Chapter 136: Still Testing
"Wait a minute! Qualification bells? Why weren't these ridiculous rules explained before we started?!"
Satsuki suddenly stood up from the ground, shouting in panic. She was completely unaware that what Kakashi was using at this moment was an ultimate tactic called "we reserve the right to interpret the rules"—practically playing dirty.
Rules could be supplemented by the maker at any time, and were always thrown out at the most crucial moments.
"Unfortunately, but this is reality."
Kakashi put his hands in his pockets, appearing cold and unfeeling as he mercilessly rejected Satsuki's protest. "Mission briefings for ninja also often don't specify all potential dangers and variables—you need to judge and respond on your own."
Though speaking these merciless words, Kakashi's heart was actually full of anticipation and nervousness. His deep gaze swept over the three people before him.
In fact, the core purpose of this exercise had nothing to do with snatching bells from the beginning. Its true meaning was to test—test whether they possessed the foundation to become a real squad: teamwork.
Naruto's performance far exceeded his expectations. Truly worthy of being sensei's child, not only had he shown excellent strength and leadership in battle, but more importantly, he had actively taken on the leader's responsibility from start to finish.
As the strongest in the squad, he hadn't had the slightest thought of abandoning the weakest Sakura who might even drag them down. This persistence in never abandoning any comrade was exactly the quality Kakashi most hoped to see.
As for Satsuki... as a genius of the Uchiha clan with amazing talent and pride, her performance surprised Kakashi while also feeling somewhat subtle. She actually showed almost absolute trust and obedience toward Naruto?
This was Kakashi's first time seeing an Uchiha so compliant, even willing to cooperate with actions led by someone from another clan. Though this "compliance" seemed a bit overly focused on Naruto alone, in Kakashi's view, this was just a minor issue needing slight guidance. The core—willingness to cooperate with recognized comrades—was very precious.
As for Sakura... she was indeed much weaker, lacking combat experience and battle awareness. But throughout the process, she hadn't developed the negative attitude of "since I can't help, I might as well give up." She had consistently tried hard to keep up and attempt to contribute. Kakashi had also noticed this effort and struggle.
Therefore, this final, seemingly extremely harsh rule was the real ultimate test. Kakashi held his breath waiting for their reaction. How much he hoped that this time, he could finally have subordinates who were worth entrusting his back to and truly understood the value of cherishing comrades...
He absolutely had to pass down that will called "comrades" that his deceased best friend had passed on to him.
Watching Satsuki clench her fists and grit her teeth yet be powerless to refute, Sakura with completely despairing eyes, and Naruto whose face was filled with surprise and confusion, Kakashi knew the time had come to finally present his real test.
"But you don't need to despair so early."
This sudden statement made Satsuki and Sakura almost simultaneously look up sharply, hope rekindling in their eyes.
Kakashi maintained his surface calm and continued, "Given that aside from Sakura, your overall performance in tracking, cooperation, and combat was fairly commendable, Satsuki... Therefore, I can make an exception and give you two another chance."
His gaze moved between Satsuki and Sakura. "This afternoon's bell-snatching battle will be more intense and more brutal than this morning's. Understood? This is your last chance."
Then he changed his tone, proposing a condition that seemed relaxed but was actually more harsh. "I'll even allow Naruto to help you. After lunch, the exercise continues."
However, he immediately pointed at Sakura tied to the wooden post, his voice suddenly becoming stern. "But—you two are absolutely forbidden from sharing your lunch with Sakura. Not even one bite."
"Eh?" Sakura was stunned, somewhat surprised to hear this merciless directive aimed at her.
"This is punishment for her naive and reckless behavior!"
Kakashi's voice was cold and hard as he bluntly pointed out Sakura's mistakes. "Clearly lacking the strength to handle the danger before her, yet just because her teammates created too much commotion and she thought they had achieved overwhelming results, she recklessly left her hiding spot and charged out—this kind of behavior showing complete lack of self-awareness and carelessly exposing one's position is not only stupid on a real battlefield, it's fatal! It won't just kill you, it'll drag down the entire squad!"
