A precise strike.
Kakashi went straight for the real Naruto.
During the previous battles, through careful observation and precise judgment, it seemed like Naruto was hidden among the clones. However, Naruto was smart; he didn’t put everything on the line, nor did he let only one clone remain idle. Instead, he deliberately chose a few clones to stay out of the attack simultaneously. This tactic protected the real Naruto and made it difficult for Kakashi to identify him. But Kakashi was still Kakashi. He noticed the subtle nuances—the hand seals before the attack, the slight emotional changes during the subsequent strikes—that only the real Naruto could make. Thus, Kakashi, without any hesitation, unleashed his lightning chakra and accelerated towards the real Naruto.
“Next time, try to control your expressions better, Naruto.”
Seeing the somewhat dejected Naruto in front of him, Kakashi prepared to knock him out with a slight increase in force.
But the Naruto in front of him suddenly looked up, a bright smile on his face.
“Kakashi-sensei, don’t underestimate Genin!”
“What!?”
Before Kakashi could fully react.
“Gotcha!”
From behind.
Using the smoke from the recently dispelled shadow clone, Sasuke and Naruto closed in from the left and right.
Their leaping figures.
Both wielding sharp kunai in their right hands.
Arms raised, full of strength.
As they descended.
Naruto and Sasuke used their positional advantage.
With a perfect spear-thrusting posture, the glinting blades cut through the air with a sharp sound, compressing Kakashi’s last escape space.
They had to engage in close combat to grab the bell, which was the only conclusion Naruto had drawn from the previous battle.
Long-range confrontation?
That would just give Kakashi the opportunity to defeat them one by one.
This was the chance they needed!
Using Sasuke’s maneuvering to distract Kakashi, then using the clones’ acting to lure him, creating this attack opportunity!
The final chance!
They had to take down Kakashi here!
Naruto, charging in from the front, and Sasuke from the side, their determined gazes sharpened.
Facing this fierce assault.
Kakashi was initially surprised (mainly because he had been tricked by Naruto and misidentified the real one).
But he quickly recovered.
Not making any evasive moves.
Since his “adorable” students had chosen to engage in close combat, he couldn’t back down as a teacher!
Lowering his center of gravity, he took a half-defensive, half-offensive stance.
“Clap!”
The intersecting figures.
Kakashi first blocked Sasuke’s right-side strike with his right arm.
Then forcefully pressed down, flipping his left hand to draw a sharp kunai, meeting Naruto head-on.
“Clang!”
A heavy clash.
Sparks flew.
“Hmm!?”
With just one hand, Kakashi effortlessly blocked Naruto’s assault.
Then, with a flick of his arms, he deflected their attacks, giving Naruto and Sasuke no time to react.
Before they could fly back.
Kakashi extended his arms again, pressing forward, grabbing each of them.
In an instant.
Naruto, losing balance in mid-air, couldn’t adjust his posture. He flung his kunai, seemingly trying to force Kakashi back.
But Kakashi easily dodged the kunai with a slight sidestep.
With a swift move.
He effortlessly trapped Naruto and Sasuke under his arms.
“Hehe, Naruto, Sasuke, it’s over….”
But!
Before Kakashi could finish speaking.
A sudden change occurred.
“Poof!”
From below.
The kunai that had flown past turned into white smoke.
And a second Naruto appeared from it.
“!?”
This time.
Kakashi couldn’t react in time.
Unable to make any effective move.
Naruto smiled lightly.
“Gotcha!”
Reaching out, he grabbed the bell and pulled hard.
Then, springing away.
“Boom!”
Landing steadily, raising a cloud of dust.
“Poof!”
Simultaneously, the Naruto under Kakashi’s left arm turned into white smoke and disappeared, along with the other shadow clones on the field.
Not far away, the real Naruto stood, shaking the bell with a confident smile, looking at Kakashi.
“Kakashi-sensei, mission accomplished?”
Naruto raised an eyebrow, showing a rare, proud smile.
Seeing this, Kakashi could only release Sasuke still under his arm, then formed hand seals to release Sakura from the genjutsu. Shrugging, he looked at Naruto with a confirming tone.
“It was the initial Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, right? Using the smoke to transform into a kunai?”
Initially puzzled, Kakashi quickly deduced Naruto’s entire plan upon seeing the kunai transform into Naruto.
“Yes! This was our last resort. Using Sasuke to distract you, the clones to lure you, then Sasuke and I make the final strike. We thought we could grab your bell. Luckily, we had this final trick, or we wouldn’t have gotten it.”
Naruto nodded, seemingly both proud and relieved.
Looking at Naruto, even Kakashi, as critical as he was, had to acknowledge their clever strategy. In such a short time, they devised this tactic and coordinated perfectly to achieve their goal. By Kakashi’s standards, Team 7 had undoubtedly passed this test.
Despite Sakura’s shortcomings.
Sasuke and Naruto’s teamwork was outstanding.
At least, based on Kakashi’s experience, he couldn’t find a more exceptional duo.
However, even after completing the set mission, Kakashi had one more test in mind.
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