"Alright, that's enough introductions," Kakashi said, his voice suddenly taking on a grave tone as his single visible eye studied the three genin before him. "Starting tomorrow, you'll carry out the very first mission of your lives as shinobi."
Because he had already spoken privately with Haruto beforehand, Kakashi didn't bother to hide anything. He had no hesitation—after all, Senju Haruto had made it clear that he understood the value of comrades, and that was what Kakashi respected most.
The moment he heard they'd be starting missions the next day, Haruto's heart swelled with excitement. To him, this was the perfect chance to prove himself—especially in front of Sakura.
Tomorrow, Sakura will definitely fall for me.
Haruto clenched his fists, hardly able to hold back the urge to begin right away.
"But Kakashi-sensei, what kind of mission will it be?" Sakura asked, not sparing even a glance at Haruto's eager expression. She was far too focused—this was, after all, her very first mission as a shinobi.
Kakashi didn't keep them guessing. Though he called it a mission, in truth it was more of a trial. Graduating from the Academy didn't automatically make one a genin.
"Field survival training," he declared.
Sakura froze. Back at the Academy, they had done plenty of training exercises. Why repeat something like that after becoming genin?
"I know what you're thinking," Kakashi said, anticipating their doubt. "But this won't be some ordinary drill. This time, your opponent will be me."
The three stiffened.
"The shinobi world is harsh," Kakashi continued. "Not every student who graduates from the Academy is truly qualified to become a genin. Out of this year's twenty-seven graduates, only nine will actually be accepted."
His words struck them like cold steel.
"The rest will be sent back to the Academy. Some will even give up on being shinobi altogether. In other words—what you're about to face is a test with a failure rate of over sixty-six percent."
As expected, the revelation left all three rooted to the spot, dumbfounded.
Kakashi wasn't surprised. Anyone would be shaken to hear something like this out of nowhere.
Just like me, back then… he thought bitterly. He himself hadn't understood the value of comrades once. And now, looking at Haruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, he didn't see much concern for teamwork in their eyes either.
"I know it's difficult to accept," Kakashi said after a pause, "but being a shinobi means having the resolve to accept the rules. Tomorrow at the training field, I'll decide whether or not you qualify."
He turned to leave, but then added casually over his shoulder:
"Bring your ninja tools. Oh, and don't bother with breakfast. You'll only end up throwing it up anyway."
Kakashi let that sink in before delivering his last condition:
"And one more thing—if anyone shows up late tomorrow morning, they're automatically disqualified from becoming a shinobi."
With that, he disappeared, not bothering to glance back.
What Kakashi didn't know was that Haruto's mysterious ally, who had been manipulating the threads of fate, was watching them closely through a crystal ball.
The Telescope Jutsu.
It was the very same technique the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had once used to keep an eye on Naruto. Now, Senju Haruto's benefactor used it to observe from the shadows.
It wasn't a difficult ninjutsu—once someone's chakra signature was located, it was easy enough to track them through the crystal ball.
This time, however, there was a reason for such vigilance. Haruto's intervention in the flow of events had already thrown the timeline into chaos, setting off countless butterfly effects. To avoid further accidents, his benefactor wanted to verify exactly when and where things would unfold.
Not to interfere—not yet. Simply to be sure.
Morning came quickly.
And true to his reputation as the infamous "Lord of Tardiness," Hatake Kakashi did not arrive on time. By the moment he finally strolled into the training field, the sun was already high—it was past ten in the morning.
Haruto, Sasuke, and Sakura had been waiting since dawn, stomachs empty. Taking Kakashi's warning seriously, they hadn't eaten a single bite. After standing around for hours, their irritation boiled over the instant their teacher appeared.
"You're late!" all three shouted in unison.
Kakashi only shrugged, completely unfazed. "That's not important."
He walked up to one of the weathered training posts and placed a small alarm clock on top, setting the time to noon. Then, with a rustle, he pulled out two small objects from his pouch—gleaming silver bells that jingled faintly in the breeze.
Haruto's eyes widened.
Kakashi dangled the bells between his fingers. "As you can see, I have two bells here. Your task is simple—take them from me before the alarm rings."
The three genin exchanged looks.
Kakashi's tone remained casual, but his presence radiated pressure. "Whoever fails to get a bell… doesn't eat lunch."
Sakura frowned, but before she could speak, Kakashi added with a faint smile: "And not only that—the ones who fail will be tied to those posts and forced to watch while the others eat in front of them."
Haruto's stomach growled, but Kakashi's next words made even Sakura pale.
"Of course… that's not the real issue here."
His voice dropped low, carrying the weight of command. A subtle but overwhelming killing intent pressed down on the three genin, making their hearts pound.
"You've noticed it already, haven't you? There are only two bells. That means…"
His eye curved in a crescent, though the smile behind his mask was anything but kind.
"…at least one of you will fail."
Sakura's throat went dry. Her gaze darted instinctively toward Sasuke. This was her one chance to be on the same team as him, and now—what if she was the one left behind?
"If someone doesn't get a bell… what happens to them?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Kakashi inhaled deeply, then let out a dark chuckle. "The one who fails will be disqualified for not completing the mission."
He let the words linger, his expression unreadable.
"To put it simply… at least one of you will be sent straight back to the Academy."
The three genin stiffened, the weight of the test finally sinking in.