"Huh?"
Whoa!
Jiraiya's brow shot up, his attention instantly snapped.
At the same time, a kunai flew toward his waist.
Trying to steal it?
He dodged immediately, but—
Bang!
Kakashi in front of him turned into a block of wood.
In the next instant, a blade sliced across Jiraiya's waist.
One of the bell's ropes had been cut!
Almost simultaneously, Jiraiya's hair shot out, seizing Kakashi's hands.
Kakashi gritted his teeth and tossed the bell to the ground.
"Haruto!"
Konan sprinted below, throwing kunai and shuriken toward him.
All the traps around had been cleared.Her only option…Was to help Haruto clear obstacles and find a safe landing.
Whoosh!
A spiked wooden plank flew toward Haruto. A rope attached to it was cut by a kunai Konan threw, producing a loud snap!
Haruto glanced back, immediately grabbing the edge of the flying plank.
Then—he pushed off with all his strength.Launching himself upward, he reached desperately for the falling bell.
Clang!
He caught it!
The moment he grabbed it, Jiraiya's hair lashed out.Haruto was bound tightly, hoisted up like a bag of rice, standing side by side with Kakashi.
Jiraiya glared at Haruto.If it weren't for that remark… how could he have distracted me and snatched the bell?
This kid…Small but cunning. He appeared oblivious, yet his mind worked harder than anyone else's.
"Phew, you kids aren't simple at all. Arguing yesterday, now cooperating so smoothly?"
"Lord Jiraiya, that was all tactical!" Haruto said with a sly grin.
Kakashi blushed.
Tactical?It was just an argument yesterday, that's all.
Jiraiya released Haruto, then used ropes to bind Kakashi.
"I said, the worst performer gets tied up and skips lunch," he reminded them, carrying Kakashi down.
Haruto followed closely.
Jiraiya chuckled, leading them to a modest-sized tree and binding Kakashi to the trunk.
"Hmph!"
Kakashi turned his head, offering no defense.
Two lunch boxes were placed beside him.Konan stepped over to join them.
Jiraiya pointed at the lunches.
"According to the rules, you each get one. He gets none. And if anyone dares to feed him, he'll also have to participate in the afternoon test."
"But…"
Konan's heart raced. She wanted to argue, but Haruto had already picked up a box and started eating.
She froze, then reluctantly picked up the other one.
Jiraiya smirked. "Alright, I'll go eat some ramen. Keep an eye on him."
"Yes, sir," Haruto responded respectfully.
Jiraiya left.Konan held her lunch but had no appetite.
"I'm sorry. I didn't contribute much, and in the end, you got tied up."
"…"
Haruto focused on his meal, seemingly not hearing her.
Seeing this, Kakashi awkwardly offered comfort. "You did well. And alone, you wouldn't have passed the test anyway."
Konan's genjutsu had provided excellent cover and precise sensing.On top of that, illusions, clones, and trap coordination in the middle of the battle had been invaluable.
So, she had done her part.
Kakashi knew he had performed the worst.As a Chunin, it was Haruto directing the fight, even considering his presence, leaving space and opportunity for him to act.Without Haruto and Konan's cooperation, he could never have cut the bell's rope.
In comparison…Haruto was far more like a competent Chunin.
Could it be… that he himself was an inadequate ninja?
Self-doubt gnawed at Kakashi, and his mood sank.At that moment, his stomach growled loudly.
He was hungry!
Just as he was feeling embarrassed—
"I've eaten half. If you don't mind, you can have the rest. It'll help for the afternoon test."
Haruto handed him a lunch box.Konan looked down—he had only eaten half!
She realized something.Haruto wasn't holding a grudge against Kakashi; he had planned all along to take the test together.
She made her decision immediately.
"You're fighting up close and burning a lot of energy. I mostly provide support, so eating a third restores some stamina. The rest is for you two."
"You're taking the test together. There's no reason to leave me out."
Konan smiled.
Kakashi blinked, speechless, feeling a lump in his throat.
"Don't misunderstand. I just don't want the team to be short one member. And feeding you isn't against the rules."
"Right," Konan nodded, glancing subtly at Haruto.
Indeed. The real Haruto was gentle, considerate, and thoughtful, even thinking of Kakashi's feelings at a moment like this.Yesterday had clearly been about correcting Kakashi's mistakes.
She reached out.
"May I take off your mask?"
"Okay—" Kakashi said with difficulty.
The mask was removed, revealing his handsome face.Haruto handed him the lunch box and fed him with chopsticks.
Whether the afternoon test came or not, the food had to be eaten.
Tsk!Jiraiya was remarkably cooperative—he still hadn't appeared.
Haruto fed him while enduring both emotional and physical strain.It was the hardest meal Kakashi had ever eaten.
At that moment—
Whoosh!
A figure landed in front of them.
"You dare to break the rules. Planning to retake the test, I see?"Jiraiya's expression was stern.
"Yes," Haruto nodded.
Jiraiya smirked coldly. "Very well. This afternoon, I'll go all out…"
Kakashi's breath caught, his face pale.
"No, I—"
"I'll let you pass," Jiraiya interrupted.
Kakashi and Konan were stunned, and Haruto looked surprised.
Then Jiraiya clapped Haruto on the shoulder.
"Don't pretend. You guessed it, didn't you?"
"Sort of. As a Sannin, if you're willing to lead us, you wouldn't set an impossible test. So I figured we'd have a chance to pass together," Haruto said.
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "But you could have abandoned him. It wouldn't stop you from becoming my subordinate."
"If becoming your student means abandoning a teammate… could you entrust your back to me?"
Hahaha! Jiraiya laughed heartily.Then he grew serious.
"Exactly. In war and missions, sacrifice is inevitable. But someone who doesn't care for their teammates' lives—how can other ninjas trust them with life or missions?"
Haruto and Jiraiya's words—like thunder—exploded in Kakashi's ears.
Teammates' lives?
He was silent.
Yesterday, Haruto's words echoed in his mind again:"Returning two years after graduation isn't without reason. How you see others affects how they see you…"
Yesterday, Kakashi had been angry and frustrated.Now, reflection crept in.
Had he been wrong in past missions, abandoning those people?
No!
As a ninja, missions and rules were paramount.
Kakashi's old beliefs and current thoughts clashed fiercely.For now, no clear winner emerged.
Haruto hadn't expected to resolve it in one go.Stubborn Genin like Kakashi wouldn't be "reformed" so easily.This was just a good start.
At the next instant—
[As Hokage, you haven't deliberately courted trust, yet your charisma earns it naturally.][Reward: Chakra control improved]
Huh?
Haruto glanced at Konan, not surprised, but with a subtle sense of satisfaction—The main objective wasn't achieved, but the secondary gain… wasn't bad.
Improving chakra control is never a loss.Absolutely worth it.