Team 7 Is Formed

Just as Naruto was about to take the bells from Kakashi's waist, Kakashi suddenly said, "Oh? You think you've won?" Suddenly, Kakashi turned into a cloud of smoke.

The three exclaimed in surprise, "Shadow Clone Technique! When did that happen?"

Naruto immediately dispelled his Shadow Clone Technique. From the clone's memories, he realized Kakashi had most likely used the dust kicked up during their fight as cover to create a clone.

Naruto immediately activated his White Eye and scanned the area. When he spotted Sasuke, he called out a warning: "Sasuke, watch your feet!"

But it was already too late. Kakashi had grabbed Sasuke's leg. "Earth Style: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique!" He pulled Sasuke underground, leaving only his head above the ground.

Then Kakashi appeared in front of Sakura at incredible speed. Sakura met Kakashi's gaze and immediately fell under his genjutsu.

After taking care of Sakura, Kakashi charged at Naruto at incredible speed. Naruto watched him approach, on guard.

Kakashi said approvingly, "Your plan was well thought out, but you're still too inexperienced. You think this is enough to win? You're too confident."

Naruto suddenly smiled. "Is that so, Kakashi-sensei?" Kakashi hesitated, but by then he had reached Naruto. Without another word, he swung a punch at him.

Naruto raised both arms to guard his chest. Just as Kakashi was about to throw another punch, the Naruto before him suddenly went flying from the blow.

Kakashi froze in surprise. As he stared at his fist, wondering why Naruto had been so weak, Sakura—who should have been under his genjutsu—suddenly appeared behind him.

Moving at incredible speed, Sakura snatched the bell from his waist and disappeared.

Kakashi remembered the shoulder Sakura had touched when he cast the genjutsu on her. He looked at his shoulder and saw a fox symbol on his flak jacket.

Everything suddenly made sense. The Sakura who had fallen under the genjutsu had actually been Naruto using the Transformation Technique, while the Naruto he had punched away had been Sakura in disguise. They had done it to lower his guard and leave a Flying Thunder God mark on him.

Naruto had already pulled Sasuke out of the ground and helped Sakura up after Kakashi sent her flying. The three of them walked over to Kakashi.

Naruto said smugly, "Kakashi-sensei, we won."

Looking at the three of them, Kakashi said approvingly, "I didn't expect you three brats to outwit me."

Then Kakashi asked curiously, "But I'm wondering how you pulled it off. My Shadow Clone really was trapped by your Adamantine Sealing Chains, Naruto. When did you and Sakura transform into each other and switch places?"

Naruto said proudly, "Heh, Kakashi-sensei, it was when you used Earth Style to go after Sasuke. I used the Flying Thunder God Technique to switch places with Sakura. We'd planned it in advance: if the first person you caught wasn't your real body, Sakura and I would immediately transform into each other. Then I'd use Flying Thunder God to switch our positions."

Kakashi asked, puzzled, "Oh? How did you know Sasuke would be the first one I attacked? Why not you or Sakura?"

Naruto answered confidently, "Because you knew our abilities beforehand, you'd definitely go after Sasuke first. If you went after Sakura, Sasuke and I would have time to react, and you'd be caught between us.

"And attacking me first was even less likely. I have Flying Thunder God and the White Eye, so you couldn't take me down in one move. That left you with no choice but to attack Sasuke first, deal with Sakura next, and then wear me down."

Kakashi stared at Naruto in amazement. "I didn't expect you to use my prior knowledge of your abilities to devise your plan. I have to admit, Naruto, your understanding of people is frightening. You have the kind of experience you'd expect from an old monster.

"But I'm curious: what were you going to do next? There are only two bells, but there are three of you. How were you going to resolve that?" Kakashi looked at Naruto teasingly.

Sakura and Sasuke both looked troubled. But Naruto smiled. "Isn't it simple?" While everyone else looked confused, Naruto handed one bell to Sasuke and the other to Sakura.

Kakashi asked, puzzled, "But Naruto, you gave the bells to Sakura and Sasuke. Now you don't have one yourself. You'll have to go back to the Academy and start over."

Sakura chimed in, "That's right, Naruto. How about I give you my bell? I'm the weakest of the three, anyway."

After saying that, Sakura looked a little dejected. Naruto smiled. "No need. Thank you, Sakura."

Sakura said anxiously, "But—but then you'll have to go back to the Academy!"

"Take mine," Sasuke said coolly.

Naruto turned him down too. "No need, Sasuke. Thank you for thinking of me, but I really don't need it."

