Chapter 60: The Bell Test
The day of departure drew nearer, but a knot remained tight in Liumu's chest. He'd visited the Hatake compound several times, but Kakashi was never there. It was as if, after that morning on the Hokage Rock, a heavy bronze door had slammed shut behind the silver-haired boy, sealing him away in the shadows beneath an ANBU mask.
Whether Sakumo's choice was right or wrong was a matter of heated, hushed debate in Konoha. No one knew the exact details of that fateful mission, but the fact that he'd abandoned it to save his comrades meant that even those who privately understood his reasoning dared not voice support too loudly. The two teammates he'd saved had even been heard grumbling in discontent, which further stifled public sympathy.
"The Third wants you to lead a genin team."
Jiraiya dropped this bombshell over dinner one evening.
"What? I thought we agreed on traveling? How can I lead a team?" Liumu rolled his eyes, his tone cold. "Besides, I don't want to be anyone's puppet. Find someone else. What kind of team leader is a six-year-old anyway?"
Jiraiya had expected this response. He didn't push. The Third had asked him to sound Liumu out as a last-ditch effort, but Jiraiya had already prepared him for the refusal.
Their previous mission to Kirigakure, including travel, had taken over half a year—far too long. Liumu couldn't shake the thought that if he'd been in Konoha at the time, he might have been able to stop Sakumo before it was too late.
"Fine. Then at least help Makoto Yuhi evaluate a team. You know him from the Kiri mission. He's swamped with ANBU work lately, no time for it."
Hearing this, Liumu caught a whiff of something else. Yuhi Makoto was Kurenai Yuhi's father. Though they'd gotten somewhat familiar during the mission, it was unlikely Makoto would personally ask him for a favor like this.
The only possibility was…
"He didn't ask you, did he? You're just too lazy to do it and are dumping it on me!" Liumu frowned, watching Jiraiya's evasive expression. He was sure of it now.
"Hey, what's with that look? I'm your teacher, you know. Can't you do me this one favor?" Jiraiya retorted, giving Liumu a light punch on the arm. "Besides, it's a newly formed genin team. You graduated early and never had that team experience. I want you to go and feel the… atmosphere of teamwork. The bonds."
Bonds? Atmosphere? Liumu didn't get it, and couldn't be bothered to think too hard. But seeing the uncharacteristically earnest look on Jiraiya's face, he finally relented.
Three days later, Training Ground 44.
Liumu crouched on a high tree branch, observing the two boys and one girl gathered below. They looked so young, so green, it was like looking at a reflection of his own brief time at the Academy. Back then, he'd been a nobody, with nothing but decent grades to his name. The idea of becoming a real ninja had felt like a distant dream.
Yet here he was, two years later, in a completely different world.
"I heard the one testing us this time is a chunin even younger than us," one of the boys said, squatting on the ground and squinting at the blazing sun.
"No way? Isn't it supposed to be Jonin Yuhi Makoto? I heard about him back in first year. And I heard his daughter is Kurenai Yuhi from the fourth-year class. Why would it be a chunin now?" the lone kunoichi in the team asked, her voice laced with doubt.
"Are you deaf? Didn't you hear what I just said? A chunin younger than us! Chunin!" The boy jumped to his feet, exasperated. "I can't wait to see who it is. A chunin younger than us means he graduated early. Aside from those two legends, I can't think of anyone else."
"You mean…?"
"Exactly!" The boy puffed out his chest. "Have you forgotten what shook the Academy two years ago? Hatake Kakashi and Liumu made history, passing the graduation exam at age five!"
"And you're proud of that?" The kunoichi gave a wry smile. "Don't you think it's a bit… embarrassing, having someone younger than us as our evaluation sensei?"
"Well…"
"Finding it embarrassing to be judged by me?"
A voice, calm and unfamiliar, suddenly cut through their discussion from right behind them.
"Wah!" The kunoichi yelped. All three spun around.
They saw a boy with a bald head and a lazy expression squatting on one of the training posts. He looked completely ordinary, yet his presence was unnerving.
When Liumu had graduated in haste, the Academy hadn't had time to take his photo for the honor roll. So, in the halls of the ninja school, the legendary "Liumu" remained a faceless name. It was no surprise these three didn't recognize him.
"You… you are…?"
"My name is Liumu. I'm in charge of your team's evaluation. Pass my test, and you'll become part of Jonin Yuhi Makoto's squad. Fail, and it's back to the Academy for more studying."
The boy who'd been so eager before stared, his jaw nearly hitting the ground. "You're Liumu?!" He scrambled forward, a fanboy-ish gleam in his eyes. "C-can I have your autograph? You have no idea, the Academy teachers won't stop praising you! They use you as an example to scold us for everything!"
Liumu: "…"
"Are they praising me or scolding you? If you don't know how to phrase it, maybe just stay quiet."
Seeing Liumu's utterly serious, unsmiling face, the trio's initial excitement quickly morphed into nervous tension.
As for how to evaluate a genin team's qualifications, Liumu had little experience. Beyond the bell-stealing test famously used by Kakashi and the… enthusiastic methods of Might Guy, his mind was a blank slate.
But, looking at their eager, anxious faces, an idea slowly formed. A faint, mischievous smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Since this is a team evaluation, my criteria will be based on the three of you as a unit." He paused, letting his words sink in. "I will tell one of you the correct answer to the test I've prepared. You may use any means—deception, trickery, cooperation—to obtain that information and pass. It's not difficult, but it's not easy either. The time limit is sunset today."
He pointed a thumb over his shoulder. "Now… spread out!"
(End of Chapter)
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