The Blatant Gap

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Menma could not help sighing inwardly.

His original plan had been to pressure Kakashi with this wave of attacks and demonstrate their initial united stance. Then, in the next attack, as long as they found an opportunity to let Sakura play a minor role, it could barely count as a coordinated team attack.

That way, they could at least be considered to have met Kakashi's minimum standard. Snatching the bells would naturally be the best outcome, but they also had to consider that, even if Kakashi went easy on them, the four of them might not actually be able to take the bells. Demonstrating seamless teamwork was their only path to passing the test.

As long as Sakura did not come out and get herself killed!

Kakashi definitely would not attack Sakura first.

Unfortunately, plans could not keep up with changes.

He's still a ninja without any awareness of what being a ninja means!

Menma watched Kakashi charge straight at the three of them and thought helplessly.

"Bang."

"Smack."

"Rumble!"

With merely one-tenth of his strength—or perhaps even less—Kakashi could easily toy with Menma and the others.

Not to mention the enormous, heaven-and-earth difference between them in experience and skill.

In just one exchange,

Sasuke was effortlessly taken down with Genjutsu.

Then came a simple Wind Style Jutsu.

"Bang!"

Naruto was sent flying.

Finally, Kakashi used Taijutsu to subdue Menma cleanly and efficiently.

In less than ten minutes, Kakashi had made Menma, Naruto, and Sasuke understand what an insurmountable gulf in strength truly was.

And that was only because Kakashi had played along earlier, wanting to see more of how well the three of them could coordinate as a team.

Otherwise, it would have ended even faster.

"Looks like you still have a long way to go. You couldn't even last ten minutes, much less take the bells from me!"

Kakashi crossed his arms over his chest and looked at the four of them sitting cross-legged on the ground, his expression seeming to carry a hint of disappointment.

"No! This doesn't count, Brother Kakashi! We were careless just now. Give us one more chance, and we'll definitely be able to take the bells!"

Upon hearing Kakashi's words,

Naruto, the most hot-tempered among them, immediately jumped to his feet, planted his hands on his hips, and shouted.

If they were declared to have failed and sent back to the Ninja Academy to study again, where would he put his pride?

That was absolutely unacceptable.

Sakura looked even more nervous, while Uchiha Sasuke frowned slightly.

"One more chance? Naruto, what do you think a ninja is? Children playing house? A failed mission is a failed mission! So, as we agreed earlier, the four of you will obediently return to the Ninja Academy and study!"

Kakashi raised a brow and deliberately looked at Naruto with displeasure.

That firm, decisive attitude

made Naruto freeze, his eyes widening round like a cat's.

"Still, considering that you did perform quite well just now, it's not like I can't give you another chance."

But at the end of his sentence, Kakashi abruptly changed his tone.

"Eh? Really!? Brother Kakashi?"

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke's attention was immediately drawn to his words.

"Hehe, of course. But I'll only give this chance to three people. There are three bells here—decide among yourselves how to distribute them. Whoever has a bell will be eligible for the second test. The one without a bell will return directly to the Ninja Academy to study."

Kakashi smiled faintly and removed the three bells from his waist. With a light flick, he tossed them out, and just as Naruto instinctively caught them,

Kakashi deliberately spoke those words.

Aside from Menma, the other three immediately revealed stunned expressions.

"What? You can't decide how to divide them? Or perhaps you could settle it with an actual fight? That's not a bad suggestion either, is it?"

Kakashi narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone seeming somewhat aggressive.

Whether it was Naruto or Sasuke, their expressions became slightly unnatural at that moment.

Uchiha Sasuke stared fixedly at the bells in Naruto's hands. His right hand wanted to reach out, yet he restrained himself.

That alone was enough to show what Uchiha Sasuke was feeling at that moment.

On the other side, Sakura looked at the three bells in Naruto's hands, her beautiful eyes filled with endless hope and nervousness.

She truly wanted to graduate.

She did not want to return to the Ninja Academy.

Even if this was only an opportunity to take the second test.

But

she did not seem to have any compelling reason or qualification to take one of the bells.

At that moment, Sakura's heart was already filled with despair.

It was not merely possible.

There was a one hundred percent chance that she would have to return to the Ninja Academy to study. After all, she truly did not have the courage to ask for a bell.

Which of Menma, Naruto, and Sasuke was not better than her?

Naruto's lips moved as though he wanted to say something, but he could not bring himself to speak. The atmosphere instantly became as terrifyingly silent as death.

It felt like an impossible question.

The few of them remained silent for a long time.

Just as Kakashi's expression seemed to grow increasingly pronounced,

"Hehe, it's a simple matter. Give the bells to those three. I don't need the chance to take the second test, Teacher Kakashi."

Menma, standing to one side, smiled faintly and spoke softly.

"Oh?"

"Eh?"

"Menma, you?"

"Menma-kun!"

To Sakura, Naruto, and the others, those words were no less than a thunderbolt.

Yet a flash of just as I thought passed through Kakashi's eyes.

This kid reacts pretty fast...

In almost an instant,

Kakashi understood that Menma had undoubtedly seen through his intentions and plans.

But on the surface, Kakashi still put on a puzzled expression and asked, "Oh? Are you sure, Menma? Once you miss this opportunity, you'll have to return to the Ninja Academy and study for at least another year. You won't have another chance to graduate until next year. You don't want to think it over again? Using pure strength to decide who gets the bells is the fairest approach!"

The way he seemed to deliberately glance at Sakura

made Sakura Haruno's delicate body tremble.

Sakura, whose heart was filled with endless conflict and nervousness,

bit her teeth in the next moment and said, "Menma-kun, the bells should still go to the three of you. My grades were already the worst among the four of us. No matter the order, it could never be my turn. The three of you should take the test again. I... I... I'll wait until next year!"

It was as though she had needed every ounce of strength in her body to say those words.

Yet after saying them,

the crushing weight on Sakura's heart vanished out of nowhere. She knew very well that there was no point fighting for something she could not obtain.

Taking a step back here was the right choice instead.

Besides, this was only eligibility for a second test. It was not as though obtaining a bell meant she would automatically pass. Sakura had no confidence at all that she could pass Kakashi's test.

Since that was the case, why make things difficult for herself?