Chapter 40: Team Nine Teamwork, Bell Test
Namikaze Minato led his two students to Training Ground 12, one of Konoha's less-crowded fields, often reserved for special teams or jōnin drills. He cleared his throat, set his normally warm face into what he probably thought was a stern expression, and said seriously, "Although you've passed the Academy exam, there's one more hurdle before you can officially start receiving missions as genin. Fail this, and it's back to the Academy for another year."
Classic scare tactic. Every jōnin-sensei pulled this stunt to rattle their new teams and weed out slackers. The only issue was—Minato's gentle babyface made him look more like he was about to offer a popsicle than deliver a death sentence. The effect was… less than terrifying.
"Understood," Kakashi replied flatly, as if he was already bored with this world.
Tonan, playing the ever-serious honor student, added, "Kakashi and I will do our utmost to pass your test, Minato-sensei."
Minato gave them a bright smile and produced two small bells from his pouch. With a jingle, he explained, "Only two bells. That means only those who get a bell can pass. The one who fails… goes back to the Academy."
He hung the bells on his waist like prized accessories. "You have one hour. Start when ready."
Swish!
Kakashi vanished without a word. Fast and silent. Already in hiding.
Tonan adjusted his glasses, bowed politely, and said, "Minato-sensei, forgive my offense."
Suddenly, the earth beneath Minato cracked open—Kakashi burst out like a land shark, hand shooting for the bells.
Bang!
A substitution log clunked to the ground. On a branch above, Minato appeared with his arms folded, looking down at Tonan.
"Kakashi can't get the bells alone," he called. "You'll have to work together."
Dingling.
The sound came from behind.
Minato turned his head—and saw Tonan right behind him, bells already in his hand, swaying them with a friendly smile.
"Sensei, is the test over?"
For a moment, Minato blinked—then chuckled. "That genjutsu was impressive."
The illusion peeled away—Minato had never moved. The Tonan with the bells had been an illusion layered over reality, and the real one was calmly pushing up his glasses on the ground below.
The three-tomoe Sharingan spun lazily in his eyes. He bowed again. "Minato-sensei, forgive the offense."
And that was just the opening act.
Minato smiled again, this time more earnestly. "Don't hold back. I can take it."
"Be careful, Sensei," Tonan warned, fingers flashing through seals.
"Fire Style – Great Fireball Technique!"
A blazing inferno whooshed across the field. At the same time, Tonan flung a spread of kunai—each clinking off the others midair to alter trajectory. Trick shots.
Minato leapt to avoid the fire and the kunai…
Step— his foot touched down—and the ground turned to sludge.
"Earth Style – Dark Swamp."
Kakashi emerged from behind the trees, arms folded like this was all routine. "Hand over the bells."
Bang! Log clone. Again.
Kakashi tensed—Minato was behind him, smiling as always, tapping his shoulder.
Bang! Clone again.
Minato laughed. "Looks like you two are working together well."
But his eyes casually flicked toward two nearby bushes.
Swish!
Four Fūma Shuriken whirled out from different directions, a perfect cross-angle attack.
"Oh? Special weapons now?"
Minato leapt again—light as wind—and landed on the center of one spinning shuriken like he was performing ballet. But as he dropped, he noticed the shuriken were tethered with chakra threads, and they were tightening.
A web. A chakra wire trap mid-air.
"Well played!"
He whipped out a kunai—not to cut the wire (which wouldn't work), but to use its spin to accelerate his descent. Controlled fall.
In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen was watching it all through his Crystal Ball Technique. He exhaled a puff of smoke and narrowed his eyes.
"They're already at chunin level. Giving these kids D-ranks would be a crime. Especially that Uchiha boy… he's sharper than I thought. Lightning Release too?"
Back on the field, Minato sliced through several chakra lines and dropped, just in time to see Kakashi erupting from underground, tanto drawn, aiming for Minato's arm.
Right hand—blade.
Left hand—bells.
Clang! Their weapons met midair. Kakashi shoved forward, forcing Minato into a backflip into the air—
"Lightning Style – Ground Travel!"
Crackling lightning surged through the chakra net that now surrounded Minato's falling path. The Fūma Shuriken hadn't landed—they'd stuck in trees, forming the outer points of a lightning trap.
In the forest, Tonan's Sharingan spun like wheels, eyes locked on Minato, analyzing every fluctuation in his chakra.
No substitution. This is the real one.
But Tonan didn't believe for a second that Minato was really caught.
And right on cue—
Poof!
The real Minato appeared, standing calmly atop one of the airborne Fūma Shuriken, completely outside the trap.
He looked down at them, smiling.
"The test is over. Both of you pass."
He landed gently on the ground.
"This test was about teamwork, and you both exceeded expectations. You're more than ready. If not for lack of mission experience, I'd recommend you for chunin right now."
Tonan squinted. Flying Thunder God… Did he mark the shuriken earlier when he dodged?
He bowed respectfully. "Minato-sensei, we're honored. But if this had been real combat, Kakashi and I wouldn't have stood a chance."
Minato scratched his head. "Well, I am a jōnin. Give it a few years, and you two might surpass me. Now then—how about we celebrate Team Nine's formation with some ramen?"
Kakashi sheathed his tanto with a side glance at Tonan. He looked like he'd rather go home and train until his fingers bled.
But Tonan, ever the tactician, nodded politely. "Thank you, Sensei. Kakashi and I would love that."
Kakashi sighed internally but shrugged. "Fine."
Minato smiled. "Ichiraku's it is. Still got half an hour 'til lunch. I'll go pick someone up first—meet you there!"
And just like that, he vanished in a blur of yellow light, leaving behind only the faint jingle of the bells.