The Bell Test of Team Nine

Training Ground Three.

Ten in the morning.

Uchiha You stood at the edge of the training ground, with Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura behind him.

All three had arrived on time.

They had even arrived fifteen minutes earlier than the agreed time.

Naruto stood with his hands on his hips, looking immensely pleased with himself.

"Lord You, I told you, I definitely wouldn't be late!"

Sasuke stood beside him and said flatly, "If you hadn't started pacing around the house an hour early and nearly woken up the entire clan compound, we wouldn't have left so early."

"That's called being serious!"

Naruto retorted indignantly.

Sakura rubbed her forehead.

"You were just afraid of going three days without food."

Naruto's expression froze instantly.

"Punishment can be motivation too!"

Uchiha You swept his gaze over the three of them.

"At least none of you were late."

At those words, Naruto's eyes immediately lit up.

"So what are we training today?"

"You're looking forward to it that much?"

"Of course!"

Naruto thumped his chest.

"Yesterday, you said the real training would start today."

"I'm ready!"

"Good."

Uchiha You turned and headed outside the training ground.

"Follow me."

Naruto and the other two exchanged glances, then hurried after him.

Training Ground Three was not particularly small.

Besides the open area in the center, it was surrounded by dense woods and several slopes suitable for combat drills.

Uchiha You did not take them to the center. Instead, he led them around to the high ground on the side of the training ground.

From there, they could clearly see another clearing not far away.

Kimimaro, Haku, and Karin had been waiting there for quite some time.

Kimimaro leaned against a large tree with his arms crossed, his expression cold.

Haku stood beside him with a gentle smile