The Performance Begins, Kakashi's Malicious Suggestion

Transformation Technique...

Using the cover of the bushes, Sasuke slipped directly into the river and activated a ninjutsu.

With a bang, he transformed into Naruto...

At the same time

Naruto, who had fallen into the water, also activated the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique...

The instant White Smoke appeared beneath the river, the transformed Sasuke seamlessly blended into it.

The careless Naruto did not notice the extra clone at all and immediately began assigning tasks.

One clone would come ashore from the side for a sneak attack, while the others would lure the enemy head-on...

A moment later

"No matter what, I'm definitely going to snatch those bells and become a ninja...

I absolutely, absolutely won't fail here!"

Following Naruto's shout, the calm river suddenly erupted as seven Narutos leaped out.

Both Sakura and Kakashi were stunned!

"Haha... you fell for it...

This is my specialty, the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique..."

Naruto crowed smugly as he and his seven clones formed an eight-man group and charged Kakashi head-on.

[Multiple Shadow Clone Technique? Is that the Forbidden Technique Mizuki tried to steal that night...]

Kakashi looked at the eight Narutos with understanding in his eyes, then put away Icha Icha Paradise.

Faced with eight Narutos, he needed to get a little serious!

"Now, get him..."

Seeing Kakashi's back completely exposed, Naruto waved his arm and signaled the clone lying in ambush.

"What??"

Kakashi, focused on the front, was instantly grabbed from behind by Naruto's clone and cried out in surprise.

"Hehehe...

A ninja can't leave his back to the enemy..."

Naruto immediately shouted triumphantly, about to start explaining.

Among the group, Sasuke, transformed as Naruto, swiftly formed Hand Seals under the cover of the clones.

Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique...

After rapidly completing the Hand Seals, Sasuke activated the ninjutsu without hesitation.

He opened his mouth and spewed a stream of fire that gathered into a ball in midair, blasting toward the front...

"What??"

"Great Fireball Technique!!"

"How is that possible..."

At the same time

Naruto, Kakashi, and even the hidden Sakura all stared in astonishment.

Naruto was completely dumbfounded. How could a clone use Fire Release Ninjutsu that even he could not use...

"No choice..."

Still held by Naruto's clone, Kakashi forcefully flung him away as the fireball approached...

Chakra burst beneath his feet, and he leaped into the air, dodging away from his original position.

"Don't think you can run..."

Sasuke naturally was not surprised by this. The Shuriken he had prepared beforehand shot out at high speed...

Three Shuriken flew in a swift arc straight toward the cords holding Kakashi's bells.

"Not bad reflexes..."

Kakashi praised him approvingly, casually catching the three Shuriken between his fingers.

At the same time, his figure vanished in an instant...

The next second

"If I'm not mistaken, you're Sasuke, right!"

A Kunai pressed against Sasuke's neck as Kakashi's voice sounded.

"So what if you figured it out..."

A sharp glint flashed through Sasuke's eyes. With a bang, White Smoke drifted past, revealing his true form.

"Huh??

Damn it, no wonder that clone could use Fire Style and had such skilled Shuriken techniques...

So it was you..."

Seeing Sasuke's true form, Naruto immediately pointed at him and shouted indignantly.

Making Kakashi instinctively look toward Naruto...

"Bang..."

At that very moment, Sasuke's body suddenly turned into a Naruto clone with a bang.

"Substitution Technique? When did you!!"

Kakashi's pupils shrank at the sight of Naruto, and he cried out instinctively.

Whoosh...

In that instant, Sasuke swiftly grabbed the two bells.

"Got them..."

"Sasuke, that was amazing..."

Naruto and Sakura shouted in shock, hardly believing their eyes.

"Bang..."

At that critical moment, Kakashi instantly switched places with Naruto's clone.

"Damn..."

Sasuke's expression changed, and he immediately moved away from where he stood.

The next instant

A hand burst from the ground where he had been standing, grasping at empty air...

"What incredible combat instincts...

Whether it's his grasp of timing or his strength, he's already reached Genin level.

As expected of this year's Top Student, Sasuke Uchiha..."

After his Earth Style failed, Kakashi immediately emerged from the ground and looked at Sasuke several meters away with admiration.

"Too bad, I still missed..."

Sasuke said with feigned displeasure, his eyes narrowing as he prepared to put on a show.

As a transmigrator, he naturally knew the true purpose of the test. Everything just now had merely been an act that fit his character.

It was to avoid standing out too much and causing trouble...

"Naruto, Sakura.

You saw it too. Even as the Top Student,

I couldn't get the bells with a surprise attack.

The two of you have even less chance...

If we want to get the bells, fighting separately is impossible!

So, you haven't forgotten our agreement to cooperate last night, right..."

Sasuke flashed back to Naruto's side and began patiently persuading them.

"But, but there are only two bells to pass the test...

Even if we work together to get them, how are we supposed to divide them?"

When Sasuke spoke, Sakura shot out from the bushes with a trembling voice.

If not for that, why would they have fought separately...

"Exactly, exactly...

There are only two bells, so one person has to drop out.

I finally got my forehead protector. I don't want to go back to the Ninja Academy."

Naruto clenched his fists and shouted beside them, worried that Sasuke would kick him out after they cooperated.

Sakura supported Sasuke, and Sasuke was the Top Student.

By then, if the two of them joined forces, the one kicked out would definitely be him...

"Hehe...

We haven't even gotten the bells, and you're already worrying about what comes after!

So, what if...

I give up!!"

The corner of Sasuke's lips curled up as he began his real performance.

Didn't Kakashi want to see teamwork? Then he would give him plenty to see...

"Give up? No...

Sasuke-kun, how can you give up!

You're the Top Student...

If that's the case, then I'll give up too...

I'll definitely stand together with Sasuke-kun through thick and thin!!"

Sakura immediately stated her position. She had finally been assigned to the same group as Sasuke-kun.

There was no way she wanted to leave Sasuke-kun and team up with Naruto!

"Naruto, if Sakura gives up too, you'll have both bells.

Then you'll definitely be able to become a ninja.

Can we cooperate now??"

Sasuke shifted his gaze to the trembling Naruto and began pressing him for an answer.

"How can...

How can you two just give up like that!!

Sasuke, didn't you keep saying you wanted to compete with me to become Hokage?

How can you give up on becoming a ninja like this...

If you take the initiative to drop out so I can become a ninja, then what's the point of cooperating now??"

Naruto asked emotionally, his eyes trembling as he could not understand Sasuke's intentions.

"The point? You idiot, Naruto...

Maybe this is Sasuke's scheme.

If I were him, I would definitely go back on my word after getting the bells.

Then you'd be left helpless, Naruto...

So, what's your answer?

Sasuke..."

Kakashi deliberately sowed discord, somewhat looking forward to Sasuke's response.

[Detected Kakashi's malicious suggestion. Triggering 10x D-rank Reward.

Mission: Gain Naruto's trust; Reward: Awaken Sharingan...]

Hearing the System Prompt, Sasuke paused, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes...