Sakura suddenly spoke up.
Her unexpected outburst made Menma raise his eyebrows in mild surprise. He hadn't expected Sakura to show such courage. Seeing things clearly was one thing—but making a decisive choice in the middle of uncertainty was something entirely different.
At least at this point, Menma found himself quietly impressed by her.
A faint glimmer flashed across Kakashi's single visible eye beneath his hitai-ate.
"That's fine! I'll give you the bell, Sakura. Worst case, I'll just go ask Grandpa Third later. I'm sure I can get another chance to graduate!"
Naruto spoke up right after Menma and Sakura, his usual grin plastered across his face. He waved his hand quickly, then tossed the bell in his hand toward Menma, Sasuke, and Sakura.
He thumped his chest with exaggerated confidence, clearly trying to prove his sincerity.
"Hmph, I don't need this bell either. I'll graduate next year—just next year."
Sasuke took a deep breath and tossed the bell back toward Naruto. Even though he wanted to pass and move on to the next test, his pride wouldn't allow him to accept the bell this way. The Uchiha's self-respect burned too strong.
"What are you doing, Sasuke!? I gave it to you out of kindness! I told you, I can definitely get the chance to graduate from Grandpa Third!"
Naruto grew flustered when Sasuke threw the bell back.
"Hmph. I don't need your kindness."
Sasuke crossed his arms and replied coldly. The pride of the Uchiha clan did not need pity.
"You—!"
Naruto furrowed his brows, about to argue back—
Clap clap clap.
"Excellent! All four of you… have passed the test."
Kakashi's calm voice cut through the tension. He clapped his hands lightly, his tone unexpectedly gentle.
Everyone froze.
Except for Menma.
"Huh?"
"?"
"Ehh!?"
Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke all stared at Kakashi in disbelief.
"What do you mean, Kakashi-sensei? Why the sudden change?" Naruto asked, confused.
The shift had been so abrupt that none of them could follow.
Kakashi smiled faintly beneath his mask. "Heh, the question you just answered was part of the real test. I'm satisfied with your responses, which means you've all passed. Menma, you probably figured it out from the start, didn't you? What my true intention behind this exam was."
His visible eye turned toward Menma knowingly.
"Eh? Really? Menma!?"
Naruto turned to him in surprise.
Sakura and Sasuke's gazes followed.
"It wasn't clear at the start," Menma said calmly, his tone composed. "But I had a guess. Kakashi-sensei, you designed this test to see if we understood the value of teamwork, right?"
"Teamwork?" Naruto muttered.
Sasuke's brows furrowed slightly—not exactly pleased.
Sakura, on the other hand, let out a deep sigh of relief. To her, this was the best possible outcome. She had already braced herself to face her peers' laughter if she failed and had to return to the Academy. Now, all that anxiety melted away, replaced by unrestrained happiness.
It was like finding sunlight after a long shadow.
Kakashi nodded. "Exactly. In the world of shinobi, following orders and completing missions are vital—but no mission can succeed without trust and cooperation. No matter how skilled an individual is, a single person's strength is limited. That's why teams exist: to balance and support one another. You're all officially genin now, so what I need you to understand is this—no one can succeed alone."
His tone grew serious as his gaze swept across Naruto, Menma, Sasuke, and Sakura.
"I see! I was really worried there for a second, haha! You should've told me earlier, Kakashi-sensei! Don't worry, our team totally has teamwork! Right, Menma? Sasuke? Sakura?" Naruto said, grinning ear to ear.
Kakashi gave a small sigh, shaking his head with an amused expression.
"I don't know who it was that just said they were going to ask the Third Hokage for a retake…"
Kakashi's single eye narrowed in mock reproach.
"Ahaha… I was just joking! Just joking!"
Naruto rubbed the back of his head, laughing awkwardly.
"So, that means we've officially graduated, right, Kakashi-sensei?" he asked eagerly.
Kakashi smiled. "Yes. You're all qualified."
As he'd already noted earlier, even if every other student from this year's class failed, Team 7—Naruto, Menma, Sasuke, and Sakura—would almost certainly pass.
Unless something extraordinary happened, Menma's graduation was practically guaranteed. For twelve years, he'd already been personally evaluated by the Third Hokage himself—recognized as the stable, trustworthy Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails. Though his personality leaned toward quiet and reserved, those qualities could be refined through experience.
His control and composure were proof that he was a shinobi worth trusting.
Besides, Team 7 also had Naruto—another Jinchūriki—and Sasuke Uchiha, the last scion of the Uchiha clan. There was no chance that this squad would be sent back to the Academy.
But beyond politics and bloodlines, their performance today had genuinely met Kakashi's expectations.
They had shown unity, selflessness, and trust.
"Alright then! Team 7 is officially formed!" Naruto cheered, pumping his fist. "So, Kakashi-sensei, shouldn't you treat us to something for passing?"
"Hm… You're right," Kakashi replied with a smile. "Today marks the beginning of Team 7's journey. I'll treat you all to a proper meal, and then you can rest. Tomorrow, we'll start taking real missions."
"Ohhh! Long live Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto shouted joyfully, raising his hands high.
"Menma, Sasuke—you're coming too, right?"
He turned to his teammates with an expectant grin.
Menma gave a faint smile, his calm eyes reflecting the afternoon sun.
Sasuke looked away but didn't refuse.
For the first time, the air around Team 7 felt lighter.
Four young shinobi stood together, their paths now bound by shared purpose
the beginning of a bond that would shape their destinies forever.
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