Double Test, I've Been Set Up!

"Wait!!"

Just as all four of them tensed up and prepared to make their move, the Third Hokage suddenly waved a finger, signaling them to pause. Then he beckoned Hikaru over.

"Me?!"

Hikaru froze for a moment. What was the Third Hokage trying to pull? If they were snatching bells, then just snatch bells—what else did he want?

Confused though he was, Hikaru still walked over. The Third Hokage grinned rather shamelessly, then, under the dumbfounded gazes of Hikaru and the other three, tied the two bells to Hikaru's clothes. He smiled and patted Hikaru on the shoulder as he instructed him:

"Uchiha Hikaru, you are responsible for guarding the bells. The others are responsible for taking them. If they fail to take them, they will fail the final test."

"But if the bells are taken from you, then you will fail as well!!"

Damn it!!!

Hikaru was dumbstruck. No wonder the Third Hokage had worn that undignified old-man grin. So this was what he had been planning. No wonder there were four people but only two bells.

The four of them were being formed into a squad, and he could not always take the squad out on missions himself. The Third Hokage wanted to select one person from among the four as the equivalent of a captain, someone who would lead the squad forward.

And Hikaru was the primary candidate. After the Third Hokage's observation and selection, Hikaru had proven to be the most suitable.

Thus, the test rules had not really changed. What had changed was that the bells were now in Uchiha Hikaru's hands, and the others had to take them from him!

A captain was the leader of a squad. Being thoughtful and remaining calm under pressure were essential basic requirements. Beyond that, one also needed the strength to earn the respect of one's teammates.

If you were the captain but your strength was pathetic, who would respect you?

It was obvious enough just by looking at them. Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya were all troublemakers. Without strength greater than theirs, how could he make them submit?

So the Third Hokage had directly tied the bells to Hikaru, making Hikaru both a test-taker and a test for the others. From another perspective, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya were also testing Hikaru's strength.

"Alright, children, begin. Remember what I said earlier!!"

After laughing smugly twice, the Third Hokage walked over to a tree stump under Hikaru's gritted-teeth glare. Leaning against it, he pulled out a bottle of alcohol and some cigarettes, leisurely drinking and smoking as he looked at Hikaru with a smiling gaze.

That old man had set me up!!!

Hikaru practically wanted to kill someone. Even if this was a test for him, was there anyone who tested people like this?

"Hehehe~~~"

The moment Hikaru heard Jiraiya's chuckle beside him, he understood. Turning around, he found that Jiraiya and Tsunade were indeed looking at him with ill intent, while Orochimaru's eyes were filled with intense fighting spirit. He had clearly wanted to fight Hikaru for a long time.

Since arriving in this world, Hikaru had never fought any of them. Most of his time had been spent training alone. Jiraiya and Tsunade had wanted to spar with him, but Hikaru had always refused.

Now, the opportunity had arrived.

"Here I come!!!!" Jiraiya laughed loudly, clenched his fists, and charged at Hikaru.

"Be careful, Hikaru!"

Tsunade smiled as she offered a warning, then rushed forward alongside Jiraiya.

Orochimaru scanned the area with his eyes before running toward Hikaru's back.

The three charged in from different directions, leaving Hikaru no chance to evade.

A clever tactic. Leaning against the tree stump, the Third Hokage watched as Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru surrounded Hikaru from different directions. He silently gave them his approval, while keeping his eyes fixed on Hikaru, wanting to see how he would resolve this crisis.

Hikaru worked far harder than the others, but at this age, no matter how strong he was, how much stronger could he really be?

The Third Hokage wanted to see what kind of impressive performance Hikaru, whom he favored, could deliver.

If Hikaru's performance failed to satisfy him, the Third Hokage would not dare let Hikaru lead the squad around.

Bullshit!!!

That was the only way Hikaru could describe it. This was not what he wanted at all. Whoever wanted to be some damned captain could have the job—he did not want it. Do not think leading a squad was comfortable; if anything happened to the squad, he would be the one held responsible.

And he would have to restrain the other three at all times and make them behave.

Orochimaru, whose heart was dark and who cared about no one but himself; Tsunade, with her volatile temper that could erupt at any time; and Jiraiya, carefree and always doing outrageous things—none of them were easy to deal with.

Keeping them in line would not be easy.

What Hikaru wanted was to get rich quietly, not stand directly at the forefront. But the Third Hokage's actions were pushing him into everyone's view. In the future, it would be hard for Hikaru not to attract attention.

This was practically screwing him over!!!

It did not fit Hikaru's plans at all.