"Huh?"
What the—?!
Jiraiya's eyebrows shot up, his focus wavering for just an instant.
At the same moment—
A kunai flew straight toward his waist.
Trying to steal it?
He dodged immediately, but—
Thud!
The Kakashi in front of him turned into a log.
The next second, a blade slashed through the air, cutting the rope of one of the bells tied to Jiraiya's waist.
Almost simultaneously, Jiraiya's hair grew rapidly, wrapping around Kakashi's wrists.
Gritting his teeth, Kakashi hurled the bell toward the ground.
"Kyohiko!"
Kurenai sprinted forward from below, throwing kunai and shuriken in quick succession.
With no traps left around, the only thing she could do now…
Was clear the path for Kyohiko, ensuring a safe landing spot.
Whoosh!
A wooden spike barrier hurtling toward Kyohiko had its rope severed by one of Kurenai's kunai, the impact echoing loudly.
Kyohiko glanced back, grabbed the edge of the falling barrier, and—
With a powerful heave—
He flipped himself upward, lunging for the falling bell.
Clink!
He caught it!
The moment Kyohiko seized the bell, Jiraiya's hair snaked around him.
Wrapped up like a cocoon, he was yanked up and hung beside Kakashi, both now dangling like trussed-up chickens.
Jiraiya shot Kyohiko a glare.
If not for that damn remark, he would never have lost focus—let alone the bell!
This kid…
A real schemer. Acting all innocent, yet sharper than anyone!
"Heh, you brats aren't half bad. Just yesterday you were at each other's throats, and now you're working together?"
"Lord Jiraiya, that was all part of the strategy!" Kyohiko grinned.
Kakashi's face burned red.
Strategy?
What damn strategy?!
They had straight-up argued yesterday.
Jiraiya released Kyohiko, then—
With a swift motion, he bound Kakashi with ropes.
"I said the worst performer gets tied up—and no lunch."
Hoisting Kakashi over his shoulder, Jiraiya descended, with Kyohiko following closely behind.
With a smirk, Jiraiya walked toward a moderately sized tree and secured Kakashi to its trunk.
"Hmph!"
Kakashi turned his head away, offering no defense.
Two lunch boxes were placed beside him.
Kurenai approached, standing with the others as Jiraiya pointed at the meals.
"Rules are rules. One each for you two. He gets nothing. If either of you shares with him, he's joining the afternoon test."
"But—"
Kurenai's voice wavered, ready to protest.
Kyohiko, however, had already picked up a box and started eating.
She hesitated, then reluctantly took the other.
Jiraiya's lips curled. "Alright then, I'm off for some ramen. Keep an eye on him."
"Understood."
Kyohiko responded respectfully.
As Jiraiya left, Kurenai's expression darkened. She held her lunch but had no appetite.
"I'm sorry… I was the one who didn't contribute much, yet you're the one tied up."
"..."
Kyohiko kept eating, as if he hadn't heard.
Kakashi, after a pause, muttered stiffly, "You did fine. And… you wouldn't pass a solo test."
Kurenai's genjutsu had provided solid cover, and her sensory skills had pinpointed key positions.
Not to mention—
Her illusions, shadow clones, and trap diversions had been crucial.
So, she had contributed.
Kakashi knew he was the weak link.
As a chūnin, it was Kyohiko who'd directed the fight—even accounting for Kakashi's presence, leaving him openings to strike.
Without Kyohiko and Kurenai's teamwork, he'd never have cut the bell loose.
Compared to them…
Kyohiko acted more like a true chūnin.
Am I really… not cut out to be a ninja?
A wave of self-doubt crashed over him, just as his stomach growled loudly.
He was starving.
Just as shame burned in his chest—
"I only ate half. If you don't mind leftovers, we can share. Then we'll take the afternoon test together—better odds that way."
Kyohiko held out his half-finished meal.
Kurenai looked down—
He'd deliberately left half!
Realization struck.
Kyohiko wasn't holding a grudge. He'd planned all along to retake the test with Kakashi.
She made her decision instantly.
"You two did most of the close combat, so you need the energy. I was support—I only need a third to recover. The rest is yours."
"If you're both retaking it, I'm not staying behind."
Kurenai smiled warmly.
Kakashi's eyes widened. Something lodged in his throat, rendering him speechless.
"Don't misunderstand. I just don't want the team short-handed. And feeding you doesn't break the rules—we're all retaking the test."
"Right."
Kurenai nodded, then glanced subtly at Kyohiko.
Just as I thought.
The real Kyohiko was kind, considerate—always thinking of others. Even now, he was careful not to embarrass Kakashi.
Yesterday's harshness was clearly to correct his mistakes.
She reached forward.
"Can I take off your mask?"
"…Yeah."
Kakashi forced out the word.
The mask came off, revealing his striking features.
Kyohiko brought the food closer, feeding Kakashi with chopsticks.
Whether they'd really retake the test or pass now, they still needed energy.
Tch.
Jiraiya was playing along perfectly—still nowhere in sight.
As Kyohiko fed him, Kakashi chewed slowly, fighting back an unfamiliar swell of emotion.
This was the hardest meal he'd ever eaten.
Then—
Whoosh!
A figure landed before them.
"Breaking the rules, huh? Guess you want that retest."
Jiraiya's voice was ice.
"Yep."
Kyohiko didn't flinch.
Jiraiya smirked. "Fine. This afternoon, I won't hold back—"
Kakashi's breath hitched, face paling.
"Wait, I—"
"—because you passed."
The second half of Jiraiya's sentence left Kakashi and Kurenai stunned. Even Kyohiko feigned surprise.
But Jiraiya clapped Kyohiko's shoulder.
"Quit the act. You saw this coming, didn't you?"
"Maybe? You're one of the Sannin. If you're willing to be our sensei, you wouldn't give an impossible test. So I figured teamwork might be the real goal."
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "Yet you could've left him. That wouldn't have stopped you from being my student."
"If I'd abandon a comrade just to become your student… would you ever trust me at your back?"
Jiraiya burst out laughing.
Then, solemnly: "Exactly. In war and missions, sacrifices happen. But if a ninja doesn't value their comrades, who'd ever entrust them with their life—or their mission?"
Their words struck Kakashi like thunder.
Comrades' lives…?
Kyohiko's words from yesterday resurfaced:
"You failed for two years for a reason. How you treat others is how they'll treat you…"
If yesterday had left him furious, now…
Now he thought.
Had he been wrong to prioritize missions over saving teammates?
No!
Rules and missions had to come first.
His old beliefs clashed violently with these new doubts.
Kyohiko didn't expect instant change.
A stubborn fool like Kakashi wouldn't be "reformed" so easily—otherwise, he'd never have become such a annoying teammate.
But this was a start.
Then—
[As Hokage, you didn't deliberately manipulate others, yet your integrity earned their trust.]
[Reward: Chakra Control Upgrade]
Huh?
Kyohiko glanced at Kurenai. Not entirely unexpected, but… amusing.
The main target wasn't convinced.
But he'd gained something else.
Not bad.
Better chakra control? Always useful.
Absolute win.
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Every 50 power stones = 1 Extra Chapter
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