Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice echoed across the empty training ground, reaching the ears of Orochimaru and the others.
"Grab the bells? How come I've never heard of that before?"
Jiraiya's eyes widened. He scratched his trademark white hair, his face full of confusion.
No one had mentioned this part of the test when he graduated.
"The point isn't what the test involves, Jiraiya.
The point is... there are only two bells, but there are three of us."
Orochimaru spoke, glancing at the bewildered Jiraiya and the pensive Tsunade before finally looking toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Just as he'd thought...
At those words, Tsunade's chin, which had been slightly raised, drew in, and her expression changed abruptly.
She, too, had naturally realized the cruel implication hidden behind this seemingly simple rule.
Two bells, three people. That meant one of them would inevitably be eliminated!
Who was she? She was the granddaughter of Hashirama Senju, the First!
With the Senju Clan's blood flowing through her veins, how could she be eliminated in this first test?
If she really was, it would be a huge embarrassment!
"Ah! So that's what it means! Sensei, you forgot to bring one of the bells, didn't you?"
But Jiraiya still hadn't caught on. He clapped his hands as if he'd just had a brilliant realization, then looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with an innocent tone.
Pfft—
Tsunade nearly choked. She whipped her head around to stare at Jiraiya.
Her eyes were full of disbelief, as if she were looking at an incurable idiot.
She couldn't even be bothered to argue. She simply tagged Jiraiya in her mind as "certain to be eliminated."
What an idiot. If he couldn't understand something this simple, he was obviously destined to go back and repeat the year.
Orochimaru was struggling to keep a straight face, completely unable to understand Jiraiya's train of thought.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, usually so composed, felt the corner of his mouth twitch at Jiraiya's "refreshingly unconventional" remark.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the urge to rub his forehead, and patiently explained:
"No, Jiraiya. I didn't forget one. Those are the rules: there are only two bells.
"That means that even if some of you manage to grab a bell, only two of you can pass the test and officially become Genin.
"Anyone who doesn't get a bell—or, rather... anyone deemed unqualified—will be sent back to the Ninja Academy to study again."
By the end, Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone had grown stern, even carrying a hint of killing intent.
Sent... back... to the Ninja Academy...
Jiraiya's smile froze. He finally understood how serious the situation was.
Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't sounded as if he were joking...
"The time limit is noon! The test begins now! Give it everything you've got, and attack me with the resolve to... kill me!"
Seeing that his words had had the desired effect, Hiruzen Sarutobi swept his sharp gaze over the three of them, taking in their differing expressions before announcing the start in a low voice.
And almost the instant he finished speaking...
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
Two figures vanished from where they stood like ghosts, leaving only faint afterimages behind.
Orochimaru and Tsunade reacted almost simultaneously, disappearing into the woods at the edge of the training ground.
Their presence faded as they concealed their chakra, vanishing from Hiruzen Sarutobi's senses.
Watching them, a hint of approval flickered in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, and he nodded with satisfaction.
That keen judgment and decisive action were the qualities of a capable ninja.
Of course, with his current strength, forget three six-year-old children who'd just graduated—even a team of experienced jōnin wouldn't be able to take anything from him if he didn't allow it.
This test had never been about eliminating anyone.
His real purpose was to use the opportunity to learn about the three children's personalities, potential, and individual strengths.
In short, he wanted to assess them...
As for sending them back to the Ninja Academy? That was just a lie to make them take things seriously.
Regardless of anything else, Konoha's ninja ranks were severely depleted because of the war. The village couldn't afford to turn away even one potential combatant.
After all, if the ninjas stopped taking missions, Konoha's finances would truly collapse!
When faced with an enemy too powerful to defeat, a ninja's first priority was always to stay hidden, protect themselves, and wait for an opportunity.
In that regard, Orochimaru and Tsunade had both performed admirably.
Orochimaru in particular...
Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes slightly and scanned the grove where Orochimaru had disappeared.
To his surprise, the boy had concealed his presence remarkably well, blending seamlessly into the woods. Hiruzen couldn't even pinpoint his exact position right away.
Judging only by his ability to conceal his presence, few of the village's jōnin could match him.
By comparison...
Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his gaze to the center of the training ground, where the white-haired brat still stood frozen, apparently oblivious to what was happening.
Looking at Jiraiya's bewildered expression, tinged with a hint of eagerness, the Third Hokage felt a vein throbbing in his forehead.
When Jiraiya noticed Hiruzen Sarutobi looking his way, he finally came to his senses.
His eyes lit up. Far from feeling uneasy at his teammates' disappearance, he looked delighted.
Since those two had hidden themselves, didn't that mean he could pass as long as he was the only one to snatch a bell from his teacher?
"Sensei! Take this!"
Having figured out the "key" to the situation, Jiraiya shouted and struck what he thought was a cool charging pose. He pushed off hard with both legs and shot toward Hiruzen Sarutobi like a cannonball, charging straight at him without a hint of subtlety!
"..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was at a loss for words. Hadn't the Ninja Academy teachers even taught them the most basic principles?
He didn't even bother forming Hand Seals. He simply sidestepped, easily dodging Jiraiya's wild punch.
Then he extended a finger and lightly flicked Jiraiya on the back of the head...
"Thump!"
With a dull impact and a cry of pain, Jiraiya plunged face-first into the ground. His limbs twitched a few times, then went still, leaving only the back of his head, trailing white smoke, pointed toward the sky.
Instantly defeated.
Watching through a gap in the leaves from the shadows of the trees, Orochimaru's mouth twitched.
Jiraiya... was he really that straightforward? He'd actually charged head-on at a Kage Level fighter? Should Orochimaru call it admirable bravery or sheer stupidity?
Never mind...
Orochimaru looked away, his thoughts racing.
Jiraiya's reckless move had been foolish, but it had successfully drawn Hiruzen Sarutobi's full attention.
Still, that opening might well have been deliberately left for him and Tsunade to see...
His goal was clear. Taking a bell was secondary; more important was showing as much of his worth and potential as possible during the test.
After all, the tallest tree in the forest was the first to face the wind.
But in a harsh environment, only those who stood out enough and reached high enough could receive more sunlight and rain.
Just like Orochimaru in the original story: without getting close to the Third Hokage, how could someone from a civilian background ever have obtained the research materials and documents he needed?
In a world that prized bloodlines and inheritance, a ninja from a civilian family had to display talent far beyond the norm to gain more resources and conduct deeper research.
And just as Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention was completely fixed on Jiraiya, who was sprawled on the ground...
"Whoosh!"
A golden figure shot out from the woods on the other side like an arrow loosed from a bow!
Tsunade! She seized the fleeting opportunity and launched a surprise attack while Hiruzen Sarutobi was distracted...
Before you continue