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#8 Divine Reward System
🕑 Added 2025-02-22 01:08:09 +0000 UTCAfter a brief silence, Naruto finally spoke up.
"Kakashi-sensei, there are three of us, but only two bells. Why?"
Kakashi responded casually, as if he had been expecting the question. "Simple. It means at least one of you will fail this test and be sent back to the Academy for more training until you can pass the final assessment."
Naruto's eyes widened in shock. "Wait, what?!"
"So," Kakashi continued, jingling the bells in his hand, "if you don't want to be eliminated, then you'd better come at me with everything you've got. And don't hold back—you can even use shuriken if you need to."
This test was clearly a reflection of Kakashi's own experiences when he was younger. He wanted his team to learn teamwork, to support each other, and if necessary, even defy orders in order to protect their comrades. It was a harsh lesson, but an important one.
Naruto, however, wasn't thinking about deeper meanings. "But… isn't that kind of dangerous?" he asked hesitantly.
Kakashi's expression darkened slightly. "A ninja's missions are always dangerous. If you want to be a real shinobi, you must be prepared to put your life on the line."
Hearing this, Naruto quickly turned to Tatsuya and grinned. "Tatsuya, there are two bells, so one for you and one for me. As for that annoying Sasuke, we don't have to worry about him."
Tatsuya shook his head. "That's not how it works. He's part of our team. We can't just abandon him."
Naruto groaned. "But there are only two bells!"
Tatsuya smirked. "Where there's a will, there's a way. First, we should focus on getting the bells. We can figure out what to do afterward. How about that?"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow at this unexpected response. This was the first time he had seen a student prioritize teamwork even when they knew there weren't enough spots to pass. It made him take a second glance at Tatsuya.
Naruto hesitated for a moment before shrugging. "Eh, fine, I'll go with your plan."
Tatsuya then turned to Sasuke.
Sasuke crossed his arms and scoffed. "You two will just slow me down. I'm fine on my own."
His confidence wasn't unfounded. Even at his current level, he was stronger than most Genin and could even hold his own against some Chunin. In Konoha, he was practically unbeatable among his peers.
Tatsuya shrugged. "Suit yourself." Then he turned to Naruto. "Let's go."
Naruto blinked. "Go where?"
Tatsuya sighed. "Do you really think we can take a bell from Kakashi in a direct fight?"
Despite Tatsuya's advantage with his Sharingan, his experience and control still weren't at the level required to take on a Jonin. Winning against Kakashi through brute force was nearly impossible. They needed a strategy. A surprise attack. A way to break the record and take the bells.
Unfortunately, Naruto wasn't one for patience.
"How will I know if I don't try?!" he declared, charging forward without a second thought.
The result was predictable. Kakashi dodged his attack effortlessly, countered, and within seconds, had Naruto pinned to the ground.
"Naruto, you're too reckless," Kakashi said, shaking his head. "I haven't even officially started the test yet."
Tatsuya sighed as Naruto struggled in Kakashi's grasp. "Believe me now?" he asked dryly.
Kakashi released Naruto and finally made his announcement.
"Alright, now the test officially begins."
This time, Naruto, having learned his lesson, followed Tatsuya instead of charging in blindly.
Tatsuya led him to the shade of a large tree and sat down.
"Let's rest here for a bit."
Naruto looked horrified. "What?! Tatsuya, are you serious?! We only have three hours! You want to sit around and take a break?!"
Tatsuya leaned back against the tree. "You can't rush a plan. Running in blindly won't get us anywhere."
Naruto grumbled but sat down anyway. As he did, he noticed Tatsuya pulling out a book. It had an orange cover and a very familiar title.
"Volume One of 'Icha Icha Paradise: Step-sis is stuck, I must help her...'?" Naruto read aloud, confused.
The book was something Tatsuya had put together the night before. It was bait—designed to lure Kakashi into a trap.
Tatsuya grinned. "This is part of the plan."
Naruto was still skeptical. "I was wondering why you were carrying a book. But will this really work? Kakashi-sensei is a ninja. He won't fall for something like that, right?"
"Oh, trust me," Tatsuya said confidently. "He will."
Meanwhile, Sasuke had taken a different approach. Hiding in the bushes, he was carefully observing Kakashi, waiting for an opportunity to strike. He knew a frontal assault was foolish, so he was searching for the perfect opening.
But when he glanced over at Tatsuya and Naruto, he was stunned to see them lounging under a tree. Were they giving up already? Did Kakashi scare them so much that they had abandoned the fight?
Kakashi was equally surprised. But his attention quickly shifted to the book in Tatsuya's hands. His one visible eye gleamed with interest as he murmured to himself.