Sakura said urgently, "If you fail and have to go back to the Academy, Naruto, then I'll go back too. I'm the one who held everyone back, anyway."

"I'll go back with you too," Sasuke said.

Naruto felt warmth well up inside him as he looked at Sasuke and Sakura. He smiled. "Don't worry."

After calming Sakura and Sasuke down, Naruto said to Kakashi, "Kakashi-sensei, you said that as long as we got the bells before noon, we'd pass, right?"

Curious about Naruto's plan, Kakashi replied, "That's right."

Naruto answered confidently, "Then Team 7 must have completed your test perfectly, which means we should all have passed, right, Kakashi-sensei?"

Seeing Naruto's confidence, Kakashi realized he had figured out the purpose of the test. He said helplessly, "Yes, you've all passed."

Sasuke and Sakura looked confused at Kakashi's answer. Then Sakura asked in surprise and delight, "What? We all passed? But why?"

Naruto smiled and explained it to Sasuke and Sakura. "It's simple. There were only two bells, and the task was to get a bell to pass. I got the bells and gave one to each of you, so you both have bells and can pass the test. And I was the one who got the bells in the first place, so I passed too.

"The real purpose of this test was to see whether we'd work together, whether we cared about each other, and whether we considered each other teammates."

Kakashi added, "That's right. If you hadn't helped each other while trying to get the bells, you wouldn't have gotten them in time. And if Naruto hadn't shared the bells with you, he wouldn't have passed either.

"And if you'd gotten the bells Naruto gave you but hadn't worried about him or stood by him, you wouldn't have passed."

Sasuke and Sakura looked astonished. They hadn't expected that to be the real purpose of the test, and they were also relieved they hadn't abandoned Naruto.

Kakashi looked at the three of them and said seriously, "In the Shinobi World, those who fail to complete their missions are called trash. But those who don't care about their comrades are worse than trash. So remember: you're a unit, teammates in the same squad, comrades who face life and death together and can entrust your lives to one another."

The three exchanged glances, then answered Kakashi in unison, "We understand."

Kakashi said with satisfaction, "All right, I hereby declare Team 7 officially formed. Starting tomorrow, you'll begin taking missions."

The three cheered happily, and Kakashi watched them with a pleased expression.

In a dark space, Evil Naruto watched everything happening outside.

He said disdainfully, "Ugh, I hate this kind of so-called friendship. Human nature is ugly and selfish. How could anyone entrust their life to a so-called comrade? What a sham."

Then Good Naruto spoke up. "How can you say that? The most precious things to humans are family, friendship, and love. These are humanity's most precious emotions. How can you call them false? You're insulting these great emotions."

Evil Naruto sneered. "You're the most fake of all. Every time I hear you talk, it makes me sick." With that, Evil Naruto disappeared.

Good Naruto looked at where Evil Naruto had vanished and murmured, "It's your personality that makes people dislike you. That's why he blocked the Mind Channel. Now I've gotten caught up in it too."

Then Evil Naruto's voice rang out. "That's because he knows you're a fake too. That's why he blocked you as well."

Good Naruto didn't get angry. He simply said, "I'm the embodiment of all his goodness, and you're the embodiment of all his evil. We're actually the same; I just give people a much better impression than you do.

"Besides, I believe he'll reopen the Mind Channel before long. When he does, I'd advise you not to tempt him again. He's already wary of both of us, and I don't want him to block the Mind Channel again. That would leave us worse off than even the Nine-Tails."

Only a cold snort came from the darkness, followed by silence. Good Naruto knew Evil Naruto had taken his words to heart, so he didn't bother him further.

He only murmured, "I hope you don't disappoint me, Naruto." With that, Good Naruto disappeared too.

The next day, Naruto and the others began taking missions with Kakashi. Sakura and Sasuke went from eager anticipation at first to complete listlessness. They were like different people.

Naruto had known in advance that D-rank missions only involved things like weeding, finding lost items, and picking up litter. But after a while, even he couldn't take it anymore. They'd spent over a month doing nothing but babysitting, pulling weeds, and sweeping the streets. Anyone would have had enough.

Naruto said to Kakashi, "Kakashi-sensei, can we take a higher-level mission? Even a C-rank one would do. These boring missions every day are going to drive us all crazy."

Kakashi closed Icha Icha Paradise and looked at Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura in surprise. "You want to take a higher-level mission?"

The three nodded eagerly. Seeing how excited they were, Kakashi said helplessly, "All right, but let's finish today's mission first."

The three were thrilled. Naruto said confidently, "No problem, leave it to us. We'll finish today's mission in no time."