Wrapping Up

"The Ninja's Three Arts—Taijutsu!"

Kakashi slowly emerged from the shade of the trees. Looking at Naruto standing with his sword in hand, his expression was no longer absent-minded. He had to admit that he had underestimated this kid.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several kunai flew out from the forest as Uchiha Sasuke arrived belatedly.

Kakashi's body swayed, and he slipped perfectly through the gaps between the kunai without a scratch.

Watching the enemy rush toward him, Naruto suddenly sheathed his sword. Once Kakashi came within reach, he abruptly drew it. Under the sunlight, it was like a bolt of lightning bursting into view.

So fast!

Kakashi's pupils contracted. Just as he was about to evade, several more kunai flew from Sasuke's hand.

How embarrassing... That was his only thought at that moment.

The sharp blade swept across Kakashi's waist, and his body turned into a puff of smoke before vanishing from the spot.

A Clone Technique? No, the Clone Technique only created illusions. It could not possess that kind of combat ability.

Naruto was certain that from the moment Kakashi had appeared until now, this was what he had been fighting.

The two Bells left on the ground proved it. An illusion could not carry Bells.

As Sasuke approached, Naruto tossed him a Bell. If Sasuke had not assisted him just now, his blade might not have struck Kakashi.

"Was that the Clone Technique?" Naruto asked.

Born into a famous clan, Uchiha Sasuke surely knew far more about ninjutsu than a complete novice like him.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu. A ninjutsu that creates physical clones," Sasuke explained as he caught the Bell.

Naruto nodded and did not ask any further questions.

Clang!

He sheathed his sword.

Naruto walked toward the river. As expected, the simple dam he had built earlier had successfully trapped several small fish.

Thanks to Kakashi's kind reminder yesterday, not a grain of rice had entered his stomach until now.

He had gone several days without food in his previous life, but precisely because he had experienced that, he possessed an almost obsessive desire to eat.

Hunger was truly more terrifying than death.

His scabbard flashed rapidly, knocking the swimming river fish unconscious.

He kicked apart the simple dam he had just built. He was only hungry, not desperate enough to drain the pond dry and cut off the fish's escape route.

The harvest was not much, only three or four palm-sized river fish.

But they were enough to offer some comfort to his ravenous stomach.

By the time he returned to the original meeting point, Kakashi and Sasuke had already awakened Sakura, who had fainted.

Psychological counseling was not something he was good at. Or rather, it was something he simply could not do.

The world where people did not die did not care whether you developed psychological problems.

Years of war, famine, and natural disasters...

Strictly speaking, everyone who had survived in that world had more or less developed some psychological issues.

Starting a fire and cooking was the priority right now.

Seeing that Naruto truly had no intention of offering any comfort, Kakashi sighed inwardly. The Third Hokage's greatest concern had indeed come true. This child truly had some problems with how he treated others.

But whenever he thought of the root cause of those problems, neither he nor the Third Hokage could do anything but remain silent.

"Sakura, Naruto and Sasuke have both passed the test. You..." As he spoke, he carefully observed the two holding Bells from the corner of his eye.

Either of them—no, either one would do. No matter who it was, as long as one of them was willing to share their Bell with Sakura, he would pass all three of them.

But unfortunately, neither Naruto nor Sasuke reacted.

"Wah..." Sakura clearly understood her situation as well. Hugging her knees, she sobbed softly.

"What a pain." Naruto scratched his head, having discovered an extremely serious problem: there were no seasonings...

He did not think there was anything wrong with Sakura being sent back to the Ninja Academy.

Being a ninja was not about romance. It was about flashing blades, shadows, and life-or-death combat.

Their battle just now made it clear that Sakura's understanding of ninjas was still stuck in the childhood game of playing ninja. Making her a full-fledged ninja now would do her more harm than good.

She could return to the Ninja Academy for retraining. If she still could not change her mindset...

Then there was nothing wrong with honestly becoming an ordinary person and living out her life in peace.

As for Sasuke, there was even less to say. Sakura Haruno's theoretical knowledge was strong, but that mentality was clearly unsuitable for becoming his teammate.

"You disappoint me!" Kakashi said sternly. "Those who do not cherish their comrades are worse than trash!"

With that, he vanished from the spot in a Body Flicker.

Sasuke felt slightly relieved. Since this jonin had not immediately sent them back to the academy, it meant they had passed.

To him, the process did not matter. As long as the result was what he wanted, that was enough.

After casually gathering the ninja tools on the ground, Sasuke headed back the way they had come. He needed to reflect on why he had been so lazy.

Naruto simply wrapped the grilled river fish in leaves. He remembered that there was a hunting ground not far away, and there should be seasonings there.

Ingredients without seasonings were bland and tasteless, and a noisy environment was not conducive to enjoying good food.

As for Sakura, past causes bore today's consequences.

Her current outcome was merely the result of her past choices. She could blame no one else.

Comforting people was not something he could do.

Hokage Office.

The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the scene transmitted by the Telescope Technique and took a deep draw from the pipe clenched between his lips.

What he had feared most had happened after all.

Konoha was already beginning to show signs of a generational gap.

He had assigned Kakashi to teach Naruto and Sasuke in hopes of quickly cultivating several high-level combatants.

The second generations of the other major clans were talented as well, but honestly, their ultimate growth ceiling was their parents.

They would not bring any significant advancement to Konoha as it was now.

Naruto and Sasuke were different. One was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and the other was the last descendant of the Uchiha Clan. As long as they were properly nurtured, they could absolutely support Konoha through the coming turbulent period.

Among all of Konoha's jonin at this stage, Kakashi was undoubtedly the most suitable teacher for them.

The existence of the Sharingan meant that Kakashi could both properly teach the last descendant of the Uchiha Clan and greatly suppress the Nine-Tails within Naruto.

But the most fatal problem at present did not lie with the students. It lay with the teacher.

Kakashi's past experiences had made him place excessive importance on bonds between comrades.

Whenever he thought of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt some regret. Back then, he should not have arranged for Sakura Haruno to join their class just for that tiny bit of reputation.

If he had chosen a ninja from some minor clan instead, the current situation would not be so awkward.

As for sending all three back to the Ninja Academy...

Sakura Haruno could be sent back...

But the other two...

"Third Hokage."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed softly. "I know everything. Tell me what you think."

"Sasuke has an awareness of cooperation, and Sakura Haruno values her comrades. I am willing to teach them." Kakashi touched his left eye and spoke in a low voice.

"...I understand." White smoke slowly drifted from Hiruzen Sarutobi's nostrils as he nodded slightly.

Kakashi vanished from the spot.

After pondering for a long time, his constant puffs filled the room with the smell of tobacco. Hiruzen Sarutobi removed the pipe from his mouth. "Have Hayate Gekko come here."

An ANBU wearing a fox mask suddenly appeared. After acknowledging the order, he vanished once more.