Class Seven

Only three students remained in the class.

Hinata wasn't the only one who was happy—Naruto was thrilled too!

After all, Sasuke was Naruto's best friend, and his only one.

Sasuke was also the only person who had never despised Naruto for being the Nine-Tailed Fox.

A moment later, the cool and aloof Kakashi appeared in the doorway.

Kakashi said, "I'm Hatake Kakashi. Starting today, you three are my students!"

"Come with me."

At the training ground.

Kakashi took a bell from his waist and said to Sasuke and the others, "Your first test is to take the bell. You may use any method to snatch it from me."

The moment Kakashi finished speaking—

He realized something was wrong.

Sasuke rapidly formed hand seals, and ten clones charged toward Kakashi!

Kakashi's eyes darted about as he tried to identify Sasuke's real body, but in his eyes, every single one was the real Sasuke!

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

Fire Release: Dragon Flame Song Technique!

Fire Release: Dragon Breath!

Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!

Lightning Release: Lightning Spear!

Lightning Release: Flash of Lightning!

"..."

Kakashi stared at Sasuke's clones in disbelief.

Clones that could use ninjutsu?

This clearly wasn't an ordinary Clone Technique. It was Shisui's signature technique, the Body Flicker Shadow Clone!

Kakashi slapped the ground!

Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!

Four walls instantly rose around Kakashi, each bearing a dog-head marking. In an instant, the walls enclosed him!

Sasuke's ten ninjutsu attacks struck the walls, shattering them with a thunderous crash.

But Kakashi was nowhere within the broken walls!

Kakashi had already escaped using an Earth Release technique, hiding behind a tree some distance away.

Kakashi felt a headache coming on.

It seemed that taking the bells was far too easy for Sasuke...

Sasuke's eyes moved as his three-tomoe Sharingan activated.

Sasuke located Kakashi's presence.

Then Lightning Release chakra flooded Sasuke's body, activating his cells.

Sasuke's body turned into a streak of lightning.

He vanished in a flash!

The bell at Kakashi's waist disappeared without a trace!

Kakashi: "..."

Looking at Sasuke, whose body crackled with arcs of electricity, Kakashi helplessly stepped out from behind the tree.

He said to Sasuke, "You win."

"Although Naruto and Hinata didn't contribute, Sasuke is strong enough. That's enough!"

"But the second test is unrelated to strength. It concerns—teamwork!"

Sasuke was tied to a post by Kakashi.

Kakashi tossed a boxed meal each in front of Hinata and Naruto.

Kakashi said to Naruto and Hinata, "The task is simple: don't give Sasuke any food. Otherwise, you aren't qualified to become ninja!"

With that, Kakashi left.

However, he hid behind a distant tree and watched the scene.

Hinata looked at the boxed meal before her. When she opened it, she found shrimp rice. Catching the fragrant scent of shrimp, Hinata immediately picked one up and offered it to Sasuke without hesitation.

Sasuke swallowed it in one bite without the slightest courtesy.

Sasuke said, "Good girl, Hinata."

The instant she heard Sasuke's words, Hinata felt a current rise from the soles of her feet, making her body tremble...

Sasuke called me a good girl...

Hinata did not care in the slightest whether she could become a ninja. To her, becoming a ninja was nowhere near as important as Sasuke's feelings.

To Hinata, Sasuke was the most important thing!

Naruto, meanwhile, struggled with himself.

Ever since he was little, he had been seen as a fox demon. Everyone hated him.

Then he met Sasuke. Sasuke was the only one who did not hate him.

Later, Naruto met Jiraiya and learned about his identity.

His father was a hero who had protected the Leaf Village.

Jiraiya had asked Naruto whether he hated the people of the village.

Naruto said he did not.

Like his father, he wanted to become Hokage and protect the village!

On one side was his dream of becoming Hokage.

On the other was his best friend.

If I can't even protect my friend, what kind of ninja am I!

Naruto had pork bone broth rice!

He picked up a huge piece of pork and offered it to Sasuke!

Compared to becoming a ninja—

Friendship was more important!

Seeing this, Kakashi's gaze became distant.

It felt as though someone behind him had pushed him, shoving Kakashi out of the shade and into the sunlight.

Kakashi turned around.

It was Obito, Rin, and Sensei!

The three of them had given him that push. Kakashi rubbed his eyes, but the three figures did not exist at all.

It was an illusion...

But that didn't matter.

They... had passed the test!

Kakashi instantly appeared before the three of them!

He shouted, "You! Have passed the test!!"

Then Kakashi untied Sasuke and gave all three of them the forehead protectors that represented ninja!

From this day onward, Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, and Hyuga Hinata officially became genin of the Leaf Village!