Before Fugaku could even speak a single word, Naruto suddenly threw the bells towards Hinata and Satsuki, much to the surprise of the two, who almost failed to catch the bells.
Satsuki and Hinata stared at Naruto in confusion, especially Satsuki, who believes that even without their help, Naruto will be guaranteed to steal the bells from Fugaku.
While Hinata had her guess, the reason behind Naruto's action doesn't mean she wasn't shocked by it; after all, for her, it wasn't completely certain what the criteria to pass the test. Teaming up might not be the correct criteria to passes the test and aside from stealing the bells which Fugaku informed them they weren't clear what was the main criteria.
Fugaku's lips secretly slightly curled upwards, and he said calmly, "Well then, it looks like... you all pass."
This shocked Satsuki, while both Hinata and Naruto were already various degrees of certain about the main purpose behind the test of Fugaku.
"The true purpose of this test was to determine whether you would selfishly look out for yourselves or work as a cohesive unit regardless of the outcome," Fugaku explains.
"I see the two of you already figured out the purpose of the test," Fugaku added as he stared at Hinata and Naruto.
Satsuki stared at her teammates in shock and immediately came to a realization about the reason behind both Hinata's and Naruto's previous actions.
"I'm sorry," Satsuki said as she looked at Naruto and Hinata.
"It's fine, Satsuki," Hinata said, clearly understanding the pressure Satsuki felt throughout the entire test.
Hinata was sure that if their sensei wasn't Fugaku and someone else, Satsuki would definitely be able to realize the true purpose of the test in time.
Naruto simply nodded in acknowledgement.
"A great team is born from the members who give everything for each other instead of themselves. From this moment onwards you are all fully fledged ninja of the Hidden Leaf and members of Team 13," Fugaku declared.
Hinata and Satsuki felt happy inside that they finally passed the test, while Naruto almost rolled his eyes after hearing the first sentence.
Naruto didn't agree with such a mindset but wouldn't voice out his opinion, as it is a waste of time.
The Hokage Mansion.
Fugaku is currently walking through the hallways of the top floor of the Hokage Mansion, his destination being the Hokage Office, where all of the Jonin Sensei will meet up and report the results of their tests.
Fugaku touched his right cheek, which was hit by Naruto's foot. He chuckles a bit just thinking about the situation.
He always reassured Minato that for Fugaku of the Wicked Eye there was no such thing as rust, and yet here he's allowed himself to get hit by a teenage boy.
A very strong teenager but still a teenager nonetheless.
Moments later he arrives at his destination and enters the room without knocking. The moment he entered the room, almost all the Jonin Sensei had already arrived and formed two lines.
Fugaku slowly joined the line and waited for the remaining jonin to arrive.
Two minutes passed, and someone opened the door, and the person who entered the room was a man with silver-grey hair wearing a standard Jonin vest and a dark mask covering the lower half of his face. The most eye-catching was the forehead protector that covers the left eye of the man.
This person is none other than Kakashi Hatake, the Jonin Sensei of Team 11.
"My apologies for—"
"I find it redundant to apologize for something you're just going to do again," Minato calmly said, cutting off Kakashi.
Minato knows the main reason behind his chronic lateness, but right now it isn't the time to dwell on it since there are more things that they need to do.
"Now that everyone is all here, let's get started. Going in the numerical order, please make your reports on how your teams did," Minato calmly said, his voice hinted with authority.
The first half of the Jonin Senseis give their reports, and half of the team have failed, which is something to be expected. The first graduation exam is only a decoy and not an accurate measure of one's aptitude for a ninja's life.
All heads turn to Kushina, waiting for her to report on her team.
"Team 7 passed. They did quite well. Their teamwork is very good, but that's to be expected," Kushina said with a smile on her face.
Minato nodded, and his lips slightly curled up, and Kurenai then gave her report.
