"Hahaha~ that kid still fell for it!"
Back at home after a quick shower, Naruto heard Kurama laughing hysterically in his head.
"Has Kakashi already decided on the content of tomorrow's assessment?"
Naruto lay down on his bed and entered the sealed space.
"It's just some boring game in the afternoon," Kurama replied, eyes narrowed as he extended a fist. His mood was clearly lifted, still amused by Sasuke's earlier antics.
Naruto bumped fists with him. "So that's what this is about…"
He had thought Kakashi was finally going to make them do the bell test again.
"You think that kid will secretly try to break the seal?"
Earlier, Naruto had predicted Sasuke wouldn't be able to resist testing the seal. Kurama hadn't believed him then—after all, Naruto had clearly warned Sasuke that there was a trap. But the brat still walked right into it.
What made it even funnier was that Sasuke thought he could avoid the seal's backlash by using a shadow clone. But Kurama, watching Sasuke's synced memories, had clearly seen how furious he became.
"He won't," Naruto said confidently. "If he's going to break the seal, it'll be after the game tomorrow."
The Next Day
With less than 40 minutes until 1:00 PM, Kakashi suddenly appeared. Team 7 had just finished weeding the back garden of a pharmacist's home in the village.
"Take a half-hour break. Meet at Training Ground No. 5," Kakashi said.
"Half an hour?"
Sakura blinked. "Is Kakashi-sensei going to teach us a new jutsu?"
"Not training," Kakashi corrected. Seeing Naruto and Sasuke both silently watching him, he continued, "It's a mission."
"A mission?"
Sasuke frowned.
What kind of mission would lead Naruto to use such a cheap sealing trick on him?
"I'll explain at the rendezvous. Dismissed."
He turned to leave.
"Wait, Kakashi-senpai!" Naruto called out. "Do we need to prepare anything for the mission?"
"Prepare?"
Kakashi glanced back. "If you really want to prepare… you'd best get ready to stay alive. There's going to be danger involved."
"Wait, what?!"
Sakura was stunned. What did he mean by that? But by the time she wanted to ask more, Kakashi had already disappeared.
"Sasuke-kun, what do you think the mission is?"
She moved closer, voice tinged with worry. "Kakashi-sensei said…"
"Hmph. He's just being dramatic."
Sasuke gave a cold chuckle. He wasn't worried. Kakashi's scare tactics were nothing new—Naruto had pulled worse.
"Sasuke-kun is so cool…"
Sakura's face flushed, her eyes turning dreamy.
Sasuke frowned and stepped slightly to the side, then turned to Naruto. "What's your plan?"
"What plan could I possibly have?"
Naruto raised his brows in mock confusion. "I might not be great at ninjutsu, but I'm really good at surviving."
"You—!"
Sasuke's lips twitched. "I meant—do you have any strategy for this afternoon's mission?"
"A strategy…"
Naruto looked thoughtful. After a moment, he replied earnestly, "None at all. Kakashi-senpai didn't even tell us what the mission is. What am I supposed to plan for?"
"…Unbelievable."
Sasuke shot him a glare and walked away. He finally understood—Naruto wasn't going to share anything.
"Sasuke-kun, wait for me!"
Sakura immediately followed.
Naruto, meanwhile, took out a copy of "The Secrets of Human Interaction" from his pouch, flipped it open casually, and wandered off in another direction.
Hokage Office
The Third Hokage sat smiling in his chair. Yamato and Nara Shikaku stood at his desk.
"Heh, what do you think Naruto's going to do?"
Yamato had just relayed the earlier conversation between Naruto and Sasuke, and the Hokage found Naruto's answers amusing.
Yamato didn't respond, turning to Shikaku instead.
"Everything Naruto said was true," Shikaku said seriously. "If there are no limitations, he'll definitely make full use of his Shadow Clone Jutsu. Based on how he's used it before, Naruto really is the best at survival out of all three of them."
"I'm aware of that."
The Third smiled and nodded. "He still hasn't learned the Lightning Release jutsu Kakashi taught him, so we won't limit his usage. Otherwise, this trial wouldn't be fair."
"What's your impression of Sasuke?"
"He's got potential, but his personality is too arrogant," Yamato began—then suddenly pressed a finger to his ear.
"Hokage-sama, Naruto and Sasuke just entered the Full Gear Ninja Tools Shop—one after the other."
"Oh?"
The Third looked surprised. "Didn't you say they went off in different directions?"
"It's a bit complicated," Yamato said, looking amused. "They did separate at first. But after a while, Naruto ducked into a secluded spot, used a Transformation Jutsu to disguise himself, and ran straight to the shop. Two minutes later, Sasuke walked in too."
"Could they have planned this together?"
The Hokage looked to Shikaku.
"Probably just coincidence," Shikaku replied, shaking his head. "Based on Yamato's report, their parting wasn't exactly friendly. I'd say Naruto already decided to gear up as soon as Kakashi warned them about the danger."
"Sasuke walked with Sakura and, as Yamato said, seemed irritated by Naruto before they split. He likely decided to prepare on his own after feeling rejected."
"In other words—just personal rivalry within the team."
Shikaku's tone remained serious. "You asked about Sasuke earlier—Yamato thinks he's arrogant, but I disagree. If he were truly arrogant, he wouldn't have asked Naruto for input after Kakashi left."
"Sasuke subtly sees himself as the leader of Team 7, but Naruto doesn't acknowledge that. Plus, Naruto's behind in ninjutsu training—not just compared to Sasuke, but even to Sakura. So he goaded Sasuke, then slipped off to prepare solo."
