Chapter 54: Bell Snatching
When Naruto and Kakashi walked into the training ground, Kakashi took out two bells.
The sunlight shone on the bells, reflecting a dazzling light.
Naruto stood beside Sasuke and Sakura, the three of them facing Kakashi in a fan formation.
"The rules have been stated."
Kakashi's lazy eyes suddenly sharpened.
"You will absolutely not get these two bells without the resolve to kill me."
He deliberately shook the bells, their crisp sound particularly jarring in the silent training ground.
"Furthermore."
Kakashi conjured two lunchboxes as if by magic and placed them on a tree stump behind him.
"I've only prepared two lunches. Those who get a bell can eat; those who don't..."
He deliberately drew out his words, satisfied to see Sakura's face turn pale.
"...will have to go back to the Ninja Academy to repeat the year."
Naruto had received the intel beforehand, and Sasuke looked indifferent, which disappointed Kakashi somewhat.
But tricking one was still a gain.
Sakura covered her stomach, on the verge of tears, feeling her legs turn to jelly.
It's over. She hadn't eaten dinner because she was trying to lose weight, and she hadn't eaten breakfast this morning either.
She heard that Kakashi-sensei, their team leader, was a Jonin. Was she really going to fight a Jonin on an empty stomach?
If she lost, she'd have to repeat the year, and there were only two bells in total, and both Naruto and Sasuke were stronger than her.
She looked at the eager Naruto and the battle-ready Sasuke beside her, a sense of powerlessness welling up in her heart.
Am I going to have to repeat the year?
The thought made her eyes sting.
She had worked so hard to pass the graduation exam; was all that effort going to be for nothing just because she couldn't snatch a bell?
She unconsciously touched her ninja tool pouch; the Shuriken inside felt heavy.
But against a Jonin, could these ordinary Ninja tools really be useful?
Sakura bit her lower lip, suddenly remembering Ino's smug expression yesterday when she showed off the Taijutsu moves Naruto taught her.
She was so lucky to be assigned to the same team as Naruto.
"No, I can't just give up like this..."
She whispered to herself, though her voice still trembled.
At least, I have to try; I can't just surrender without doing anything!
Kakashi looked up at the sky: "The deadline for this mission is noon. If you haven't gotten the bells by noon, then all of you will go back to the Ninja Academy to repeat the year!"
"Now, the battle begins!"
This test was originally meant to assess the team members' character, so Kakashi would absolutely not give Naruto a chance to communicate with the other two.
As soon as Kakashi finished speaking, he immediately grabbed a Kunai and charged towards Naruto.
Naruto calmly raised his hand, a swirling current of air gathering in his palm.
"Vacuum Attack: Wind Pressure Siphon!"
Naruto deliberately stated the name of the move this time, because he wasn't trying to siphon Kakashi in, but rather to blow him away with wind.
A strong current of air gushed from his palm, forming a transparent wall of wind.
Kakashi's pupils constricted slightly, and he quickly steadied himself.
But the violent wind force still pushed him back over twenty meters, leaving two deep marks on the ground.
"Interesting..."
Kakashi patted his vest, which had some grass clippings on it, a flash of surprise in his eyes.
Is it a Wind Release Ninjutsu?
This refined Chakra control is completely unlike a freshly graduated Genin.
Wait, did he not form hand signs just now?
After sending Kakashi flying, Naruto immediately moved in close, a flowing film of water wrapped around both hands, shimmering in the sunlight.
Vacuum Attack: Water Dragon Prison.
Kakashi quickly formed hand signs, and the moment Naruto struck him, the Kakashi in place had already turned into a log.
Before the smoke from the Substitution Jutsu had dissipated, the log was firmly trapped by the swirling water prison.
The real Kakashi had already disappeared.
Naruto didn't hesitate, immediately slamming his hand on the ground.
Earth Release Chakra instantly changed the surface structure, and several sharp earth spikes broke out of the ground.
Kakashi, who was about to use the Headhunter Jutsu, was forced to leap out from underground, gracefully flipping in the air before landing.
"You predicted my move?"
Kakashi narrowed his eyes, finally shedding his casual attitude.
Naruto was actually able to predict his use of the Headhunter Jutsu.
This student was far more troublesome than he had imagined.
Kakashi remembered that before he took over, the Third Hokage hadn't said that Naruto specialized in Taijutsu and wasn't proficient in Ninjutsu?
"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Claw Crimson!"
Sasuke naturally wouldn't miss such a good opportunity.
Nine balls of scorching flames enveloped Shuriken, flying towards Kakashi like blooming phoenix flowers, carving deadly trajectories in the air.
Can kids these days already skillfully use B-rank Ninjutsu?
Kakashi secretly clicked his tongue, and after landing, he quickly formed hand signs and slammed his hands on the ground: "Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
A dirt wall carved with the image of Kakashi's Ninken head rose from the ground, precisely blocking the Phoenix Flower Claw Crimson's attack.
Flames and Shuriken exploded on the dirt wall, leaving charred marks.
Divine Sky Strike: Raging Thunder!
Lightning burst forth, and Naruto's right hand, enveloped in dazzling electrical light, directly shattered the dirt wall, aiming straight for Kakashi's face amidst the flying debris.
And Lightning Release?
Is this kid proficient in all Five Releases like Lord Third?
Kakashi quickly leaned back to dodge, the lightning brushing past his mask, leaving a tingling sensation.
What?! The intel was false!
Didn't the Third Hokage say that Naruto wasn't proficient in Ninjutsu before?
This is clearly someone who has mastered nature transformation!
Lord Third, you've really put me in a tough spot!
The moment Kakashi was distracted, Sakura, who hadn't made a move yet, had quietly circled to his side-rear.
The pink-haired girl's eyes were unusually firm.
She seized the opportunity while Kakashi was preoccupied by Naruto and Sasuke, and precisely affixed an Explosion Tag to Kakashi's back.
Although he didn't see what it was, the battle-hardened Kakashi immediately sensed the danger behind him.
Not good!
He made a snap decision, simultaneously sidestepping Naruto's lightning-flashing pursuit and quickly stripping off his vest, throwing it far away.
Boom!
The deafening sound of the Explosion Tag echoed, and splashing dirt and shredded cloth rained down.
The strong shockwave caused Kakashi a momentary lapse of concentration, his ears ringing.
I told you to be resolved to kill me, but you guys are really going for the kill!
After using the Body Flicker Technique to distance himself from the three, Kakashi rubbed his tingling ears, looking at the crater in the ground, a mix of emotions in his heart.
Are graduates these days all this ferocious?
These students are a bit too over-spec.
Sakura tossed her hair, a hint of smugness on her face.
She wasn't some delicate little girl; over the years, she had trained with Naruto and Sasuke, and her strength was far superior to other new students of her generation.
Although her Taijutsu was still inferior to Naruto's, and her Ninjutsu talent wasn't as good as Sasuke's, in terms of tactical awareness and on-the-spot adaptability, she considered herself second to none.
"Don't space out during a fight, Kakashi-sensei."
Naruto, who had silently closed in at some point, was now swinging an ordinary tree branch at Kakashi from behind, his movements as fluid as if he held a sharp sword.
Kakashi instinctively raised his hand to grab the branch, just about to make a sarcastic remark, when scorching flames suddenly ignited on the branch, forcing him to immediately let go.
"Tsk."
Kakashi shook his burned glove and took it off.
This kid's mastery of Chakra nature transformation is ridiculously proficient.
He had ruined his vest and his right glove in one fight today.
Naruto twirled the branch in a beautiful flourish, skillfully extinguishing the flames on it.
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