Kakashi's Shock!

"Kakashi-sensei!!"

"You're too despicable!"

With the bells he had almost grasped now flying away, Naruto shouted in fury, his entire being on the verge of a breakdown.

"Heh... that is the price of growth!"

High in the air, Kakashi moved at high speed, glancing down at the rampaging Naruto on the ground with a faint smile.

"This exercise should be about over."

With lunchtime approaching, Kakashi intended to land and unleash his full jonin-level strength to defeat Sasuke, Naruto, and the others, fulfilling the requirements for the real test that was to follow.

"Kakashi-sensei, the bells are ours..."

The moment that thought crossed Kakashi's mind, a faint, almost imperceptible whisper suddenly reached his ears.

"What? This... this, how is that possible?"

Kakashi's pupils dilated in utter shock.

"Jingle~"

As the wind whistled past his ears, Kakashi felt a tugging force brush against his waist, and then he saw Sasuke's figure, bells in hand, vanish like a ghost.

"Was that the Body Flicker Technique Sasuke just used? No, impossible. At his age, how could he have learned the Body Flicker Technique?"

After landing back on the ground, Kakashi's first instinct was to look at Sasuke, who held the bells, and mutter to himself.

"Sasuke, you're amazing!"

"Haha, we got the bells!"

Just as Kakashi was analyzing what kind of ninjutsu Sasuke had used to snatch the bells, Naruto and Haruno Sakura were already surrounding Sasuke, cheering excitedly.

Sasuke felt a surge of excitement within himself as well. Although the three of them had spent the entire afternoon yesterday practicing their battle plan, accidents were inevitable during actual combat; fortunately, they had managed to secure the bells without any major mishaps.

Of course, Sasuke understood clearly that getting the bells didn't mean they were truly powerful. If Kakashi hadn't underestimated them, they likely would have been completely wiped out within five minutes.

Victory without arrogance, defeat without discouragement!

This was a philosophy Sasuke held in high regard.

After a brief moment of excitement, Sasuke picked up his ninja tool belt from the ground and walked toward Kakashi alongside Naruto and Haruno Sakura.

"That is?"

As Sasuke picked up the belt, Kakashi suddenly noticed that the ground where the belt had been lying appeared to have been indented by a heavy object.

Sasuke's strange behavior of unbuckling his belt and tossing it aside before the fight slowly resurfaced in Kakashi's mind.

It was just a belt; why would Sasuke unbuckle it before a fight?

Narrowing his eyes, Kakashi stared intently at the belt on Sasuke's body. At a certain moment, his left pupil constricted, and he was suddenly struck by a realization.

Sasuke's "belt" was no ordinary accessory, but a training tool designed to add or reduce weight.

Exhaling deeply, Kakashi finally understood that Sasuke had indeed relied on his speed to snatch the bells, but it wasn't through the Body Flicker ninjutsu—it was through physical, body-flicker taijutsu.

"It seems these meticulous attack plans were all led by Sasuke..."

Recalling the entire process of the bell-snatching, Kakashi suddenly understood even more.

"Not only can he use Fire Release ninjutsu, but he has also successfully mastered body-flicker taijutsu. Sasuke is truly astonishing..."

Kakashi was well aware that for someone of Sasuke's age to master so much, he possessed terrifying potential.

Given enough time, Kakashi believed that Sasuke's strength would eventually surpass his own, and it was entirely possible for him to reach the heights of a Hokage.

"Kakashi-sensei, these are your bells!"

Walking up to Kakashi's side, Naruto triumphantly shook the bells.

Under the gaze of Naruto and the others, Kakashi remained silent for a moment before a soft chuckle broke the air.

"You brats, today's field exercise is over. I'll consider you passed. Starting tomorrow, we will officially begin carrying out missions!"

Although he hadn't completed his own test, Kakashi was still very happy. The fact that this team could defeat him through coordinated teamwork proved everything; those extra tests were no longer necessary.

"Great, we've become ninjas!"

Naruto and Haruno Sakura could no longer contain their joy and cheered loudly.

After nearly three months of grueling day-and-night training, they had finally been rewarded. How could they not be overjoyed?

"Sasuke, I didn't expect you to know body-flicker taijutsu. Getting the bells was truly impressive," Kakashi said, patting Sasuke on the shoulder in praise.

Sasuke smiled faintly and replied, "Kakashi-sensei, getting the bells was the result of everyone's hard work."

Hearing this, Kakashi nodded silently. To achieve success without becoming arrogant—it was rare for Sasuke to be this grounded, unlike some ninjas who became conceited after completing a few missions.

"Alright, you can go have lunch now."

Hearing Naruto's stomach growling incessantly, Kakashi said with a smile.

"Then I'm going to have Ichiraku Ramen."

Having not eaten since the morning and having exhausted his energy during the fight, Naruto was truly starving. As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and dashed away at full speed.

"Sasuke, let's go too!"

After Naruto left, Haruno Sakura gave Sasuke a sweet smile.

"I still have some matters to discuss with Kakashi-sensei, you go on ahead."

Hearing this, Sasuke smiled back.

"Alright then, I'll head off first, see you tomorrow!"

Waving at Sasuke, Haruno Sakura slowly walked away.

Once Haruno Sakura's figure disappeared, Kakashi fixed his gaze on Sasuke and asked softly, "Sasuke, what did you need to see me about?"

"Monkey-Hare-Ox."

Sasuke did not respond; he pressed his hands together and instantly completed these three hand seals.

"What? This is..."

Kakashi stared in astonishment at the massive amount of chakra gathering in Sasuke's hand, his mouth agape, and his pupils suddenly constricted.

The reason Kakashi was so shocked was that the jutsu Sasuke was currently performing was none other than the Chidori, a technique he had created himself. However, he had never taught this jutsu to anyone else, meaning that whether in Konoha or the entire ninja world, it should have been impossible for anyone to have learned it.

"Sasuke... how do you know this jutsu?"

Kakashi did his best to calm the raging storm in his heart and spoke slowly.

"I knew this question would come..."

Knowing Kakashi would ask this, Sasuke dissipated the chakra in his hand, took a deep breath, and said, "My brother Itachi noticed I had a Lightning affinity, so he taught me this jutsu."

"Itachi taught you? But how would he know this jutsu?"

Kakashi immediately asked, puzzled.

"Heh, Kakashi-sensei, you forget that my brother also has the Sharingan. Perhaps he saw you using the Chidori at some point!"

Blinking his eyes, Sasuke said with a smile.

"So that's how it is!"

Hearing Sasuke's words, Kakashi nodded.

When Itachi joined the Anbu, he had been in Kakashi's squad. While following Kakashi on missions, it was indeed possible for him to have seen through the jutsu using his Sharingan; as the Copy Ninja himself, Kakashi naturally understood this.