Jiraiya joined them near the gate. "Are you planning to hold the entire reunion here?"
"What's wrong with that?" Naruto said. "I just got back."
"Nothing. There are simply better places to stand around."
Kakashi lowered his hand. Seeing his three former students together again eased some of his worry.
"It has been a while since the three of you were together," he said. "We might as well see how much you've improved."
"A fight?" Naruto asked immediately.
"Not exactly."
Kakashi reached into his ninja pouch and brought out two small bells. Their familiar ringing was enough for all three of them to understand.
"Those again?" Naruto said.
Sasuke studied the bells. "You want to repeat the old test."
"With a few changes. I'll explain everything at the training ground."
Naruto smiled confidently. "Fine. This time, we'll take them easily."
"Don't include me in your boasting," Sasuke said.
"What was that?"
"You heard me."
Sakura folded her arms. "You two have only been together for a few minutes."
Jiraiya gave a quiet laugh. "In that case, I'll leave you to it. I still need to report to Tsunade."
"You're leaving already, Pervy Sage?"
"You youngsters can catch up on your own," Jiraiya said, raising one hand as he continued down the street. "If I keep Tsunade waiting any longer, I'll never hear the end of it."
Naruto waited until he disappeared around the corner before facing Kakashi again.
"So when do we start?"
Kakashi slipped the bells back into his pouch. "As soon as we reach the training ground."
...
Jiraiya's voice reached the office before he did.
"I'm back!"
He entered with a broad smile, but slowed when he saw everyone gathered inside.
Hiruzen and Shinichi were seated near the window, while Tsunade sat behind the Hokage's desk with Shizune beside her. Then he noticed that the desk was completely empty.
"Wait. Where did all the paperwork go?"
Tsunade set down her teacup. "Is that really the first thing you have to say after being gone so long?"
"Of course it is. Since when has your desk looked like this?"
"Maybe I finally learned how to do my job properly."
Jiraiya stared at her, then glanced at Shizune, who was trying not to laugh. Hiruzen made no effort to hide his amusement.
"Right," Jiraiya said. "For a moment, I actually believed you."
Tsunade's brow twitched. "What exactly is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing. I'm just glad some things haven't changed."
Before she could answer, Hiruzen gestured Jiraiya toward the empty seat beside Shinichi. "That's enough. Come and sit down. You only just returned."
Jiraiya accepted the tea Shizune offered and dropped into the chair.
"Senior Jiraiya, where is Naruto?" Shinichi turned and asked him.
"He stayed near the gate with Kakashi and the others," Jiraiya said. "Team 7 is together again, and Kakashi decided to see how much they've improved."
"A test?" Tsunade asked.
"The bell test, from the look of it. Kakashi already had the bells out when I left."
That immediately caught Tsunade's interest. She looked toward Hiruzen and asked, "Old man, can you still use the Telescope Technique?"
Hiruzen put down his teacup. "Do you want to watch the test?"
"We have nothing else to do," Tsunade said, pointing at the empty desk. "We might as well see how much they have improved."
Hiruzen nodded and took out a crystal ball from a drawer. He placed it on the desk and made a few hand signs, causing a soft light to appear on its surface before clearing to show one of Konoha's training fields.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura stood together in the middle of the field, while Kakashi stood under a tree in front of them with two bells hanging from his hand as he explained the rules.
Tsunade leaned closer to the crystal ball. Naruto had clearly grown, but soon she looked at Sasuke, who stood quietly next to him.
"That Uchiha boy looks much calmer now."
"He worked hard," Hiruzen said with a small smile. "Training him was not easy at first, but he learned to control himself."
Jiraiya crossed his arms. "Naruto didn't waste his time either. He still acts the same, but he's much stronger now."
Shinichi continued watching without saying anything. After a moment, Jiraiya turned toward him. "By the way, Shinichi, when will you become Hokage?"
The room went quiet as Shinichi considered the question for a moment.
"Not yet," he said.
"Not yet?" Jiraiya repeated.
Shinichi didn't explain. "But soon."
Jiraiya looked at him for a moment, then nodded. "As long as you have a plan."
Hiruzen looked back at the crystal ball, satisfied, while Tsunade quietly picked up her teacup again.
On the training field, Kakashi held up the two bells.
"The test is the same as before. Take these from me before noon."
He paused before adding, "This time, no one will be eliminated. If you get both bells, all three of you pass."
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura exchanged a look. They had taken this test before, but things were different now.
Kakashi tied the bells at his waist. "Ready?"
Naruto leaned forward, prepared to move. Beside him, Sasuke activated his Sharingan, revealing three tomoe in each eye, while Sakura stayed a few steps behind them.
As soon as Kakashi gave the signal, Naruto and Sasuke split up and rushed at him from opposite sides.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Smoke spread across the field as dozens of Naruto's clones appeared and charged forward. Sasuke circled around from the other side, while Sakura held back and watched for her chance to enter the fight.
Kakashi did not move. He simply lifted his forehead protector and revealed the Sharingan beneath it.
Sasuke quickly formed a series of hand seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A mass of flames swept toward Kakashi, forcing him into the air. As he went up, he threw several shuriken at the Naruto clones below.
Some clones jumped in front and took the hits before disappearing in smoke, while the others kept moving and surrounded Kakashi when he landed.
Before he could escape, several clones grabbed his arms and legs and held him still.
"Sakura, now!"
Sakura was already moving. She gathered chakra in her fist, ran forward through the gap Naruto made, and punched Kakashi in the chest.
His body disappeared in a cloud of smoke as soon as she hit him.
"A Shadow Clone?" Naruto looked at the empty spot. "When did he switch?"
Sasuke kept his Sharingan active and looked around the trees. "You didn't really think he would be caught that easily, did you?"
Naruto frowned but said nothing. Sakura also looked around, ready, knowing the real Kakashi could attack at any time.
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