[ A / N : sorry I got carried away and wrote too much]
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It was now Indra's turn to introduce himself.
Feeling everyone's gaze on him, Indra calmly began.
"My name is Indra Uchiha. My likes are my family, training, and ninjutsu. My goal is simple—to become the strongest and stand at the pinnacle of the shinobi world."
There was a faint glint in his eyes. It wasn't arrogance, but confidence. He truly believed he would achieve it.
Himawari smiled softly. She already knew his goal. This was the Indra-kun she had fallen for.
On the other hand, Misao stared at Indra with a fiery look, as if looking at a distant rival. After all, if Indra wanted to become the strongest and stand at the pinnacle of the shinobi world, then their dreams would eventually clash.
The others began clapping.
Then Kakashi began to speak.
"That is truly an ambitious goal. To achieve it, you would need to surpass the Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki, and your father, Sasuke Uchiha. It certainly won't be easy."
He looked at Indra seriously.
Indra only smirked. "I always welcome challenges," he said confidently.
Kakashi observed him carefully. Does he have blind confidence… or real ability?
"All right. Let's start the test."
Himawari and Misao looked confused.
Indra, however, remained calm. He knew nothing was ever simple with Kakashi around.
Kakashi began to explain.
"Listen closely. Of the 27 graduates who made it this far, only nine will be accepted as Genin. The other eighteen will be weeded out and sent back to the Academy. In other words, this is a make-it-or-break-it exam with a failure rate of over 66%."
He lifted his head from his small orange book, his visible eye curving into a closed-eye smile.
"But don't get too comfortable. In all the years I've been doing this—even before I became the Sixth Hokage and when I led Team Seven, consisting of Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha—I've never passed a single team. Every group failed for the same reason: they didn't understand the one thing more important than following rules. So unless you show me something different, you're all going back to school."
Himawari and Misao turned pale. No one wanted to return to the Academy.
Indra was slightly surprised that Kakashi still used this same approach.
Then Kakashi held up two bells.
"Whoever takes these bells will pass and officially become a member of my team."
Himawari raised her hand. "But Sensei… there are only two bells."
Even Misao looked at Kakashi seriously, waiting for the answer.
"It's simple," Kakashi replied with a closed-eye smile. "Whoever doesn't get a bell will return to school."
Misao frowned. "Isn't it always a three-person team?"
"Yes, it has always been that way. But it doesn't apply to me. My rules are the rules. Understand?"
The three nodded in understanding.
"Get ready. The exam begins on the count of three."
3.
4.
5.
In an instant, the three of them vanished into the bushes.
Indra, understanding the true purpose of the exam, immediately moved to find Himawari. Using his sensory abilities, he quickly located her.
Sensing Indra's presence, Himawari turned her head.
"Himawari, we need to work together as a team to snatch the bells. We should also find Misao," Indra said calmly.
Himawari hesitated. "But Indra-kun… Kakashi-sensei clearly said only two will pass."
"I figured that out. It's definitely a way to test our teamwork. From the history I've studied, teams either fail entirely or pass as a three-person unit."
"I see… I trust you, Indra-kun. Let's do this," she said with determination.
Indra smiled slightly.
Soon, they found Misao.
"Huh? Shouldn't you be looking for an opportunity to steal the bells?" Misao asked, confused.
"We have to work together as a team to overcome this test," Indra said directly.
"What makes you so sure?" Misao asked, folding his arms.
"Simple. From the relevant history I've studied, teams either fail completely or pass together as three. It's obvious Kakashi-sensei is testing teamwork."
Misao paused, then nodded in realization.
He extended his hand. "Alright. I'm trusting you. What you said makes sense. But don't betray that trust, or I'll chase you to the ends of this village."
Indra sweatdropped but shook his hand anyway.
The three quickly discussed a plan.
Meanwhile, Kakashi casually read his little orange book, waiting for them to make a move.
Suddenly, Misao formed hand signs.
"Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning."
A cloud of hot, chakra-infused ash spread out, obscuring Kakashi's vision.
Kakashi immediately grew serious.
Himawari appeared in front of him and launched Gentle Fist strikes. Just as Kakashi prepared to dodge, the sound of a thousand birds chirping echoed behind him.
Chidori.
Kakashi's eye widened slightly in shock. That was his own jutsu.
Using a substitution technique, he avoided the attack at the last moment. Indra and Himawari immediately canceled their jutsu.
How did they appear so quietly? Kakashi thought.
Then Misao, assisted by a summoned toad, attacked again.
"Fire Release: Toad Flame Bomb!"
Oil from the toad combined with fire release, creating a massive blast of flames.
Kakashi used his Purple Lightning to enhance his speed and evade it.
What are these kids eating? Since when do Genin fight like this?
Indra suddenly appeared in front of him using a lightning-enhanced Body Flicker and threw a punch. Kakashi countered, and they began exchanging taijutsu.
The air seemed to tighten as they closed the distance. Indra moved smoothly, leading with quick palm strikes. Kakashi parried with precise, economical movements, reading Indra's muscle tension before each attack fully formed.
Kakashi attempted a sweeping kick. Indra leapt and twisted midair, aiming a heel strike downward.
Kakashi used Body Flicker for positioning and appeared at Indra's flank, launching a punch.
Indra's Sharingan tracked it perfectly. He caught Kakashi's wrist and redirected him toward a cedar tree.
Just as Kakashi steadied himself, Indra smiled slightly.
From both sides, Misao and Himawari attacked simultaneously—Misao with a chakra-infused punch and Himawari with a powerful Gentle Fist strike coated in chakra.
At the last second, Kakashi boosted himself with Purple Lightning and narrowly avoided both attacks.
Kakashi mentally swore. In what world does this look like a bunch of Genin?
"All right, Kakashi-sensei. The test is over," Indra said calmly.
He was holding both bells.
Kakashi looked at the bells in Indra's hand, then quickly checked his waist.
Empty.
When did he take them?
Then he remembered—it was during their taijutsu exchange, when Misao and Himawari attacked simultaneously. Indra had taken advantage of that brief distraction.
Kakashi couldn't help but sigh. Children really do grow quickly.
"Alright, Indra. Since you took the bells, you have the right to choose who receives one," Kakashi said.
"Neither," Indra replied.
"Huh?" Kakashi blinked.
Himawari spoke. "We figured it out, Kakashi-sensei. You were testing our teamwork, weren't you?"
"Yeah," Misao added.
"How did you figure that out?" Kakashi asked.
"It's quite obvious," Indra said. "From the historical records, I've never seen a two-man team. It's either complete failure or a three-man team. Teamwork is essential for important shinobi missions."
Kakashi stared at them for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"Alright. You pass."
All three of them smiled. Even Indra allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction.
Looking at the new team he would be leading, Kakashi felt a sense of nostalgia. It reminded him of the old Team Seven.
Though… these three might even surpass them someday. No they might already be on their path to surpassing them.
......
Give me your power stone if you want new chapters.
It was motivate me to write more. So give me those power stones.