"As for Sasuke? After Naruto refused to cooperate, he chose to prepare on his own too."
"…I see."
The Third pondered for a moment, then nodded. "That makes sense. But doesn't that mean they're going to fail the trial?"
"Not necessarily," Yamato smiled. "I'm sure Kakashi-senpai will teach them the importance of teamwork."
Just then, Yamato touched his earpiece again, and his face shifted in surprise. "Hokage-sama—my original body says Naruto is already setting up at Training Ground No. 5!"
"What?"
The Third Hokage raised an eyebrow. "What's he doing?"
"He's created hundreds of shadow clones and hidden them in the forest. His real body is perched in a tree, eating."
Yamato's expression grew more amused. "And now Sasuke just arrived. He's laying traps. They only exchanged a few words, but they've already begun planning how to take down Kakashi."
The Third and Shikaku exchanged glances. Neither knew quite what to say.
Meanwhile, at Mount Myōboku…
Fukasaku leapt into the great hall where the Great Toad Sage was sleeping, Jiraiya close behind.
"Elder, Little Jiraiya's here again."
But the old toad continued snoring, seemingly unbothered by the commotion.
"Great Toad Sage!"
Jiraiya knelt at the foot of the steps, expression grave. "Please, tell me—what's going on?! The priestess said if I go to the Land of Rain, I'll die at the hands of my own student!"
"What happened to them?!"
"I already told you," the Great Toad Sage murmured, eyes barely open. "You'll find your answer in Konoha."
"I know that," Jiraiya said. "But why did both the priestess and you predict that I must not return to Konoha right now?"
"Because if you return now, you'll be surrendering to fate."
The old sage opened his eyes slightly. "You must stay away—for your own future, and for the future of the entire ninja world."
"But I'm not the Child of Prophecy!"
Jiraiya's voice was tense. "Does the Child of Prophecy really exist?"
"You may not be the Child of Prophecy, but you are inextricably bound to them," the Great Toad Sage said, a spark flashing in his eyes. "You were chosen by fate. If you go to the Land of Rain—or back to Konoha now—the fate of the ninja world will spiral into chaos."
"No… That doesn't make sense!"
Jiraiya's expression twisted. "If fate is already set, then all I can do is wait to be slaughtered by it!"
"The future of the ninja world is clouded. The time for your decision has not yet come."
The Great Toad Sage closed his eyes again. "Didn't Priestess Miroku already tell you her fate? If fate were unchangeable, she'd already be dead. You are free to choose. We only tell you what fate might be—we've never stopped you from facing it."
1:00 PM — Training Ground No. 5
Kakashi arrived.
"This mission has two parts," he said. "Part one is a team challenge. For the next two hours, protect this scroll with your lives. I will try to take it from you."
He pulled out a scroll and handed it to Sasuke.
"Use any method you want—ninjutsu, shuriken, explosive tags. Don't hold back just because I'm your Jonin sensei."
"Uh… explosive tags too?"
Sakura looked nervous. "Isn't that dangerous?"
"What's dangerous is us," Naruto said solemnly. "Kakashi-senpai survived a war at age twelve. He's an elite Jonin."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow at Naruto and asked, "What's part two?"
"You'll learn that—if you complete part one," Kakashi replied, pulling out a small timer.
"You can run now."
"Kakashi-senpai," Naruto smiled, "if you tampered with the scroll, you could track us easily. Sasuke, did you check it?"
Sakura immediately looked at Kakashi suspiciously.
Sasuke scowled, pulled open the scroll. "It's blank."
"I didn't tamper with it," Kakashi said calmly. "But even if I had, you wouldn't be able to detect it."
He clicked the timer. "You have five minutes."
SWOOSH!
All three vanished instantly.
Five Minutes Later
Kakashi walked in the direction they fled, flipping open Make-Out Paradise—only to stop as a sound echoed:
Clack-clack-clack!
His eyes narrowed. Dozens of kunai came flying from all directions—each one trailing an explosive tag.
"Using traps to buy time, huh…"
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
He was struck like a pincushion and fell to the ground—until he vanished into a puff of smoke.
A substitution jutsu.
From his perch in a tree, the real Kakashi observed silently. His expression was no longer relaxed.
Ten minutes later, Kakashi reached the woods of Training Ground No. 6. His book was gone, and his clothes were dirtied.
He'd encountered twenty traps on the way. Only one had real explosive tags—but it was nasty.
A cluster of spiked balls exploded above his head, while the trees and ground around him also erupted.
"Those traps were Sasuke's work. But the fake tag idea… that's Naruto's. As for Sakura…"
He was evaluating the team when suddenly—
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
His eyes snapped wide.
"When did he learn that?!"
Thousands of shuriken rained down from every angle. Kakashi immediately crouched and slammed his palms into the ground.
"Earth Style: Multi Mud Wall!"
Four thick earthen walls rose up around him.
THUNK THUNK THUNK.
"Hmm? Only the front's getting hit."
Then he heard footsteps behind.
Tap tap tap!
Turning, he saw five Narutos leaping down from the walls. The lead Naruto lunged at him.
Kakashi moved like lightning, grabbing him and using him as a shield.
Then—
Another Naruto lunged forward and stabbed the first in the heart.
Kakashi's pupils shrank.
POOF!
The first Naruto vanished in smoke.
SMACK!
Kakashi's hand caught the second Naruto's wrist—just in time.
"You—!"
Before he could finish, Naruto released the kunai—while the remaining three clones latched onto Kakashi's legs and waist.
Flash of fire—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions shattered the walls. Smoke filled the air.
And as it cleared—
A few silver hairs fluttered gently to the ground.
End of Chapter
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