The two bells on the wooden stump gleamed enticingly in the sunlight. Beside them sat Kakashi's open lunch box, brimming with food, its aroma at odds with the tense standoff.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura stood in a triangle, their eyes darting between the bells, one another, and Kakashi. Their breathing was quick, their expressions full of wariness and conflict. The threat of elimination hung over their heads like the Sword of Damocles.
Ling, however, slowly walked to the edge of the Training Ground, found a shady spot beneath a tree, and sat down. He closed his eyes and calmly began molding chakra to replenish his reserves, just as before, as though the struggle before him had nothing to do with him.
His actions immediately drew the others' attention.
"Ling! Are you giving up?" Sakura couldn't help asking, her voice filled with anxiety and confusion.
Ling opened his eyes, gave them a calm glance, then looked at Kakashi. "Kakashi-sensei already made it very clear. The rule is to 'take a bell.' But more importantly, he never said you had to use the bell to get food for yourself."
His words were like a stone dropped into a still lake, leaving all three of them stunned.
Kakashi's chopsticks paused briefly. His lone eye flicked toward Ling, a nearly imperceptible hint of amusement and deeper curiosity flashing in its depths. This kid really doesn't play by the usual rules.
Naruto caught on first and clapped his hands. "Right! The rules only said to take a bell. They never said we couldn't share with someone else! We can take the bells, then share the food!"
"Idiot!" Sasuke cut him off coldly. "There are only two bells. How are we supposed to split them among three people? Besides..." His sharp gaze swept toward Ling. "There's another one over there."
"The rule is that 'anyone who fails to take a bell' doesn't get to eat," Ling said calmly again, pointing out the key. "But there's no rule saying 'anyone who takes a bell' has to use it themselves. In theory, all four of us could avoid 'taking' a bell and instead 'earn' the right to eat some other way-for example, by gaining our teacher's approval."
His gaze returned to Kakashi, probing for an unspoken understanding. He was gambling that the true purpose of Kakashi's test went far beyond assessing their strength, that there was something deeper to it-just as Tobirama had predicted.
Kakashi set down his lunch box and stopped reading his book, his interest thoroughly piqued. He folded his arms and looked at Ling. "Oh? Go on."
"This test was unfair from the start," Ling analyzed calmly, his voice reaching everyone clearly. "Against a Jonin, we have no chance of winning, even if we attack with the intent to kill. So if we fight separately, or even get in one another's way, the only possible outcome is that we're defeated one by one and wiped out. That means the answer was never about how to take two bells. It was about..."
"...whether we recognized the importance of a 'team' and were willing to sacrifice and share for it," Sakura murmured, finishing his sentence. She finally understood Iruka-sensei's earlier, subtle hint.
"And you realized that from the beginning, Ling, so you chose to support us from the sidelines instead of going all out for the bells?" Sasuke looked at Ling, his expression complicated. He had to admit that this guy was ahead of him when it came to seeing the bigger tactical picture.
Ling nodded. "Individual strength has its limits, especially against an opponent you can't overpower. Ignoring your teammates, or even treating them as enemies, is the most foolish choice you can make."
Naruto only half understood, but he grasped the core of it. "So we need to take the bells together, then share the food? Or... give it to whoever needs it?"
"But... there are only two..." Sakura was still stuck on the number.
"That's why we have to make a choice." Ling looked at Kakashi. "And the real answer might not be choosing who gets to eat, but choosing... to break out of this seemingly impossible situation. For instance, by refusing to accept a rule designed to turn us against one another."
With that, he closed his eyes again and withdrew from the discussion, leaving the choice to Team 7's trio. His role was complete-exposing the puzzle and pointing the way forward. The rest was for them to understand and decide for themselves.
A brief silence fell over the clearing.
Naruto looked at the lunch box, his stomach growling, then glanced at the pale-faced Sasuke and worried Sakura beside him. Suddenly, he shouted, "I don't care anymore! I'm not letting my teammates go hungry and get sent back to school just so I can eat!"
He lunged toward the lunch box, but instead of grabbing the bells, he snatched up a rice ball and tried to press it into Sakura's hands, since she was closest.
