Naruto rebirth! Born again with a system.

Chapter 41: The Bell Test!

Training Ground 7 stretched out before them, its familiar obstacles and targets now taking on an entirely different significance. The morning sun cast long shadows across the field as Team 15 stood in formation, their eyes fixed on the legendary figure before them.

Minato Namikaze moved with the casual grace of someone completely at ease with his own abilities, his hands resting loosely at his sides as he surveyed the three young shinobi. Two small bells hung from his belt, their metallic surfaces gleaming in the sunlight like precious treasures.

"You won't be familiar with this exercise," Minato said, his voice carrying the warm authority that would one day make him beloved throughout the village. "The bell test is a tradition for evaluating teamwork and individual capabilities. Passed down to me by my own sensei. Your goal is simple—take these bells from me." He said with a confident smile.

Kōzaru felt his heart hammering against his ribs as he struggled to maintain his composure. This was the bell test—the same evaluation that had tested countless legendary shinobi, including the future Team 7. And they were facing it against Minato Namikaze himself, during the height of his abilities as a jōnin.

"However," Minato continued, his expression growing slightly more serious, "I won't be holding back as much as your previous instructors might have. I want to see what you're truly capable of when pushed to your limits."

Aotaka's hand moved unconsciously to his sword hilt, his enhanced senses detecting the subtle shift in Minato's chakra signature. Even in this casual stance, the man's power was evident—a level of strength that dwarfed anything they had previously encountered, even without the ability to sense chakra or an oppentents level like Kōzaru.

"You have until noon," Minato said, glancing at the sun's position. "Three hours to accomplish what most teams never manage. Are you ready?"

"Yes, sensei!" all three replied in unison, their voices carrying determination despite their internal excitement.

"Then... begin!"

[New quest: Capture a bell! Reward 5000 EXP!]

The word had barely left Minato's lips when all three teammates scattered in different directions, their training and coordination allowing them to implement their strategy without need for discussion. They had faced powerful opponents before, but this was different—this was a test against one of the most skilled shinobi who would ever live.

Kōzaru moved first, his enhanced senses allowing him to track Minato's position even as his teammates flanked wide. "Yuki, Riku," he called out, his hands forming the familiar seals. "Man Beast Clone Jutsu!"

The transformation was flawless, both ninja hounds shifting into perfect copies of himself without using any of his own chakra. The efficiency his mother had taught him proved invaluable, allowing him to maintain his full strength while gaining the advantages of multiple attackers.

"All-Fours Jutsu!" the three identical figures called out in unison, their forms dropping into the bestial stance as chakra flowed through their enhanced bodies.

[Chakra: 160/160 - 130/160]

The coordination was breath-taking. Three enhanced forms moved as one mind, their assault patterns designed to overwhelm through synchronized aggression. Kōzaru approached from the front, his enhanced speed allowing him to close the distance with predatory grace. Yuki flanked left, her smaller transformed size making her movements harder to track, while Riku circled right, his bulk providing crushing force.

Minato's eyebrows rose slightly as he observed the coordinated assault. "Impressive," he murmured, his own stance shifting to accommodate the three-pronged attack. "True partnership with multiple ninja hounds at your age is, well... Remarkable."

The clash was immediate and intense. Kōzaru's enhanced claws swept toward the bells, his movements carrying the fluid grace of the Inuzuka style. But Minato's response was effortless, his body moving like water as he redirected the attack and pivoted to face the flanking assault from Yuki and Riku.

The older shinobi's taijutsu was a masterpiece of efficiency, each movement serving multiple purposes as he defended against all three attackers simultaneously. His hands moved with practiced precision, deflecting claws and redirecting momentum while maintaining perfect balance.

"Your coordination is excellent," Minato said, his voice carrying genuine appreciation even as he fought. "But you're telegraphing your intentions. Watch."

His counter-attack was surgical in its precision. A palm strike that sent Kōzaru sliding backward, an elbow that disrupted Yuki's balance, and a knee that caught Riku in the solar plexus. All three attacks flowed together seamlessly, demonstrating a level of martial skill that left the young Inuzuka breathless.

But Kōzaru wasn't finished. As he regained his footing, his eyes gleamed with determination. "Time to show you what we've really learned," he said, his voice carrying new confidence.

"Gatsūga!" all three forms called out in perfect unison.

