alright. I'll leave you guys to it."
Ino pointed at him while smiling.
"You better come celebrate with us later!"
Naruto grinned.
"Only if you pass."
Shikamaru groaned.
"What a troublesome motivation."
Naruto waved goodbye and walked away.
---
A little while later, Naruto arrived at another training ground.
This time, Team 8 was finishing their own test.
Naruto raised his hand as he approached.
"Hinata! Kiba! Shino!"
Kiba grinned proudly.
"Yo Naruto!"
Akamaru barked happily from his head.
Shino adjusted his glasses silently.
Hinata smiled warmly when she saw Naruto.
"Hinata, Kiba, Shino… congratulations on passing the test."
Hinata nodded shyly.
"Thank you, Naruto-kun."
Then she looked slightly concerned.
"But you shouldn't waste time here."
Naruto tilted his head.
"You have your own test too."
Naruto scratched the back of his head.
"Yeah… I guess you're right."
Kiba smirked.
"You better not fail, Naruto!"
Naruto snorted.
"As if."
Hinata smiled gently.
"Good luck, Naruto-kun."
Naruto waved goodbye before leaving.
"See you later."
---
Not far away, their instructor had been quietly observing the interaction.
Kurenai Yuhi smiled softly.
"Ah… youth."
Kiba looked confused.
"What do you mean, sensei?"
Kurenai chuckled lightly.
"Nothing important."
Then she glanced toward the direction Naruto had left.
"But that boy is surprisingly sharp."
Shino adjusted his glasses.
"What do you mean?"
Kurenai explained calmly.
"He already figured out Kakashi's habit of arriving late."
She smiled knowingly.
"And Kakashi probably hasn't even met them yet."
Kiba laughed.
"Sounds like Naruto."
Hinata smiled quietly.
Meanwhile, Naruto was already heading toward Training Ground 3.
Time to meet his own team.
And deal with Kakashi Hatake.
---