In the end, Sakura Haruno was the one tied to the post.
"The weak don't deserve to eat. If any of you dare try anything, don't blame me..."
After that threat, he changed his tone and spoke softly.
"All right, then. Go ahead and eat. We'll take on a mission this afternoon. If anyone drags the team down, they'll go back to the Academy for remedial training."
Kakashi snapped his copy of Icha Icha Paradise shut, then turned and left after saying his piece.
He soon disappeared from their sight.
Luo Mang and Sasuke Uchiha sat down against a tree stump.
Naruto wanted to sit beside Sakura Haruno, but after a couple of looks from her, he lost his nerve.
When the lunch boxes opened, their delicious aroma wafted straight into Sakura Haruno's nose.
Grrr, grrr...
"Ugh..."
Tied up like this, with her stomach growling away, Sakura blushed so fiercely that her cheeks looked ready to bleed. She puffed them out, feeling terribly wronged.
"What a pain!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes and turned his head away.
"Sakura, why don't you have a little?"
Naruto Uzumaki eagerly leaned over, wanting to share his boxed lunch with Sakura Haruno and even feed her himself.
"Mm..."
Sakura's eyes grew a little damp, and her voice trembled despite herself. Seeing Sasuke treat her as a burden hurt. She glanced at Naruto beside her, but she still had no interest in him and shook her head.
"No. I... I won't get you into trouble."
There was no helping it. In Sakura Haruno's eyes, good looks were everything. She couldn't eat, either. If she did, she might get Sasuke into trouble, and that was the real reason she refused.
Besides, if she did eat, Sakura Haruno would much rather have Sasuke Uchiha feed her.
Watching this, Luo Mang rubbed his chin in thought. So this was the power of a handsome face.
Her personality needed some tempering, so Luo Mang had actually intended to wait until the last moment before sharing his lunch.
But Naruto Uzumaki kept hovering nearby. Worried that he might come up with some new antics, Luo Mang took the initiative and made a suggestion.
"Naruto and I can each give you a little. You're a girl, so I doubt you eat that much. We still have a mission this afternoon, after all. If you go hungry, you'll only drag us down later. Then you really might have to go back to the Ninja Academy for remedial training."
All three froze when they heard that.
After all, they had no idea what the test was really for. They were still worried that if they were caught secretly sharing lunch with Sakura Haruno, they might be sent back to the Ninja Academy.
With everyone staring at him, Luo Mang naturally explained.
"Heh, think about it. The four of us are a team. If one of us really does drag the others down..."
Sasuke's expression barely changed, but he was deeply moved. As expected of his clansman, Luo Mang was kindhearted enough to look after even a nuisance like Sakura Haruno.
Naruto Uzumaki was the first to speak, nodding in agreement.
"That's Brother Mang for you! I'm in."
"You make it sound like I'm against it. Give her some of mine, too."
Smiling, Sasuke Uchiha held his lunch box out beside Luo Mang's, letting him portion out Sakura Haruno's share.
Sakura Haruno felt as though something had struck her heart. She was deeply touched, never having expected him to speak up for her and fight her corner.
Hidden up in a tree, Kakashi's pupils trembled slightly. When Luo Mang said the four of them were comrades, it struck a chord within him.
He remembered how he, too, had once had comrades. But now...
"They really weren't wrong. I'm just like a jinx..."
After reminiscing, Kakashi suddenly muttered that self-deprecating remark. He knew it was almost time to make his entrance!
Once Luo Mang had divided up the food, he set the lunch box aside and used a kunai to free Sakura Haruno's bound hands so she could eat on her own.
Neither he nor Sasuke wanted to feed her, and he was sure she didn't want Naruto feeding her either. Better to let her eat by herself.
"Th-thank you."
As he drew close, Sakura Haruno caught his scent. Her flushed face grew hotter, and she stumbled over her thanks.
"If we're caught, I'll take the blame myself. I won't get you into trouble."
Luo Mang only smiled and said nothing.
Yet that smile seemed to strike Sakura Haruno straight in the heart.
At last, all four of them began enjoying their lunch.
The other three had followed his instructions to the letter that morning and arrived without eating. After all that activity, they were now starving.
Sakura Haruno had initially wanted to preserve a little ladylike restraint, but the smell of the food made her abandon that entirely. Besides, eating too slowly would mean trouble if they were caught.
They all began wolfing down their food.
They had finished lunch but had yet to clean up when Kakashi jumped down, his furious shout ringing out!
"You lot!"
Everyone except Luo Mang instantly shuddered.
Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto said nothing.
"I... I, sensei, I was the one who asked them..."
Sakura Haruno kept her promise. If they were caught, she would take the blame herself, so she began saying that she had asked Luo Mang and the others to share their lunch with her.
With reddened eyes, Kakashi walked up to them and said something Luo Mang had expected, but which took the other three completely by surprise!
"Good, good, good! You passed!"
Kakashi clapped lightly, praising them.
"I'm very pleased with your performance. Anyone who doesn't value their comrades and chooses to abandon them has no right to become a ninja!"
"Congratulations on passing the test. From now on, I'll officially be your teacher and guide you."
Sakura Haruno's mouth fell open in shock.
"Really?"
Naruto's eyes lit up instantly!
"That's right."
Kakashi nodded. He was sure that his counterpart in the video had agreed to teach them because he had seen how well they worked together, too.
"You're officially my students now. Today's test is over. Did you get enough to eat? If not, how about I treat you to another meal?"
Seeing the smiles spreading across their faces, Kakashi's mood eased as well, and he asked with a smile.
"Well..."
Naruto rubbed his belly. He had a big appetite, and since he had shared his food earlier, he still wasn't full.
"Could you, Kakashi-sensei?"
"Glutton."
Sasuke Uchiha rolled his eyes. He had been hoping to see whether having a jonin teacher leading them would let them take on different missions, yet all Naruto wanted to talk about was eating.
Hearing that left Sasuke Uchiha dumbfounded.
Seeing this, Kakashi realized there was quite a difference of opinion and decided to put it to a vote.
"Heh, let's vote, then. Raise your hand if you want to go eat."
Naruto was the first to raise his hand. None of the others showed any sign of raising theirs.
"All right, three to one. Naruto, I'll have to wait until dinner to treat you all."
The result was obvious. Kakashi patted Naruto's head to comfort him.
"Okay."
"Now follow me to pick up a mission. I'll show you just how harsh missions in the ninja world can be!"
Before you continue