Survival Training

"Very good. I now had a preliminary understanding of the three of you."

After the introductions ended, Kakashi looked up at the sky.

"Starting tomorrow, we'll begin carrying out missions—but though I call it a mission, it's still more of an exam by definition."

Sakura and Sasuke were both somewhat confused by Kakashi's words.

Naruto, however, understood very well what Kakashi meant by "exam."

"An exam... Sensei, why did we still have to take exams after graduating?"

Sakura asked.

"You meant the Ninja Academy graduation exam, right? That was just a screening method."

Facing Sakura's puzzled gaze, Kakashi explained,

"In other words, the school graduation exam selected twenty-seven students with the potential to become ninja. But among those twenty-seven graduates, only nine would officially be granted Genin status."

By this point, Sakura and Sasuke understood what Kakashi meant by "exam."

The excitement they had felt over graduating successfully was utterly crushed in an instant by Kakashi's casual words.

"This exam will eliminate eighteen students. It's an extremely difficult test with an elimination rate as high as sixty-six percent."

But Kakashi continued stirring up their anxiety, his tone carrying a hint of intimidation.

"Those who fail the exam will have their evaluations lowered. But if you withdraw voluntarily, you'll only have to return to school and repeat a year. Think carefully about whether you can pass a test arranged by a Jōnin. If you want to quit, tell me now."

Though Kakashi said this to all three of them, his gaze remained fixed on Sakura.

Even though they had only just met, Kakashi had already somewhat grasped the personalities of Team 7's three members.

Among Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, the one most likely to withdraw from the exam right now out of fear and anxiety was Sakura.

"Kakashi-sensei, what will tomorrow's exam involve?"

As Sakura hesitated under Kakashi's stare, Naruto raised his hand and asked, drawing Kakashi's attention away.

"A wilderness survival exercise."

"Huh? We did that plenty of times at school!"

"This time, your opponent won't be students your own age. It'll be me, a Jōnin."

"Mm..."

"Naruto, if you're scared, you can consider withdrawing."

Kakashi hinted.

"I finally graduated. There's no way I'm quitting!" Naruto rejected Kakashi's suggestion, then smiled at Sakura beside him. "Let's do our best together, Sakura!"

Naruto interrupted the wild thoughts in Sakura's head. Looking at him, she somehow relaxed. "Yeah, of course."

"Sasuke, you should do your best too."

Naruto added.

Sasuke's response was naturally another cool snort.

Kakashi looked at Naruto, then glanced at Sakura.

Sakura had nearly blurted out that she wanted to quit, but Naruto had stopped her at the crucial moment and successfully comforted her with just a few words.

"Then gather at the training ground at five tomorrow morning. Bring your ninja tools."

There would be no result from further stirring up their emotions. Kakashi stepped away from the railing and stated tomorrow's meeting place.

"There's nothing else for today. Dismissed!"

Kakashi waved his hand, then suddenly paused. As if remembering something, he spoke again. "Oh, right! Don't eat breakfast. The exam will be pretty intense, and you might throw up."

After saying that, Kakashi used the Body Flicker Technique and vanished from the rooftop.

Only Team 7's three members remained on the rooftop, looking at one another.

Naruto stared at the spot where Kakashi had disappeared.

He really hadn't expected Kakashi to be willing to make up a lie about evaluations being lowered just to create a sense of terror.

"I'm heading back first."

Naruto stood up. Since the meeting was over, there was no reason for him to remain there.

"Wait, Naruto."

Sasuke suddenly called out to Naruto.

Naruto turned to look at Sasuke, unsure why Sasuke had stopped him.

"Don't be late again tomorrow."

You should be saying that to Kakashi.

"Got it."

That was what Naruto thought, but he verbally indicated that he understood.

The next day, five in the morning, Konoha Ninja Training Ground.

Naruto bit into a rice ball as he looked at Sakura and Sasuke, who had arrived together. "You two are late."

"There are still ten minutes until five. You came too early."

