Chapter 10
Chapter 10: Bell Test
The early morning air was crisp, and the sun had just begun to rise, casting a soft glow over the training ground. Kakashi stood hidden among the trees, observing his three new genin. It was 7 o’clock on the dot when Sakura appeared first, dressed in her ninja gear, followed closely by Naruto and Sasuke. They were sneaking around, whispering and giggling, clearly making plans for the test ahead.
Kakashi, with his ever-present half-smile, couldn’t help but admire their energy. From his perch in the trees, he overheard bits and pieces of their conversation.
“Alright, Sasuke, you take the right side and set up the trap near the rocks. I’ll keep him distracted,” Sakura whispered, though her tone was quieter than usual.
Sasuke nodded. “And you, Naruto?”
“I’ll trigger the trap and make sure Kakashi-sensei is fully engaged. Trust me.” Naruto’s voice was full of confidence, though there was an underlying excitement in his tone.
Kakashi grinned behind his mask. So, they’ve already started thinking ahead, huh? He knew they had come prepared with some traps, but he was impressed by how much they’d already strategized. It seemed like Naruto had managed to dig up some intel on him—good job, kid. But of course, it wasn’t going to be that easy. Kakashi had no intention of making this test simple.
He watched as they communicated in hushed whispers, giving each other silent nods of approval. Sasuke handed Sakura a protein bar, while Naruto, always the food lover, took a big bite of an apple.
Two hours passed, and Kakashi let them continue to think they had the upper hand. He could hear the rustling and subtle movements as they set their plan into motion, though they still hadn’t noticed him yet. They were all so eager, so fired up, and it was a wonderful feeling to know he was about to put them through their paces.
Finally, Kakashi decided it was time to make his entrance. He made a dramatic leap out of the trees, landing with a small thud on the ground. He dusted himself off nonchalantly, pulling out a bell from his waist and attaching it to his hip with a lazy gesture.
“Yo!” Kakashi called out, grinning at his genin. They looked at him in surprise, and he could see the frustration and confusion on their faces. They had been waiting for two hours, and here he was, casually strolling in like it was nothing. “I was late because a black cat crossed my path,” he explained with a shrug, completely unfazed.
Sasuke and Naruto glared at him, both clearly irritated by the wait. Sakura, however, was more controlled, her eyes narrowing as she adjusted her stance. She was ready.
“Aww, so cute!” Kakashi couldn’t help but tease, sensing the irritation radiating off them. He chuckled to himself, stepping forward as he pulled the bell from his waist. “You’ve got until lunch to get these bells. Only two of you will pass. One will go back to the academy, and remember—come at me with the intent to kill!” His voice was playful, but there was a definite edge to his words that made it clear he was serious.
Naruto was the first to react. He immediately charged forward, confident as ever, while Sasuke hung back, calculating. Sakura’s eyes flickered with concentration, and she moved into position, ready for whatever was about to come next.
Kakashi watched them carefully, eager to see how they would tackle the test. He had seen their potential already, but this would be the real test. Would they work together as a team, or would their egos and individual ambitions get in the way?
With a quick flick of his wrist, Kakashi vanished in a blur, appearing several meters away in the blink of an eye. It was time to see if they could keep up.