Morning came swiftly. The sun cast its warm glow over the training field as Kakashi—Shredder, in Kakashi's body—stood with his arms crossed, observing Team 7. Today was supposed to be the infamous bell test, but he had decided to do things differently.
What's the point of just copying Kakashi? he thought. If I'm here, I might as well make my own impact.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura stood before him, each with varying levels of confidence and confusion. Naruto, as expected, was practically bouncing in place, while Sasuke maintained his usual cold stare. Sakura, though more reserved, still held an eager expression, ready to prove herself.
"Alright," Kakashi finally spoke, grabbing their attention. "I know you're expecting some kind of survival test, but I'm switching things up. Before I can be your teacher, I need to know just how strong you all really are."
Naruto grinned. "So does that mean we get to fight you, Sensei?"
Kakashi let out a short chuckle. "Not quite. You'll be sparring against each other first. One-on-one matches to see how you handle combat situations."
Sasuke's expression darkened slightly. "So this is just about who's the strongest?"
Kakashi shook his head. "Not exactly. It's about skill, strategy, and awareness. Strength isn't everything. Even if you're the most powerful person in the world, you'll lose if you don't think things through."
Naruto punched his fists together. "Alright! I'll take on Sasuke first!"
Kakashi shook his head. "Nope. I'm picking the matchups. First up—Naruto versus Sakura."
Naruto groaned while Sakura looked completely caught off guard. "Wait, what? I have to fight him?"
"You sure do," Kakashi confirmed, stepping back and gesturing toward the open field. "This isn't about winning or losing. It's about testing yourself."
Sakura swallowed hard but nodded. She wasn't about to back down.
Naruto vs. Sakura
Naruto wasted no time rushing forward, throwing a clumsy but energetic punch toward Sakura. She barely dodged, yelping as she stumbled back.
"Come on, Sakura!" Naruto taunted, throwing another punch. "Fight back!"
Sakura clenched her fists, narrowing her eyes. I can't just stand here!
She ducked under Naruto's next attack and swung her leg out in a desperate kick. It connected—right into Naruto's stomach. He let out a wheeze and stumbled back.
Kakashi nodded to himself. She's got the reflexes, but she hesitates too much.
Naruto quickly recovered, shaking off the hit. He grinned. "Alright! Now we're talking!"
The fight continued for a few more minutes, but it was clear that while Naruto had more stamina, Sakura had better control over her movements.
"That's enough," Kakashi called, stepping between them. "You both have a lot to work on, but I see potential. Naruto, you rely too much on brute force and don't think ahead. Sakura, you hesitate too much. Confidence is just as important as technique."
Sakura looked down, a little embarrassed, but Naruto simply nodded. "Got it, Sensei!"
Sasuke vs. Naruto
Next was the match everyone expected—Naruto vs. Sasuke.
Sasuke stood with his arms crossed, unimpressed. "This won't take long."
Naruto clenched his fists. "We'll see about that!"
The moment Kakashi signaled the start, Naruto charged forward, but Sasuke easily sidestepped and countered with a sweeping kick, knocking Naruto off balance.
"Tch," Sasuke muttered. "Too predictable."
Naruto, now on the ground, gritted his teeth and immediately launched himself back up. He threw a series of fast punches, but Sasuke dodged each one effortlessly. Then, with a quick spin, Sasuke delivered a clean strike to Naruto's chest, sending him sprawling.
Naruto groaned, clutching his stomach. "Ugh... stupid Sasuke..."
Kakashi sighed. As expected. Sasuke is leagues ahead of Naruto in skill right now.
"That's enough," Kakashi called. "Sasuke, you're skilled, but don't underestimate people. Overconfidence is just as dangerous as being weak."
Sasuke simply shrugged.
Naruto grumbled but forced himself up. "Next time, I'll get you!"
Kakashi shook his head. "Alright, that's enough sparring. Time for the next test."
The Written Test
After a short break, Kakashi led them to a shaded area where a few scrolls were placed on a makeshift desk.
"A written test?" Sakura asked, clearly surprised.
"That's right," Kakashi said. "Being a ninja isn't just about fighting. Strategy, intelligence, and critical thinking are just as important. If you can't think under pressure, you'll fail on the battlefield. That's why this test matters."
Naruto groaned. "Aw, man! I didn't sign up for schoolwork!"
Kakashi ignored him. "Each of you will receive a test with ten questions. You'll be given twenty minutes to complete it. But let me give you a hint—this test is about more than just getting the right answers. Sometimes, the real test is understanding what's actually being tested."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes at that, while Naruto still looked confused.
Kakashi handed them the scrolls. "Alright, begin."
The first few questions were fairly standard. Basic ninja knowledge, strategy-related problems, and questions testing their problem-solving skills. But the last question was different.
It was simple.
"What is the most important quality a ninja should have?"
As the minutes passed, Kakashi watched each of them closely. He knew what he was looking for. This wasn't just about intelligence. It was about their mindset.
Would they understand the lesson he was trying to teach?
Sasuke worked through the test calmly, while Sakura seemed determined to get every answer perfect. Naruto, however, scratched his head in frustration, muttering to himself.
Kakashi smirked beneath his mask. Let's see who figures it out first.