Almost simultaneously, Sasuke moved too. He wasn't trying to grab anything, but instead stepped in front of Kakashi, who seemed about to stop Naruto (though Kakashi hadn't moved at all).
Sakura looked at the rice ball being offered to her, then at Sasuke standing in front of them and Naruto's determined face. Her eyes suddenly reddened.
Thump! Thump!
With two soft thuds, Kakashi easily took down Naruto and Sasuke using the Body Flicker Technique and tied them to the wooden posts.
"Rules are rules," Kakashi said expressionlessly. He picked up the lunch box, walked over to the two bound boys, and deliberately waved a rice ball in front of them.
Then he did something that surprised everyone-he held the rice ball out to Sakura.
"Sakura, make your choice. Will you eat or not?"
Sakura looked at the rice ball, then at Naruto and Sasuke, both bound and watching her with complicated expressions. Her tears finally fell. She slapped Kakashi's hand away, sending the rice ball tumbling to the ground.
"I... I don't want it! If I can't eat with everyone, I'd rather not eat at all! We're a team!"
As her words faded, the Training Ground fell completely silent.
Kakashi looked at the rice ball lying in the dirt, then at the defiant Sakura and the two boys tied to the posts, who seemed relieved yet somewhat awkward. Finally, his gaze settled on Ling, who had remained an outsider from beginning to end, yet had opened everyone's eyes at the crucial moment.
After a long pause, he suddenly sighed and scratched his head.
"Well... fine, fine. Honestly, none of you are cute at all."
He untied Naruto and Sasuke, then pointed to the lunch box on the ground. "Eat together."
"Huh? We really can?" Naruto cried out in delight.
"Why?" Sasuke asked with a frown, rubbing his wrists where the ropes had hurt them.
"Because..." Kakashi turned his back to them. His voice seemed to return to its usual lazy drawl, yet carried a new trace of solemnity. "In the ninja world, people who don't value their comrades are worse than trash. Congratulations, Team 7. All of you pass."
Cheers, puzzled exclamations, and sighs of relief rang out.
Kakashi walked over to Ling and looked at him. "As for you, Ling."
Ling rose and calmly met his gaze.
"You saw through everything long ago. You even guided them." Kakashi's gaze was sharp. "Your composure and insight exceeded my expectations. But you kept yourself in the role of an 'observer' and a 'guide' the entire time. You never truly saw yourself as a member of 'Team 7,' struggling and making choices alongside them. That may have been the optimal solution, but it's also a form of detachment."
Ling was silent for a moment, then nodded. "I understand. But I believe that, under the circumstances, it was the most effective way to break the deadlock."
"I'm not criticizing you." Kakashi waved a hand. "Your approach was actually quite mature. It's just... never mind."
He paused, then said, "Your circumstances are unusual, and your strength is far beyond that of an ordinary Genin. Routine D-rank missions and team-building exercises have limited value for you. I'll report to Lord Hokage and request that you be allowed greater freedom to train independently while still taking part in some team missions. I'll draw up a separate training plan for you and check your progress regularly. However..."
Kakashi's tone grew serious. "When you act as a member of Team 7, I must insist that you set aside that 'observer' mentality, truly become part of the team, and trust your comrades with your back. That's an order, and it's also the next lesson you need to learn. Can you do that?"
This was exactly what Ling and Tobirama had hoped for! More time to himself meant more room for secret training.
"Yes, Kakashi-sensei. I'll do my best," Ling answered earnestly.
"All right, go eat." Kakashi waved him off and took out Icha Icha Paradise again, as though the stern Jonin from a moment ago had been an illusion.
Ling walked toward Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, who were squabbling over the food. He knew Kakashi had granted him a measure of freedom, but had also drawn a clear line. In the days ahead, he would need to find a balance between being a "lone wolf" and a "teammate."
Meanwhile, Tobirama seemed quite pleased with the outcome within the mental world.
Not bad. We've gained valuable autonomy without arousing too much suspicion. That kid Kakashi handled things fairly enough, Tobirama commented. Then, starting tomorrow, our training will enter a new phase. It's time to put inscribing the Flying Thunder God's basic runes on the agenda.
Before you continue