Naruto: The Strongest Suiton User

Chapter 16: Team Spirit

Watching Kakashi still staring at her unhurriedly, waiting for her to reveal an opening, Sakura bit her lip and resolved to fight one last time!

"Water Style: Super Water Gun!"

The water jet that shot out was still fierce and powerful. Kakashi didn't dare to be careless, moving at high speed before Sakura could lock onto him. The water jet was invincible wherever it went, but the caster couldn't lock onto a high-speed target and could only waste chakra in vain. This feeling of being in an unwinnable situation made Sakura extremely uncomfortable. What was even more unbearable was that her chakra reserves were gradually bottoming out!

After holding on for a few seconds, Sakura, whose stamina was already approaching the red line, finally had no choice but to stop this pointless attempt and switch from offense to defense! However, it was in the very instant of this transition that Kakashi seized the opening in her changing rhythm and rushed to her side to engage in close-quarters combat!

On one side was an academy graduate whose spirit and stamina had dropped significantly; on the other was an experienced elite Jonin. The two, whose statuses were worlds apart, began a fist-to-fist battle! On the surface, the fight should have been one-sided. However, with her nin-taijutsu, Sakura once again showed her resilience. Although she was at a disadvantage, like a small blade of grass struggling in a violent storm, she simply refused to fall!

Even though she knew that just resisting was a futile effort, Sakura was unwilling to admit defeat no matter what! Beneath her easygoing exterior, Sakura hid a deep-seated pride!

I will fight to the very end!

Although she was shouting this in her heart, Sakura found that her body was gradually unable to keep up with her thoughts. Bang! After scraping together the last of her stamina and chakra to clash with Kakashi one more time, forcing him back, Sakura's legs suddenly went weak, and she almost stumbled to her knees! Sweat poured down like rain, plastering her hair to her face in strands and flowing down her cheeks into her gasping mouth, leaving an incredibly bitter taste!

Her stamina had reached its limit! Kakashi charged again. Sakura raised her hands to parry but found that her arms were limp and couldn't exert any force. She was kicked down by Kakashi!

Her vision went black. Sakura struggled to push herself up with both hands, wanting to leap back up, but Kakashi struck her down again with another punch!

A complete defeat!

Sakura, who had struggled to the last moment, was hit on the back of the neck by Kakashi's final blow. A strong wave of dizziness washed over her, and she felt the world before her eyes gradually darken...

Sob, I'm so unwilling... In the original story, Sasuke at least touched the bells...

Sigh, I guess I did my best. That was a really satisfying fight...

Sakura sank into darkness.

When Sakura woke up, she found herself lying on the clearing in front of the Memorial Stone. Her whole body was sore and limp, unable to exert any strength. She knew this was the aftereffect of complete exhaustion. Then she heard Kakashi's voice.

"Good, Sakura is awake too. Well then, regarding the final results of this test, it's time to tell you..."

Kakashi dragged out his words, looking at the three of them with his dead-fish eyes. Even Naruto sat up straight and tense at this critical moment.

"...So, none of you managed to get a single bell, which means, none of you passed!"

"Wh-what? Then does that mean we—! Kakashi-sensei, you're too much! How could we possibly pass such a difficult test! And-and there were only two bells. For us to all fight desperately for them when one person was destined to fail and be sent back to repeat the year—!" Naruto said, going frantic!

Even Sasuke was clenching his teeth, restraining his emotions. Only Sakura, who knew the inside story, was very calm, looking at Kakashi with a composed expression.

"However..." Kakashi drew out his words again. After watching Naruto settle down with satisfaction, he said with a grin, "Having three fresh graduates try to snatch something from a Jonin is impossible to begin with! The real purpose of the test was not to have you get the bells, but to test whether you could fight as a team!"

"I'll emphasize it again, what was being tested was your team spirit!"

Kakashi said solemnly, taking out two bells from his pocket and shaking them.

"Although none of you three got a bell, I was very pleased to see the spirit of teamwork in you! Your ninjutsu coordination was excellent! And having Sakura hold me off in a frontal assault to create an opportunity for Sasuke and Naruto to launch a sneak attack—from this point, I can see that you already have a preliminary sense of camaraderie!"