Sakura suddenly recalled how she had instinctively run out from her hiding place after seeing that amazing combination jutsu bombardment, thinking Kakashi had been killed... Intense regret instantly overwhelmed her, making her lower her head deeply once again.
Kakashi delivered his ultimatum: "Listen well, these are the rules. If either of you two—Satsuki, or you, Naruto—dare violate the regulations and secretly share your lunch with Sakura..."
"Then the violator will be immediately eliminated! And you, Naruto, don't think getting the bells means everything's fine. If you dare violate the rules, I'll immediately revoke the ninja status you just obtained and make you return to the academy too!"
"These are the final rules. There won't be a second warning."
---
Naruto ate small bites of the lunch Kakashi had prepared. The taste was decent, but not as good as his own cooking.
Looking at Satsuki beside him, heavy-hearted and barely tasting her food, and Sakura tied to the wooden post without even a lunch box, Naruto hadn't expected Kakashi to ultimately conduct this classic test...
So according to the "plot" development, next Satsuki should risk everything to share her lunch with Sakura, right?
His thoughts drifted. Thinking back, in the original timeline, it was himself who was tied to the post. And that outwardly cold Uchiha Sasuke had bet his ninja future to share his precious lunch with the "dead last" he was back then.
It was precisely at that moment that Sasuke's ice-like exterior first showed cracks, allowing him to glimpse the gentleness and kindness hidden beneath.
Such a good child... yet later was driven step by step by Uchiha Itachi and hatred into that state...
Naruto felt a complex mix of emotions. Perhaps it was from that moment of sharing lunch that he truly began trying to understand and grew to like that cold-outside-warm-inside Uchiha.
On the other side, Sakura, tightly bound to the wooden post, felt empty, gnawing pain in her stomach. Though she had eaten the sandwich Naruto prepared in the morning, by noon the hunger was irrepressibly surging up.
She thought bitterly, hoping that being hungry wouldn't affect her performance in the afternoon bell-snatching... This time, I really can't drag everyone down again!
However, the body is often honest.
Growl~
The sound came extremely inappropriately from her abdomen, standing out particularly in the relatively quiet venue.
This extremely embarrassing scene happened right in front of the person she admired... Sakura's face instantly turned bright red, wishing she could find a crack to crawl into as she lowered her head deeply once again.
Just then, a hand holding a lunch box suddenly appeared before her.
"Here, eat."
Sakura looked up in surprise to see Satsuki had somehow stood up and was offering her own lunch.
"Hurry, while that guy isn't back yet." Satsuki added, her gaze scanning the surroundings.
"W-wait! You don't need to!" Sakura was pleasantly surprised but quickly shook her head in refusal. "If Kakashi-sensei sees, you'll be eliminated! I... I can't drag you down..."
"Don't overthink it." Satsuki interrupted her. "I just don't want you going weak in the knees from hunger this afternoon and dragging us down. If that happens, I won't forgive you."
"Satsuki... you're really..."
Looking at this black-haired girl who was tough on the outside but soft inside, Sakura's eyes couldn't help but moisten with emotion.
Really, that Ino girl saying Satsuki was dangerous and scary... that was completely a misunderstanding! She's obviously so kind!
Naruto, silently observing nearby, felt quite relieved seeing this scene. She really is... still that Uchiha Sasuke.
So Naruto also smiled and picked up his own lunch, saying, "Yeah, Satsuki's right, you can't fight on an empty stomach. In that case, I'll share my lunch with you too..."
"Absolutely not!"
Before Naruto could finish, he was interrupted by Satsuki's unusually firm, even somewhat urgent shout. That sudden forceful attitude even startled Naruto.
Satsuki seemed to realize her loss of composure too. After a moment of silence, she spoke again, her tone gentler but still carrying an undeniable meaning.
"How about this... I'm not very hungry at noon today, so I'll give my lunch to Sakura." She pushed the lunch in her hands closer to Sakura, then turned to Naruto with a proposal that somewhat surprised him.
"Naruto, yours... let's share it between the two of us."
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