"Oh?"
Shinichi's icy voice shattered the dead silence as he mocked, "So you actually do care about your father's honor? Then what on earth have you been doing these past three years, Kakashi?"
He took a step forward, staring intently at Kakashi's despondent face, and asked that question once more:
"So, why are you so weak?"
Kakashi's body trembled. His hollow eyes seemed stung by these words, regaining a flicker of focus.
"What did I tell you three years ago?"
Shinichi's voice wasn't loud, yet every word was crystal clear, like a heavy hammer striking Kakashi's memories.
"I said, if you don't know what to do, then work hard to become strong. Strong enough to ensure you don't fall into the same predicament your father did back then. Strong enough that perhaps, in a desperate situation, you can forcibly tear out a third choice!"
"But what have you done these past three years? You graduated early, you threw yourself into missions, and you shouted about rules being supreme as if that could prove you were already right, already beyond it all!"
"But what about deep in your heart? You are in pain every single moment, constantly conflicted, desperate for someone to tell you that your father's choice wasn't wrong! You are trapped in a cage of your own making, repeatedly torn between denying your father and understanding him, self-torturing in an endless Hell!"
Shinichi pointed his finger at the pile of broken metal on the ground:
"You are just endlessly interrogating yourself, simulating dilemmas, agonizing over 'What would I choose if it were me?' and 'Was Father wrong or not?' You've wasted all your energy on internal tug-of-war and self-justification, using a paranoia for rules to cover up the fear and confusion in your heart! You have never truly looked toward the future to accumulate the power needed to break through dilemmas and transcend the multiple-choice questions themselves!"
"A swordsman's blade is the edge of his heart!"
Shinichi's gaze swept over the fractured White Fang, his tone solemn. "In your father's hands, the White Fang became a legend that was indestructible and shook the Ninja World because it carried its master's incredibly firm conviction, clear realization, and burning determination to protect his comrades! It was a blade that resonated with his Soul! But in your hands..."
He shook his head, his words sounding like a final sentence:
"It is merely a mirror, reflecting nothing but the wavering, fear, and self-restraint in your heart. A person full of contradictions who cannot find his own path is destined to be fragile and easily broken, even if the blade he holds is the sharpest Divine Artifact."
"If that's the case, then it's better that this blade is broken."
The scene fell into a heavy silence. Everyone looked at each other, even their breathing becoming light.
Kurenai Yuhi and Shizune had complex looks in their eyes, while Rin Nohara clasped her hands to her chest, looking at Kakashi's back with a face full of worry.
Uchiha Obito looked at the dazed, motionless Kakashi, then at the stern Shinichi. He opened his mouth and finally just muttered softly, "The words aren't wrong... but, but isn't that a bit too harsh..."
In his impression, Shinichi wasn't like this.
He was a polite person who would nod when met on the road and got along well with other students. Sometimes on the street, one could see him helping the villagers; he had never been seen giving anyone a cold face or losing his temper.
Obito hadn't spoken many words to him, but the impression that 'this is a good person' had always been there.
But now, the person standing in the center of the field had no trace of a smile, and his gaze was as cold as a winter Kunai. Obito suddenly felt he was a bit of a stranger.
Yet for some reason, looking at this version of Shinichi, the first image that popped into his head wasn't those cold words—
But something else.
Back when Obito had just entered the Ninja Academy and would rush through the school gates every morning, he would always see someone by the side of the playground. That person would be carrying a rock on his back, running around the field,
Lap after lap, after lap.
The rock was huge, several times larger than the person himself. Obito initially thought it was some upperclassman, but later learned it was a student from the class next door named Higashino Shinichi.
"He must be crazy," Obito had thought at the time.
Later, he discovered that the person didn't just run in the morning. During the lunch break, while others were eating, chasing each other in the hallways, or huddling in the classroom to chat, that person would stand under the cherry blossom tree by the playground, holding a sword.
Just holding it up, one strike, then another, and another.
Obito would lean on the railing, still chewing his unswallowed lunch, thinking: What is this guy after? Isn't it tiring? Isn't it boring?
No one answered him.
Later, Obito stopped leaning on the railing, but whenever he occasionally passed by, he would still subconsciously glance toward that spot.
That person was still there. The posture hadn't changed, the location hadn't changed, even the rhythm of his sword swings hadn't changed.
It was as if time had stopped for him, yet also as if time kept moving forward while he remained in the same place, doing the same thing... "Pick it up."
Shinichi's voice rang out again, interrupting Obito's deeper thoughts.
Kakashi's body jolted. His hollow eyes turned mechanically, landing on Shinichi's face.
"I told you to pick it up! Kakashi!"
Shinichi's voice suddenly rose in volume.
"If the blade is broken, it can be reforged! If conviction wavers, it can be reaffirmed! If the path goes crooked, then turn it back for me!"
