The Stage of Competition

"But... but doesn't that seem a little unfair, Hatake Kakashi-sensei? We all passed the Ninja Academy graduation exam, and just like that..."

Although she was a bit intimidated by Hatake Kakashi's expression.

Because it concerned her future as a ninja.

Sakura still gathered the courage to ask.

Failing meant going back to repeat the year, but only two spots?

Didn't that mean at least one person was guaranteed to fail?

Although her overall grades during her time at the Ninja Academy weren't bad (mainly thanks to her theoretical knowledge, as Sakura had been first in several exams).

But today's assessment was clearly a practical field exercise.

When it came to individual strength.

Sakura had enough self-awareness to know that if two people were to pass, it would certainly be Sasuke and Naruto, not her. At the mere thought of such an outcome, a chill ran through her entire body.

"Fair? Sakura, what do you think a ninja is? Playing house? If your capacity as a ninja is only this much, then you shouldn't be a ninja at all. In the world of the ninja, talking about fairness is ridiculous. The Ninja Academy exam was merely to test whether you had the potential to become a qualified ninja. A true ninja is not such a simple thing. Whether you like it or not, you must participate in this assessment. Of course, you can choose to give up, but that means you forfeit your qualification to be a ninja. Don't think about switching instructors; you must honestly return to the Ninja Academy and repeat a year. The bells are right here. If you want to truly graduate, come and take them! And I'll say it again: this is a special Survival Exercise. If you don't hold the resolve to kill me, you will never be able to snatch these bells!"

Hatake Kakashi smiled lightly. The chilling look that bloomed in his pupils, whether unintentional or deliberately controlled, released a faint trace of killing intent. It was only a sliver, yet it caused all three people before him, including Naruto, to shudder.

Especially Naruto, who had just experienced a life-or-death struggle, was even more sensitive to such killing intent.

This was merely the tip of the iceberg of Hatake Kakashi's intense killing intent.

Yet it was already enough to make the three rookie Genin feel a bone-chilling cold, experiencing for the first time what the might of a Jonin truly meant!

"This isn't even the same level..."

Looking at Hatake Kakashi before him.

Naruto took a deep breath, the look in his pupils becoming even more grave at this moment.

"Alright, time waits for no one, does it? It's already 11:10. There are only 50 minutes left. If you exceed the time limit without completing the mission, it will also be considered a failure!"

Hatake Kakashi looked at Naruto and the other two, speaking in a leisurely tone.

After Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura exchanged glances.

Whoosh.

Whoosh.

Whoosh.

With a flicker of their figures, the three scattered, hiding in the nearby woods.

Conceal your presence, search for an opening, and strike to kill.

This was what the teachers at the Ninja Academy emphasized most often, because this was the essence of ninja combat (although in the Naruto World, later ninja battles were almost all head-on confrontations, nothing like what was taught in the Academy; however, in the early stages, especially in a battle like this, this style of combat was the most reasonable and effective).

Naruto, who didn't just guess but was certain that Hatake Kakashi would hold back.

Needed to utilize various methods and the advantage of the terrain.

Defeating Hatake Kakashi was out of the question for Naruto.

But snatching a bell.

That was one of Naruto's goals.

And to accomplish this, he had to integrate the strength of all three.

That's right, all three.

Even Sakura.

In Naruto's tactical plan, she could serve as a qualified decoy.

The premise was how to utilize her.

To make Hatake Kakashi reasonably fall for the trap.

As mentioned before, this was ultimately just an assessment. A Jonin like Hatake Kakashi would definitely not use his true strength, including his Sharingan or any high-level ninjutsu, and this was the only chance for the three rookie Genin.

Regarding the three figures hiding away.

Hatake Kakashi didn't care in the slightest. He remained standing leisurely in place, even reaching back to pull out a novel, looking at the contents with a very relaxed expression, appearing as if he were reading quite seriously.

"He really is at ease, Hatake Kakashi-sensei..."

Although he was well aware of the gap in their strength.

Seeing Hatake Kakashi maintain such a relaxed posture.

Naruto still muttered unhappily under his breath.

"Never mind Sakura; first, I have to make that guy Sasuke see the necessity of teaming up, and I have to be the one to initiate the first move..."

Naruto held his breath, sensing his surroundings.

Because of his previous life-or-death struggle experience.

Combined with the fact that even Sasuke's hiding method was still quite crude—merely concealing his figure—the aura he leaked was enough for even Naruto to sense his approximate location.

He would strike first.

He would force Kakashi to shift his position.

He would create a certain opening (though it would require Kakashi's cooperation, Naruto firmly believed that in this situation, as long as he made the most "logical" judgment and the most aggressive attack, Kakashi would, in all likelihood, cooperate by providing that opening).

Then, he would wait for Sasuke to make his move.

As long as he achieved this.

He would, to some extent, have grasped the core of the assessment.

Furthermore, there was a battle from the original story.

One that remained fresh in Naruto's memory; he could utilize those same tactics in this assessment. Provided that he and Sasuke coordinated well, there was a chance they could snatch the bells.

"Hoo..."

These thoughts flashed by in an instant.

In just two or three seconds.

Naruto had formulated a rough offensive strategy and organized his thoughts in his mind.

His gaze remained locked on Kakashi, who stood not far away.

With a flip of his right hand, a Kunai instantly appeared in his palm.

"Then! Let the game begin!"

His body crouched slightly, his muscles tensing in that very moment.

The next instant.

"Hm?"

Within his sensory range.

"Boom!"

A wave of air erupted.

"Oh? So Naruto is the one to make the first move, after all?"

"Swish."

"Swish."

"Swish."

In a split second.

Several streaks of cold light flashed out from the forest.

On the lawn.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow slightly, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his eyes as he watched the incoming Shuriken.

His figure remained rooted to the spot, his book still held in his hand.

With only two slight shifts of his body.

"Thud, thud, thud, thud!"

It was like a human outline being drawn, his body positioned right between the projectiles.

At angles that barely missed him.

Kakashi dodged the incoming cold glints with absolute ease.

The Shuriken buried themselves directly into the soil behind him.

The next moment.

"Boom!"

With a burst of momentum.

A golden figure suddenly closed the distance, appearing right in front of Kakashi.