"A ninja's missions are carried out in teams! Indeed, excellent individual skill is very important for a ninja, but it is far less important than teamwork! Going solo without teamwork will bring danger to your comrades, and even cost them their lives. From the moment you formed a genin team, you became a closely linked, integrated unit that shares a common fate! This is the first lesson I'm teaching you."

"In conclusion, I believe that the three of you have already shown excellent qualities. Therefore, the bells can be given to you."

After speaking, Kakashi placed the two bells in Naruto's hands.

"Yeah! That's great!" Naruto shouted excitedly. But after a while, he heard no response from the others. He turned his head and saw Sasuke staring at the bells in his hand with a dark expression!

Naruto was stunned.

"Only those who get the bells can pass the test. Those who don't will be eliminated and sent back to the academy to repeat the year!" Naruto suddenly remembered what Kakashi had said before the test. In an instant, he felt that the bells in his hand were as heavy as a mountain!

Sakura was watching the remaining two with a meaningful look. The moment Kakashi handed the bells to Naruto, Sakura understood. This was the classic ploy of using two peaches to kill three warriors. The trick was very direct and simple, but if one was blinded by desire, they would never see through it!

This was Kakashi's final, hidden test of their team spirit! Those who truly had team spirit would not easily give up on their teammates. Conversely, if they fought amongst themselves over the two bells, they would definitely fail the test!

Sakura understood this very well, but she couldn't just say the answer out loud or remind them. She could only wait for Naruto and Sasuke to figure it out for themselves, because what Kakashi needed was their true thoughts!

Sakura wasn't anxious; she had faith in both of them.

"Two bells, which means only two people can pass, and the remaining one will have to be eliminated!" Naruto said heavily. The usually jumpy boy had also become solemn after seeing the cruel reality.

"So, who will be the one to be eliminated?" Kakashi added fuel to the fire with ill intent.

Whoever was eliminated would be the one betrayed by the newly formed Team 7.

Naruto looked from Kakashi to Sakura and then to Sasuke. Kakashi was smiling fakely, as if with a trace of mockery; Sakura was calm and composed as usual; Sasuke's eyes were grave and sharp.

Eliminate who? Sakura, Sasuke, or... myself? The thought of having to go back to the academy and wait alone for a year sent a sharp pain through Naruto's heart. He was really fed up with this kind of loneliness!

"No matter who you choose, I will support you, Naruto," Sakura said calmly, looking at Naruto's changing expression.

"I choose..." Naruto hesitated for a long time, but finally calmed down. He looked at Sakura and Sasuke and said firmly, "I choose myself!"

Sasuke and Kakashi were both stunned. Sakura also smiled lightly.

But neither Sakura nor Sasuke accepted the bells that Naruto handed to them. Naruto had already given a passing answer, so of course, Sakura wouldn't hold him back. Sakura looked at Sasuke. Sasuke stared intently at the bells in Naruto's hand, his heart clearly in a state of constant struggle.

"I don't accept!" Sasuke finally raised his head and said coldly to Kakashi!

"Since you keep emphasizing team spirit, Kakashi-sensei, why did you only give us two bells? The three of us are already comrades. How can we abandon Naruto so easily! Kakashi-sensei, you must have a third bell, take it out!"

Nicely done, Naruto, Sasuke! Sakura silently gave the two of them a thumbs-up in her heart. With this, the test is no problem. Both Naruto and Sasuke's answers are passing grades!

"That's right. If we easily abandon our comrades, what right do we have to say we are a team? Even if it means fighting against you, Kakashi-sensei, I will never agree to abandon a comrade!" Sakura also said solemnly to Kakashi.

"A third bell, you say... I don't have one," Kakashi smiled, his eyes narrowed. He looked very sinister. "But I can give you one more chance. If you succeed, all three of you can pass the test. If you fail, you all fail! Sasuke, Sakura, you two could have passed already. Even so, are you willing to accept?"

Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto looked at each other and said in unison: "I agree!"

"Very good..." Kakashi suddenly stood up! The three of them quickly got into a defensive stance!

"I declare!"

"—You all... pass!"

"The exercise is over! Starting tomorrow, Team 7 will begin its missions!"