Smoke from Sasuke's fire technique drifted slowly across the clearing.
Leaves crackled where the flames had scorched the grass.
In the middle of the battlefield, Sasuke Uchiha stood alert, scanning the trees.
Somewhere nearby, Kakashi Hatake had vanished again.
Behind him, Naruto Uzumaki wrung pond water out of his shirt.
"Eat my soaked shorts, Sasuke!"
Sasuke didn't even look at him.
"You're embarrassing."
Naruto pointed accusingly.
"YOU GOT KICKED TOO!"
From the treeline, Sakura Haruno pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Why is this team like this…"
Sakura's Turn
A calm voice spoke quietly behind her.
"You shouldn't leave your back open."
Sakura froze.
She turned slowly.
Kakashi stood there casually.
Before she could react—
His gaze sharpened.
The world twisted instantly.
Sakura suddenly stood in the academy classroom.
Every desk was filled.
Every student was staring at her.
And written across the blackboard in massive letters:
"SAKURA HARUNO CONFESSES HER LOVE FOR SASUKE!"
Her own voice echoed through the room.
"I LOVE SASUKE!"
Students burst into laughter.
Sakura screamed.
"THAT'S NOT TRUE—!"
Back in reality, Sakura collapsed to her knees clutching her head.
Naruto blinked from across the field.
"...Is she crying?"
Sasuke frowned slightly.
"Genjutsu."
Before either boy could react—
RIIIIIIIIIIIIING
A loud bell echoed across the training ground.
Both genin froze.
Kakashi appeared on a branch above them.
"Time's up."
Naruto blinked.
"...Wait that's it?"
Kakashi dropped down lazily.
He jingled the bells at his waist.
"In case it wasn't obvious…"
"You all failed."
A few minutes later—
Naruto sat tied tightly to a wooden post.
Rope wrapped around him several times.
He struggled uselessly.
"HEY!"
"I was doing great!"
Nearby, Sasuke and Sakura stood quietly.
Kakashi sat in the grass reading his small orange book.
Naruto glared.
"You did me dirty Sensei! What kind of grown man puts his fingers where you just did!" On an island somewhere in another universe a silver haired financier sneezed
Kakashi turned a page.
"Situational awareness."
Naruto grumbled.
Then the Shinobi Codex chimed quietly.
Status Effect Expired
Cringe Aura has ended
Naruto blinked.
"...Finally."
Kakashi closed his little orange book, walking away slowly. Over his shoulder he called:
"All of you will be given one more chance to get the bells. Be sure not to feed Naruto while I'm gone."
For a moment nobody spoke.
Naruto slumped against the post.
"...It's fine."
His stomach growled again.
Sakura hesitated.
Sasuke looked away.
Naruto forced a grin.
"You guys should eat."
Sakura opened her lunch slowly.
Sasuke did the same.
Naruto watched them quietly.
Then Sakura walked over.
Naruto blinked.
She held out a rice ball.
"Open your mouth."
Naruto froze.
"Wait—what?"
Sasuke sighed.
"This is stupid."
But he stepped forward too.
Naruto looked between them.
"But Kakashi said—"
Sasuke cut him off.
"We know."
Naruto's eyes widened.
"You'll fail!"
Sakura shrugged.
"You were the one who tried to work with us yesterday."
Naruto blinked.
Then slowly smiled.
He opened his mouth.
*Ping*
Nearby social interactions normalized.
Relationship Status Updated:
Naruto ↔ Sakura: Neutral → Cooperative
Naruto ↔ Sasuke: Hostile → Rival
Naruto swallowed the food and laughed. While he was being fed rice, a cup of instant ramen, piping hot, suddenly materialized in Naruto's tied hands.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. 'He keeps getting weirder and weirder.'
Despite this his teammates fed him the random ramen, questioning their own sanity.
*Ping*
Cup noodles used, energy levels boosted
Kakashi poofed into existence as this was happening. All three members of Team Seven Froze. Kakashi, remaining silent, slowly walked towards the three drawing a lone kunai.
Sasuke and Sakura could only watch their sensei approach, guilt and shame etched across their face. Fear suddenly crept in their bodies as the kunai in their teachers hand came closer and closer.
In an instant Naruto's bonds were severed, two bells being thrown at his shocked face.
"Because you two decided to not follow my instructors there will be a slight change of plans. Naruto, Choose."
Naruto blinked, barely catching the bells before they hit the ground.
"What?"
"Choose who gets the bells."
Naruto looked up.
Sasuke and Sakura stared back silently.
Kakashi continued calmly.
"Only two can pass."
"The third goes back to the academy."
Naruto looked down at the bells.
They glinted in the sunlight.
For a moment he didn't speak.
Then he looked up again.
His expression had changed.
Naruto smiled.
"That's easy."
He tossed one bell toward Sasuke.
Then another toward Sakura.
Both caught them instinctively.
Sakura blinked.
"...Naruto?"
Sasuke frowned.
"What are you doing?"
Naruto shrugged against the ropes.
"You guys take them."
Sakura looked confused.
"But that means you—"
Naruto grinned.
"I fail."
He leaned back against the post casually.
"But that's fine."
Sasuke stared at him.
Naruto continued confidently.
"I'm gonna become Hokage anyway."
He laughed.
"Even if I have to repeat the academy a hundred times."
For a moment the clearing went quiet.
Kakashi watched them silently.
Then he sighed.
"You idiots."
Naruto blinked.
"What?"
Kakashi looked at all three of them and paused for dramatic effect.
"In the ninja world…"
He spoke slowly.
"Those who break the rules are trash."
Naruto frowned.
Kakashi continued.
"But those who abandon their comrades…"
His visible eye curved into a smile.
"Are worse than trash."
Sakura's eyes widened.
Sasuke looked thoughtful.
Naruto blinked.
Then realization slowly hit.
Kakashi gestured toward the three of them.
"You pass."
The Shinobi Codex pulsed softly.
Survival Test Status: Completed
Team Formation Successful.
Naruto scratched his head.
"...Wait really?"
Kakashi picked up his book again.
"Welcome to Team 7."
All three members smiled.
During the newly formed teams celebrations, the Shinobi Codex flickered quietly.
New rewards were waiting.