"This kid is completely unpredictable!"
Kakashi's eyes widened as Naruto hurtled toward him. Though he wasn't concerned about being forced out of the circle by the boy's direct charge, Sai's explosive tag complicated matters significantly. Such reckless coordination could potentially injure everyone involved—including Naruto himself.
Even Shisui hadn't anticipated such an audacious tactic from the young genin.
After a split-second of hesitation, Kakashi abandoned the idea of deflecting Sai's kunai. Instead, while maintaining his lightning release technique, he pivoted and caught the charging Naruto with his free hand.
In that same moment, the kunai with its sizzling explosive tag landed within the circle, directly beneath Kakashi and Shisui's feet.
"BOOM!"
The tag detonated instantly, unleashing a blast of fire and smoke that engulfed all three figures.
The sudden explosion forced both jōnin to halt their ongoing ninjutsu. Sasuke and Chiharu, who had been straining against the two elite shinobi's techniques, felt momentary relief—their chakra reserves had been seconds from depletion.
Yet none of the genin allowed themselves to relax. Sasuke, Chiharu, Sakura, and Sai immediately shifted their gazes skyward, knowing that Kakashi and Shisui would have leaped upward to avoid the explosion. According to the established rules, the jōnin could jump to evade attacks but couldn't leave the vertical boundaries of the circle.
"This has to work!" the four genin thought simultaneously, their hopes pinned on the next phase of their improvised plan.
"Ninja Art: Super Beast Scroll! Lion!"
From his aerial vantage point atop the ink eagle, Shin swung his brush with fierce determination. The strokes materialized into several black and white lions that dove toward the airborne jōnin.
"So the ground assault was merely a diversion for an aerial attack?" Both Kakashi and Shisui realized, their attention drawn to the ink constructs descending upon them.
Shisui's eyes narrowed slightly as he recognized the technique. The Super Beast Scroll was a specialized jutsu employed almost exclusively by Konoha's ANBU operatives. Shin's proficiency with this technique confirmed his connection to Danzō, who had been training the boy since childhood. It made perfect sense—"Root," the organization officially disbanded by the Fourth Hokage a decade ago, had originally functioned as an ANBU training division.
"A surprise attack is indeed their only viable strategy," both jōnin acknowledged silently.
More impressive than the technique itself was the level of coordination. These six children—five of whom had just graduated from the Academy—had managed to formulate and execute a multi-layered strategy despite having never worked together before. The joint trial had been a spontaneous decision made that very morning, making their teamwork all the more remarkable.
Yet impressive as their efforts were, both jōnin knew it wouldn't be enough to secure victory.
With practiced ease, Shisui released several shuriken that struck the diving ink lions with pinpoint accuracy. The constructs burst into splashes of ink that dissolved in midair.
However, as the lions disintegrated, several black and white serpents appeared from behind them—having been concealed by the larger creatures.
"Not bad," Shin thought, his face showing signs of strain despite his satisfaction. His misdirection tactic had worked perfectly.
The ink snakes twisted through the air and wrapped themselves around both jōnin, binding their arms to their sides. Kakashi found himself at a disadvantage, with Naruto still clutched in his arms, making it difficult to perform hand seals or wield his lightning-charged blade.
Though bound, neither jōnin's expression revealed concern as they began their descent back toward the circle. Above them, the ink eagle carrying Shin tucked its wings and dove sharply, talons extended toward Shisui.
Shin had poured almost all his remaining chakra into the binding snakes. Now he could only use the eagle beneath him to physically drag Shisui beyond the circle's boundary. Time was of the essence—even his strongest restraining techniques wouldn't hold shinobi of their caliber for more than a few seconds.
The black and white eagle accelerated, closing the distance rapidly.
Watching the approaching eagle and its determined rider, Shisui allowed himself a small, knowing smile. Had this trap been set for any other jōnin in Konoha, it might well have succeeded. For newly graduated genin to achieve this level of strategic coordination was genuinely impressive.
Of course, the lynchpin of their plan had been Naruto's reckless charge—a move that prioritized the mission over personal safety.
Kakashi glanced at the boy in his grasp with raised eyebrows. This child's approach was completely unlike the calculated composure that characterized his father, the Fourth Hokage. Instead, Naruto had inherited his mother Kushina's temperament—unpredictable, bold, and willing to risk everything for a chance at victory.
"SCREECH!"
The eagle's cry pierced the air as it closed in for the capture. Just as its talons were about to grasp Shisui, the Uchiha's body shimmered slightly, and the ink snakes binding him suddenly lost cohesion, dissolving into formless splashes of ink.
Before Shin could process what had happened, Shisui had already seized the eagle's outstretched talons, executed a perfect flip, and landed squarely on the bird's back. An instant later, a kunai appeared at Shin's throat.
Simultaneously, Kakashi landed behind Shin, deposited Naruto on the eagle's back, and swiftly immobilized the boy with a practiced hold.
"Continue on your original flight path," Shisui instructed Shin, the kunai leaving no room for argument. Of course, if Shin refused, both jōnin had contingencies to ensure they landed back within the circle.
Shin didn't resist. Though this was technically a test, it mirrored real combat conditions. If Shisui had been an enemy ninja, defiance would have meant death. More importantly, Shin recognized the futility of resistance. His strategy had failed because he had overestimated his own abilities—or rather, underestimated these two elite shinobi.
It seemed clear now that his Super Beast Scroll snakes had never stood a real chance of restraining them; the jōnin had merely allowed the technique to connect temporarily.
"Damn it!" Naruto shouted, struggling futilely against Kakashi's firm hold.
On the ground below, Sasuke, Chiharu, Sakura, and Sai watched with clenched teeth and expressions of dismay. With Shin and Naruto already restrained, any further attack would be pointless. They could only observe helplessly as the ink eagle descended into the circle before dissolving into a puddle of inert ink.
Kakashi and Shisui casually tossed Naruto and Shin toward their teammates. Chiharu rushed forward to catch her brother while Sasuke steadied Shin.
"Are you alright, brother?" Chiharu asked with concern.
Naruto shook his head to indicate he was unharmed, though his eyes remained fixed on Kakashi and Shisui with undisguised frustration. The two jōnin stood exactly where they had been at the beginning of the test, looking as composed as if they'd just completed a light warm-up exercise.
"I'm sorry," Shin said quietly as Sakura and Sai joined them. Guilt was evident in his expression.
None of the others blamed him—they all recognized that the failure wasn't his. The two jōnin they faced were simply on another level entirely. All their careful planning and coordination had proven inadequate against such overwhelming skill and experience.
After a moment of silence, Shisui and Kakashi regarded the assembled genin with evaluative eyes.
"So," Shisui asked calmly, "what will you do next?"
Kakashi crossed his arms, adding, "Are you prepared to surrender in the face of such a significant gap in ability?"