"Team 8 passes, though there are some blemishes. Kiba Inuzuka makes an attempt to assert his dominance over his teammates. Sakura spends most of the time complaining about how she didn't get put on Sasuke Uchiha's team. She greatly needs an attitude adjustment," Kurenai said as calmly and professionally as she could.
Kurenai knows the main reason why Sakura was on her team was due to the latter's great control of chakra, which made her a suitable person to teach genjutsu, but the problem was the fangirl mindset she had, which caused Kurenai some problems.
She wasn't against teaching someone with a civilian background, but the mindset was the greatest problem she had to solve as soon as possible.
"Team 10 passed Lord Hokage, and their teamwork is very good, which wasn't surprising considering they are the next generation of InoShikaCho," Asuma calmly said.
While he did find Ino's bossy attitude some problem, at least she followed the command from Shikimaru, which was better compared to Sakura.
Minato nods at this and turns to his student.
"Team 11 passed narrowly, Lord Hokage," Kakashi said, much to the surprise of the room since he never passed a single team before.
"Sasuke Uchiha has quite the superiority complex and views his teammates as not being worthy of teaming with him. Hisateru Higawara repeatedly mocks him and causes friction within the team. As it stands, Kaori Hirota is the glue that holds the team together," Kakashi added.
Minato nodded and turned towards Mikoto and patiently waited for her report.
"Team 12 passed. They did quite well, in fact. The teamwork of the group was thanks to Keimei Uzumaki's great leadership alongside great combat prowess, and if it wasn't for her, the two might have had a harder time cooperating with each other. While Karin Uzumaki and Hikari Uchiha had incredible capabilities, they were unable to use them due to their bad relationship," Mikoto calmly said.
Minato nodded and turned his head to his friend. Minato manages to hold back a chuckle but can't resist a smile forming on his face after seeing the bruise on Fugaku's cheek.
'No rust, huh? 'Minato thought inwardly.
Fugaku sees the look on his friend's face and slightly narrows his eyes.
"Team 13 passed. Satsuki Uchiha is impressive, but she seems a bit arrogant in her approach."
'Wonder where she gets it from,' Minato thought sarcastically.
"Hinata Hyuga was also impressive, especially after seeing the true purpose of the test, and immediately made contact with Satsuki to create a plan to pass the test."
Minato's eyes widen a bit since, from what Hiashi told him, Hinata was considered a failure by their clan assessment and lost the heiress position to her sister Hanabi.
"The real shock, however, comes from Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze," Fugaku continues, earning the attention of all people in the room.
"Naruto is without a doubt the strongest member of the team," Fugaku added, shocking the people in the room.
"During the test he displayed what was no doubt a Jonin-level speed and strength using a taijutsu style I've never seen before. He is the reason I have this bruise." Fugaku pointed to his right cheek.
"Aside from using shadow clones occasionally, Naruto also performs high-level techniques in sealing arts. He also manages to figure out the true purpose of the test and makes his teammates work together. He even manages to steal the bells from me," Fugaku said calmly.
There is complete silence in the room. Everyone is in disbelief. Fugaku Uchiha's praise isn't earned easily, and yet here he is praising Naruto. The same Naruto who was supposed to be dead last and nowhere near the level of his siblings.
Of all people in the room, none are more shocked than Naruto's parents themselves.
'I have to get to the bottom of this,' Minato thought to himself.
"Alright, everyone, thank you. Please inform the rookies on the teams who didn't pass that they are to report to the academy at the beginning of the following year to repeat, assuming they still want to be ninja," Minato said, dismissing all the Jonin. All leave except for Fugaku.
"No rush, huh?" Minato asks.
"Give me a break and cut the small talk," Fugaku said with a frown on his face.
"I'm here to make my report," Fugaku added with a serious tone this time.
"Alright," Minato said while a smirk was still on his face.
"What is your assessment of Naruto?" Minato asks in a serious tone.
"The boy is very smart, and I'm sure he already realizes that I'm watching him. He hasn't given anything away at all. I will continue to observe him," Fugaku said.
"Thank you, Fugaku," Minato said.