Chapter 35: Team 7

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Only three students remained in the classroom. Hinata was elated, and Naruto couldn't contain his happiness either. After all, Sasuke was not only Naruto's best friend but also his only one friend.

Sasuke was the only person who had never shunned Naruto because of the Nine-Tails sealed within him.

A moment later, Kakashi Hatake, their jōnin instructor, appeared at the door, his expression as cool and unreadable as ever. "I'm Hatake Kakashi, and from today on, the three of you are my students," he announced.

"Follow me."

They made their way to the academy's training grounds. Kakashi pulled out a pair of bells from his waist and held them up. "Your first test is simple: grab one of these bells from me, using any means necessary," Kakashi explained, his tone steady.

No sooner had Kakashi finished speaking than Sasuke sprang into action. He formed hand seals at lightning speed and dashed toward Kakashi with incredible speed.

Kakashi's eyes narrowed as he tried to discern Sasuke's true form among the blurring images, but to his surprise, every one of them was real.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" 

"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!" 

"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" 

"Lightning Style: Lightning Spear!" 

"Lightning Style: Lightning Flash!"

Kakashi watched in disbelief as Sasuke's clones unleashed a barrage of ninjutsu. Clones that could use ninjutsu? This wasn't an ordinary clone technique—it was Shisui Uchiha's legendary technique, the ''"Instant Shadow Clone"''!

Reacting quickly, Kakashi slammed his hands to the ground. "Earth Style: Earth Wall!" he called out.

In an instant, four walls rose up around Kakashi, marked with the heads of dogs. The walls formed a protective barrier, absorbing Sasuke's attacks. However, when the walls crumbled, there was no sign of Kakashi within.

Kakashi had used an Earth Style technique to burrow underground and reappear behind a nearby tree. Watching Sasuke, Kakashi couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. It seemed that snatching the bell might be too easy for Sasuke.

Activating his Sharingan, Sasuke scanned the area. The three tomoe in his eyes spun, locking onto Kakashi's chakra signature. Channeling Lightning Style chakra through his body, Sasuke's cells hummed with energy, and in a flash of lightning, he vanished.

When Kakashi looked down, the bells were no longer at his waist.

Kakashi sighed in resignation, stepping out from behind the tree. "You win, Sasuke."

He then turned to Naruto and Hinata. "Even though you two didn't contribute much, Sasuke's strength was enough. But remember, the next test isn't about strength—it's about teamwork."

Kakashi swiftly tied Sasuke to a wooden post and placed a lunchbox in front of both Naruto and Hinata. "Your mission is simple," he said. "Do not feed Sasuke. If you do, you'll all fail and won't become ninjas."

With that, Kakashi left—but not too far. He hid behind a tree, observing them from a distance.

Hinata glanced at the lunchbox in front of her and hesitated for only a moment. When she opened it, the aroma of shrimp rice filled the air. Without a second thought, she picked up a piece of shrimp and handed it to Sasuke.

Sasuke accepted the food without hesitation. "Hinata, you're amazing," he said with a small smile.

Hearing Sasuke's praise sent a thrill through Hinata, a shiver running down her spine. Sasuke-kun called me amazing... she thought, her heart racing.

For Hinata, becoming a ninja wasn't nearly as important as Sasuke's approval. His happiness was her priority.

Naruto, on the other hand, was torn. Throughout his childhood, he had been shunned and feared by the villagers because of the Nine-Tails. Sasuke was the first person who had ever treated him like a friend.

Naruto had also learned from Jiraiya that his father, the Fourth Hokage, was a hero who had died protecting Konoha.

When Jiraiya asked Naruto if he hated the villagers, Naruto had responded that he didn't. Instead, he aspired to become Hokage one day and protect the village, just like his father had.

But now, he was faced with a choice: his dream of becoming Hokage or his loyalty to his friend. If he couldn't even protect his friends, what kind of Hokage could he hope to be?

Naruto opened his lunchbox to reveal a tonkotsu rice bowl. After a brief internal struggle, he picked up a large piece of pork and handed it to Sasuke.

In Naruto's heart, friendship was more important than becoming a ninja.

Hidden behind the tree, Kakashi felt his heart swell with emotion. His mind wandered back to the past, to the memories of his old team—Obito, Rin, and their sensei, Minato. It felt as if they were there with him, pushing him out of the shadows and into the sunlight.

Kakashi rubbed his eyes, dismissing the ghostly figures as a trick of his mind, but the warmth remained. It didn't matter if it was an illusion—they had passed the test.

Kakashi appeared before the three of them in an instant, a rare smile on his face. "You three," he declared, his voice filled with pride, "have passed the assessment!"

From that moment on, Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, and Hyuga Hinata were officially genin of Konohagakure.

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