The New Teacher's Test: Snatching the Bells

After briefly blushing, Sasuke realized he had lost his composure. He held out a hand to Shinki and said with a haughty yet bashful air, "My name is Sasuke. Nice to meet you."

Shinki: "???"

Could you not look at me like that?!

I'm really scared!

Shinki was already beginning to doubt whether his guess had been right.

Could he really have the heroine's script?!

That's way too dramatic!!

Seeing that Sasuke and Shinki had gotten acquainted, Naruto came over and greeted Sasuke too. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki!"

Because of Sakura, Naruto didn't like Sasuke all that much.

But he was naturally cheerful and optimistic, and never let little things bother him, so he was easy to get along with.

As the three were talking amiably, the classroom door was pushed open.

A white-haired, one-eyed teacher wearing a mask walked in.

He was the Jonin assigned to lead Shinki and the other two—Kakashi Hatake!

"What a strange outfit."

Shinki looked the ninja over.

He recognized him as Kakashi Hatake, Team 7's teacher in the original story, who seemed to be pretty strong.

"Why is he wrapped up like that? This teacher has really weird taste."

Naruto muttered after Kakashi appeared.

Sasuke, meanwhile, rested his chin in his hands, his eyes on Kakashi. There was no telling what he was thinking.

While the three children examined Kakashi, Kakashi was sizing them up too.

Naruto, his teacher's child, was famously mischievous in the village.

Sasuke, the last survivor of the Uchiha Clan massacre, was quiet but immensely proud.

Finally, Kakashi's one exposed eye settled on Shinki.

Shinki was a war orphan some ninja had brought back from outside the village. His identity was unknown, and like Naruto, he had once been a dead last.

But according to the information Kakashi had received, Shinki had placed first in this year's Ninja Academy graduation exam.

He had risen from dead last to first place, and when Kakashi had come to teach Team 7, the Third Hokage had specifically told him not to be too surprised by anything concerning Shinki.

Kakashi was growing more and more interested in the little red-haired boy.

After a brief silence, Kakashi faced the three members of Team 7. "From now on, I'll be the teacher in charge of you."

"But to truly become Genin, you'll have to pass my test."

"If you fail, I'll send you back to the Ninja Academy to study the ninja curriculum all over again."

"Huh? Another test? What will be on it?"

Naruto, who hated tests, dragged out his words.

"There's no set material. I'll be waiting for you at the outdoor training ground at five tomorrow morning... One more thing: remember not to eat breakfast before you come."

Kakashi said.

Shinki's little face registered mild surprise when he heard Kakashi's words.

After all his tireless efforts, he had finally managed to graduate from the Ninja Academy.

It would be far too embarrassing if he were sent back.

But the teacher had only said there would be a test, without saying what it would cover. That made it awfully hard to prepare.

Kakashi produced a book from who knew where and began reading as he said casually to Shinki and the others, "All right, we'll talk about the rest after you've passed the test tomorrow."

"But let me warn you: so far, not a single ninja I've taught has passed the test."

At five the next morning.

Shinki and the other two arrived right on time for their first test with their new teacher.

They had also followed their teacher's instructions to the letter, and none of them had eaten breakfast.

"Ah, skipping breakfast really does make you hungry."

When Naruto arrived at the training ground and saw that their teacher wasn't there, he clutched his stomach and complained.

"Maybe the teacher's taking so long because he's preparing breakfast for us?"

Shinki said hopefully.

Surely the teacher couldn't really be late?!

Six o'clock.

Seven o'clock.

Eight o'clock.

Ten o'clock.

Shinki and the other two had been waiting there since five in the morning. They had waited five hours!

By now, all three of their unfed stomachs were growling with hunger!

"What's with this teacher? Is he standing us up on purpose?"

Naruto said angrily. Then he started to go home and cook some instant noodles.

He was too hungry to wait another moment!

Just as Naruto took a step, Shinki caught his sleeve. "Wait, the teacher's here."

Naruto looked up.

Sure enough, Kakashi had finally appeared at the training ground!

"Teacher, where did you go?! You made us wait so long!"

Naruto complained.

Shinki asked too, "Yeah, you didn't make us wait here so early while you overslept, did you?"

Kakashi's face reddened, but he neither admitted nor denied it. "Waiting and patience are also part of my test for you."

As he spoke, Kakashi pulled two bells out of his pants pocket.

"Now we'll begin today's trial."

"I have two bells here. If you can snatch a bell by noon, you'll pass my test and get to eat lunch."

"If you can't, you'll be eliminated on the spot and punished. I'll tie you to a stump, and you won't get any lunch."

As soon as Kakashi finished explaining the rules, Shinki noticed something was wrong. "Teacher, you only have two bells, but there are three of us."

Kakashi yawned and said indifferently, "Right. So one of you three has to be eliminated today."

"Huh? That's going too far! It's completely unreasonable!"

Naruto said angrily (*Ӧ)σ.

Sasuke looked puzzled after hearing the rules too.

This Jonin in charge was clearly intent on sending them all back to the Ninja Academy!

Kakashi pulled a book out of who knew where and began reading it with relish. "All right, enough chatter. Let's get started. I'm in a hurry."

Naruto Uzumaki was furious at his new teacher's dismissive attitude.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

Naruto formed a hand seal and summoned Shadow Clones to surround Kakashi!

Kakashi didn't even raise his head. With just a few sidesteps and kicks, he kicked all of Naruto's clones out of existence.

"Naruto Uzumaki, you're actually holding back. Are you afraid you'll hurt me?"

Kakashi chuckled and continued, "You're just a bunch of Genin who've only just graduated from the Ninja Academy, and I'm about to send you right back. If you don't try to snatch the bells with the resolve to kill me, you won't succeed."

Hearing Kakashi's confident words, Shinki nodded in complete agreement.

The teacher's right!

The teacher's strength is above even a Jonin's!

I'm just a rookie who only graduated from the Ninja Academy, and I only know a few hundred Ninjutsu.

Of those, the Third has expressly forbidden me from using Wood Release except in an emergency.

All in all, there's a huge gap between the teacher's strength and mine.

If I don't give it everything I've got, I'm afraid I'll have to go back and attend the Ninja Academy all over again!