Team 10, assemble!

At eight the next morning, at the training ground.

Uchiha Rìtiān strolled over, yawning.

Hayate was already there, warming up.

"Rìtiān! You're finally here! I've been waiting forever!" Hayate said excitedly.

"What's all the excitement? It's just a test." Rìtiān waved a hand, looking utterly unconcerned.

He turned to look around. Jingyue hadn't arrived yet.

"Where's that ice queen? Still not here?" Rìtiān asked casually.

"Jingyue should be here soon." Hayate scratched his head.

Just as he finished speaking, Jingyue walked over.

She still wore that icy expression, as though everyone owed her money.

"You're here," Jingyue said flatly.

"Yep, just waiting for you," Rìtiān said with a grin. "Jingyue, you look really pretty today."

Jingyue glanced at him. "How boring."

Rìtiān: "..."

Fine, you're aloof. You're so damn impressive.

Just then, a languid voice rang out.

"Yo, everyone's here."

Shikaku strolled over, a book still in his hand.

"Shikaku-sensei!" Hayate immediately saluted.

Jingyue bowed slightly.

Rìtiān waved. "Morning, old man."

The corner of Shikaku's mouth twitched. "How many times have I told you? Call me sensei, not old man."

"Sure, old man. No problem, old man."

Shikaku: "..."

Forget it. I can't be bothered arguing with this kid.

"All right, everyone's here. Let's start the test." Shikaku put his book away. "Today's test is very simple."

"What kind of test?" Hayate asked curiously.

"Bell stealing." Shikaku took two bells from inside his clothes. "The rules are simple. Take a bell from me, and you pass."

"The time limit is one day."

"Anyone who doesn't get a bell doesn't get to eat."

Hayate froze for a moment. "Two bells? But there are three of us... so one person won't get one?"

"That's right." Shikaku nodded. "So you'll have to figure it out yourselves."

"Cooperate or compete. It's up to you."

Rìtiān raised his eyebrows. The bell test?

Wasn't this Kakashi's test for Team 7 in the original story?

Why was Shikaku doing this too?

"Ding! Classic plot event triggered: the bell test."

"Option one: cooperate with your teammates to steal the bells together. Reward: team coordination +10."

"Option two: steal a bell yourself and ignore your teammates. Reward: individual performance +10."

"Option three: give up immediately and go back to sleep. Reward: Will of Survival +1."

Without a second thought, Rìtiān said, "Option one!"

Come on, teamwork was the way to go.

Besides, he already knew the true meaning of this test.

"Ding! Selection successful."

"All right, are you ready?" Shikaku asked.

"We're ready!" Hayate answered loudly.

Jingyue nodded.

Rìtiān loosened his wrists. "Watch yourself, old man. Don't lose too badly."

Shikaku raised an eyebrow. "Oh? That confident?"

"Of course." Rìtiān grinned. "I'm Uchiha Rìtiān."

Shikaku smiled without saying anything.

This kid was pretty cocky.

"We start on the count of three." Shikaku held up three fingers. "Three... two... one..."

"Begin!"

The moment he spoke, Hayate charged.

"Multi-Size Technique!"

Hayate's body instantly grew larger, and he swung his fist at Shikaku.

Unhurried, Shikaku shifted his body and easily dodged.

"Too slow." Shikaku shook his head.

Just then, Jingyue made her move.

"Genjutsu: Hell Viewing Technique!"

Shikaku's movements paused, as though he had fallen under the genjutsu.

"Here's our chance!" Hayate rejoiced and charged again.

But-

Bang!

Shikaku's figure turned into a log.

Substitution Technique!

"What?!" Hayate froze.

"Idiot, behind you!" Jingyue shouted.

Hayate whipped his head around. Shikaku was already behind him.

"Your reactions are too slow." Shikaku struck Hayate in the back with his palm.

Bang!

Hayate went flying and crashed heavily to the ground.

"Hayate!" Jingyue's expression changed.

Shikaku dusted off his hands. "You two still have a long way to go."

He turned to Rìtiān.

"Why aren't you attacking?"

With both hands in his pockets, Rìtiān drawled, "I'm waiting for an opening."

"An opening?" Shikaku raised an eyebrow.

"That's right." Rìtiān smiled. "And now... it's here."

As his words fell, Rìtiān vanished.

Body Flicker Technique!

Shikaku's pupils contracted.

So fast!

He instinctively dodged to the side.

But Rìtiān was faster, appearing before him in an instant.

His hand reached for the bells.

Shikaku reacted swiftly, raising a hand to block.

