Chapter 19: Passing the Test
Naruto knew that although Kakashi had said he passed the test, it was actually a trick to lower his guard and further test his understanding of teamwork.
If he weren't a transmigrator, he might have actually been fooled by Kakashi's move.
After giving his instructions, Kakashi made up an excuse and left. However, Naruto was certain the man was still hiding somewhere nearby, watching them.
"What a sneaky guy."
Naruto muttered quietly, then picked up one bento, opened it, and started eating without paying any attention to Sasuke and Sakura's stares.
When he was halfway through, Naruto suddenly stood up, grabbed the second untouched bento, and walked over to Sasuke. With one pull, he tore the ropes off him.
"You… what are you doing?" Sasuke asked, looking confused.
"Eat. You'll need the energy if you want any chance of taking the bells this afternoon."
Naruto placed the untouched bento in Sasuke's hands, then went over to untie Sakura and gave her the half-eaten portion he had left.
"B-but… if you do this, won't your test results be canceled too, Naruto?" Sakura held the bento, clearly wanting to eat but not daring to.
Even though she had disliked Naruto before, she was genuinely moved by his actions right now.
"You two really are idiots."
Naruto leaned against the wooden post and said calmly, "Haven't you realized what the real goal of this test is?"
"Teamwork?" Sakura answered instinctively, then suddenly understood.
Could it be…
"That's right. We're one team. How could I possibly graduate alone? Everything Kakashi said wasn't just meant to remind you two — it was also to lower my guard."
Naruto snorted. "Tch, what a boring trick."
Sasuke stayed silent for a moment, then opened the bento and started eating.
Seeing this, Sakura also began to eat. While eating, she apologized to Naruto, "Naruto… I'm sorry for how I treated you before…"
"The past is the past."
Naruto had no interest in hearing any emotional speeches from Sakura.
As long as she didn't act crazy in the future, he couldn't be bothered to target her.
"Thank you, Naruto."
Seeing how generous he was, Sakura felt even more guilty.
She was now deeply regretful about her past attitude and behavior toward him.
Why did I have such a prejudice against him when he's actually such a good person?
What she didn't realize was that the current Naruto had almost completely overwritten the bad impression left by the old Naruto.
The old Naruto had been a loud, prank-loving, annoying dead last.
The current Naruto was a genius — a cool, distant boy who no longer clung to her.
So in truth… she didn't dislike Naruto anymore. She simply didn't dislike the new Naruto.
"Naruto."
Sasuke suddenly spoke while eating. "Why did your strength suddenly become so powerful?"
Sakura also looked at him curiously. "Yeah, Naruto. You seem completely different from before…"
"People change. As for my strength… I gained a special ability some time ago. That's why I'm so strong now," Naruto replied indifferently.
"A special ability? Is it that glowing power?" Sakura asked.
"Yeah."
Naruto raised a finger and condensed a small laser beam on the tip. "The power of light."
"Light? Is that one of the chakra natures?" Sakura thought hard but couldn't recall Iruka ever mentioning a light attribute.
"Something like that."
The Glint-Glint Fruit consumed Naruto's stamina, not chakra.
But he had no intention of telling anyone that fact.
At that moment, a puff of smoke exploded.
Kakashi suddenly appeared in front of the three, staring at Naruto with a displeased expression.
"Naruto, didn't I say you weren't allowed to let them eat?"
"You dared to break my rules. Do you not want to graduate anymore?"
As Kakashi spoke, he formed hand seals. Dark clouds gathered in the sky, lightning flashed and thunder roared.
If someone didn't know better, they might think Enel had arrived.
But even if Enel himself showed up, he wouldn't scare Naruto.
Naruto looked at Kakashi with an expressionless face, completely unfazed. "Didn't you say we are comrades? If they can't graduate this afternoon, then I can't graduate either, right?"
"I didn't expect you to see through it. But even so, you still can't break my rules. Here, my rules are absolute!"
Kakashi pretended to be angry. "Therefore, you are disqualified, Uzumaki Naruto!"
"No, Kakashi-sensei!"
Sakura said anxiously, "We were the ones who insisted on eating! It has nothing to do with Naruto! If you want to disqualify someone, disqualify us instead!"
"Yeah. It has nothing to do with Naruto," Sasuke added.
"Do you think I'm blind? I was watching the whole time!"
Kakashi glared at the two of them. "And because Naruto broke the rules on his own, both of you are also disqualified!"
Sakura and Sasuke's hearts sank at those words.
"Then disqualify us! We're a team. If we pass, we pass together. If we fail, we fail together!" Sakura said stubbornly, standing beside Naruto.
Sasuke silently put down his bento and also stood next to Naruto, showing his stance.
"You three!!!"
Kakashi looked furious at their behavior, but his expression suddenly cleared like the sky after rain, and he smiled.
"Congratulations. You have all passed the test!"
"P-passed? But we haven't even tried to take the bells together yet," Sakura said, stunned.
"Taking the bells was never the real goal. Naruto understood that from the beginning. Neither the trap of only two bells nor my attempt to lower his guard affected him. I have to praise him for that."
"As for you two — if you hadn't firmly stood by Naruto just now, I would still have disqualified all three of you. Keep in mind that Naruto risked failing himself to help you for the afternoon test."
"Anyone who cannot trust their comrades or stand with them is not worthy of being called a ninja!"
Sasuke and Sakura nodded deeply, looking at Naruto with gratitude in their eyes.
If it weren't for Naruto, they probably wouldn't have passed this test.
"Great! We've finally graduated and become real ninjas!!!"
Sakura said excitedly. "To celebrate Team 7's official formation, let's go out for a meal together!"
"I'll pass," Naruto refused.
"Why?" Sakura looked like she had been doused with cold water.
"I don't have any money," Naruto said flatly.
"No problem. Today's on me!" Kakashi smiled.
He knew about Naruto's financial situation and that the Third Hokage hadn't given him much living allowance, so he willingly offered to cover the cost.
"Really? You're the best, Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura jumped up in excitement.
"It's just a meal. It won't cost much."
Kakashi looked very generous.
But half an hour later, the three members of Team 7 sat at the Ichiraku Ramen stall by the roadside, looking puzzled.
"Huh? We're eating this?"
"Ah… it seems that black cat from this morning stole my wallet~"
"Never mind. Ichiraku Ramen is pretty good too."
"Then I'm digging in… Wait, Kakashi-sensei, how are you going to eat without taking off your mask?"
"..."