Naruto and Sakura stood side by side, eyes locked on Kakashi who stood as relaxed as ever. A calm breeze passed through Training Ground 3, rustling leaves and stirring the dust on the field. The tension between the trio could be cut with a kunai.
It was now 10:45 a.m.
Naruto clenched his fists and took several heavy breaths. Sweat trickled down the sides of his face, yet the determined gleam in his eyes remained strong.
'Still not enough chakra to use shadow clones again… Damn it. But I can't just sit around and wait either!... Guess I have to hold off until my chakra recovers,' he reminded himself and tightened his fists. 'I'm gonna take that bell even if its the last thing I do! Believe it.'
Naruto squared up again, fists loose, chin high and a defiant grin. "Round three!"
Kakashi dramatically sighed. He stood still and didn't even take his hands out of his pockets. "You say that like the first two were rounds."
"Let's go, Sakura!" Naruto shouted and was about to rush at Kakashi with a low stance, aiming for the Jonin's midsection.
Sakura, behind him and to the left, nodded and followed up with a few hand seals. "Demonic Illusion: Temporary Paralysis Technique!"
Naruto took only a couple of seconds before Kakashi's figure blurred from his position. A split second later he appeared behind them both. "That won't work," he said simply, tapping both of them lightly on their shoulders with the flat end of a kunai.
"Hiya!" Naruto twisted and kicked, his heel aiming for Kakashi's side, but the copy ninja caught it easily.
"Your taijutsu's improving… Well, just a little bit" Kakashi remarked, "but you're still telegraphing your moves too much."
"Tch! I'll show you." Naruto spun out of the catch and dropped low, aiming a sweeping kick. Kakashi backflipped away and landed near a tree.
"Get back here!" Naruto roared and rushed towards the man.
Kakashi calmly slipped a hand into his pocket as Naruto lunged at him with a right hook. The Jonin tilted his head and leaned slightly back, letting the punch breeze past his mask.
"Too slow," Kakashi muttered.
Naruto grit his teeth and followed with a spinning back kick, but Kakashi blocked it with one hand, barely moving from his spot. The young blond didn't let up. Punches and kicks flowed together in a messy rhythm.
The Jonin noticed the boy's labored breathing but saw that his eyes were still determined and sharp. Kakashi had to silently applaud his tenacious will. 'He's holding back from using his clones... recovering and conserving chakra. About time he started fighting with a brain.'
Meanwhile, Sakura rushed and came a few dozen feet near Kakashi. She weaved signs with practiced speed "Genjutsu: Mist Flower!" and used her next illusion.
For a second, petals shimmered around Kakashi. But he didn't even blink.
"Genjutsu won't work if you don't hide your chakra better," Kakashi said flatly and disappeared from his spot.
"Where'd he go?!" Sakura turned her head from side to side.
"Sakura! Behind you!" Naruto yelled looking at her.
The Pink haired Genin's eyes widened.
"Hi there." A greeting in a creepy voice came from behind her.
She gasped and felt goosebumps all over her body. She instantly jumped to the side while tossing a trio of shuriken at her enemy. The metal stars sliced through the air. Its aim was precise, but predictable.
Kakashi caught two and side-stepped the third, letting it pass harmlessly by. "Too easy and predictable," he muttered.
Sakura narrowed her eyes. "Damn it. You're still not taking us seriously, are you?!"
Kakashi tilted his head. "I don't have to. But this test isn't about me. It's about pushing you beyond your limits. I want to see what you're all made of. Like I said yesterday, Sakura. This is an extremely difficult survival exam."
Hidden high up in the thick branches of a tree, Daichi munched on his snack and observed the whole sequence. 'They're trying hard… but those two don't stand a chance on their own.' he thought and his eyes narrowed. 'Kakashi-sensei's holding back, but even so, they're not making progress. At this rate… they won't get anywhere before time runs out. They need Sasuke.'
He exhaled slowly a small breath and continued to watch the battle unfold.
—
10:50 a.m.
Naruto winced as he wiped the sweat from his brow. 'My chakra's coming back… just a little more…'
He glanced at Sakura, who had already begun backing away. Her hands were on her knees and she was breathing hard. "I'm gonna keep him busy," Naruto said to her before turning back toward Kakashi.
Sakura nodded. "Don't push yourself too hard…"
Naruto took a deep breath and surged forward with renewed energy. "I'm not done yet, Kakashi-sensei!"
"Oh but I have a feeling it'll all be over pretty soon." The copy cat ninja replied with a subtle smile.
"AAARR…" Naruto attacked again, faster. The clash intensified. The blonde Genin got close, forcing Kakashi to duck a punch and parry a knee strike. He didn't rely on clones this time. His strikes were wild but fast and any weapon Naruto used was evaded or countered by Kakashi. Shuriken clinked and kunai sparked as they fought.
