The Kakashi who had just been "swallowed" by the flames.
The huge blackened pit that exploded open appeared clearly in front of everyone.
Sakura, who had been hiding in the forest to observe the situation, jumped out at this moment.
"You… you actually killed Kakashi-sensei!? This is a drill! Sasuke! Naruto!"
With shock and fear written all over her face, Haruno Sakura shouted toward Naruto and Sasuke. The moment Sasuke noticed Sakura rushing out, his brows instantly furrowed, while Naruto's expression changed even more dramatically, shouting sharply in her direction.
"Sakura! Don't come out, go back!"
"Eh?"
However, Naruto's warning was still a step too late.
Just as Sakura froze for a brief moment in confusion, she suddenly felt a hand gently pat her shoulder. She subconsciously turned her head, and before she could react at all, Kakashi's smiling face was already reflected in her widened eyes.
Kakashi formed seals with lightning speed.
"Genjutsu: Hell Viewing Technique."
In an instant, Sakura's originally clear pupils lost focus and became vacant.
The very next moment.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh—!"
A piercing scream echoed through the training ground.
Naruto could only let out a helpless sigh, one hand pressing against his forehead.
Sakura's body collapsed weakly onto the ground.
Solved.
Effortlessly.
Naruto truly did not know what to say.
If Sakura had stayed obediently hidden in the forest, Kakashi—who was clearly holding back while testing them—would never have taken the initiative to target her. But Sakura running out on her own gave Kakashi both a reason and an opportunity to deal with her directly.
Seriously.
Everyone knew that Kakashi was a jōnin.
How could he possibly be defeated so easily by just Naruto and Sasuke?
At that moment, Naruto even felt an invisible expression of "you've caused a huge disaster" floating in the air.
Naruto didn't know how to complain anymore. Logically speaking, Haruno Sakura ranked first in theoretical knowledge during her time at the Ninja Academy. From that perspective alone, her intelligence should have been outstanding.
But after only a few days of working together.
Sakura seemed to be constantly dragging down Naruto's understanding of her IQ.
She was a genin who had just graduated from the Academy.
And yet.
If she were thrown directly into the outside world.
Not to mention ninjas from the other five great villages—even ninja from small villages like Takigakure, Kusagakure, Amegakure, or even wandering rogue ninja with no village affiliation could easily defeat or even kill Haruno Sakura.
This was truly lowering the average standard of Konoha's genin.
And Sakura being taken out so cleanly.
Also caused Naruto's earlier auxiliary plan to completely collapse.
The bait was gone.
There was no longer any way to carry out that strategy.
"Now… the difficulty really just went up again…"
Looking at Kakashi placing Sakura safely aside, Naruto couldn't help sighing once more, muttering softly to himself.
Sasuke only knew Kakashi was strong from instinct and pressure.
But Naruto was very clear about Kakashi's current level of strength.
Even with Kakashi deliberately holding back.
Even without releasing his full power.
This was still not an opponent that two rookie genin like himself and Sasuke could realistically handle head-on.
It was like sending two level-one beginners to challenge a level-eighteen fully-equipped boss.
Even if the boss sealed all his skills and sold off his best equipment, they would still get crushed. The only difference would be how badly.
If it were a three-man team with perfect coordination.
According to Naruto's original plan.
The success rate would still have been fairly respectable.
But now…
"Plan A has completely failed, Plan B is also dead. Now I can only try Plan C. If that still doesn't work…"
Naruto looked toward Kakashi not far away. Sakura had already been dealt with, and Kakashi had repositioned himself calmly. Sasuke stood nearby, his gaze locked on Kakashi with full vigilance. Naruto took a deep breath, and a faint golden halo flickered within his pupils.
Even though he knew the chances were slim, there was still at least a sliver of hope.
Moreover, as Naruto had already decided, this was the best opportunity to test his own limits. He couldn't just give up now.
Naruto inhaled deeply, then slowly exhaled. His eyes closed, his emotions gradually settling. Deep within his heart, everything became still, like frozen water—calm and unyielding. When Kakashi's figure once again entered his vision, Naruto seemed to sense something instinctively. His eyes snapped open.
Those eyes were deep like pools, cold like ice.
A chilling aura spread out, as if the surrounding temperature dropped sharply. For a brief moment, as their gazes met.
Even Kakashi was slightly startled.
Then the corner of his mouth lifted into a faint smile.
"Should I say you really are a ninja who has experienced the edge of life and death? It seems I'll need to put in a bit more effort to deal with you, Naruto…"
Standing side by side, Naruto and Sasuke faced Kakashi. Kakashi's attention was clearly focused more on Naruto. Sasuke was outstanding—among his peers, he was undoubtedly a genius. But at this moment, compared to Naruto, Sasuke still appeared too young and immature.
One could say.
At this moment, only Naruto could pose even the slightest threat to Kakashi while he was holding back.
From Naruto's expression, it was obvious that he still had a strategy in mind, and that was exactly what interested Kakashi the most. He was genuinely curious whether this kid could still bring him more surprises.
"I'll make a feint, Sasuke. You look for an opening. Remember, our goal is to take the bell. You know very well how big the gap between us and Kakashi-sensei is. Defeating him is impossible!"
Naruto slightly lowered his stance, muscles tensing throughout his body, speaking seriously to Sasuke at his side.
Sasuke maintained his usual proud posture, nodding coolly without saying much. However, the coldness in his expression deepened, clearly showing that he had also fully entered combat mode.
This was an important assessment related to whether they could truly become ninja.
The pride of the Uchiha clan did not allow Sasuke to fail here.
His ambition.
His goal.
That man was still waiting for him somewhere far away.
"So? Have you finished discussing your tactics? Same as before—if you don't fight with the intent to kill me, you'll never get the bell."
Kakashi lightly shook the bell at his waist, still wearing a lazy expression, the crisp sound echoing as it rang.
"Jingle—"
Kakashi's half-joking words rang clearly in Naruto and Sasuke's ears.
"Heh, Kakashi-sensei, you'd better be prepared!"
Naruto looked at Kakashi and smiled.
A wild, unrestrained aura burst forth in that instant.
Even Kakashi was momentarily taken aback.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
The next moment.
Naruto rapidly formed hand seals.
"Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff!"
Thick white smoke erupted and spread across the field.
Even though Naruto deliberately restrained himself.
Hundreds of solid shadow clones appeared all at once.
Not to mention Sasuke standing to the side.
Even Kakashi's pupils shrank slightly at this moment, a clear trace of shock flashing deep within his eyes.
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