Dreams

After Kagami's "Amazing," Kakashi's kicks landed a little less forcefully.

The excited Kagami wanted to shout, A bootlicker gets everything!

But when a footprint appeared on Kagami's face, he only wanted to say, A bootlicker dies a horrible death.

After an entire morning, none of the three had managed to grab a bell. They were all panting from exhaustion.

Saito Daisuke asked Kakashi cautiously between breaths.

"Teacher Kakashi, what happens if none of us manages to grab a bell?"

Kakashi's expression was cold, without the slightest hint of leniency.

"Then all of you fail!"

"What?!"

Saito Daisuke had clearly been frightened. He had never expected the test to be so heartless.

What Saito Daisuke did not know was that after a morning of fighting, Kakashi was already very satisfied with him. He had confirmed that they possessed a spirit of teamwork.

But it still wasn't enough. They were still missing one thing. Kakashi intended to give them one final test!

"I advise you not to slack off. If none of you has grabbed a bell before breakfast, then all of you will fail!"

This time, Saito Daisuke was not the only one who cried out in alarm. Kagami and Suzuki Genji did as well.

The three hurriedly adjusted their condition and prepared to continue grabbing the bells.

This time, everyone gave it their all. Kagami ignored the pain in his body and his nearly depleted Chakra, launching attack after attack.

Although Kagami remembered that Kakashi's bell-grabbing test could be passed through teamwork alone, nothing was absolute. The current Kakashi had probably only just left the Anbu, according to Kagami's father. After emerging from such a dark place, who knew how much darkness remained in Kakashi's heart?

Kagami could not gamble. He could not bet that Kakashi would let them pass simply because they worked together. Since Kakashi still had not declared them qualified, Kagami grew anxious. He had to grab a bell!

However, the gap in strength was enormous. Time eventually ran out, and mealtime arrived, yet none of the three had managed to grab a bell.

Kakashi took the bells from his waist and shook them at Kagami and the others.

"Unfortunately, none of you managed to grab a bell. Therefore, I declare that all of you have failed!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Saito Daisuke's face turned deathly pale. His goal of six years had been shattered.

Suzuki Genji furrowed her brows tightly and said nothing.

Kagami's face remained expressionless, but he grew anxious inside. If he missed this chance to become a Genin, how long would he have to wait for the next one?

Would he have to return to the Ninja Academy for another year? Kagami was willing to give himself that much time, but the Night of the Uchiha Clan Extermination would never give him such time!

However, Kakashi suddenly changed direction.

"Still, eliminating all of you is rather cruel. How about this? The three of you will fight. The top two will pass, and the last-place finisher will be eliminated. This is your final chance. Understood?"

The three fell silent. Kagami was the first to speak. He shook his head and stepped back several paces.

"No, Teacher Kakashi. I won't fight my own teammate. I'm withdrawing from this battle."

Kagami was gambling, betting that Kakashi's words were another test. If he won, they would pass. If he lost, then so be it. To be honest, Kagami did not want to personally crush Saito Daisuke's dream, nor did he want to bully a girl. At worst, he could return to the Ninja Academy. As long as he followed Itachi and Shisui in the future, his progress would still be considerable.

Saito Daisuke hesitated for a while before also stepping back and standing beside Kagami.

"Teacher Kakashi, I'm the same as Kagami. I won't fight my teammate. I'm withdrawing from this battle too."

Kakashi looked coldly at the two of them without saying a word.

Suzuki Genji smiled faintly and gave Kakashi a polite bow.

"I'm sorry, Teacher Kakashi. My decision is the same as theirs."

With every sentence the three spoke, Kakashi's expression darkened another shade. By the time Suzuki Genji finished, his face had become utterly gloomy. Although his mask covered half of it and made his expression impossible to see, the darkness in his eyes was already unmistakable, like the calm before a storm. Kakashi spoke one word at a time.

"You three! Very good! You three! Since that's the case, I now declare that all of you are—"

Kakashi narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he were about to deliver a cruel and merciless verdict. Yet his eyes narrowed further and further until they curved like crescents. The gloom vanished from his face, replaced by a gentle smile.

"All three of you pass!"

Saito Daisuke: "Huh?!"

There seemed to be a hint of surprise in Suzuki Genji's eyes, but she did not show it excessively.

Kagami let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Kakashi was still the same Kakashi. He had bet correctly.

Kakashi explained, "Anyone who does not cherish their comrades does not deserve to become a ninja. You managed to cherish your comrades, so you passed."

Saito Daisuke scratched his head and spoke gratefully.

"That's how it is? Thank goodness. Phew."

Afterward, Kakashi carefully explained to the three of them what the bell-grabbing test had been testing.

Then Kakashi smiled slightly and gave the three of them a thumbs-up.

"You did very well. From now on, I'm officially your guiding teacher. I already learned your names during the battle just now, and I understand your abilities as well. Now, I'd like to ask you: what are your dreams?"

Kakashi first turned his gaze toward Suzuki Genji, the girl who had always been so composed.

Suzuki Genji was a little surprised that Kakashi had asked her to answer first. After thinking for a moment, she spoke.

"I hope... everything will be all right."

Kakashi was silent for a while before speaking.

"That probably doesn't count as a dream. But if that is what you wish for, then I suppose it counts. You really have no desires."

After saying that, Kakashi looked toward Saito Daisuke.

Saito Daisuke seemed a little embarrassed. He did not know whether he should say it, but encouraged by Kakashi's gaze, he finally spoke.

"My dream is to become the Hokage—to become a Hokage even stronger than the Third Hokage!"

Kakashi smiled knowingly.

"Then you'll have to work hard."

Saito Daisuke: "Of course!"

Finally, it was Kagami's turn. Kagami was at a loss for words. His dream? Did he even have a dream? What, in the end, was he striving for? He was striving to escape the impending Night of the Uchiha Clan Extermination, but could he say that the Uchiha would be exterminated? No!

Then what should he say? Aside from escaping the Night of the Uchiha Clan Extermination, what else did he hope for?

His father, his mother, Shisui, Itachi—face after face flashed through Kagami's mind. That was it. What he hoped for was not simply to protect these people?

With that thought, Kagami unconsciously spoke.

"My dream is for everything to be all right."

As soon as he finished speaking, Suzuki Genji could not help looking at Kagami. She pursed her lips, unsure what to say.

Kakashi, meanwhile, smiled helplessly.

"In that case, you two really do share the same dream. Hahaha."

Kagami realized then that the dream he had described seemed to overlap with Suzuki Genji's. Strictly speaking, it could not be considered a dream, but it truly was what he hoped for at present.

"If it can be achieved, then I don't care how it happens."