Naruto, smiling confidently, and Sasuke, looking calm.
Sakura, who had just woken up, still bewildered, stared at Kakashi, Sasuke, and Naruto.
“Well, that was a very clever strategy. You really did fool me and successfully completed the mission objective. However, as I mentioned before, getting the bells only means you have the qualification to pass. There are only two bells, and thus only two of you can pass. Are you choosing to let yourself and Sasuke pass?” Kakashi looked directly at Naruto as he spoke.
Sasuke’s expression turned a bit complicated.
Sakura, who had been confused, suddenly realized what was happening after Kakashi’s words.
What?
Did Naruto and Sasuke got the bells?
So now it’s about who passes?
Though initially dazed, Sakura quickly gathered her thoughts.
Standing up, Sakura saw the bells in Naruto’s hand. Initially puzzled, she quickly understood and felt a tinge of sadness. Since Naruto and Sasuke had obtained the bells, they could pass the test and graduate, while she had contributed almost nothing.
Listening to Kakashi, Sakura thought she would have to return to the academy.
For a moment, Sakura felt the urge to speak out.
She wanted to graduate!
She wanted to stay!
She wanted to be on the same team as Sasuke!
But she quickly suppressed these thoughts.
She lacked the qualifications and the courage to speak out.
Sakura knew very well.
The bells were taken through Naruto and Sasuke’s cooperation, and both of them were far more capable than her. The ones who deserved to graduate were Naruto and Sasuke, not herself, who had been sidelined from the beginning.
Sakura silently accepted this reality.
Even Sasuke thought Naruto would make that choice, as it seemed the most appropriate. Sasuke had no special feelings for Sakura and was even somewhat annoyed by her (due to her lack of strength and fangirling).
Kakashi, however, believed Naruto might surprise him again.
But the next moment, Naruto’s actions exceeded the expectations of everyone present, especially Kakashi.
Without hesitation or doubt.
Within seconds of Kakashi’s words, Naruto smiled lightly, tugged at the bells, and tossed them to the astonished Sakura and Sasuke.
Before they could react.
“I choose to give the bells to Sasuke and Sakura.”
Naruto smiled, looking directly at the also-surprised Kakashi.
“Naruto, why are you giving me the bell? It should go to you and Sasuke. Like Kakashi-sensei said, I didn’t contribute at all. You and Sasuke got the bells together; you two should be the ones to pass!”
Before Kakashi could speak, Sakura, holding the bell, spoke firmly.
When she caught the bell, a rush of excitement and hope surged within Sakura, but it quickly faded. She knew Naruto was giving the bell to her out of kindness, not because she earned it. Despite her lack of skill and fangirling tendencies, Sakura was not stupid. She understood what was right and wrong.
The bell wasn’t hers by right.
So she couldn’t accept it.
She wanted it, she was reluctant to let it go, but she couldn’t accept it.
In that moment, Sakura decided to throw the bell back.
But before she could.
Naruto stopped her.
“No, Sakura. If I give it to you, we can all graduate together. Right, Kakashi-sensei?”
Naruto waved at Sakura, then looked at Sasuke and Kakashi with a confident smile.
“Huh? Graduate together?”
Sakura stood there, confused.
Sasuke, after frowning briefly, seemed to have a flash of understanding, and his frown eased. His gaze at Naruto became more complicated.
“Oh? Why would giving the bells to Sasuke and Sakura mean all of you graduate? Naruto?”
Kakashi, crossing his arms, looked at Naruto with a playful smile.
“Because this survival exercise was about testing our teamwork! Whether it was the bell-grabbing battle or the distribution of the bells now, you were testing if we could become a real team! If we understand this, we can meet your requirements. Otherwise, even if we get the bells, if we work individually, we still fail! Sakura deciding to return the bell shows her team spirit, which means all three of us pass! Right, Kakashi-sensei?”
Naruto looked up at Kakashi and spoke loudly.
Wise, bold, calm, and decisive when needed.
Incredibly perceptive.
Most importantly, trusting himself and his teammates.
Kakashi had to admit Naruto’s performance far exceeded his expectations.
Seeing Naruto, Kakashi couldn’t help but think of his own mentor, Naruto’s father, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
“Sensei, your child has really grown.”
Kakashi looked at Naruto, feeling a mix of emotions. But he quickly composed himself and finally nodded, looking at the three different expressions before him.
“Yes! All three of you pass!”
The firm words.
Naruto and Sasuke showed no reaction.
But Sakura, after a brief stunned moment, beamed with joy and disbelief.
Pass!
She finally passed!
She didn’t have to return to the academy! She could stay on the same team as Sasuke!
At that moment.
Sakura couldn’t, or didn’t want to, suppress her emotions.
And her gaze towards Naruto was filled with gratitude.
Thanks to Naruto, she could graduate.
This was crystal clear to her.
With Kakashi’s confirmation.
The graduates!
Team 7 was officially formed!
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