Bang!

Their palms clashed, and both took several steps back.

A trace of surprise appeared on Shikaku's face.

"Body Flicker Technique? And that strength... not bad."

Rìtiān shook out his hand and grinned. "Well, old man? I'm pretty good, right?"

"Not bad." Shikaku nodded. "But it's not enough to take my bells."

"Really?" The corners of Rìtiān's mouth lifted. "Then how about this?"

His hands rapidly formed hand seals.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Ten shadow clones appeared at once, charging at Shikaku from every direction.

Shikaku raised an eyebrow. "Shadow clones? Interesting."

With his hands in his pockets, he weaved between the shadow clones, easily avoiding every attack.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The shadow clones were struck down one after another.

"Is that all you've got?" Shikaku shook his head.

Just then-

"Shikaku-sensei, watch your feet!" Hayate's voice rang out.

Shikaku looked down. The ground beneath his feet suddenly turned into a swamp.

"Earth Release: Earth Swamp Technique!"

The real Rìtiān emerged from underground and smiled at Shikaku.

"Fell for it, didn't you, old man?"

Shikaku raised an eyebrow. "Earth Release? An Uchiha who can use Earth Release?"

"I can do plenty more than that," Rìtiān said smugly. "Old man, you lose!"

He reached for the bells.

Just as his hand was about to touch them-

"Really?"

Shikaku's figure suddenly blurred.

The next second, he appeared behind Rìtiān.

"Kid, you've still got a long way to go."

Rìtiān's pupils contracted.

So fast!

He was just about to turn when Shikaku struck him in the back with his palm.

Bang!

Rìtiān flew through the air and crashed heavily to the ground.

"Rìtiān!" Hayate hurried over.

Jingyue also approached, her brows tightly furrowed.

Rìtiān got up and brushed the dust off himself.

"Holy shit, old man. You hit hard." Rìtiān rubbed his back.

Shikaku smiled. "You did well. You're the first rookie who's made me get serious."

"But the test isn't over yet."

"You still have a day."

With that, he turned and left.

Watching Shikaku walk away, Rìtiān curled his lips into a smile.

Interesting.

Shikaku Nara really lived up to his reputation.

"Rìtiān, are you all right?" Hayate asked worriedly.

"I'm fine. Just a scratch." Rìtiān waved a hand.

He looked at Jingyue. "Jingyue, are you all right?"

"I'm fine," Jingyue said coldly.

After a pause, she added, "You... weren't bad either."

Rìtiān's eyes lit up.

This ice queen had actually complimented him?

"Of course. Who do you think I am?" Rìtiān smugly tossed his hair.

Jingyue snorted and turned away.

"Tch. One little compliment and it goes straight to your head."

Rìtiān: "..."

A woman's heart really was impossible to fathom.

"All right, enough bickering." Rìtiān cleared his throat. "Let's discuss how to steal the bells."

Hayate scratched his head. "Shikaku-sensei is too strong. We can't beat him at all."

"If we can't beat him, we can outsmart him," Rìtiān said with a smile.

"Outsmart him? How?" Hayate asked curiously.

Jingyue looked over too, a flicker of curiosity crossing his eyes.

Uchiha Rìtiān gave a wicked grin.

"I have a clever plan of my own."

"Just wait and enjoy the show."

Hayate looked utterly admiring. "Uchiha Rìtiān, you're amazing!"

Although Jingyue said nothing, a little more anticipation appeared in his eyes.

Uchiha Rìtiān was feeling very pleased with himself.

Uncle Shikaku, just you wait.

You think you've already won?

Heh heh, not necessarily.

Just then, the system notification sounded.

Ding! Tensions detected in Sunagakure. The One-Tail Jinchuriki, Gaara, has gone berserk.

The Akatsuki is taking advantage of the chaos to try to capture Gaara.

Option one: stay out of matters that don't concern you. Reward: Will of Survival +1.

Option two: report to Konoha High Command. Reward: Konoha Reputation +10.

Option three: go to Sunagakure in person. Reward: Sunagakure favorability +30, risk +high.

Uchiha Rìtiān frowned.

Gaara has gone berserk? The Akatsuki wants to capture him?

It's starting already?

Uchiha Rìtiān hesitated for a moment, but ultimately made his decision.

"I choose option three!"

He had to make this trip to Sunagakure.

It wasn't just for Gaara, but also to... see how strong the Akatsuki was.

He could pick up a few benefits along the way, too.

The corners of Uchiha Rìtiān's mouth lifted.

Sunagakure, here I come!