The spinning attack that followed was devastating to witness. Three vortexes of destruction launched toward Minato in perfect formation, their triangular coordination creating a drilling effect that carved through the air with visible force. The sound was tremendous—a combination of rushing air and concentrated chakra that spoke to the technique's tremendous power.

"So that's what he was working on over these last few days." Aotaka said, also seeming impressed as he watched his friend from the shadows.

Minato's eyes widened with genuine surprise. "The Fang Over Fang technique and with three attackers?" he said, his voice carrying impressed disbelief. "That's interesting."

The legendary shinobi's response was immediate and breath-taking. His body flickered with yellow chakra as he invoked the technique that would one day make him the most feared opponent in all the shinobi nations. The Flying Thunder God technique activated, his form vanishing just as the triple spinning attack reached his position.

Kōzaru's enhanced senses lost track of Minato through the spatial distortion just as Minato reappeared behind their formation, giving him a moment to smell his chakra.

"There!" He yelled out, changing direction as attacked with full force. The older shinobi's movement was so fluid that he seemed to flow through space itself, his legendary technique making their devastating attack seem quaint as he blocked Kōzaru's attack with his forearm, watching as he twisted in the air to throw a kick at his head, using his other arm to grab his shin.

However, Minato's eyes flashed as Kōzaru twisted around once more, reaching with his free hand for the bells.

"With a smile, Minato stepped back and broke off their engaugment, pushing away from Kōzaru with impressive foot work, causing Kōzaru's fingers to just touch one of the bells, his longer finger nail almost being able to grasp it.

"Close," Minato said as the spinning attack dissipated. "Very close. But you'll need more than raw power to catch me." He said with a surprised look, noting that he had indeed been close.

As Kōzaru landed, breathing heavily from the chakra expenditure, Aotaka launched his own assault from the opposite side of the training ground, taking advantage of the situation.

"Lightning Style: Static Force!" he called out, his hands crackling with electrical energy.

The lightning technique streaked toward Minato with impressive speed, its path calculated to force the legendary shinobi into the range of Aotaka's own sword techniques. But Minato's response was almost casual, his own hand glowing with chakra as he redirected the lightning into the ground with a simple gesture.

"Impressive lightning style, and good use of ninjutsu to set up your primary attack," Minato observed, his tone carrying the approval of a teacher evaluating a student's progress. "But your real threat is that sword, isn't it?" He said, not missing a trick, causing Aotaka's eyebrow to rise.

Aotaka's response was immediate and explosive. His blade sang from its sheath in a motion so fast it seemed to bend light, the steel glowing with channelled chakra as he activated his most advanced technique.

"Chakra Flow!" he called out, his sword becoming an extension of his will as energy poured along its edge, extending the cutting range.

The weapon's cutting power increased dramatically, its edge trailing visible energy that could have cleaved through steel. But more importantly, Aotaka's movements had changed. Two days of intensive training with his uncle had transformed his understanding of swordplay, and his attacks now carried the fluid grace of the Senju clan's legendary techniques.

"Senju Style: Falling Leaf!" he called out, his blade moving in a descending arc that seemed to accelerate as it fell.

The advanced technique was beautiful to witness—a chunin-level form that combined speed, power, and precision into a single devastating strike. Aotaka's enhanced strength, boosted by his Senju heritage, made the attack even more formidable as he closed the distance with surprising speed.

Minato's expression grew more serious as he evaluated the incoming attack. "Advanced clan techniques," he murmured, his own stance shifting to accommodate the increased threat level.

The clash of steel on steel rang across the training ground as Minato drew his own kunai to intercept the enhanced blade. The impact was tremendous, both weapons crackling with chakra as they met in a shower of sparks that illuminated both fighters faces.

For a moment, they were locked in a contest of pure strength and skill. Aotaka's enhanced power pressed against Minato's superior technique, the younger shinobi's blade inches from one of the bells as he strained to overcome his opponent's defense.

"Impressive," Minato said, his voice carrying genuine respect. "But technique alone isn't enough."

His counter-attack was swift and devastating. A subtle shift in leverage that used Aotaka's own momentum against him, followed by a precise strike that numbed the younger shinobi's sword arm. The bell remained tantalizingly close, but Aotaka found himself sliding backward, his enhanced blade no longer threatening its target.

"Your strength is remarkable," Minato continued, his tone carrying the warmth of a teacher. "But experience counts for something in battle, and you still have a long way to go."

As Aotaka recovered from the exchange, breathing heavily but eyes still burning with determination, Tatsuma launched his own coordinated assault from the far side of the training ground.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" he called out, his hands forming the familiar seal.

