First, we needed to predict how you would react.
Only if we could be certain of your actions could we build a plan around them.
Otherwise, if we wanted you to go east but you went west instead, then no matter how meticulous the plan was, it would fail because its target wouldn’t behave as expected,” Sasuke said calmly.
“That’s true,” Kakashi replied, following Sasuke’s reasoning.
“Like what I asked earlier—how could you be certain I’d come to this particular tree?
And how did you know I’d pursue the exposed Sakura first instead of searching elsewhere?”
“Because if we failed to take the bells before noon, we’d automatically fail the test.
With your strength as a jonin, you could have simply hidden yourself.
If you truly wanted to avoid us, we’d never find you,” Sasuke continued.
“But this is an examination.
You couldn’t do that.
If you did, it wouldn’t be a test anymore—it would just be cheating.”
“So once you discovered our whereabouts, there was a very high chance you’d give chase,” Sasuke concluded.
“Correct.
If I simply hid from beginning to end, this survival exercise would lose all meaning.
Naturally, I wouldn’t do something like that.
Or rather, no jonin instructor would,” Kakashi agreed.
“So the next step was ensuring you’d end up beneath this tree,” Naruto said with a faint smile.
“And we also had to make sure you wouldn’t notice someone hiding above it.
Among us, Sasuke had the best grades, so he was the obvious choice.”
“If I’m not mistaken, that Shadow Clone was Sasuke’s as well?” Kakashi asked.
“That’s right.” Naruto nodded.
“Sasuke could perform the Clone Technique faster and more discreetly, without drawing your attention, forcing you toward this tree.”
“And to lower my guard even further, you transformed into each other’s appearances.
You deliberately exposed Sasuke early so I’d assume the one still hiding was Naruto?” Kakashi continued.
“Exactly,” Sasuke replied evenly.
“As I said before, after calculating the odds, Naruto and I switching identities gave us the highest chance of success.”
“Heh…
I have to admit, Naruto, your shuriken technique was impressive.
It looked just like an Uchiha’s.
You really fooled me,” Kakashi praised, recalling Naruto’s display.
“It’s decent enough,” Naruto said with a grin.
“Back at the Academy, Sasuke always liked showing off whenever we practiced shurikenjutsu.
After watching him so many times, I may not have mastered it, but imitating it isn’t a problem.”
“And then?
How did you know I’d appear beneath this particular tree?” Kakashi asked again.
“Because powerful ninja almost always have a certain habit,” Sasuke answered flatly.
“A habit?”
“They enjoy picking on rookies.”
“Picking on rookies?” Kakashi looked surprised.
“And that alone let you determine I’d appear here?”
“Of course not.” Sasuke shook his head.
“Didn’t you notice?
Among all the trees facing us, this one was the closest.
Every other tree was at least twice as far away.
We chose this location deliberately.
People who enjoy bullying newcomers like to cut off their opponents’ escape routes.
So if we fled in this direction, based on that habit, there was a very high probability you’d appear beneath this tree.”
“Why beneath it instead of on top of it?” Kakashi asked.
“If I’d landed on the branches first, I would’ve immediately discovered you hiding there.”
“You wouldn’t,” Sasuke replied.
“Standing in the tree would place you too high above us.
It doesn’t create the same sense of pressure as appearing on the ground, where it feels like you have everything under control.
So there was a high probability you’d choose to stand beneath the tree.
Again, that judgment was based on the tendency of powerful ninja to enjoy intimidating newcomers.”
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
Kakashi applauded without hesitation.
“Brilliant.
Truly brilliant.” He smiled in admiration.
“But I still have one question.
How did you communicate?
At the beginning, all three of you hid far apart.
If you’d gathered together first to discuss a plan before splitting up, there’s no way I wouldn’t have noticed.”
“Morse code,” Naruto answered.
“We knew gathering together would make it much easier to expose ourselves.
So before we split up, we connected ourselves using steel wire.
Then we transmitted Morse code through the wire using chakra.
Based on the terrain around each of our hiding spots, we adjusted our strategy accordingly.
In other words, our plan was built around the environment we found ourselves in, not the other way around.
We didn’t come up with a fixed plan first and then look for terrain that suited it.”
“Outstanding,” Kakashi said, clapping once more.
“Unexpected, ingenious, and genuinely impressive.
To be honest, before the exercise began, I never believed you’d manage to take the bells.
Yet not only did you succeed—you did it beautifully.”
“But…” His smile turned meaningful.
“There are only two bells.
It’s time to make your choice.
One of you must be eliminated.
So…
who will it be?”
“No one will be eliminated,” Sasuke said.