—-
Sakura, breathing heavily, stepped back and retreated toward the trees. She glanced at the time. 10:55 a.m...
She wanted to rest for a bit and wandered deeper into the clearing but soon came near Sasuke.
She found him leaning against the trunk of a tree, seated with one leg up, arms resting casually over his knee. His eyes were half-lidded, but his chakra had recovered significantly. He looked calm and collected.
"Sasuke!" she called softly, stepping closer.
He nodded slightly, acknowledging her presence.
"Are you alright?" she asked, concerned. "That earlier jutsu… You're not injured, right?"
"…I'm fine," he replied.
She hesitated, then offered a small smile. "Congrats… on getting a bell." Sasuke gave a small nod. "Thanks."
There was an awkward silence between them for a moment with only the distant sounds of Naruto and Kakashi's clash filling the air. Sakura looked down, shifting awkwardly and her thoughts were running a mile a minute. 'He's hiding it but he's already so tired… I don't want to do this but I have no other choice if I want to get a bell.'
Sakura exhaled quietly and said what was really on her mind. "Sasuke… Can you help us?"
Hearing that, Sasuke stared at her, unmoving. 'I had a feeling you were going to ask for help.'
"I know we're supposed to do this alone… And we've been trying, so hard." she continued. "But Kakashi-sensei's too strong. You got your bell, and I know that should mean you're done. And I know you need your rest to pass the second test… But… please. Naruto's still fighting. We don't want to fail… do you think you could... help? Just a little?" She hated asking for Sasuke's help in such a situation but she decided to do it anyway.
There was another pause. Then Sasuke looked away, his expression unreadable. "…Out in the real world, there won't be anyone to help you. No one shows up just because you ask."
Sakura's heart sank. She bit her lip, nodded stiffly and tried to smile, but it came out weak. "Right…" 'I somehow had a feeling you'd say that.' "I understand, Sasuke. I'm sorry for disturbing your rest."
She turned and walked back toward the clearing. Sasuke silently watched her leave. When she was gone, Sasuke let out a breath he hadn't noticed he'd been holding. He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the situation. 'You're weak if you have to rely on others…'
But Sasuke recalled Naruto's clones, rushing in without hesitation to draw Kakashi's attention. He remembered Sakura's straightforward strategy and the moment she rushed in to attack together with Naruto, despite knowing the odds.
And then, images of Daichi flashed in his mind. His patience during their spars, his guidance, his ways to improve strength. Daichi had always helped him.
Sasuke looked at the bell secured in the palm of his hand. 'Damn it. In the end, I didn't get this bell on my own.'
"Aarh! I can't believe I'm doing this." Sasuke's fingers curled into fists. "…Tch."
He stood and exhaled a long breath. His eyes refocused and he disappeared from his spot.
—-
11:05 a.m.
Sasuke watched his teammates fight silently from the branch of a tall tree.
Naruto and Sakura had regrouped and were attacking the Jonin again, this time with renewed effort. But even now, they weren't making any progress. Kakashi blocked or dodged every move with ease.
'I got the bell because they helped me, even if they didn't know it.' Sasuke thought, eyes narrowing. 'They distracted Kakashi and gave me the chance to pass.'
He looked on and soon saw Sakura become tired and retreat behind a thick foliage to catch her breath. Naruto on the other hand used a group of clones to pin Kakashi, only to be flung away again. 'She's right. They won't pass at this rate.'
Sasuke's gaze narrowed. At that moment, another memory of his spars with Daichi surfaced.
"Don't always think of winning or losing. Think about who helped you and how you've won."
Sasuke clicked his tongue and sighed. 'Dammit.'
He dropped down, disappearing silently into the foliage. He found Sakura a short while later resting on a log, catching her breath.
Hearing the sounds of footsteps, Sakura tensely looked up and blinked in surprise. "Sasuke?"
"I'll help," he said. The words didn't make him as frustrated as he'd expected. "We're getting those two bells."
'CHAAA! I knew you wouldn't abandon me, my love.' Her eyes widened. "You mean—?"
"Yeah. I've got a plan." He leaned in, and for the next few moments, whispered his plan. Sakura's eyes widened more and more as he explained. She nodded at the end, determined.
"Ready?" he asked.
"As I'll ever be," she said, and that was honest.
—-
11:20.
Naruto was locked in a fast-paced skirmish with Kakashi. Clones attacked from all sides, but his enemy remained untouchable, dodging, flipping, and striking back with effortless grace.
'11:20.' Kakashi sighed. He turned his head, looked at the clock and noted internally. 'Ten minutes left. Where's Sakura?' he wondered, deflecting two kunai and ducking under a punch.