"Throw away that bullshit self-trapping multiple-choice question! From now on, you are only allowed to think about one thing—becoming strong!"
"With the thought that you must become strong, pick up this broken blade! Then, with your own hands and every bit of power you earn in the future, reforge it!"
"Quench it with your will, sharpen it with your realization! Let it witness how you slice through confusion step by step, how you become ten times, a hundred times stronger than you are now! Strong enough to protect everything you want to protect, strong enough that no one can ever force you to make a choice again, strong enough that you yourself are the one who can rewrite the rules and create a third path!"
"This brat's mouth is as sharp as ever," Tsunade snorted coldly, perhaps reminded of something.
Hearing this, Minato realized there seemed to be some past interaction or story between Tsunade and Shinichi, but he considerately didn't pry. He just smiled gently. "Though his method is a bit intense, Shinichi truly is someone who values his comrades deeply and hopes they can become stronger. Perhaps this is also a unique kind of kindness."
In the field, Kakashi tightly gripped the broken half of the blade, the cold edge of the hilt almost sinking into his palm.
"I..." He slowly raised his head, his voice incredibly raspy. "...I understand."
He spoke very quietly, yet it was as if he had used up all his current strength. There were no more words, no grand declarations; he simply collected the broken half of the blade and the surrounding fragments carefully and cherished them.
Seeing this, Shinichi didn't say much more.
He stopped looking at Kakashi and turned to face the others, his voice returning to its usual steady tone:
"The interlude ends here. Don't forget our true purpose for gathering here. The test is still ongoing."
He paused slightly and said, "First, we need a temporary captain to coordinate this joint operation. I nominate myself for this position. Does anyone have any objections?"
Kurenai Yuhi and Shizune were the first to nod, Rin Nohara also gave a gentle nod of agreement, and Uchiha Obito looked at Kakashi, then at Shinichi, scratching his head. "I've got no problem with it... anyway, someone has to call the shots."
Kakashi remained silent, which served as tacit consent.
"Good." Shinichi nodded and immediately got down to business. "As captain, I need to know everyone's areas of expertise to formulate a tactic. Let's all give a brief summary..."
After understanding the basic information, Shinichi combined the terrain with the possible action patterns of the two teachers to quickly assign roles such as scouting, luring the enemy, pinning down, and main assault, emphasizing the timing of cooperation and signals.
After a period of time, the joint operation began.
Under Shinichi's command, the six youths from the two teams displayed rapport and tactical execution that exceeded expectations.
During the exchange, looks of approval gradually appeared in the eyes of Minato and Tsunade. They had never intended to truly block these children; the core of the test lay in observing their Heart-Nature and cooperation.
Seeing that the goal had been achieved, the two of them tacitly looked for opportunities to go easy, allowing reasonable openings to appear in the defense of the bells.
Finally, under a carefully planned feint and coordination, Shinichi and Kakashi managed to snatch a bell from Tsunade and Minato, respectively.
"Alright." Tsunade crossed her arms, a playful smile on her lips. "Now you both have grabbed a bell. So, what are you going to do next? There are only two bells."
The atmosphere became subtle once more, the rules clearly laid out before them.
Two bells, six people.
Shinichi, however, looked calm. He walked up to Kakashi and held out his hand. "Give me your bell."
Kakashi hesitated slightly but still handed over the bell in his hand.
Holding both bells, Shinichi turned to Tsunade and asked, "Tsunade-sensei, now both bells are in the hands of our Team Ten. According to the rules you announced, our Team Ten counts as having fully passed the test, right?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow and nodded. "Correct. By the rules, your team has passed."
"Very well." Shinichi turned around and without hesitation handed both bells to Kakashi.
Then, he looked at Minato Namikaze and asked in an equally clear tone, "Minato-sensei, now both bells are in the hands of Team Seven. According to the rules, Team Seven also counts as having fully passed the test, right?"
The entire field was silent for a moment, and then everyone suddenly understood.
Uchiha Obito was the first to react, jumping up excitedly. "That's right! It can work like that too! Great! We don't have to be eliminated!"
Rin Nohara looked at the two bells and then at Shinichi, her eyes full of gratitude. Kurenai Yuhi and Shizune also showed smiles of relief.
Kakashi looked at Shinichi with a complex gaze.
Minato Namikaze looked at the scene before him with a warm and gratified smile. Beside him, Tsunade snorted but did not speak up to object.
"Ah, yes." Minato smiled and nodded. "Since both bells are now in the hands of Team Seven, then according to the rules, Team Seven also passes the test in full. Congratulations to you all; both teams have passed!"
His announcement brought an unexpected but happy ending to this joint test that had been full of twists and turns.
The test ended in Perfection.