With a metallic clang, he drew his sword and sliced one of the bells cleanly in half.
“Half a bell is still a bell.”
“Heh.
Do you really think I’ll allow a trick like that?” Kakashi chuckled.
“What about this?”
Without the slightest hesitation, Sasuke split the second bell in half as well.
“Now none of us has a bell.”
“Sasuke-kun…” Sakura looked at him with eyes full of emotion.
Naruto, on the other hand, remained completely unconcerned.
Having already figured out the true purpose of the test, if they still couldn’t pass, they might as well smash their heads into a block of tofu.
“Sasuke refuses to eliminate one of his teammates,” Kakashi said, turning toward Naruto and Sakura after seeing Sasuke’s unwavering expression.
“What about the two of you?
Would either of you eliminate Sasuke?”
“No way!” Sakura declared without the slightest hesitation.
“Even if I had to eliminate myself, I’d never eliminate Sasuke-kun!”
Naruto merely smiled.
“I don’t really care.
Sensei, eliminate whoever you want.
Even me, if that’s your decision.”
“You pass.”
Seeing their responses, Kakashi knew there was no point testing them any further.
His eyes curved into a cheerful smile.
“Yes!
I knew it!
The real objective of this exercise was teamwork!” Sakura cheered, accidentally revealing the truth.
“Oh?” Kakashi raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“So you’d already figured out the real purpose of the survival exercise?”
“Ah!” Sakura immediately realized what she’d blurted out and hurriedly covered her mouth.
“Sorry, Sasuke-kun…
Naruto…
I let it slip.”
“We’re ninja,” Sasuke said calmly.
“We pass as ninja.
Passing means passing.
Just because we figured out the questions in advance doesn’t mean we don’t deserve to pass.
Otherwise, the one who failed wouldn’t be the examinees—it would be the examiner who wrote the test.
Am I right, Kakashi-sensei?”
“…That’s a very ninja way of looking at it.”
Kakashi nodded.
“I’ve already declared that you’ve passed, so you’ve passed.
I am surprised that you managed to see through the true purpose of this survival exercise, but that’s no reason to revoke your results.”
“However…” His expression suddenly became serious.
“Since you’ve already understood the purpose of this test, I have to make sure today’s performance wasn’t merely an act.
From now on, I’ll continue observing all of you.
If I discover that you still don’t cherish your comrades or fail to understand the importance of teamwork, I’ll send every one of you back to the Ninja Academy without hesitation.”
“Huh?
It’s still not over?” Sakura hadn’t expected her slip of the tongue to have such serious consequences.
“No, it isn’t.” Kakashi’s voice softened slightly.
“But I do have to commend you.
Well done.”
“A ninja must remain calm, think carefully, and respond with caution.
Those who break the rules and laws of the ninja world are considered trash.”
He turned toward the Memorial Stone nearby, his voice becoming incomparably heavy.
“But those who abandon their comrades…
are worse than trash.”
“I hope you’ll remember that.”
“Kakashi-sensei, since we’ve already passed, you should at least give us some kind of reward.” Naruto grinned, knowing Kakashi had once again fallen into memories of Obito.
“Teach me the Shadow Clone Technique.”
If luck was on his side, maybe Kakashi would actually agree.
“If you want to learn ninjutsu, that’ll depend on how you perform from now on.” Kakashi neither refused nor agreed immediately.
“Starting tomorrow, Team 7 will begin carrying out official missions.
For now, let’s head back.”
“Kakashi-sensei.” Naruto’s expression became unusually serious.
“I really need to learn the Shadow Clone Technique.
I hope your evaluation won’t take too long.
Preferably within a week.
Just give me a definite answer—whether you’ll teach me or not.”
“Oh?” Kakashi looked at him curiously.
“Why are you in such a hurry to learn the Shadow Clone Technique?”
“To make the necessary preparations for becoming Hokage,” Naruto answered calmly.
Kakashi knew Naruto wasn’t telling him the whole truth.
He studied Naruto for quite a while, unable to imagine what connection the Shadow Clone Technique had with becoming Hokage.
Besides, he hadn’t forgotten that Naruto had never shown much sincerity toward his dream of becoming Hokage.
“We’ll see how you perform this week first,” Kakashi finally said.
His stance remained unchanged—neither refusing nor agreeing.
Sasuke also wanted to ask Kakashi to teach him ninjutsu directly.
But his pride made it difficult to ask.
More importantly, he feared that his obsessive pursuit of the power to kill that man wouldn’t be understood.
He opened his mouth.
Yet in the end, he still couldn’t bring himself to say the words.
ADD TO COLLECTION.