Team Nine Established, Bell Test

Namikaze Minato led the two to Konoha's Training Ground Twelve.

Namikaze Minato coughed lightly, forcing a serious expression. "Although you've passed the school exams, you still need to pass one more assessment before you can receive Genin missions. If you fail, you'll have to repeat the year."

This was a common tactic for Konoha's leading teachers, to scare the newly promoted Genin beforehand and put some pressure on them.

But clearly, Namikaze Minato hadn't grasped the essence of it. His kind face made it impossible to be intimidating; instead, he looked like he was trying too hard to be profound.

"Oh," Kakashi replied indifferently.

Uchiha Tunan said earnestly, "Kakashi and I will work hard to complete the assessment."

Namikaze Minato nodded, took two bells from his waist, and dangled them in front of the two. "I have two bells here. Each bell represents one qualification to become a Genin. You must snatch them within an hour."

After speaking, he hung the bells back on his waist and flashed a brilliant smile. "If you're ready, you can start now."

"Swish~"

Kakashi's figure instantly vanished, disappearing to who knows where.

Uchiha Tunan adjusted his glasses and bowed to Namikaze Minato. "Minato-sensei, please excuse me."

The next moment, the ground beneath Namikaze Minato exploded, and Kakashi emerged from the soil, reaching for the bells at Namikaze Minato's waist.

Just as Kakashi's fingers brushed against the bells.

"Bang."

Namikaze Minato's figure disappeared, leaving behind a substitution log.

On a nearby tree, Namikaze Minato stood with his arms crossed, a faint smile on his face. He spoke to Uchiha Tunan, who was still standing in his original spot. "Tunan, you can come at me too. Kakashi alone won't be able to get the bells."

"Ting-a-ling~"

As soon as he finished speaking, Namikaze Minato spun around abruptly, only to find Uchiha Tunan standing behind him. The bells at his waist were already in Tunan's hand.

Uchiha Tunan shook the bells in his hand and squinted with a smile. "Sensei, is the assessment over?"

The surprise on Namikaze Minato's face flashed and disappeared, replaced by a smile. "A very good Genjutsu."

The next instant, the illusion dispelled. Namikaze Minato leaped, jumping from the ground to the tree, dodging Kakashi's attack.

At this moment, Uchiha Tunan had just lowered the hand that had adjusted his glasses.

Everything that had happened before was fake. It was only just beginning now.

Namikaze Minato stood on the tree and smiled slightly. "Don't worry about hurting me."

"Minato-sensei, be careful."

Uchiha Tunan cautioned him and quickly formed hand seals.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique."

A massive fireball hurtled towards Namikaze Minato. Simultaneously, Uchiha Tunan threw several Kunai.

The Kunai collided in mid-air, altering their trajectories.

"Clink, clink..."

Namikaze Minato jumped lightly, dodging the Great Fireball and the subsequent Kunai shot from within the flames.

"Thud."

The moment Namikaze Minato landed, the ground beneath his feet instantly turned into a muddy swamp, and he began to sink involuntarily.

"Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld Technique."

Not far away, Kakashi released his jutsu. Seeing Namikaze Minato trapped, he walked over slowly and said indifferently, "Hand over the bells."

"Bang."

Clone Technique, since when?

Kakashi's eyes narrowed, and he quickly looked back.

He saw Namikaze Minato standing behind him, reaching out to gently pat his shoulder.

"Bang."

Kakashi immediately turned into smoke, revealing he was also a clone.

"It seems you two cooperate quite well," Namikaze Minato said in the empty clearing, his gaze intentionally sweeping over two patches of grass.

"Whoosh~"

Suddenly, four Fuma Shuriken shot out from the jungle, coming from four different directions.

They even brought specialized ninja tools.

Namikaze Minato's expression remained unchanged. As the Fuma Shuriken approached, he lightly jumped, stepping on each one. His feet landed precisely on the center of each shuriken.

He had perfectly dodged the four Fuma Shuriken.

As Namikaze Minato soared into the air, he began to fall under the force of gravity. However, as he descended to a point parallel with the Fuma Shuriken.

Namikaze Minato was surprised to discover that the Fuma Shuriken were connected by Chakra Wire.

And these Chakra Wires were retracting. If he landed now, he would immediately be entangled.

What a clever tactic.

With that thought, Namikaze Minato casually pulled out a kunai and slashed at the Chakra Wire.

Although he couldn't cut through it, he could use the kinetic energy to accelerate his descent.

At this moment, in the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi was observing Minato's team's assessment using the Foresight Jutsu.

"As expected, Kakashi and Tunan's strength has already reached Chunin level. It would be a waste to assign them only D-rank missions."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of his cigarette, his brow twitching slightly.

"Oh? So he's also learned Lightning Style. It seems this kid's talent for ninjutsu is even higher than I imagined."

Meanwhile, Namikaze Minato continuously slashed at the Chakra Wire, freeing himself from the fate of being bound.

Just as Namikaze Minato was about to land.

From beneath the soil, Kakashi burst out, his expression stern.

He thrust a short blade with his right hand towards Namikaze Minato's arm, while simultaneously reaching out with his left hand to grab the bell hanging from Namikaze Minato's waist.

Namikaze Minato's lips curved into a slight smile as he brought his kunai down.

"Clang~"

Kakashi blocked the kunai with his short blade and then pushed hard.

Namikaze Minato was sent flying back into the sky.

"Lightning Style, Earth Run."

"Crackling~"

It was only then that Namikaze Minato realized. The Fuma Shuriken from before hadn't landed on the ground but were stuck in the surrounding tree trunks.

Furthermore, several kunai connected by Chakra Wire were suspended from the original Chakra Wire net, forming a web.

Namikaze Minato was now directly above a lightning net.

Seeing Namikaze Minato about to fall into a trap, Kakashi's lips curved slightly beneath his mask.

Uchiha Tunan intensely circulated his Sharingan, observing the flow of Chakra within Namikaze Minato.

This is his main body. There's no sign of him using the Substitution Technique yet. Minato shouldn't be this weak.

Throughout the entire process, Uchiha Tunan had been assisting Kakashi, not revealing much of his own strength.

Although Minato is still young, he's definitely more capable than this.

Suddenly, Uchiha Tunan's pupils constricted slightly.

"Assessment complete. You have passed."

Namikaze Minato appeared atop a Fuma Shuriken, looking at the two below with an appreciative gaze.

"This assessment was mainly to test your teamwork. Your performance far exceeded my expectations. If it weren't for your insufficient mission records, your strength alone would be enough for you to become Chunin."

He's already learned the Flying Thunder God Technique this early?

Uchiha Tunan narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled, bowing to Namikaze Minato.

"Thank you for the praise, Teacher Minato. In a real combat situation, Kakashi and I would have already lost."

Namikaze Minato scratched the back of his head.

"I am a Jonin, after all. By the time you're my age, you might be even stronger than me. Alright, to celebrate the formation of Team Nine, I'll treat you to ramen."

Kakashi expressionlessly sheathed his short blade and glanced at Uchiha Tunan.

Honestly, Kakashi didn't want to go for ramen. He hadn't managed to get the bell this time and was eager to return and train to improve his strength.

However, Uchiha Tunan said with a happy expression, "Then Kakashi and I won't be polite."

Seeing that Uchiha Tunan had agreed, Kakashi shrugged indifferently.

"There's still half an hour until lunch. You two go to the newly opened Ichiraku Ramen on the shopping street first. I need to pick someone up."

As soon as he finished speaking, Namikaze Minato vanished before their eyes.