Chapter 52: Three People Pass
Kakashi looked at Naruto and said, "Among the three of you, Naruto's strength is the greatest; he already possesses the power of a Jonin. However, the two of you had absolutely no intention of coordinating with Naruto. I don't know if it's because you don't understand Naruto or because you don't trust each other, but that's why you didn't help while Naruto was fighting me."
"If you had thrown even a single Kunai or shurikenwhile Naruto was fighting me, you would have passed this test. Unfortunately... you failed."
After hearing Kakashi's explanation, Sasukelowered his head and said, "You're right. The reason for failing this test lies with me. But... you also said Naruto already has the strength of a Jonin. I hope that after I'm sent back to the Ninja Academy, you'll let Naruto pass."
Kakashi hadn't expected the usually arrogant Uchiha to be willing to set aside his pride for Naruto's sake.
Hearing Sasuke's words, Sakura said anxiously, "No! Sasuke, although I don't know what you aim to do by becoming a Ninja, I know that becoming one is very important to you. If one of the three of us has to be sent back to the Ninja Academy, it absolutely cannot be you. And since Narutoalready has Jonin-level strength, there's no need for him to go back either. So, the only one returning to the Ninja Academy is me."
After finishing, Sakura looked at Kakashi with tears in her eyes and said, "Kakashi-sensei, I volunteer to be sent back to the Ninja Academy. I hope you can let Sasuke and... Naruto pass your test. Please!"
Both Kakashi and Naruto could hear Sakura's reluctance to part with Sasuke.
Sasuke glanced at Sakura but said nothing. In truth, he was well aware that the strength gap between the three of them was far too large.
If Naruto had the strength of a Jonin, Sasuke had the strength of a Chunin, while Sakura... she really was just a Genin fresh out of the Ninja Academy, with no real strength to speak of at all.
In fact, Kakashi was also having a bit of a headache over the disparity in their power. Sakura could definitely be called the dead weight of Team 7. If she were grouped with Naruto and the other, someone would inevitably have to be diverted to protect her, which would lower the overall combat effectiveness of Team 7.
However, Kakashi also knew that Naruto's strength couldn't be exposed too much, lest those people in the Hokage Building come up with some underhanded schemes again.
Kakashi sighed, his expression so heavy that Sakura and Sasuke thought they had both been eliminated.
But immediately after, Kakashi looked at the three of them with a smile and said, "Congratulations! You pass!"
Sasuke and Sakura looked at Kakashi in disbelief, doubting if they had heard correctly.
"Passed?"
"We passed?"
Kakashi nodded with a smile and said, "That's right, you passed. The idiots assigned to me before only knew how to follow my orders. A Ninja must be able to see through a plot within a plot. In the Ninja world, those who break the rules are scum, but those who don't value their comrades are worse than scum."
Then, Kakashi led Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to the Memorial Stone. Stroking the stone, he reminisced about the comrades who had sacrificed themselves while on missions with him. He spoke of the Ninjas who died for their duties as a warning to Sasuke and Sakura.
"Don't think that becoming a Ninja makes you something great. Ninjas... also die in the middle of missions."
After finishing, Kakashi adjusted his emotions, turned to the three of them, and said, "The combat survival exercise ends here. All members of Team 7pass! Missions begin tomorrow."
Sakura shed tears of joy, though it was unclear whether she was crying because she had become a true Ninja or because she wouldn't have to be separated from Sasuke.
Even the cool Uchiha Sasuke had the corners of his mouth curl up slightly.
Naruto, on the other hand, didn't have such a large emotional reaction. While Kakashi was talking to Sasuke and Sakura, Naruto had already finished both bento boxes.
Naruto let out a burp, tidied up the bento boxes, handed them to Kakashi, and said, "Thanks for the meal!"
Kakashi's mouth twitched slightly as he asked, "You ate it all by yourself?"
"Well, yeah! Deluxe Seafood Sushi is very expensive; one box must be at least two thousand Ryo!"
Kakashi said with a dark face, "It's two thousand three hundred Ryo per box!"
Hearing this, Sakura said angrily, "Naruto, how could you eat it all by yourself! You should have at least left a box for me and Sasuke!"
Naruto rubbed his stomach and said, "Aiya, the taste was too good, I just couldn't stop myself! Don't worry about it! At worst, let Sasuke treat you guys to barbecue."
Sasuke curled his lip and said, "I don't have time! I have to go train."
Kakashi also said with a chuckle, "I have to go report the results of the survival exercise to Hokage-sama, so I also don't have time for barbecue."
After Kakashi finished speaking, he and Sasuke left together.
Sakura glared angrily at Naruto, really wanting to give him a couple of punches, but she still remembered the consequences of hitting Narutoyesterday. She could only force herself to swallow her anger and left dejectedly.
The next day:
Sasuke and Sakura were at the entrance of the Hokage Building, waiting for Naruto and Kakashi.
Yesterday, Kakashi said seven o'clock, but it was already eight-thirty, and neither Kakashi nor Naruto had arrived.
Sasuke wasn't angry; instead, he sat cross-legged to the side and began refining his Chakra.
Sakura, however, was a bit irritable and impatient, constantly complaining about Naruto and Kakashi.
Just before nine o'clock, Naruto arrived. Two minutes after Naruto got there, Kakashi arrived as well.
Sakura walked up to Naruto and Kakashi angrily and said, "You two are too slow! Especially you, Kakashi-sensei. You said seven o'clock, and now it's already nine!"
"Ma, ma, ma! Don't be angry! I just got lost on the path of life and arrived a little late. Let's go, we're going to pick up a mission."
No one would believe such a lame excuse from Kakashi, but Sakura couldn't do anything about him.
After all, of her two teammates, one was training and the other had also arrived late. Even if she wanted to rebel against Kakashi, she didn't have the confidence!
Soon, Kakashi came out having accepted a D-rank mission.
Sasuke was actually looking forward to his first mission. When Kakashi came out, he stood up and stopped training, waiting for Kakashi to explain the mission.
Naruto, who already knew what kind of missions they would be, leaned calmly against a tree without a hint of emotion.
Sakura was somewhat excited and ran forward to ask Kakashi, "Kakashi-sensei, what's the mission?"
Kakashi squinted his eyes and said with a chuckle, "You'll know what the mission is soon enough. Follow me!"
Sasuke and Sakura quickly followed Kakashi, while Naruto trailed behind the three of them with his hands in his pockets, strolling leisurely