It was finally here.
The famous test.
Iruka led us out to Training Ground Three and told us we were getting a "special assessment" before graduation. He didn't say much more—just that the proctor would explain.
That's when Kakashi arrived.
And by arrived, I mean teleported in 45 minutes late with a cup of tea and a paperback titled "Icha Icha Vol. 3: Love at First Kunai."
Naruto: "YOU'RE LATE!"
Kakashi: "A black cat crossed my path, so I had to avoid bad luck. Also, I stopped for dango."
Me: "Respectfully, this man might be my spirit animal."
---
He explained the rules.
There were two bells. Only two. Three of us. Fail to get one by noon, and you fail the exam and go back to the academy.
Naruto: "Wait WHAT?!"
Sasuke: "Tch. Figures."
Me: This is the part where he tries to isolate us and test teamwork. Classic.
Kakashi looked us over. "Oh, and one more thing. You're allowed to try to kill me."
Naruto's eyes sparkled.
Mine narrowed.
Because I knew what came next.
But it was still going to suck.
---
The forest was quiet.
Too quiet.
I'd pulled back to scout, Naruto charged headfirst, and Sasuke was doing his lone wolf routine. Classic three-man chaos.
> System Boost Enabled:
Perk: "Mission Focus" – +10% Awareness and Reaction Time during Team Scenarios
I crouched in the underbrush and whispered into the communicator I'd duct-taped together from scavenged academy parts.
(Okay, not canon tech. But hey—modern brain. I improvised.)
"Team check-in. Naruto, report."
Loud crashing and a scream in the distance.
"...He's fine," I muttered. "Probably."
---
I spotted Kakashi five minutes later. He was sitting on a stump, reading. The bells dangled from his hip. Taunting us.
I activated Shock Step.
Blurred in.
Swung wide.
He dodged without looking.
"Ah," he said, flipping a page. "You're the odd one out."
"You noticed?"
"I notice everything. Especially time travelers."
I froze.
Then he vanished.
Just like the masked figure.
---
I hit the ground rolling, kunai in hand, and flung a smoke bomb. Sasuke appeared behind me seconds later.
"You saw him?"
"Yeah. And he said something very weird."
"I'm not surprised," Sasuke said. "He's weird."
"No," I said. "I think he knows about me."
He narrowed his eyes. "Prove it later. For now—we need to take those bells."
"Together?"
He nodded.
For once, we agreed.
---
We hit Kakashi with a pincer formation.
Naruto, reappearing like a cracked-out raccoon, launched clones from the trees. Sasuke came in from behind with a fireball. I swept low and grabbed the bells—
Only for Kakashi to replace himself with a log.
Again.
"Where is he even getting these logs?" I gasped, hunched over. "Is there a black market?"
Then he reappeared behind Naruto and poked him in the butt with a finger.
"A Thousand Years of Death!"
Naruto: "WHY IS THIS EVEN A TECHNIQUE?!"
---
We failed, obviously.
But then Kakashi smiled behind the mask.
"You figured out the point," he said, "when you worked together."
He placed the bells on the stump.
"You pass."
Naruto blinked. "Huh?"
"Teamwork," I said. "The real test was whether we'd put the mission—and each other—ahead of personal gain."
Kakashi gave me a side glance.
"Smart. That'll get you killed slower."
Gee, thanks.
---
We had lunch after, and Kakashi didn't tie Naruto to a post this time. Progress.
Sasuke actually talked for more than one sentence. Naruto didn't blow anything up.
And me?
I was still bleeding from a log shrapnel incident, but I couldn't help smiling.
Because we were a team now.
And something told me we'd need each other soon.