Asami rested on the soft grass, watching the one-sided slaughter unfold from the sidelines. Nothing too exciting. Her eyes calmly followed the movements of her teammates.
Once again, Aritame took another hit. Once again, the boy kissed the hard ground.
"Ouch," Asami commented dryly. And once again, Aritame rose up, only to be knocked out a few seconds afterward. This wasn't funny. This was a tragedy. Maybe she should help Aritame and Yukihiro?
They didn't stand a chance, not even in a million years. They could use her support, as she considered their teamwork... improvable.
No proper coordination, no discipline, no formation—nothing. While Yukihiro leaned towards a more conservative style, Aritame was clearly the hot-headed type, charging forward without a hint of a plan. Aritame had plenty of muscles, but no intelligence.
Asami sighed. Unfortunately for them, she had little interest in intervening. She pondered the meaning of the two bells. What was their true purpose? Asami doubted Masasane would actually send them back to the academy. His words were most likely an empty threat. Otherwise, there wouldn't be any genin.
The majority of the graduates were unlikely to pass a test like this. It was impossible to get one of the bells under normal circumstances. No fresh genin could scratch, let alone defeat, a fully fledged jonin. The bells were a ruse. Masasane wasn't testing their combat prowess. He wasn't testing their individual strength. But what then? What did he really want from them?
Asami tilted her head, thinking, thinking, and thinking.
Masasane met her gaze with a disdainful stare. Asami returned it with her own specialized glare.
Who did Masasane think he was? What had she done to offend him? Why did he keep staring...
Asami's eyes widened. How could she be so stupid? The answer was so simple, so obvious. The whole bell test was about teamwork. He wasn't testing their strength—but their cooperation and synergy.
Confident and proud, Asami drew her blade and pointed the tip at her sensei. "Aritame, Yukihiro, get up. I have a plan."
Aritame's and Yukihiro's mouths hung agape as they stared at her. "…"
Asami grew irritated. "Come on, what are you waiting for—the second coming of Hashirama? Get up and fight. Get into position. You'll distract Masasane. I'll grab the bells. Got it?"
"…"
"I said, got it?"
Aritame and Yukihiro nodded.
Tired and exhausted, the two boys lay sprawled across the ground—except for Asami. In her hand, she held two wonderful bells. A bit of coordination and she got what she wanted. Using a tiny bit of chakra to enhance her speed also helped. Her sudden burst of speed took Masasane by surprise, and his dumbfounded expression when she snatched the bells from him was priceless. This was a victory.
"Aritame, Yukihiro, Asami—please come over. I have something to tell you," Masasane sighed, shoulders slumping. He had been defeated by a bunch of genin. How embarrassing. Everything had gone well—until Asami got her tiny hands on the bells. How had that happened? He was a jonin. He wasn't supposed to lose.
Masasane laughed uneasily, trying to brush off his little blunder. "The good news first: you've all passed—even though your teamwork could use some work, and a certain girl's attitude leaves much to be desired. Congratulations. You are now officially genin." He clapped.
Masasane cleared his throat. "Now for your individual evaluations. Asami—your taijutsu and kenjutsu are both... excellent. At least you have something to back up your attitude."
"Aritame, you're next."
Aritame snapped to attention. "Yes, sensei?"
"Aritame, your attacks are suboptimal. It's painfully obvious you rush in without any kind of plan. But you've got the right spirit—and there's fire in you."
"Yukihiro. Compared to Aritame, you actually think before you act. But you lack the necessary brute force and a healthy dose of aggressiveness—unlike our little princess." Masasane stole a glance at Asami. "Anyway, follow me. I have something to show you before the lesson ends."
They arrived at a black, monolithic granite slab. It was a memorial. Hundreds upon hundreds of names were inscribed onto the surface.
"Do you know why I brought you here?" Masasane stared at the stone.
Aritame and Yukihiro shook their heads.
"I see..." Masasane grew quiet. One day, they would understand. Sooner or later, they would know.
Masasane sighed. "I still have to designate a team leader among you—someone who will act as my deputy in my absence. I'm appointing Aritame as my second-in-command. I have high hopes for you. I'm sure you'll make a good team leader. Not now, but certainly in the future."
"What?!" Asami cried out in shock. This wasn't a joke. Masasane was serious. He chose Aritame instead of her. Had he lost his mind? This was madness—absolute madness.
"Apparently, you don't agree with my decision, Asami. What's the problem?" Masasane frowned.
Asami gritted her teeth. "With all due respect, sensei, I fail to understand the reasons behind your rather questionable choice. I doubt Aritame possesses the necessary qualities to act as team leader."
Masasane's decision stung. Her heart ached. She had been robbed of what was rightfully hers. He chose personified incompetence over her, who was clearly superior by all metrics.
"I suppose you consider yourself a more suitable candidate, don't you?" Masasane waited for her answer.
Suitable? Her arse. She wasn't just suitable. She was the only sensible candidate. Asami glared. "It wasn't said explicitly, but it was heavily implied so, sensei."
Masasane sighed. "I knew you'd oppose my decision."
"What a surprise. Unexpected, isn't it, Masasane?" Asami didn't bother hiding her sarcasm.
Masasane set his eyes on the memorial. "I'm well aware that from a purely technical standpoint, you'd be the better choice—but you lack something important, Asami."
"And that would be, sensei? What do I lack that Aritame doesn't?" Asami clenched her fists. Rage filled her voice. Inside, her purple chakra boiled.
"Asami, you know what this stone is, don't you?"
Asami held back her anger. "A memorial, obviously. So what?"
Masasane nodded. "Do you see the names? These are the names of all the men and women who have fallen for Konoha."
"And what do they have to do with me, sensei?"
"That's exactly why I didn't select you, Asami. You lack something crucial. You lack conviction. You lack the ideals these shinobi gave their lives for. The Will of Fire doesn't burn in you. The fire that grants us the strength to protect our comrades and loved ones. Meanwhile, I see only emptiness in you. That's why I chose Aritame. He may not be the best now—but I believe in his Will of Fire. Aritame has potential. One day, he will surpass you," Masasane concluded. Silence fell—except for Asami.
...
...
...
Asami broke into uncontrolled laughter. Surpass her? Did he really just say that? "So your decision wasn't rational, but purely emotional? Are you seriously telling me I'm not eligible just because I don't believe in superstitious nonsense like the power of friendship and love? You're a fool, Masasane—a complete fool! You only deceive yourself with your empty fairy tales about the Will of Fire. Hollow ideals are no substitute for real power. What can friendship do against overwhelming strength? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Your precious love and camaraderie are useless. They can't save anyone."
Asami turned and stormed off in rage. She had heard enough.
"Hey, you can't go!" Masasane called after her, trying to salvage the situation—but it was already too late.
Asami narrowed her eyes. "For your information, I don't need your permission for anything, Masasane. I go where and when I please."