"How was it?"
"Hm. After meeting them once, the team seems alright. They don't have anyone specialized in elemental ninjutsu or genjutsu, but they're well-rounded in the other areas."
Kakashi paused thoughtfully, then spoke slowly.
kid chuckled. "I was asking if we should stage a duel—see whose students are stronger."
"..."
He actually thought I'd take him seriously.
My bad.
Kakashi gave a silent sigh, then quietly picked up his Icha Icha Paradise. "No interest."
"Then… fine. Can my team watch?" kid's eyes lit up.
Kakashi blinked.
He tilted his head to kid and smiled. "kid, this is your real intention, isn't it?"
"Cough, exactly. In my squad, don't worry about Lee—his strength and situation I know well. Mami's talent is average, but her taijutsu and kunai throwing are decent; she's a solid support."
kid was unusually serious.
Kakashi thought for a moment and asked, "Neji?"
"Yeah. Kankurō, for some reason, already treats Chiba like a hypothetical opponent. I figured it'd be good to let him see Chiba's ability for real." kid explained his plan.
Kakashi walked a few steps, then said, "Aren't you worried those kids will get crushed?"
"No way. I trust my subordinates!" kid said with absolute confidence.
"You say that so firmly I should say yes, but…" Kakashi glanced sideways at him.
kid didn't hesitate. "I concede!"
"No — after the exam I'll buy the meal. We'll go eat a big barbecue together. Please!" kid put his hands together in pleading.
Kakashi gave a quiet sigh, waved his hand, and continued walking.
After several steps he called back, "Meet at Training Field No. 25 in the Forest of Death at noon."
"Thank you so much! As expected of my eternal rival. I even moved my schedule to noon just for you!" kid was deeply moved.
Kakashi's mouth twitched; he didn't explain, only held his book and kept walking.
…
Training Field No. 25, Forest of Death.
Chiba and Tenten sat together; Tsukikage Kaza crouched in the dark of a tree, eyes fixed on the distance.
"Come down. He probably won't arrive for a little while," Chiba said lightly.
"Damn it. That always-late teacher—when he comes I'm going to give him a good thrashing with my staff!" Tenten seethed, then looked up. "Tsukikage Kaza, come down. We didn't have breakfast; we need to conserve energy for the exam."
"All right." Tsukikage Kaza jumped down and leaned akidnst a tree with them.
Noon came and went.
A figure finally sauntered in late.
Kakashi waved, smiling in his eyes. "Sorry—I overslept and only just got here. Hmm, you all look fine. Did you eat breakfast?"
"No! And it's already noon, you said the time was earlier!" Tenten snapped.
"Oh dear, oh dear. I could've come earlier but I got a little lost. Anyway, no more chatter—let me explain the exam rules." Kakashi wore his mask so his expression was hidden.
But Chiba felt certain he was smiling.
How obnoxious!
Still, Chiba admitted he enjoyed watching kids fly into a blind rage. Only this time it was their team getting the angry treatment.
"These two bells—see them?" Kakashi jingled the bells and a crisp tinkle rang out.
"There are only two?" Tenten's eyes widened.
"Yes. Only those who grab a bell will become my subordinates. Those who don't get a bell will return to the academy and study for another year."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes.
"What the heck!" Tenten glared.
This… was too much!
She'd thought the test was just for teachers to check strength, not that a single test could send so many back a year after they'd all worked so hard to graduate.
Chiba looked up.
Stealing bells—an old Konoha tradition from the Hokage Academy.
No work to be done, huh? he thought bitterly.
"Of course, your team is special. If Chiba is willing to sacrifice himself, I'll let the other two pass. Only Chiba would return to the academy." Kakashi fixed Chiba with his gaze and shook the bells.
Although he didn't say the words, the meaning was clear—don't speak up.
Chiba stayed silent and looked at Tenten and Tsukikage Kaza.
Both of them clenched their fists.
After a few seconds, Tenten said angrily, "Don't underestimate me. I may not be the strongest, but even if I have to return to the academy, I won't sacrifice Chiba-kun!"
"Right." Tsukikage Kaza nodded fiercely, eyes burning.
Kakashi adjusted his forehead protector. "Very well—then you've refused the only sure way to pass. Admirable spirit, but I won't hold back. By the way, so far none of the teams under me have passed. They all had to retake the year."
"Bring it on. We'll fight for the bells and decide who stays after we grab them!" Tenten said.
Kakashi took out Icha Icha Paradise and spoke calmly, "I'll give you some time to prepare. When I turn over the hourglass, the exam begins. Friendly reminder: you'd better be aiming to kill me—otherwise you'll regret it."
"Break!" Chiba waved his hand.
The three of them vanished from the spot and reappeared clustered together further into the forest.
"What do we do?" Tenten asked the others.
"Just like Tsukikage Kaza said—whoever grabs the bell we'll discuss who stays and who goes. The opponent is a Kakashi copy ninja; even if we hold back, the gap will still be big, so we need to coordinate." Chiba spoke plainly.
"Then I'll follow Chiba," Tsukikage Kaza said. "You lead, Chiba."
"I'll follow your lead." Tenten gripped her kunai.
Their opponent was a jōnin. It was natural to be nervous; Chiba's exact strength was unknown to them, but since he'd defeated a taijutsu-only Third Hokage clone, he was certainly stronger than them.
"All right, I'll be the main attacker and Tenten will support," Chiba said to Tsukikage Kaza. "I don't know you well, but I've heard your family is skilled in assassination—find an opening and strike."
"Got it!" Tsukikage Kaza nodded.
"But don't stray too far," Tenten added. "If you get isolated, we could be broken through first."
"Good. So do we set traps first?"
"We're not good enough for complex traps. Mainly it's about coordinated combat. We can make some spiked tree traps to cover retreats." Chiba listed their plan point by point; Tenten and Tsukikage Kaza kept nodding, reassured by his reasoning.
They methodically set up their positions.
A little later, they each hid in place.
Kakashi turned the hourglass and walked into the trees holding his book.
His attention was divided, but a jōnin is a jōnin—it didn't really affect his performance st genin.
Still…
thinking of Chiba's skill made him a little more wary.
Kankurō wasn't easy to deal with.
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