"Wait… is that… a rumored edition of 'Icha Icha Paradise'?"
The name 'Step-sis is stuck, I must help her...' sounded intriguing. Had Jiraiya-sama written this and not told him?
Kakashi felt the irresistible urge to take a peek.
"No," he muttered, shaking his head. "I can't let them know my weaknesses."
But the temptation was strong.
Sasuke, watching from the shadows, finally saw the first crack in Kakashi's defense.
"This is my chance," he whispered.
Without hesitation, he sprang into action, launching a flurry of kunai directly at Kakashi…
Clang! Clang! Clang!
A dozen kunai struck Kakashi dead on, and Naruto's eyes widened in shock.
"Whoa! Did we just take down Kakashi-sensei?!"
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Tatsuya muttered, arms crossed. "There's no way an elite Jonin like him would go down that easily."
Sure enough, the moment the words left his mouth, Kakashi's body—still impaled with kunai—vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving behind nothing but a battered wooden log.
Sasuke scowled. "Damn substitution jutsu."
He scanned the area, eyes sharp and wary. His frustration grew—no matter how much he tried, he still couldn't activate his Sharingan at will. The last time it had awakened, it was through sheer despair when he watched his brother, Itachi, massacre their clan. But that moment had been fleeting, and he hadn't been able to tap into that power since.
"Tch." Sasuke clenched his fists. He wasn't about to let Kakashi humiliate him.
"Impressive." Kakashi's voice echoed through the clearing. When he finally appeared again, he was casually holding an orange book.
Naruto squinted at the familiar sight. "Wait… is that—?!"
"Yup." Kakashi flipped a page in his beloved Icha Icha Paradise. "Figured I'd catch up on some reading while I wait for you guys to do something impressive."
Tatsuya, who was seated under a tree, smirked. He could already see how this was going to play out.
Sasuke didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, his hands flicking kunai at Kakashi in rapid succession. Kakashi dodged effortlessly, weaving between the attacks, but Sasuke was already closing the gap.
"Not bad," Kakashi mused, shifting just as Sasuke's hand grazed the bell at his waist.
For a split second, Kakashi looked genuinely surprised. No other student had gotten this close in years.
'This kid's not bad,' he thought. 'Maybe I shouldn't get too distracted…'
Realizing he'd almost been caught off guard, Kakashi sighed and snapped his book shut. "Alright, I suppose I should take you a little more seriously."
Sasuke's eyes gleamed with determination. "Too late."
Without another word, he weaved a series of hand signs at breakneck speed. Then, taking a deep breath, he exhaled a massive fireball.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
The scorching flames roared toward Kakashi, engulfing him completely.
Naruto, watching from the sidelines, nearly fell over. "What the—?! Sasuke knows advanced jutsu like that?!"
The Fireball Jutsu was a signature of the Uchiha clan, a technique most didn't master until much later. Sasuke's control over it was beyond impressive for a Genin.
Tatsuya, meanwhile, observed the sequence of hand signs, mentally noting them. His Sharingan may not have been active at the moment, but he had a sharp eye for detail. He could tell it would take time to replicate, but it was something worth remembering.
As the flames died down, Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Did I get him?"
The answer came a second later—there was no Kakashi in the scorched clearing.
Sasuke's stomach dropped. "Where—?"
"Below you."
Before he could react, a hand shot up from the dirt, gripping his ankle.
"Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu."
In an instant, Sasuke was yanked underground, leaving only his head exposed. He struggled, but it was no use.
Kakashi crouched next to him. "Combat isn't just about strength," he lectured. "You've got potential, but you still have a long way to go."
Tatsuya wasn't surprised at all. He casually flipped a page in his book, while Naruto was practically vibrating with excitement.
"This is it! Kakashi-sensei let his guard down!"
Seizing the moment, Naruto sprinted forward, aiming for the bells dangling from Kakashi's waist.
But just as his fingers were about to close around one—
Poof.
Kakashi vanished.
Naruto's eyes darted around frantically. "Where'd he—?!"
Behind him, Kakashi appeared with his hands forming a seal.
"Oh no," Tatsuya muttered, already bracing for what was about to happen.
Naruto barely had time to register the movement before he heard Kakashi's voice behind him.
"Konoha's Secret Taijutsu…"
"Wait, wait, wait—"
"Thousand Years of Death!"
Naruto's scream echoed through the training ground as he was sent soaring into the sky, clutching his behind in horror.
Tatsuya sighed. "I saw that coming."
Sasuke, still stuck in the ground, simply closed his eyes, already accepting the fate of his team. "Idiot."
