Naruto's Attack!

Near noon, the mirror-like surface of the water reflected the intense sunlight, while the trees along the bank cast cool shadows over the river.

In the clearing beside the river, Naruto and Haruno Sakura sat on the ground, looking physically exhausted, with only Sasuke remaining standing.

Following Kakashi's instructions, they had arrived at this training ground at five o'clock, but they hadn't expected to wait for nearly seven hours without him showing up.

"I'm so hungry! This Kakashi-sensei is too much! He still hasn't come..."

Having eaten nothing that morning, Naruto complained, his stomach growling.

"Exactly..."

Haruno Sakura muttered in agreement.

"Kakashi-sensei will be here any second now!"

Sasuke smiled slightly. Only he knew that Kakashi was intentionally dragging out the time to prepare for the real test. But Sasuke wouldn't give him the chance.

"Morning, everyone!"

Naruto and Haruno Sakura had assumed Sasuke was just guessing, but they hadn't expected Kakashi to actually appear a minute later.

"Kakashi-sensei, you're too slow!"

Upon seeing Kakashi, Naruto and Haruno Sakura quickly stood up, complaining indignantly.

"That's because I helped an old lady who fell down get home..."

Offering a casual explanation, Kakashi turned and took out an alarm clock, placing it on a flat stone.

"The alarm is set for twelve o'clock. Your trial is to snatch these bells from me before noon." Taking out a bell, Kakashi continued, "I said it before: if you don't pass this trial, you'll be sent back to the Ninja Academy. So, you must come at me with the intent to kill if you want to get these bells. Of course, you can use any ninja tools, including kunai, shuriken, and explosive tags."

"Alright, if there are no other questions, let's begin!"

With a faint smile, Kakashi said nonchalantly.

With only one hour left in the morning, Kakashi was certain they wouldn't be able to snatch the bells, which would give him the opportunity at noon to test whether they valued their teammates.

As expected, it's this plot!

Seeing Kakashi pull out the bells, Sasuke immediately sighed. The scene before him was almost identical to what he had seen in Naruto, and although Kakashi hadn't mentioned the punishment, it would inevitably follow if they failed to get the bells.

As long as Sasuke and the others demonstrated that they valued their comrades during the punishment phase, they would pass the trial.

Although he could coast to victory, Sasuke didn't want to pass the trial by cheating with foreknowledge; he wanted to defeat Kakashi through teamwork.

"Naruto, Sakura, execute our battle plan!"

Whispering a command, Sasuke stomped his foot and leaped backward.

"Right!"

This trial was too important. Naruto and Haruno Sakura were exceptionally focused; they nodded and darted to the left and right, forming a pincer formation around Kakashi.

"It seems you've prepared for this trial. In that case... I must get serious as well."

Glancing at Sasuke, Naruto, and Haruno Sakura with his right eye, Kakashi muttered in a low voice before slowly pulling something from his pocket.

Just as Naruto and Haruno Sakura thought Kakashi-sensei was about to pull out some ninja tool, they discovered he had produced a book titled "Icha Icha Paradise."

Heh, Kakashi-sensei is still underestimating us.

If Kakashi were defending with his full attention, Sasuke would have no confidence in snatching the bells, but seeing him pull out that book, Sasuke smiled inwardly.

Removing the heavy weights from his body and dropping them to the ground, Sasuke suddenly shouted to Naruto, "Naruto, you go first!"

"Haha, watch me!"

Hearing Sasuke's words, Naruto laughed loudly, pulled out a kunai, and charged toward Kakashi.

Kakashi didn't pay any attention to Naruto's attack, his eyes remaining fixed on the Icha Icha Paradise in his hands.

"Kakashi-sensei, you're looking down on me too much!"

As he neared Kakashi and saw him still ignoring him, Naruto shouted in anger and began slashing wildly with his kunai.

Although Naruto's attacks were well-placed, Kakashi simply shifted his body, dodging the strikes with ease.

Having experienced countless bloody battles, this level of attack posed no threat to Kakashi at all.

"Damn it!"

After failing to land a single hit despite multiple attempts, a frustrated Naruto swung his kunai again, the cold, sharp edge aiming mercilessly for Kakashi's neck.

Facing the sudden strike, Kakashi stepped back to evade, then steadied himself and landed a punch squarely on Naruto's chest.

"Ah..."

With a cry of pain, Naruto was sent crashing to the ground.

"Naruto!"

Haruno Sakura, not far away, called out with concern.

"In that state, you won't be able to become Hokage!"

Kakashi had pulled his punch, naturally not intending to seriously injure Naruto. Hearing Haruno Sakura's cry, he continued reading his book and added a deliberate taunt.

"Tch, I'm not that easy to defeat. The real show is just beginning!"

Kakashi's words made Naruto grit his teeth as he stood up, then he formed a hand seal with both hands.

"Multi Shadow Clone Technique!"

Following Naruto's roar, eight shadow clones identical to Naruto immediately appeared by his side.

Shadow Clone Technique? And to be able to summon so many... this guy Naruto's constitution is truly something special...

Upon seeing Naruto use the Multi Shadow Clone Technique, even the usually calm Kakashi was somewhat startled; after all, with his own strength, he could only summon a dozen or so shadow clones.

"Naruto, the Shadow Clone Technique really is the most suitable for you!"

Seeing Naruto easily summon eight shadow clones, Sasuke couldn't help but exclaim.

Due to the limitations of his own chakra, Sasuke could only summon a maximum of four shadow clones up to this point.

There is no harm without comparison; Naruto's Shadow Clone Technique had been taught to him by Sasuke, yet now, Naruto's ability to use the technique had effortlessly surpassed Sasuke's.

"Kakashi-sensei, you'd better be careful!"

"Let's go!"

Naruto gave a smug warning, then with a wave of his hand, the shadow clones leaped forward to charge at Kakashi.

"It seems I can't read my book in peace anymore..."

Closing Icha Icha Paradise, the one-eyed Kakashi had to take the assault of so many shadow clones seriously.

"Poof..."

Relying on his agile movements and superior strength, Kakashi quickly dispersed the shadow clones before him using taijutsu.

"Hehe, Kakashi-sensei, you've fallen for it!"

Just as Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief, thinking all the shadow clones had been eliminated, two more shadow clones popped out from nowhere, launching a sneak attack from behind and successfully restraining him.

"Haha, Kakashi-sensei, you were too careless! You only focused on the shadow clones in front and forgot about your back!"

Seeing his shadow clones succeed, the real Naruto laughed excitedly.