Eight identical copies of himself appeared in puffs of smoke, their combined presence creating a small army of determined attackers. The chakra cost was huge, almost draining all of his chakra, but Tatsuma's enhanced reserves made the technique just about manageable before he was empty.

[Chakra: 210/210 - 10/210]

"Surround him!" Tatsuma commanded, his voice carrying across the training ground as his clones spread out in a wide formation.

The strategy was sound—use numbers to overwhelm Minato's defences and create openings for more direct attacks. Each clone moved with purpose, their coordination honed through days of intensive training that had pushed Tatsuma's abilities to new heights.

"Shadow Clone Shuriken!" multiple versions of Tatsuma called out simultaneously, their hands moving in perfect synchronization as they all reached into their weapons pouch, drawing a handful of shuriken at the same time.

The air filled with projectiles as eight clones launched their attacks in coordinated waves. Dozens of shuriken and kunai streaked toward Minato from multiple angles, their trajectories calculated to leave no avenue of escape. The improved accuracy from Tatsuma's intensive training was evident—each weapon flew with precision that had improved massively since his last use of shuriken.

But Minato's response was otherworldly. His hands moved in blurs of motion, deflecting projectiles with casual precision while his feet carried him through the gaps between attacks with fluid grace. His legendary reflexes turned the overwhelming barrage into an elegant dance of evasion and counter-attack.

"Excellent coordination," Minato said, his voice carrying approval even as he fought. "But you're thinking like individual attackers rather than a true unit."

His counter-attack was swift and devastating. Multiple kunai flew from his hands with inhuman precision, each one striking a clone in precisely the right location to dispel the shadow constructs. Within seconds, the overwhelming numerical advantage had been reduced to just the original Tatsuma, who was now dangerous low on chakra.

"Now," Minato said, his eyes gleaming with competitive fire, "let's see what you can do without your backup."

Tatsuma's response was immediate and desperate. His hand moved to his weapon pouch, fingers closing around a specially prepared kunai as he channelled his remaining chakra into one final attack.

"Special technique: Guided Shuriken!" he called out, his voice carrying the determination of someone making a last stand using something he had only tested in training.

The weapon flew with impossible precision, its trajectory seeming to bend and curve as it sought its target. Tatsuma's enhanced accuracy, combined with subtle chakra manipulation, made the projectile nearly impossible to predict. It streaked toward one of the bells with unerring aim, its path calculated to account for Minato's likely evasion patterns.

For a moment, it looked like the attack might succeed. The kunai passed within inches of the bell, its edge actually brushing the metal surface as it sought to cut the cord that held the prize.

But Minato's response was instantaneous. His hand moved with inhuman speed, fingers closing around the kunai just as it touched the bell. The legendary shinobi's reflexes were so advanced that he seemed to move in the space between seconds, his timing perfect to the point of seeming supernatural.

"Not bad, but not close enough." Minato said, his voice carrying genuine admiration.

"Fuck, I thought that would work..." Tatsuma said, feeling the chakra exhaustion start to kick in.

As all three teammates regrouped, breathing heavily but eyes still burning with determination, Minato stepped back and surveyed their positions. The training ground bore the scars of their intense exchanges—scorch marks from lightning techniques, carved earth from devastating spinning attacks, and scattered weapons from the shadow clone assault.

"Well," he said, his voice carrying the approval of a teacher evaluating exceptional students, "that was considerably more impressive than most teams manage on their first attempt."

The three teammates exchanged glances, each recognizing the mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration in the others faces. They had given everything they had, pushed their abilities to the limit, and come tantalizingly close to success, with each of them seeing how much the other had improved over their days of training.

"However," Minato continued, his hand moving to the bells at his belt, "there's still time left in the test. Are you ready for another round?"

Despite their exhaustion, despite the overwhelming display of skill they had just witnessed, all three teammates straightened their stances and prepared for continued battle. They had trained for this moment, had pushed themselves to new heights of ability, and they weren't about to give up now.

"Yes, sensei!" they called out in unison, their voices carrying the determination of shinobi who had found their calling.

Minato's smile was radiant as he observed their renewed resolve. "Then let's see what you've learned from this first exchange. Remember—the goal isn't just to be strong individually. True strength comes from working together."

The bells gleamed in the sunlight as the test continued, their metallic surfaces reflecting the faces of three young shinobi who had just discovered they were capable of far more than they had ever imagined.