Traditional Art of Grabbing the Bell (Part 1)
"Mingjing, Nami, Ryo."
At Training Ground 14, a handsome, blue-haired man leaning casually against a large tree waved at the three Genin approaching, all geared up for their first official assignment.
This man was Kato Dan, their Jonin-sensei.
Mingjing had brought a wakizashi today, which he purchased with the 100,000 ryo that Uchiha Fugaku had given him a few days prior.
He chose the wakizashi over a standard tachi for two reasons: first, it was more affordable; second, the tachi's longer blade wasn't ideal for his current height and frame.
After several days of diligent training and guidance from Uchiha Yu, Mingjing had barely grasped the fundamentals of the first form in the Uchiha-ryu Kenjutsu manual.
According to Yu, the first chapter of Uchiha-style swordsmanship was designed solely to build a strong foundation for the advanced techniques in later volumes.
Yu had also said that if one could truly master Uchiha-ryu Kenjutsu, it could elevate them to the level of the elite shinobi of the ninja world. However, most Uchiha chose to prioritize developing their Sharingan over refining kenjutsu, as the former offered more versatile combat advantages.
---
"Sensei Kato! What are we doing today? Tetsumaru and I are fired up!"
Inuzuka Ryo beamed with excitement, and the steel-gray puppy at his feet—Tetsumaru—barked and playfully darted through the group.
"The objective of today's training exercise... is this."
Kato Dan held up two small silver bells and gave them a slight jingle.
It was the bell test.
Mingjing's heart skipped—so it was this test.
A staple in Konoha's training culture, the bell test had originally been created by the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, to evaluate teamwork and individual ability among newly graduated Genin. It was passed down to Jiraiya, then to Minato, and eventually to Hatake Kakashi, who would go on to test Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno in the same way.
The test had become a tradition among Jonin-sensei and served to evaluate not just raw skill, but strategy, teamwork, and attitude.
Mingjing figured the other Genin teams were probably undergoing similar evaluations right now.
---
"The goal is simple," Kato Dan said, his signature bright smile twisting into a mischievous smirk. "Take these two bells from me. Only those who succeed will pass."
"So… only two of us can qualify?"
Aburame Nami adjusted her sunglasses calmly.
Kato Dan nodded.
"Exactly. And now... you may begin."
Before his sentence had fully ended, a black insect-laden palm shot toward him from behind.
Kato Dan vanished in a flicker.
"Already making a move, Nami?" he said from a branch above them, dodging her sneak attack effortlessly.
"Alright, let's go—Tetsumaru—"
"Wait."
Mingjing placed a hand on Ryo and Nami's shoulders.
"Kato-sensei is a Jonin. If we rush in without a plan, we'll be defeated in seconds. We should avoid unnecessary probing. Let's limit our exposure and protect our intel for now."
Ryo scratched his head. "Huh. That... actually makes sense."
"Oh? You don't want to test the waters?" Kato Dan said, his grin widening. "Even if you hide your strengths, I already know your capabilities. After all, I was the examiner during your graduation exam. You think I don't know what I'm up against?"
He chuckled, clearly amused by Mingjing's caution.
"Kato-sensei," Mingjing said, meeting his gaze. "One of my clan elders once said that testing is itself a form of strategy. And knowing what your opponent knows about you... is also valuable information."
Mingjing recalled Uchiha Yu bragging about his own missions as a Genin, casually mentioning such insights. The core concept stuck with him.
"Well said. You've got a wise elder, Mingjing. But let me ask—how long do you plan to talk strategy?"
Dan shrugged and turned away. "Fine. I'll give you an hour. Use it wisely."
Hands behind his head, Kato Dan walked off with exaggerated leisure, clearly giving them space to prepare.
Mingjing caught on instantly.
This was intentional—a subtle test to see how they'd handle planning as a team.
---
In a shaded corner of the training field, the trio sat down to strategize.
"Let's begin by sharing what we know," said Aburame Nami, surprisingly breaking the silence first.
Ryo paused mid-head rub on Tetsumaru.
"…Huh. I didn't even think about info gathering."
"Dan-sensei's reputation in the village is pretty huge," Nami began. "According to my father, he's one of the few Jonin just below Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha. He's completed 22 S-rank, 103 A-rank, and over 200 B-rank missions. His experience is on par with Konoha's elite."
She paused, then added, "Getting a bell from him won't be as easy as from your average Jonin."
"I heard something similar," Ryo added. "Word is, he's good with forbidden techniques, though I doubt he'd use them on us. But the fact he's using this test means he wants us to have a shot."
Mingjing nodded. "Alright, next—let's all disclose what skills and techniques we've mastered. Only with full transparency can we form an effective plan."
He glanced at both of them seriously.
He already knew the real purpose behind the bell test: teamwork.
Since Hatake Sakumo was still respected and unharmed in this timeline, the deeper message about the importance of protecting comrades—as later emphasized in Kakashi's version—hadn't yet evolved. But Mingjing was aware of what Kato Dan was trying to assess.
Fortunately, unlike Naruto's original Team 7, this group didn't seem dysfunctional.
Nami was quiet, but rational.
Ryo was impulsive, but not an idiot. He came from a solid family and had clearly been taught well.
If his team were more like Minato's—with too many clashing personalities—it might have been a different story. But for now, Mingjing had confidence.
As long as everyone played their part, he believed they could overcome this challenge—and earn the right to be recognized as a true team.