"Sensei is so slow. I'm not even late, and he's actually late! Damn it!"
"Obito, Sensei might have something to deal with."
"..."
Kakashi glanced over, unsure how to even complain about it.
You know you like being late too?
But still, he was right.
As a Jonin, punctuality was an essential professional creed. How could he be this late?
Could he be observing us from the shadows?
He gripped the White Fang Short Sword and secretly surveyed the surroundings.
After a while, Kakashi's body stiffened. He slowly turned around and looked at a tree some distance behind him.
"Good afternoon, everyone."
The next moment.
Minato appeared before them.
So fast!
Kakashi was deeply shocked.
This speed...
Of all the people he had seen before, only Kyoichi possessed such terrifying Body Flicker Technique. Now, he had seen a second person.
"Sensei, you're very late!"
Obito shouted angrily.
"Hahaha, actually, I arrived quite early. I've just been observing you the whole time. Clearly, only Kakashi has any sense of vigilance. The two of you... failed!"
"Huh?"
Obito was instantly dumbfounded.
Failed?
The exam hasn't even started yet!
"Of course, Rin has a talent for being a medical ninja. She started learning Medical Knowledge at a very young age, and she's exactly the kind of ninja we urgently need. So I'll make an exception and let Rin pass. But as for you... Kakashi, Rin, you may vote on whether to keep Obito."
Minato wore a gentle smile, but his words were anything but gentle.
He had originally planned to act more serious, but Kyoichi had said he lacked intimidating presence and would be better off saying such things with a smile.
Now, looking at the results.
It really was quite intimidating.
Obito was completely stunned. His mouth opened and closed, but he did not know what to say.
Good grief!
I thought I was here for an exam, but I've already been eliminated before it even began?
Kakashi, meanwhile, was seriously considering the matter.
Obito...
He really was not very capable.
It was not a matter of strength. This kid was simply too unruly and unrestrained. Getting him to cooperate would be extremely difficult. Kakashi had genuinely begun considering whether he should replace Obito.
However.
Before he had a chance to speak, Rin spoke first. "Sensei, how can you do this...? Obito has been working hard too. Please give him a chance."
"He wasn't late this time. That was indeed quite hard-working."
Minato smiled and nodded.
"I-I won't be late again!"
Obito panicked.
Judging by the look of things, this Jonin really intended to kick him out.
They did not doubt Minato's ability.
They had all learned a thing or two about him. Minato had been Konoha's youngest Jonin, and he was also Jiraiya's disciple, one of the Sannin. Kicking Obito out would be no more than a single sentence for him.
"What about Kakashi?"
"Me? If you want me to choose, I definitely wouldn't keep him, but... forget it. Whatever."
Seeing Rin's pleading gaze, Kakashi did not continue.
"Then the examination begins. The test is very simple. You only need to injure me to pass. The examination starts now..."
Minato crouched there, seemingly completely defenseless.
"Scatter!"
"Just as expected."
Kurenai Yuhi sighed.
Expecting Obito to understand tactics was truly a difficult task, especially when the one issuing the orders was Kakashi Hatake.
Ever since they entered the academy several years ago, Obito and Kakashi had been at odds.
Asuma wore a helpless expression. He glanced at Shisui, then at Obito, who remained in place in the distance.
How could he be so careless?
His opponent was a Jonin!
The three of them had devised all kinds of tactics and coordinated to the limit, yet they still had not managed to touch Kyoichi's hair. How much less could a lone Obito accomplish?
"Still, I have to admit, his Great Fireball Technique isn't bad."
Kyoichi smiled.
Obito was not without his strengths.
He was highly proficient with Great Fireball and shuriken, and he was also fairly skilled with Kunai. He simply had a screw loose in his head, and his thinking and judgment were poor.
Put simply.
Other dead-last students were dead last because they lacked talent. Obito was dead last simply because he lacked brains.
Unfortunately...
It was incredibly difficult for Great Fireball Technique to injure anyone.
As expected.
The person he burned was only a substitute.
Rin had no choice but to return and provide support, but Kakashi did not hesitate in the slightest. He merely threw shuriken from a distance to cover her.
Shisui asked in confusion, "Why is he hiding?"
"Huh?"
Asuma tilted his head, not quite understanding the question.
Kurenai Yuhi, however, offered a brief explanation. "Kakashi is just like that. It's hard to explain in a few words."
"Shisui, what do you think they should do at this point?"
Kyoichi did not answer directly.
"Obito and Rin have already been held back. As the strongest fighting force on the team aside from the Jonin, they should definitely help them retreat."
Shisui replied.
"Keep watching."
Kyoichi neither agreed nor disagreed.
At that moment, the situation on the field suddenly changed.
Minato made his move!
Although Obito and Rin struggled to resist, how could they possibly be his opponents?
They were about to lose.
Then, a flash of blade light shot up from underground.
Kakashi!
"What incredible swordsmanship."
Asuma was utterly shocked.
This was the first time he had seen Kakashi fight with all his strength. He was incredibly fast and decisive in killing, completely like a seasoned veteran of the battlefield. He did not seem like someone their age at all.
However.
It was useless. Minato was faster.
The sound of weapons clashing could be heard even from where they stood.
Obito and Rin tried to join the battle, but they could not get involved at all.
Although they attacked constantly, the results were mediocre.
"What do you think?"
"They're fighting wrong."
"There's no teamwork. It's a complete mess."
"I think so too."
Shisui and Kurenai voiced their opinions one after another. By the time it was Asuma's turn, there was nothing left to say, so he could only repeat the others.
In reality.
It could not be said that they lacked teamwork. It could only be said that they had absolutely no teamwork.
Obito and Rin had originally possessed a bit of coordination and tacit understanding, but once Kakashi joined, the battle became so chaotic it was painful to watch. Never mind displaying their individual strengths—it was questionable whether they could even display their own abilities.
Team combat had never been a solo performance--
Except when the difference in strength was overwhelming.
Clearly, Kakashi was not that strong.
"If the three of you went up, would you be confident in defeating Kakashi's team?"
Kyoichi asked.
"Us? I think it wouldn't be a problem."
Asuma thought for a moment before answering.
Shisui and Kurenai also nodded lightly.
Kakashi was strong, but he was only one person. As long as they dealt with Obito and Rin first, then turned around to handle Kakashi, would three people really be unable to defeat one person without all being counter-killed?
"Minato, let them fight later."
"All right. Then I'll finish this quickly, so they don't expend too much chakra."
After Shadow Clone finished speaking, it immediately dispersed.
The next moment.
Minato's speed in the battlefield suddenly doubled.
With only a series of metallic clangs, Kakashi, Obito, and Rin's forehead protectors were all knocked away.
"You're all disqualified!"
Minato's expression turned stern.
He looked at the three of them, then finally at Kakashi, and said, "If this is what a ninja is in your eyes, then I advise you to return to the academy. Don't go to the battlefield and harm yourselves and others."
"..."
Kakashi clenched the short sword. He glanced at Obito, then turned his head away with a cold snort, clearly quite unconvinced.
"Not convinced? Fine. As it happens, I've invited Jonin Kyoichi and the First Squad. You can train with them and see what another team is like."
Minato did not hold back at all.
He was genuinely a little angry. He now somewhat understood why Kakashi had not been assigned to a Chunin team, forcing the Third Hokage to transfer him to Minato for reorganization.
How can anyone function with this personality?
Before you continue