Sakura yawned, her eyes bleary with sleep.

Sasuke was about as energetic as Naruto, showing none of the fatigue of waking up early.

He noticed the rice ball in Naruto's hand. "Didn't he say not to eat breakfast?"

"I don't make a habit of going hungry."

Naruto said. He had not taken Kakashi's warning about breakfast to heart at all.

Kakashi, who was habitually late, said they would meet at five in the morning, but he probably wouldn't show up at the training ground until after ten.

That would already be lunchtime.

"Do you want any? I have two more rice balls."

Naruto asked as he ate.

Sasuke did not answer. His hands remained in his pockets, making his attitude clear enough.

Sakura shook her head, set the backpack on her back down on the grass, then leaned against it and continued catching up on sleep.

Naruto stopped talking and continued eating his rice ball.

No matter how big the world was, eating came first.

The sun rose into the sky, dispersing the morning mist.

The cool morning was gone, replaced by a late morning filled with glaring sunlight.

"Sorry. The cat I delivered yesterday came to repay me today."

It was around ten-thirty in the morning when Kakashi finally arrived.

So it was a running gag...

For the first time, Team 7's three members shared the exact same thought in perfect unspoken agreement upon hearing Kakashi's excuse for being late.

"Ahem! Then let's begin the exam!"

Kakashi put aside the awkwardness of having no one appreciate his humor, took out a small alarm clock, and placed it on a wooden post.

"From now until the alarm rings at noon, you must complete the task I assign."

Kakashi raised the two silver-white bells in his hand and gently shook them.

The bells collided, producing a crisp ringing sound.

"I have two bells here. Your task is to take them from me before noon. Anyone who fails to get a bell won't be allowed to eat lunch!"

Kakashi's words stunned Sakura and Sasuke.

So that was why they were told not to eat breakfast.

Both of them instinctively glanced at Naruto.

"What's wrong?"

Noticing their odd reactions, Kakashi asked curiously.

"But Kakashi-sensei, you only have two bells."

Those two really couldn't hide anything. Naruto spoke up, drawing Sakura and Sasuke's attention away.

"Naruto, I didn't expect you to be so sharp."

After Naruto pointed out the number of bells, Kakashi no longer paid attention to the earlier interruption and returned to the main topic.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes.

Even though half his face was covered by a mask, Team 7 could still sense the mischievous grin on Kakashi's face.

"Because I had to ensure that, even in the best-case scenario, one person in a three-man ninja team would go without food."

Kakashi said something so sinister in a cheerful tone.

His expression immediately turned serious again. "That's enough joking around—I never intended to let all of you pass this exam, so I will definitely eliminate one person."

A test set by a Jōnin was on a completely different level from the gentle exams at school.

At the Ninja Academy, the teachers tried their best to ensure every student could pass smoothly.

But Kakashi followed the most primitive and cruel law of the ninja world: survival of the fittest.

For the first time, Sakura and Sasuke felt... pressure.

The pressure they would have to bear if they were to spend the rest of their lives as ninja.

"But as I just said, that's the best-case scenario. Because I never intended to let the remaining two pass either, I'll do everything I can to stop you from taking the bells. When noon arrives, the three of you can hold hands and go back to school together."

He stared at Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto.

All three wore expressions as if facing a formidable enemy. What lovely expressions.

"Ninja tools, ninjutsu—you may use everything against me without restriction. This may be an exam, but it is also an official mission. Without the resolve to kill the 'enemy,' you cannot succeed."

"Do you understand?"

Faced with Kakashi's question, Sakura and Sasuke both instinctively swallowed.

Naruto's reaction was somewhat better.

But judging by Naruto's expression, Kakashi felt it would be more accurate to say Naruto had not fully understood the situation yet and therefore lacked any sense of crisis.

"I rather like the expressions you have right now. Since you understand what I just said, then..."

Kakashi fastened the bells to his waist and said to the three of them—

—"The exercise begins!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Kakashi was the only person left in the empty training ground.