"Come on, Kakashi-sensei! Just hand over those bells." one Naruto shouted.
As the Jonin jumped and evaded a particularly enthusiastic clone, three shuriken whizzed toward him from the nearby bushes. With smooth ease, Kakashi caught them between his fingers and twisted in midair, avoiding two more clones lunging at him.
'Hmm. The angle, speed of these shuriken, and the force behind them... Sakura, is that you?' Kakashi thought.
"Where did those come from?" Naruto blinked for a few seconds before coming to his own conclusion. "Wait. Is it Sakura? Is she trying to distract him so I can grab the bells?" he muttered to himself.
Kakashi tilted his head slightly. 'Not enough force to harm me. Is she trying to open a window of opportunity for Naruto? Alright then... let's see if your plan works.'
"Go, go, go! Keep pushing him, Naruto! I know you can get the bells." Sakura's voice called out in encouragement from the shadows of the forest.
Naruto blinked, hearing her encouraging words. "Sakura?" He then grinned from ear to ear. "Alright! Keep him busy with those shuriken! I'll definitely get those bells. Believe it!" He yelled with loud optimism and rushed towards Kakashi again with a loud yell, flanked by clones.
Kakashi raised an internal eyebrow. 'So that's the plan? Distract me and get the bell? Cute. And Impossible. But I'll play along.'
Half a minute later, four more shuriken zipped through the air. This time, they came from a different location, targeting his torso. Kakashi caught them again, noting their subtle trajectory. 'Two of them… wouldn't have even hit me. Her aim needs work.'
Naruto kept up his offensive.
Meanwhile Kakashi soon noticed Sasuke slowly walking to a tree near the edge of the clearing. The Uchiha sat down and was staring at the battle with a calm gaze.
Kakashi looked at the boy from the corner of his eyes and slightly frowned. 'Is he here to just watch the spectacle or help them? Hmm… Based on his posture, it doesn't look like he's going to lend them a hand. Does he just want to know who else passes to the second round?... That's a disappointment.'
A minute later, two more shuriken came from a wide arc behind Kakashi. The Jonin dodged them with a casual shift of his weight and parrying a clone's kunai as he did so. 'Still coming from different spots… Is she trying to disorient me?'
Another 50 seconds passed. Five shuriken flew from the side. Kakashi narrowed his eyes. 'Three of these… grazes at best. Definitely not a kill shot. Is she panicking now? Or is it just a bad aim?'
"Sloppy," Kakashi murmured. With a swift spin, he deflected them and dispelled another clone with a back-kick.
More time passed. Three waves of two shuriken followed in succession.
Naruto, spotting the new attack, rushed forward. "Now's my chance!"
He darted in, only to be sent flying by a hard jab to the gut. He hit the ground hard and grunted in pain for a few seconds but he forced himself back up. 'Can't give up.' He clenched his teeth and formed the clone seal.
Twelve Narutos popped into existence. And then Naruto suddenly dropped to one knee and gasped for air. "No—!"
'Damn it… This is my last batch of clones. I don't have any more chakra. If this doesn't work… we're done.' His hands trembled, but he pushed himself upright. 'No! I'm not giving up. I can't.'
The clones renewed their charge. Kakashi began dispersing the clones again with swift precision. Smoke clouds filled the field.
Just then—five more shuriken flew. Kakashi scanned them quickly and even easily predicted their trajectory. 'Two won't hit. Three might scratch. Nothing serious.' He sighed. 'Oh Sakura… Looks like your gamble failed. Naruto's out of energy now. Still, I'm glad you decided to work together with him.'
He pulled out his kunai and deflected three of them in a smooth arc. The other two he ignored—he already calculated they'd miss.
At that moment, a Naruto clone rushed from the side. Kakashi met him with a swift kick. Poof! Smoke surrounded the clone and the Jonin turned his attention back to the real Naruto.
Just as Kakashi turned—
At that very instant, one of the 'missed' shuriken that came near Kakashi's body, near the torso, suddenly curved mid-air and sliced through the string tying the bells to his waist.
Kakashi's eyes widened just a fraction. 'What?'
In that split second, just as the shuriken cut the string and the bells were falling to the ground, a tether shot out from the smoke covering the Naruto clone Kakashi had attacked earlier.
The clone appeared with a big grin and an extended tether shot from his right wrist and it wrapped around the now-falling strings—and with a sharp pull, it quickly flew into his hand.
Kakashi's eye narrowed. 'Wire guide on the shuriken. And they tugged at the last possible moment to change the trajectory.'
Suddenly smoke surrounded that person and Kakashi narrowed his eyes.
—-------------
Author's note:-
By the time I got here, it was already a chapter's worth. So I decided to stop for now. See you soon.
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