The Bell Test

From eight in the morning until noon, Kakashi Hatake still hadn't shown up, even though the appointed time had long since passed. Mufeng Uchiha had already pulled out his lunch and started eating on his own.

"Naruto, sit down and have some."

As Mufeng Uchiha ate, he picked up one of the lunches piled beside him and offered it to Naruto Uzumaki. Sasuke Uchiha sat beside him, quietly eating his own lunch.

"Mufeng-nii, didn't the teacher say we weren't allowed to eat breakfast or bring lunch?"

"You have to know when to be flexible, Naruto. Besides, this might all be one of Kakashi-sensei's tests. Right, Kakashi-sensei?"

Mufeng Uchiha set down his lunch and turned to look at the tree beside him. Kakashi-sensei, who hadn't appeared at all, had been hiding up in the branches the whole time.

He'd actually been spotted. Kakashi couldn't help giving a wry smile as he scratched his head.

This kid's sensing ability keeps getting better. I'd planned to test these little brats' patience and ability to adapt, but now that's all out the window.

"Sorry, I ran into an old woman this morning and spent a little time helping her out."

"Sensei, you've still got some breakfast in the corner of your eye."

Kakashi Hatake instinctively raised a hand to his eye, then realized he'd been had. In response, he got four looks of contempt.

But looking at Kakashi Hatake's hair, which was streaked black and white, it seemed my technique had improved. Maybe Kakashi hadn't even noticed that the peculiar smell coming from his black hair was giving away his location every moment.

In Naruto, Kakashi Hatake was a master of Shadow Clone. Even Pain had been fooled by his Lightning Clone, so I'd better prepare in advance to avoid someone getting revenge on me later.

"All right. First, you should know that every team has only three members. You've noticed there are four of you here, haven't you?

"So now the four of you are going to fight for these three bells. Whoever doesn't get one will be sent back to start over at the Ninja Academy."

Holding the three bells, Kakashi Hatake put on an exaggeratedly menacing expression. It scared everyone except Mufeng Uchiha.

"You have three minutes to discuss your plan. Once the time's up, the bell test begins."

The others immediately gathered around, all three pairs of eyes turning to Mufeng Uchiha in the middle.

"Sakura Haruno, just act as the situation calls for and cover us. Naruto, use your judgment and draw their attention. Sasuke, hold him back with ninja tools and ninjutsu. I'll take the bells from Kakashi Hatake when I get the chance."

After a brief discussion, the bell test began. The other three immediately slipped into the woods to hide, while Naruto Uzumaki made no attempt to conceal himself. He stood his ground and formed the Ren Seal with one hand.

In the blink of an eye, more than a thousand Naruto Uzumakis appeared. Kakashi Hatake was stunned. That much Chakra! As his teacher, I'm definitely not jealous!

"Naruto Uzumaki, you certainly have a huge amount of Chakra. But do you know why the Multi Shadow Clone Technique is classified as a forbidden technique? You're about to find out firsthand."

Kakashi Hatake grinned mischievously, looking ready to teach Naruto Uzumaki a lesson. He dropped into a crouch and slapped both hands against the ground.

A field of Earth Spikes burst from the ground. Kakashi Hatake wondered maliciously whether Naruto Uzumaki would writhe in pain in a moment. Let me show you how nasty adults can be.

"Kakashi-sensei, you fell for it!"

Naruto Uzumaki grinned. He was still holding the Ren Seal. The Multi Shadow Clone Technique was dispelled, revealing Mufeng Uchiha and the others, who had been mixed in among the clones. Sakura Haruno immediately threw down a Smokescreen bomb.

As smoke billowed around them, Sasuke Uchiha, who had already memorized Kakashi Hatake's position, took advantage of the cover and hurled dozens of shuriken. Using Uchiha Style Shurikenjutsu, he steered them toward Kakashi Hatake's blind spots.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Claw Red!"

The shuriken were engulfed in flames. A swarm of blazing shuriken closed in on Kakashi Hatake, who dropped his playful attitude and got serious.

"Water Style: Water Wall!"

Kakashi Hatake finished his Hand Seals, and four walls of water rose around him. The shuriken all fell to the ground, blocked by the Water Wall.

"Lightning Release: Chidori Current!"

Mufeng Uchiha dropped from above and slapped down toward Kakashi Hatake. The powerful Chidori unleashed a wild surge of electricity, like countless venomous snakes lunging at Kakashi Hatake.

"Well, well. Looks like I'll have to take this a little more seriously."

The Chidori Current had hit only a Lightning Clone. The real Kakashi Hatake burst out of the ground and buried Naruto Uzumaki, who had been about to launch another sneak attack, leaving only his head aboveground.

After that, Kakashi Hatake used Water Style: Water Whip to bind Sakura Haruno. Seizing the opening, Sasuke Uchiha pushed Total Concentration and Thunder Breathing to their limits. He aimed for the bells at Kakashi Hatake's waist and charged straight in.

"Good speed, but you still lack combat experience!"

The instant Sasuke Uchiha's hand touched Kakashi Hatake, the Lightning Clone exploded, sending a surge of electricity through Sasuke Uchiha from head to toe. He fell to the ground, knocked unconscious.

In the blink of an eye, Kakashi Hatake had taken down three of them by himself. Watching from the shadows, Mufeng Uchiha couldn't help thinking that Kakashi-sensei was really taking things seriously now.

Using the scent, Mufeng Uchiha had already figured out that all the Kakashi Hatakes on the field were fakes—clones made from the five nature transformations. As for the real Kakashi Hatake, he had been hiding underground, waiting for his chance.

"That's low, Kakashi. Get out of the ground already!"

Mufeng Uchiha raised his foot high and activated Lucario's Stomp skill, slamming it down on the ground above Kakashi Hatake's head.

"You really are the toughest one to deal with. Mufeng, show me what you can do."

Kakashi Hatake had lifted his Forehead Protector, revealing his Sharingan. He formed Chidori in both hands, then clapped them toward Mufeng Uchiha. Lightning like serpents surged toward him.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Serpent!"

Kakashi Hatake had come up with the new technique after watching Mufeng Uchiha. The Lightning Serpent was fast and powerful, making it nearly impossible to dodge at close range.

"Kakashi-sensei, we win this time."

The Mufeng Uchiha in front of him, struck by the Lightning Serpent, dissolved into strands of electricity. The real Mufeng Uchiha had quietly appeared behind Kakashi Hatake and stolen all three bells.

"Kakashi-sensei, does that mean we all passed?"

Kakashi Hatake held his forehead. Mufeng had already figured out the whole point of the test, making Kakashi's efforts seem a little pointless.

"You worked well together. But how are you going to choose your teammates?"

Kakashi Hatake still wanted to see what Mufeng Uchiha would say. Without hesitation, Mufeng Uchiha crushed the three bells.

"I won't choose anyone. Either we all become teammates, or we all go back together."

"That's right! Mufeng-nii is right!"

"Hmph. Next time, I'll definitely win!"

"I want to stand with them, no matter what."

As soon as he finished speaking, Kakashi Hatake put an arm around all four of them. "You all passed."

"Huh? Didn't you say each team could only have three people?"

"Well, there weren't enough people this year, so Lord Hokage specifically approved Team 7 as a four-person squad.

"Don't overthink it. To celebrate you becoming real Genin, your teacher's treating you to barbecue."

Kakashi waved a hand grandly as he looked at the four children before him, especially the three he had guided all the way. Mufeng had grown to the point where Kakashi had to take him seriously, and he couldn't help smiling with pride.

He thought he finally understood how Minato-sensei felt. Watching your students grow really was incredibly rewarding.