Passed the Test, Genin-level Reward Authority

"Cough, cough...

So, now you have to make a choice!

Will you return to the Ninja Academy together? Or will one person become a Genin and carry out missions..."

Seeing the two Bells in Naruto's hand, Kakashi gave a dry cough to hide his embarrassment and began his final test.

All the previous arguments had been uncertain unknowns. But now, this was the real temptation of becoming a Genin...

"Hmph, of course we're going back to the Ninja Academy!

I don't want a perverted, repressed, lecherous teacher like you..."

Naruto spoke first, reluctantly glanced at the Bells, and tossed them to Sasuke.

"Naruto's right..."

Sakura followed right after, watching Kakashi as though he were a thief.

If she became Kakashi's subordinate, she simply did not dare imagine how far Naruto and Kakashi would lead Sasuke astray...

"What about you, Sasuke?"

After Naruto and Sakura voiced their opinions, Kakashi asked one final question, pleased with their answers.

"Of course we're going back to eat...

Naruto, Sakura, you skipped breakfast and must be starving!

My treat. We're having barbecue today..."

Sasuke casually tossed the Bells back to Kakashi, then turned to call out to the other two.

"Barbecue??

Awesome, Sasuke...

For the first time, I feel like we really click!"

Naruto's eyes lit up at those words, and drool practically flowed from his mouth as he fidgeted eagerly...

He had dreamed of a barbecue feast for ages, but financial pressure had kept him from ever going.

Whenever he craved meat, he could only fish or hunt some game to feed himself...

But how could that compare to the rich flavors of a barbecue restaurant?

"Sasuke-kun, I'm ready!

Let's go..."

Seeing that she could have another meal with Sasuke, Sakura swiftly picked up both her and Sasuke's backpacks and said sweetly.

Secretly delighted that her relationship with Sasuke had taken another step forward...

Naruto immediately followed, taking Sasuke's backpack on his own initiative to show off.

Naturally, Sasuke had no objections. He gave Kakashi a look that told him to figure it out himself.

Then he turned and left with the two of them...

"Hey, you three...

Do you have any respect for me as your teacher at all?!

Besides, I haven't even announced the test results yet..."

Kakashi's vision went dark. He held his forehead and helplessly called after their backs.

He was clearly very satisfied with their performance, so why did he feel so unhappy...

"Didn't we fail the test? We already knew that!

Do whatever you want. Don't interrupt us while we're going to eat barbecue..."

Naruto answered without even looking back, completely unafraid.

"Hey... hey...

Naruto, when did I ever say you failed the test?"

Kakashi rubbed his head and sighed in frustration, making all three of them stop at once.

"You mean...?"

Sakura turned around with a strange look in her eyes. What was this about...

She was just about to have lunch with Sasuke and deepen their relationship!

"I mean, all of you passed...

From this moment on, Team 7—Team Kakashi—is officially formed.

You are now official Genin!!"

Kakashi raised a thumbs-up and shouted loudly, filling Naruto and Sakura with surprise and joy...

[Congratulations, Host, on becoming an official Genin. C-rank Reward Authority unlocked.]

At the same time, the System Prompt sounded in Sasuke's mind again.

*[C-rank Reward Authority? So that's how it is...

This is the key to why higher ninja ranks bring greater rewards!

No wonder every reward triggered before was D-rank.

Genin authority should correspond to D-rank and C-rank system rewards...]*

With a turn of thought, Sasuke instantly understood, and he also knew the path ahead.

In the upcoming Chunin Exams, he had to advance to become a Konoha Chūnin.

"But Teacher, why did everyone suddenly pass??

Didn't you say only two people could pass?"

After his excitement faded, Naruto scratched his head and asked in confusion.

"Because that was the true content of the test.

Come with me..."

Kakashi called out and took the lead toward the nearby Memorial Stone.

"In the Ninja World, there are dangers, accidents, and choices everywhere!

Every time we go out on a mission, we face all kinds of situations and challenges...

Sometimes, we even face an important choice between our comrades and the mission!

At such times, do we choose to follow the rules and prioritize the mission...

Or break the rules to save our comrades?

Before you, everyone who took this test chose to obey the rules.

A team that can sacrifice its companions at any time, or be sacrificed by them, is not what I want...

It is true that we call those who break the rules trash.

But those who do not cherish their companions are even worse than trash...

Several of my friends' names are carved on this Memorial Stone!

I don't want your names to be carved on it someday as well.

That is why teamwork is the core of Team 7...

The three of you each had your own reasons to withdraw.

Yet you still chose to sacrifice your own interests and stand together. You are ninjas who truly cherish their companions.

I acknowledge you..."

Kakashi looked at the names on the Memorial Stone and explained in a heavy yet relieved tone.

Naruto and Sakura were stirred up again, then fell silent as they stared blankly at the Memorial Stone...

Sasuke could not help sighing inwardly as well...

If Kakashi knew that the dear friend he had mourned for years was stirring up chaos throughout the Ninja World...

Would he furiously awaken the Kamui Mangekyo after learning that his friend had discarded everything from the past, caused the Nine-Tails' Rampage, and was now doing all this?

"All right...

Aren't you hungry? I prepared Bento for you in advance.

It's in that backpack. Naruto, go get it..."

Suddenly, Kakashi's expression changed, becoming bright and gentle as he pointed.

He instantly pulled the silent Sasuke and the other two back to reality...

"Bento??

No! I don't want Bento...

Sasuke was going to take us out for barbecue. Teacher Kakashi, offering us Bento is way too lame..."

Naruto immediately waved his hands in refusal, looking eagerly at Sasuke. His meaning was obvious.

They were continuing with the barbecue feast...

"Well, I don't have that much money either...

I can barely manage with just the three of us, but adding one more person would bankrupt me.

Besides, now that we're supposed to work as a team.

We can't exactly go eat barbecue ourselves and leave someone here to eat Bento, can we?"

Sasuke shrugged maliciously. He was not about to let Kakashi off that easily.

"Exactly...

A certain irresponsible teacher played us like fools, yet doesn't even know to treat us to something as comfort and a way to build team spirit."

Sakura immediately caught on, looking at Kakashi as she chimed in with Sasuke.

"Yeah, yeah...

That's right. Teacher Kakashi, you should treat us to a barbecue feast.

Otherwise, I'll tell everyone about how you got a nosebleed earlier..."

Naruto finally caught on. He narrowed his eyes and directly threatened Kakashi.

"Uh..."

Kakashi's mouth twitched. He had no response.

Was their teamwork really just joining forces to rip off their teacher??

"Then let's go eat barbecue...

But Naruto, don't go spreading nonsense. I didn't get a nosebleed!

And Sasuke, how did you come up with that tactic?"

Under Naruto and Sakura's contemptuous gazes, Kakashi shamelessly agreed and casually asked.

At those words, Sakura immediately looked at Sasuke...

She wanted to know too!!

"A guy who openly carries around improper literature...

If he isn't a repressed lecher, is he some upright gentleman condemning evil instead??"

Sasuke said naturally, once again casting a disdainful look at Kakashi.

Kakashi...