Near noon, the mirror-like surface of the water reflected the harsh sunlight. The trees along the river cast cool shadows across it.
In a clearing beside the river, Sasuke, Naruto, and Haruno Sakura sat on the ground, looking somewhat exhausted.
At Kakashi's instruction, they had arrived at this training ground at five o'clock. They hadn't expected to wait nearly seven hours without Kakashi showing up.
"I'm starving. Kakashi-sensei is so unfair! He still hasn't shown up..."
Naruto complained, his stomach growling after he'd skipped breakfast.
"Exactly..."
Haruno Sakura muttered under her breath.
"Kakashi-sensei will be here any minute!"
Sasuke smiled slightly. He was the only one who knew Kakashi was deliberately dragging things out to prepare for the real test. But Sasuke wasn't going to give him the chance.
"Good morning, everyone!"
Naruto and Haruno Sakura had assumed Sasuke was only guessing, but Kakashi really did appear a minute later.
"Kakashi-sensei, you're so late!"
As soon as they saw Kakashi, Naruto and Haruno Sakura hurried to their feet and protested.
"That's because I helped an old lady who'd fallen down get home..."
After offering a casual explanation, Kakashi turned around, took out an alarm clock, and set it on a flat rock.
"The alarm is set for twelve. Your test is to take my bells before noon." Kakashi took out a bell and continued, "As I said before, if you fail this test, you'll have to return to the Ninja Academy. So you'll need to be ready to kill me if you want to take the bells. Of course, you can use any ninja tools you like, including Kunai, Shuriken, and Explosive Tags."
"All right, if there are no other questions, let's begin!"
Kakashi smiled slightly, speaking with ease.
They only had an hour that morning. Kakashi was certain they wouldn't manage to take the bells, which would give him a chance at noon to test whether they valued their teammates.
"So the story's playing out just like I remember!"
When Kakashi pulled out the bell, Sasuke couldn't help but remark. The scene before him was much like the one in Naruto, the anime he'd watched. Kakashi hadn't mentioned the punishment, but there would surely be one if they failed to take the bells.
As long as Sasuke and the others showed that they valued their teammates during the punishment, they would pass the test.
Though they could coast to an easy win, Sasuke didn't want to pass by cheating with his foreknowledge. He wanted to defeat Kakashi through teamwork.
"Naruto, Sakura, stick to our plan!"
Sasuke spoke softly, then pushed off with one foot and leaped backward.
"Yeah!"
The test was too important for Naruto and Haruno Sakura to take lightly. They nodded and darted to either side, moving to flank Kakashi with Sasuke.
"Looks like you've prepared for this test. In that case... I'll have to take you seriously, too."
Kakashi glanced at Sasuke, Naruto, and Haruno Sakura, then spoke in a low voice. Slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled something out.
Naruto and Haruno Sakura thought Kakashi-sensei was about to take out a ninja tool, but instead he produced a book called Icha Icha Paradise.
"Heh, Kakashi-sensei really is underestimating us."
If Kakashi had been fully focused on defending himself, Sasuke wouldn't have been confident he could take the bell. Seeing Kakashi pull out that book, Sasuke grinned to himself.
He took off the heavy weights around his waist and tossed them to the ground. Then he called to Naruto, "Naruto, you go first!"
"Haha, watch what I can do!"
Hearing Sasuke's words, Naruto laughed loudly, pulled out a Kunai, and charged at Kakashi.
Kakashi paid no attention to Naruto's attack. His eyes remained fixed on Icha Icha Paradise.
"Kakashi-sensei, you're looking down on me too much!"
As he neared Kakashi and saw that he was still ignoring him, Naruto shouted angrily and began slashing and stabbing wildly with his Kunai.
Naruto's attacks were well executed, but Kakashi simply moved and dodged them with ease.
He'd been through too many bloody battles for an attack of this level to pose any threat.
"Damn it!"
Frustrated that not one of his attacks had landed, Naruto swung his Kunai again. Its cold, gleaming point swept mercilessly toward Kakashi's neck.
Faced with the sudden attack, Kakashi took a step back and dodged. Then he steadied himself and immediately punched Naruto in the chest.
"Ah..."
With a cry of pain, Naruto was sent sprawling onto the ground.
"Naruto!"
From nearby, Haruno Sakura called out anxiously.
"With that kind of performance, you'll never become Hokage!"
Kakashi had held back, so he hadn't seriously injured Naruto. Hearing Haruno Sakura call out, he continued reading and deliberately taunted Naruto.
"Tch. I'm not that easy to beat. The real fun is just getting started!"
Kakashi's words made Naruto grit his teeth as he got back to his feet. Then he formed a hand seal.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
With Naruto's shout, eight Shadow Clones identical to him appeared beside him.
"Shadow Clone Technique? And he can summon that many clones? Naruto's constitution really is unusual..."
Seeing Naruto use the Multi Shadow Clone Technique, even the usually composed Kakashi looked surprised. After all, even he could only summon a dozen or so clones.
"Naruto, the Shadow Clone Technique really is perfect for you!"
Seeing Naruto summon eight Shadow Clones so easily, Sasuke couldn't help but exclaim.
Because of his limited chakra, Sasuke could summon no more than four Shadow Clones.
There was no comparison without contrast. Sasuke had taught Naruto the Shadow Clone Technique, but now Naruto could use it with far greater ease than Sasuke.
"Kakashi-sensei, watch out!"
"Let's go!"
Naruto gave Kakashi a smug warning, then waved his hand. The Shadow Clones leaped up and charged at Kakashi.
"So much for reading in peace..."
Kakashi closed Icha Icha Paradise. With only one eye, he had to take the attack from so many Shadow Clones seriously.
"Bang..."
Relying on his agility and strength, Kakashi quickly dispersed the Shadow Clones in front of him with Taijutsu.
"Heh, Kakashi-sensei, you've fallen for it!"
Just as Kakashi relaxed, thinking he'd defeated all the Shadow Clones, two more appeared from nowhere. They launched a successful sneak attack from behind and restrained him.
"Haha, Kakashi-sensei, you were too careless! You only paid attention to the Shadow Clones in front of you and forgot about your back!"
Seeing his Shadow Clones succeed, Naruto laughed triumphantly.