"To push chakra control to its absolute limit… that's something any jōnin can do?"
Sasuke felt his mind buzz, the world spinning for a moment as though his very consciousness had tilted.
Just how vast was the gap between himself and a true jōnin? How overwhelming?
Or perhaps more terrifying still—
What was the distance between himself and his brother, Uchiha Itachi?
From what Sasuke knew, Itachi wasn't just an ordinary jōnin. He was among the very best, the elite of the elite.
Did that mean he too possessed this same ability—to unleash chakra to its absolute peak?
Of course, Sasuke's thoughts weren't entirely wrong.
After all, Susanoo itself was born from the Mangekyō Sharingan's power, manifesting one's chakra into a towering guardian. It was, undeniably, one of the most extreme forms of chakra mastery.
A force even more overwhelming than the Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
Though if one were to compare it directly to Naruto's Golden Chakra Cloak, Senju Haruto personally felt that a fully completed Susanoo was even stronger.
"Naruto, you believe you've grown stronger, that you're no longer the same as before. Deep down, you're desperate to prove yourself."
"But precisely because of that, you've ignored the true meaning of this survival exercise."
Haruto lowered his voice deliberately, letting his words fall heavy upon Naruto and the others.
But his "lesson" was nothing more than repeating what Kakashi himself had once said.
He reminded them that the purpose of this trial was to test Team 7's ability to work together.
The two bells served only as misdirection.
Had Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura chosen to cooperate, there might have been a real chance of success.
But unfortunately… Naruto not only ignored the rule about seizing the bells, he never once considered working with his teammates.
Sasuke, on the other hand, had treated Naruto like a test subject—nothing more than a pawn to create his own opportunity.
And Sakura… her fear of true battle had left her on the sidelines the entire time.
The conclusion was obvious.
None of them were fit to be shinobi.
"Still," Haruto continued, "I'll give you another chance. This afternoon's battle will be even harsher. If you don't wish to give up, eat your lunch and restore your strength. But Naruto—"
His voice hardened.
"—you will not eat. That's your punishment. If anyone disobeys me and feeds him, then don't bother returning to the village. You'll be eliminated on the spot."
"Understood?"
Without waiting for their reactions, Haruto performed the Body Flicker Technique and vanished before their eyes.
Sakura and Sasuke exchanged uneasy glances, their hearts still unsettled.
Meanwhile, Haruto reappeared beside the real Kakashi.
"How are you feeling?" Haruto asked, still in disguise as Kakashi.
"You…" Kakashi pressed a hand against his chest. After some rest, the pain in his body had dulled, though the massive drain on his chakra left him far too weak to lead Team 7 any further.
If they could even pass this test at all.
"That's nothing to worry about," Haruto said lightly, shaking his head as if to brush aside Kakashi's concern.
"But telling Sasuke and Sakura not to share their lunch with Naruto… was that really—?" Kakashi hesitated, studying Haruto's profile before finally voicing his thought.
"Learned it from you," Haruto answered casually.
Back before Kakashi had taken on Team 7, he had led other genin squads—but none had ever passed his tests.
It was this reputation that earned him the infamous title of "Zero Success Rate Kakashi."
"If I'm not mistaken, this was one of your own methods, wasn't it?" Haruto's tone sharpened. "In this world, those who abandon the rules are trash. But those who abandon their comrades… are worse than trash."
Haruto paused, letting the weight of his words hang in the air.
He had always held a certain fondness for Kakashi.
Especially when he first encountered the world of shinobi: Kakashi seemed lazy, aloof, almost flippant—but beneath it all, he was utterly reliable.
"You… even know that line?" Kakashi's eyes widened in disbelief.
That was his nindō—his guiding principle. Words that few, if any, should know.
"Kakashi, I know you far better than you realize," Haruto said with a faint smile. He glanced once at Kakashi before shifting his gaze ahead.
From here, they could both stay concealed and still watch Team 7 closely.
"Just wait and see, Kakashi. Team 7 won't disappoint you."
Haruto's lips curved upward.
Kakashi blinked, then followed Haruto's line of sight.
Down below, Sasuke paused halfway through his lunch. Then, without a word, he extended the rest of his meal toward Naruto.
The sudden gesture left both Naruto and Sakura stunned.
"Sasuke!"
Sakura leapt to her feet instantly, shouting without hesitation. "Wait! Didn't you hear what Kakashi-sensei said? If we give Naruto food, we'll all be eliminated!"
Sasuke glanced at her coolly, then shook his head.
"He's not here right now. And besides—you heard it too, didn't you? The true purpose of this survival exercise is to test our teamwork."
He clenched his jaw, reluctant yet firm. "As much as I hate to admit it… we need Naruto."
Sasuke's pride twisted inside him, but the truth was undeniable. Among the three of them, Naruto was by far the strongest.
If he didn't eat, if he couldn't recover his strength, then their chances of seizing the bells would collapse entirely.
Sakura lowered her eyes to her own lunch, torn in silence.
Then, after scanning the area to make sure Kakashi was nowhere in sight, she made her decision.
She stretched out her hands and offered her bento to Naruto as well.
Beside Haruto, Kakashi's single visible eye widened in shock.
He had run this same trial many times before. But every other squad had always cowered under the weight of the rules.
Not one had ever dared break them to share food.
"I told you, Kakashi. Team 7 won't let you down." Haruto clapped a hand on his shoulder, then added, "One more thing."
He paused, his voice softening.
"Back during your own genin test, your little trick? Minato saw right through it. He knew. But he also firmly believed that sooner or later, you would come to understand the importance of comrades. That's why he let you pass."
Kakashi froze.
He had always thought his sensei hadn't noticed—that his lack of teamwork had slipped by unnoticed. But to hear this now… Minato had chosen to trust him, to believe in him.
"Is that… true?" Kakashi whispered.
Haruto's smile was calm, reassuring. "When have I ever lied to you, Kakashi?"
With that, Haruto gave him a gentle push, guiding him out from the shadows of the forest.