“But… but doesn’t this seem a bit unfair, Kakashi-sensei? We’ve all passed the academy graduation exam, and now this…”
Although intimidated by Kakashi’s expression, Sakura gathered the courage to speak up about her concerns.
If they couldn’t pass, they would have to redo their year, and there were only two spots available. This meant that one of them would inevitably fail. Despite her decent performance in the academy (mostly due to theoretical knowledge, as Sakura often topped exams), this test was clearly about practical skills. Sakura knew well enough that if only two could pass, it would be Sasuke and Naruto, not her. The thought of this outcome made her shiver.
“Fairness? Sakura, do you think being a ninja is a game? If your understanding of being a ninja is this shallow, then you might as well give up now. In the world of ninjas, talking about fairness is laughable. The academy exam merely tested if you had the potential to become a competent ninja. A real ninja is much more than that. This test is mandatory whether you like it or not. You can choose to give up, but that means forfeiting your right to become a ninja. You can’t just switch instructors; you have to go back to the academy and redo a year. The bells are right here. If you want to graduate, come and take them. And remember, unless you have the determination to kill me, you’ll never get these bells!”
Kakashi’s light smile turned menacing, his eyes glinting with a faint, controlled killing intent that sent chills down the spines of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. Especially for Naruto, who had recently experienced a life-and-death battle, this hint of killing intent was starkly palpable.
This was just a fraction of Kakashi’s true killing intent, but it was enough to make the three rookie Genin feel a bone-chilling cold. For the first time, they directly felt the overwhelming presence of a Jonin.
“This isn’t even on the same level…”
Naruto took a deep breath, his gaze becoming more intense as he looked at Kakashi.
“Alright, time waits for no one. It’s already 11:10. You have 50 minutes left. If you exceed the time limit without completing the task, it’s a failure.”
Kakashi’s leisurely tone contrasted with the urgency of his words as he watched the trio. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura exchanged glances before scattering and hiding in the nearby trees.
Conceal your presence, wait for an opportunity, and strike decisively—this was a principle heavily emphasized by the academy instructors as the essence of ninja combat. Despite the flashy battles depicted later in the series, this method was still the most reasonable and effective, especially in the early stages and in such a scenario.
Naruto, certain that Kakashi would hold back, planned to use the environment and various tactics to his advantage. Defeating Kakashi wasn’t the goal; taking the bells was.
To achieve this, Naruto knew he needed to coordinate the efforts of all three. Even Sakura could play a critical role as bait if used correctly. He needed to make Kakashi fall for their traps reasonably.
As previously mentioned, this was just a test. A Jonin like Kakashi wouldn’t use his full power or advanced techniques like the Sharingan. This restraint was the only chance for the three rookie Genin.
Kakashi, still standing leisurely, pulled out a book and began reading, his demeanor completely relaxed.
“Seriously, Kakashi-sensei is so laid-back…”
Naruto muttered quietly, feeling slightly annoyed despite understanding the power gap. He needed to show Sasuke the importance of teamwork, and the best way to do that was by initiating the attack himself.
Holding his breath and sensing his surroundings, Naruto located Sasuke’s rough position due to his experience in battle and Sasuke’s relatively crude hiding technique. He decided to attack first, forcing Kakashi to reposition, creating an opening for Sasuke.
Naruto believed that Kakashi would likely play along and create an opening if he made the most ‘reasonable’ move and the strongest initial attack. After that, it was up to Sasuke to follow through. Achieving this would mean understanding the core of the test.
Remembering a particular battle from the original series, Naruto planned to use similar tactics, relying on his coordination with Sasuke to seize the bells.
“Alright… let the game begin!”
Naruto’s body tensed, his muscles tightening as he readied himself.
“Boom!”
A burst of energy erupted as Naruto launched himself.
“Oh, so Naruto moves first?”
“Swish, swish, swish!”
Several shurikens shot out from the trees.
Kakashi, standing still, raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly as he watched the incoming projectiles. He deftly dodged the shuriken with minimal movements, which embedded themselves in the ground behind him.
The next moment…
“Boom!”
A golden figure surged towards Kakashi, closing the distance in an instant.
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