As expected by Naruto, at the instant Sakura charged, Kakashi seemed to have eyes on his back. He slightly turned his body, easily caught her punch with his palm, and used the rebound force to quickly retreat.
Sakura let out a light laugh, her eyes flickering, then suddenly dashed in the opposite direction, heading toward Naruto's position.
At that moment, their eyes met.
Sakura's gaze was calm as water, hiding all sharpness, facing Kakashi's eyes without the slightest retreat.
Kakashi looked at Sakura with interest.
No reckless head-on attacks, no overexertion — she knew when to stop.
It was like a lion dog that jumps out from the bushes to slap your face a few times, sees your health bar still intact, and then quickly retreats back without hesitation.
Patient, restrained, accumulating strength for a strong counterattack.
Suddenly, Kakashi had a thought.
This might be the toughest team of three he had ever met.
Naruto is cunning, Sakura calm, and then there's Sasuke — the one with the strongest overall skills.
"Interesting. But I won't pass you yet," Kakashi thought.
He had seen many talented people with high ability and strength.
But that was not the point.
At that moment, Sakura ran up beside Naruto: "Had enough playing around?"
Naruto stared straight at Kakashi: "Try one more move."
"Really want to beat him?"
"Not really," Naruto grinned, "If I wanted to win, I'd just unleash the Nine-Tails."
"I'm doing an experiment — to see what we from Earth can really do here."
At first, Naruto thought he would just follow the plot, have some fun, maybe get some girls, start a harem.
But Sakura's words made him realize how serious this was.
This was not a typical "chosen one transported to the Naruto world" shonen story.
This was a multi-world, everyone-can-be-strong crossover.
Imagine if someone was transported into enemy factions like Nagato, Obito, or Madara?
Then the battlefield would either be a dance of war or a synchronized show.
So Naruto not only had to tap the Nine-Tails' power but also explore every possible method outside, turning all experience into his own nourishment.
"That sounds complicated. What kind of experiment?" Sakura asked, confused.
"You'll see," Naruto gave up attacking, looking at Kakashi with a half-smile, "Boss, fighting like this is boring."
"Is it?" Kakashi squinted his eyes, "Rules are rules. If you don't snatch the bells on time, I'll send you back to the Ninja Academy."
Sakura thought deeply. What was there to talk about?
Naruto crossed his arms: "Boss, you're a Jonin. No matter how we cooperate, we can't beat you."
"This test is about teamwork. Fighting alone won't work, right?"
Kakashi nodded: "You don't seem like a loser at all."
Sasuke stared hard at Naruto, his heart stirring.
"But I think there's a trick — the number of bells. There are only two, yet teamwork is required. Obviously, there'll be internal conflict."
Naruto fell silent, then suddenly said: "This test wants one of us to sacrifice, right?"
The surroundings fell silent except for the wind.
Sasuke tightened his lips, chest pounding fiercely.
He noticed the number of bells but never considered cooperation or sacrifice.
He was shocked that Naruto quickly figured out the true meaning of this test.
It was like a group stuck on a riddle until a lazy person casually walks by, glances, and says the correct answer.
Impossible, right?
Kakashi looked at Naruto, showing approval: "You're sharp. Sacrifice is the essence of this test. But why did you say it's meaningless?"
"You don't think that's contradictory?"
Naruto smiled: "If you truly wanted to test us, you wouldn't guard so tightly. The key is how to divide the bells. Snatching bells only tests teamwork."
"We have teamwork, but you still won't let us succeed to the next step. That goes against the spirit of the test."
Sakura understood immediately.
Naruto was basically arguing with Kakashi without following the plot.
According to the story, Team 7 was Kakashi's first official team; others had been sent back to the Academy.
Kakashi agreed with Obito's view: teammates are more important than missions. Those who don't value teammates are worse than trash.
Only by showing this in the test would Kakashi pass them.
But that contradicts the task's requirement for sacrifice.
Ninjas, like Earth mercenaries, must complete missions.
"Maybe you're just not cooperating well enough," Kakashi sneered: "Honestly, your earlier performance is worse than not being a ninja."
Naruto laughed inwardly at these mind games from the Jonin.
He kept calm outwardly: "We all graduated from the Academy, proving our basics. No need to provoke us."
"Fine. Give the bells to Sakura and Sasuke; I'll go back and start over."
Kakashi's heart skipped a beat: "You want to sacrifice yourself?"
Naruto said lightly: "I not only want to complete the mission but also protect my teammates from being sent back."
"Happy now?"
Kakashi fell silent.
A shadow appeared beside him — a short-haired figure with one eye gently patted his shoulder.
"Do you want to pass them?"
Kakashi turned and saw a young Obito smiling at him.
"He hasn't told me the answer yet."
Kakashi looked back at the three: "You think the ninja world is that simple? Naruto, I'm going to pass you, but your two teammates won't be ninjas anymore!"
Naruto tilted his head, silent.
Sakura yawned.
Sasuke looked at Naruto, then Sakura, then Naruto again, then Sakura…
Why am I the only one worried?
Sasuke was shocked by Naruto's decisiveness and angry at Kakashi's words.
And he was annoyed at Sakura's expressionless face — he planned to get her treated for facial paralysis later.
But the hardest to accept was Naruto.
Why were you so flashy?
You're a loser yet you act so noble?
Why do you have the right to be so cocky?
Sasuke recalled that bloody night.
Back then, he barely survived under his brother's scythe, carrying his clan's hatred and future alone.
Every day was either training or painful memories, and even with top grades, he was constantly criticized.
If so, what's wrong with not being a ninja? Would it be worse than before?
"I'll do it..." Sasuke's voice trembled.
"I'll be the one to sacrifice."
"Ah?" Naruto turned surprised.
You big guy, sacrificing? Not seeking revenge anymore?
Sasuke glared at Naruto.
"Naruto, why show off in front of everyone?"
"You're a loser talking about sacrifice? Do you know what that really means?"
"Kakashi, give the bells to those two. I'm quitting!"
Naruto was a little helpless.
Quitting means no more racing, right?
Sakura looked at them: "I'm going back. I'm afraid you two clowns might kill yourselves out of anger."
Naruto and Sasuke: "..."
Kakashi fell silent again.