Well Kakashi's first impression of his Genin team, for the couple of hours it would take them to fail anyway, was that they might surprise him. Showing up in matching black hakamas like that spoke of good potential teamwork. Even if Uzumaki Naruto decided to add a partially shredded white haori with the kanji for "11" in the back left open over his for some reason.
Of course that was the only good thing he could think as he looked over the team. Everything else was just too strange to deal with.
First off was Naruto himself, who had his normally spiky blond hair teased out beyond reason in a manner that Kakashi was certain had his sensei, Naruto's father, spinning in his grave. He didn't know what was worse about the look, really. The bells tied to the end or each spike or the eyepatch that just made the young Genin hopeful look insane.
Nest to Naruto, and with a surprisingly... subservient yet still proud posture, was Uchiha Sasuke. Sasuke apparently had decided to take a turn for the ridiculous as well with the strange multi-colored flair added to his right eyebrow.
Finally there was the most normal of the trio, and Kakashi was using the term loosely, in the form of Haruno Sakura. Minus her matching outfit she seemed somewhat like her file indicated. Well, if you didn't take into account her resting comfortable on Naruto's shoulder despite actually being taller than him. And for some reason Kakashi though her cheeks looked particularly rosy today compared to her graduation picture taken earlier in the week.
Actually, on closer inspection it looked like all three were carrying swords as well.
He was about to introduce himself and outline the purpose of his test when Naruto looked up from whatever Sakura was happily babbling on about and looked Kakashi in the eye. In that moment, the elite Jounin could swear he was looking his very death in the face as it felt hard to breathe. He felt as if his fight or flight instincts would kick in any moment before the feeling sudden passed as Naruto smirked and said, "It's about time you showed up. I was getting bored waiting around for a good fight."
Kakashi was at a loss for words on how to respond to that, especially when Sakura started to giggle and cheer because "Naru-chan" could finally have some fun. Just as the Jounin was about ask if this was some sort of prank Sasuke let out what could almost be called a girlish squawk as he shouted, "You have to be one of the UGLIEST things I've ever seen. That horrendous green of your vest. The sloppy angle to your hitae-ate. Taicho I beg of you, let me be the one to remove him."
It actually took a herculean effort on Kakashi's part not to facefault at Sasuke's words. Ok let's add Fugaku, Mikoto, and possibly Obito turning over in their graves too. Although with Obito it's probably to roll over laughing, Kakashi mentally added with a wince. Still the rather foppish behavior of the last loyal Uchiha gave Kakashi enough mental footing to introduce himself and explain the rules of the test to the trio. He didn't even bother to wonder why Sasuke, the rookie of the year, was calling the dead last of the class "taicho."
"Yay! That sounds like a fun game doesn't it Naru-chan?" Sakura asked as she watched Kakashi with a happy grin while continuing to cling to Naruto's back.
"With this guy it sounds like less than my morning warm-up's. go ahead and know yourself out, Sasuke. It he's actually good enough to make it though you I might be wrong about him, Naruto replied with a snort.
Kakashi would admit to feeling a sting to him pride as a shinobi as he watch the arrogant little snot with bells in his hair of all things dismiss him. "I think you're grossly overestimating yourselves," Kakashi growled as he prepared to teach these brats a lesson they would never forget.
He would come to regret those words a few moments later as Sasuke drew his sword and said, "Sake, Fuji Kujaku!"
From there it was mostly pain and evasion until Naruto started laughing and declared Kakashi might be worth his time after all to last that long. The last thing the white-haired Jounin remembered before waking up in the hospital was Naruto drawing a very chipped and jagged katana from his scabbard and charging him.
But, on the plus side, at least he had plenty of time to read while he was recovering from the cuts and broken bones. And he was sure Anko would enjoy being the substitute Jounin for those bloodthirsty psychos.
Now if only the medic-nins could figure out a way to take care of the bite marks in his skull from Sakura...
*****
Naruto as Zaraki Kenpachi.
Sakura as Kusajishi Yachiru.
Sasuke as Ayasegawa Yumichika.
Well, if nothing else they'll make a cohesive team. :snigger: