BlackStar_BH:
More Power Stones and comments, guys!
Enjoy the new chapter!
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Inside the Art Store, everyone had already taken their favorite seats.
This time, the shinobi of Konoha didn't need any organization to line up, because people didn't arrive all at once. Instead, they entered one by one, avoiding overcrowding and ensuring they could get inside smoothly.
The seats quickly filled up. Civilians took their places, and shinobi who were on leave were also drawn to their seats.
This time, Jiraiya sat beside Tsunade and her younger brother, Nawaki.
"It seems Iruka is worried about Naruto's future," Jiraiya said with a smile after paying for the second volume and reading the first page.
"That's obvious… move away, you're too close."
Tsunade punched Jiraiya on the head, and a round bump immediately appeared.
Jiraiya cried silent tears, then quickly moved a little farther away so his skull wouldn't get fractured.
…
"Thirty ryō… a reasonable price…"
The Third Hokage smiled before paying for the volume and heading to his seat.
The same seat he had sat in last month, where many familiar faces were present once again.
Danzō.
Homura.
And Koharu.
Hiruzen noticed that they were sitting next to each other, a clear sign of their strong political bond.
The Third ignored greeting them and went to sit in the seat opposite them.
Hiruzen was well aware of what Danzō had done—sending Root assassins to kill Rob.
Since Rob had apparently survived, Hiruzen had to maintain an openly hostile and rejecting attitude toward Danzō to avoid being implicated… especially after seeing the person who had come to the Art Store today.
In the seats opposite Danzō and the others sat Minato and Kushina, and this time there was a new guest… a heavyweight one.
Hiruzen swallowed his saliva as he forced a gentle smile to greet the woman.
"Mito-sama, it seems you're in very good health," the Third said with a stiff smile.
"I feel healthier than ever," Mito replied calmly.
She was seated between Minato and Kushina.
Before leaving, Rob had already given her an injection worth a year of life. That secret—she had promised to take it with her to the grave.
…
This time, the Art Store quickly filled with members of Konoha's clans.
The store that had caused a massive stir throughout the past month had attracted the curiosity of the Uchiha, Hyūga, Nara, Akimichi, and the rest of Konoha's clans.
Shinobi from all these clans could be seen sitting in close groups, and the Art Store soon turned into a massive clan council.
Even so, the number of clan members was still small compared to the number of ordinary civilians.
…
[—
"You invited me to lunch because you wanted to learn something, right, Iruka? What is it?"
The Third Hokage asked directly.
"Team Seven—Naruto and the others… What kind of teacher did you assign to them, Lord Hokage? Is he very strict?"
Iruka asked, clearly curious.
"…Who… Kakashi?"
"Does it worry you? Here…"
The Third Hokage took out a small information booklet and handed it to Iruka.
"It's a list of all of Kakashi's previous students among junior-level shinobi… who passed and who failed."
Iruka was shocked as he read it:
(It… It says…!)
…
Back to where Kakashi and Team Seven were.
"What do you mean, give up?!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Give me a break! Okay, so maybe none of us got our hands on one of your stupid bells…"
"…But why the hell should we quit over that?!"
Naruto shouted.
"Because all of you are just punks who don't deserve to be ninjas!"
Kakashi replied harshly.
"Hmph—"
Sasuke snorted coldly and attacked Kakashi.
Kakashi easily blocked him and slammed him to the ground, pinning him completely.
"That's why you're a punk."
Sasuke lay at Kakashi's mercy, Kakashi's foot planted on his head.
"NO!! Don't step on Sasuke-kun!!!"
Sakura screamed angrily.
"Are you guys underestimating ninjas, huh?"
"Why do you think you were divided into teams and made to do this training?"
—]
…
"That brat is still acting stupid?"
One of the Uchiha felt the urge to slap Sasuke again, seeing that he was still behaving foolishly even after learning the result of their failure.
But this time, he didn't dare speak out loud, afraid the clan leader might hear him.
"I wonder what shocked Iruka-sensei…" another Uchiha muttered.
"Let me guess… only a handful of kids ever became genin under this guy," another assumed.
"That's probably true."
…
In the same group, Fugaku Uchiha watched the events of the manga with a calm expression.
As a chūnin of the Uchiha clan, he understood the nature of the bell test and its true purpose.
"I wouldn't act any differently if I were in the same position."
Fugaku sighed as he watched Sasuke's desperate reaction.
"That doesn't mean they completely failed, right?"
Beside him, Mikoto asked with a worried expression.
"Of course not. If that were all, this book wouldn't be this thick."
At that moment, Uchiha Hugaku, Fugaku's father, spoke with a smile.
He was the current head of the Uchiha clan, in his fifties, wearing the uniform of the village's police force. The Uchiha clan emblem was displayed behind his white cloak. His hair was long, reaching his shoulders, his expression calm—yet his eyes carried a story.
"I agree with you, Father," Fugaku replied without smiling.
Of course, this wouldn't be the end.
"I'm starting to like Kakashi's character," the Uchiha leader said with a smile as he slowly followed the chapter's events.
…
At that moment, Sakumo entered the Art Store, holding Kakashi's hand.
Beside him was Might Duy, also holding his son's hand—Might Guy.
Their faces were full of smiles as they took their seats after purchasing the new volumes.
Before opening the volume, Sakumo's attention was drawn to the cover, which featured Team Seven this time.
"Dad… do you think Kakashi is being too harsh?"
Young Kakashi asked nervously as he looked at the previous scene in the manga.
"Well, your counterpart is just doing his duty. He's teaching a group of children who don't yet know the basics of being ninja," Sakumo replied with a gentle smile.
"I don't understand… will I grow up to be like Kakashi?"
Young Kakashi asked with innocent eyes.
He was still a child, untouched by the harsh experiences that would one day shape the cold prodigy.
He was a once-in-a-generation talent, still sheltered by his father's warmth, even though he had lost his mother to illness when he was only three years old.
"You'll grow up to be yourself. Don't overthink it, my boy. All you need to do right now is focus on enjoying your childhood," Sakumo said with a smile, patting his son's head.
Beside them, Might Duy was also excited as he read the manga.
"It seems Team Seven still hasn't understood what Kakashi meant by this test!"
"Hohoho! Then they'll understand it the hard way!" Might Duy laughed loudly.
"What's the purpose of the test, Dad?"
His son asked innocently. Might Guy was the same age as Kakashi, but far less intelligent.
"Oh, why don't you try to guess it yourself, my son?"
Duy said, flashing a dazzling smile and giving a thumbs-up.
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 55: Teamwork. And Reactions.
Chapter 56: Defining Trash. Sakumo's Tears.
Chapter 57: Shinobi Rankings and Missions in Konoha!
Chapter 58: A Protection Mission to the Land of Waves!
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BlackStar_BH:
The chapters currently available on Patreon are up to Chapter 79.
There are 25 advanced chapters available now:
5 chapters in the Silver tier ($5 subscription), 5 more chapters in the Gold tier ($10 subscription), 5 more chapters in the Platinum tier ($15 subscription), and 5 more chapters in the Diamond tier ($20 subscription).
On Patreon and Ko-fi, too.
In the coming days, chapters will be made available for all tiers, reaching up to 50 advanced chapters… Enjoy!