Meeting Kakashi's gaze.
Naruto smiled faintly and replied in a calm and steady tone.
"I wouldn't say I knew it in advance. It's just that after finding out yesterday that our jōnin instructor was Kakashi-sensei, I went to Iruka-sensei to ask about him. This isn't the first time Kakashi-sensei has been arranged by the Third Hokage to lead a genin team, right? But from what I learned, every group of seniors who was previously assigned to Kakashi-sensei ended up not staying together after graduation. Obviously, it wasn't because they were weak, but because none of them passed the assessment set by Kakashi-sensei. Combined with what you said during yesterday's meeting, there was really only one possible result. That is, today's so-called survival exercise is actually the final test set by Kakashi-sensei for the three of us. Am I right, Kakashi-sensei?"
Kakashi looked at Naruto with a fixed expression for a moment, then raised his eyebrows slightly, a smile appearing beneath his mask as he nodded gently.
"Yes. Just as you said. Sakura, Sasuke, you are not the first group of graduates I've been assigned to. I've guided genin teams several times already, but there has never been a team that was officially established under me. The reason is exactly as Naruto explained—I didn't approve them. You must remember that this kind of assessment isn't special to you alone. Every jōnin-led team has a final test. The difference lies only in the level of difficulty. But I can tell you responsibly that the overall pass rate each year is only about thirty percent. What that means… you should understand very clearly."
The first part of Kakashi's words was directed toward Naruto, while the latter half was clearly meant for Sasuke and Sakura.
After hearing Kakashi's explanation, especially when recalling Naruto's earlier words, Sakura's expression could no longer remain calm. Sasuke's face also grew noticeably more solemn.
A one-third pass rate was already terrifying enough.
But Naruto had just stated that, over the past few years, every team assigned to Kakashi had failed the assessment.
If that was the case…
Did that mean the pass rate here was zero?
That thought surfaced from the depths of Sakura's mind.
She couldn't help but shiver slightly.
Could it be that they were destined to follow in the footsteps of all those predecessors today?
Sakura looked at Kakashi, who was smiling calmly in front of them, her heart filled with unease.
"Alright, that's enough chatting. Next, we'll officially begin the assessment. Just as I said before, only by passing my test and receiving my approval can you truly become qualified genin and carry out missions. Otherwise, you'll be sent back to the Ninja Academy."
As Kakashi spoke, the atmosphere around him subtly changed. He clapped his hands lightly, instantly drawing the attention of all three.
"It's already eleven o'clock now, so the time limit for the assessment will be set at noon. If you fail to complete the objective before twelve, you fail. If you don't meet the conditions within the time limit, you also fail. As for the content of the assessment… it's very simple."
Kakashi smiled slightly.
"Bells."
He reached into his pocket, took out two small bells, and tied them to his waist, letting them jingle softly.
"You can use any means you like. As long as you can take one of these bells from me before the time is up, you'll qualify."
Kakashi raised his eyebrows and looked at Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura with a deep, meaningful smile.
"I'll give you a piece of advice. If you don't fight with the determination to kill me, you won't be able to take the bells."
Kakashi's words shocked Sakura and Sasuke once again.
Especially when Sakura stared at the two bells hanging from Kakashi's waist, an extremely uncomfortable feeling welled up in her heart.
"Um… Kakashi-sensei? You said we only need a bell to pass, right? But there are only two bells. Does that mean…"
Sakura asked weakly, her voice lacking confidence.
"Hmph. That's right. Just as you're thinking, Sakura. There are only two bells. Which means at most two of you can pass. Maybe only one will. Or maybe none of you will, and all of you will be sent back to start over."
Kakashi raised his chin slightly. A cold and oppressive aura briefly flickered in his eyes. That faintly sinister tone made Sakura's body tremble uncontrollably.
"W-What… isn't that too cruel?"
When the uneasy premonition in her heart was confirmed.
Sakura felt her entire body go numb.
Only two people could pass?
Then wouldn't that mean—
She subconsciously glanced at Sasuke and Naruto beside her, and her mood instantly sank to the bottom.
Sasuke's expression also became extremely grim.
Snatching a bell from a jōnin?
Even though he didn't fully understand Kakashi's strength, the title of "Copy Ninja" alone was enough to symbolize power. Sasuke might be arrogant, but his understanding of strength far exceeded that of ordinary peers. After all, he was once the young master of the Uchiha clan.
What it meant to be a jōnin.
Sasuke understood that better than anyone.
To take a bell from such an existence?
The probability seemed unbelievably low.
But no matter how he felt.
He had no choice but to participate in this survival exercise.
He had neither the interest nor the patience to return to the Ninja Academy and waste another year.
He had to pass today.
Sasuke stared at Kakashi, determination flickering within his dark eyes.
Meanwhile, Naruto appeared completely calm on the surface, though inwardly he couldn't help curling his lips slightly.
It wasn't that Naruto thought Kakashi was merely trying to scare them.
In fact, even without knowledge of the original story, Naruto had already learned from Iruka that Kakashi's team assessment was notoriously strict. There had indeed been several teams before them that failed under Kakashi's evaluation.
The bell-grabbing test was also one of Konoha's most classic and direct ways of assessing genin.
A pass rate of one-third was real.
But that wasn't the whole truth.
What Kakashi hadn't said out loud.
Was the true core of this assessment.
The real standard wasn't about actually taking the bells—it was about teamwork.
Of course, successfully grabbing a bell was the best result.
But even if they couldn't, as long as they met the true requirements of the test, they could still pass.
And most importantly—
This was only an assessment.
Kakashi would never use his full strength. He would even deliberately hold back at certain moments. Otherwise, the test itself would lose all meaning.
The key point was that the degree of restraint was entirely up to Kakashi.
It was Kakashi who decided whether they were qualified.
That was the crucial detail Naruto needed to focus on.
Naruto didn't think that he, Sasuke, and Sakura would fail this test. Unlike written exams that required memorizing standard answers, once you understood the purpose and essence of this assessment, the probability of passing would rise to at least eighty percent.
Next.
What Naruto needed to do was to let Sasuke and Sakura gradually realize this truth.
Either by subtly guiding them.
Or by taking the initiative himself, uniting the team, and completing the assessment together.
And on that basis—
Using this stage.
Using Kakashi as a real combat target.
To test exactly where his own limits lay.