In the center of the clearing, three genin were a whirlwind of motion. A blond boy in an orange jumpsuit was shouting, launching a barrage of shadow clones at a dark-haired, brooding boy who deflected them with sharp, precise shuriken throws. A pink-haired girl watched from the sidelines, her expression a mixture of frustration and concentration.

And under the shade of a large, gnarled oak tree, leaning against the trunk with one knee bent, was Hatake Kakashi. His single visible eye was fixed on a small, orange book held casually in one hand. He hadn’t turned a page in at least five minutes.