"Sasuke... Sasuke..."
"I didn't expect you... you really..."
Naruto, hanging upside down from a tree, began crying uncontrollably, his tears threatening to fall into the bento box. Sasuke and Sakura felt a little disgusted by the mixture of tears and snot. However, at that moment, Kakashi suddenly appeared.
"Congratulations! You passed!" Kakashi announced.
Naruto froze for a moment, confused by Kakashi's words. How did he pass? What was going on?
Kakashi proceeded to explain the significance of teamwork and cooperation within a team. He emphasized that relying solely on individual strength would lead to failure. The test they had just undergone was meant to evaluate their understanding of teamwork and sacrifice for their comrades. Based on their actions, Kakashi believed they had grasped these concepts and deemed them qualified.
Sasuke couldn't help but think that Kakashi was bluffing. Cooperation seemed like an excuse for the weak to cover their failures. In Sasuke's eyes, truly powerful individuals didn't need cooperation. However, he kept his thoughts to himself, acknowledging Kakashi's words with a simple "I see."
Naruto, holding the bento in his hand and looking at Sasuke, realized that there was indeed a chance to steal the bell if they worked together. Although Naruto knew he wasn't as strong as Sasuke, he believed he could create an opportunity for Sasuke to grab the bell with his strength. Little Sakura also understood the importance of teamwork in this situation.
Kakashi looked at the three of them and declared, "Okay! From today onwards, our seventh team is officially established." Naruto and Sakura laughed, happy with the formation of their team. Sasuke, however, remained calm. This puzzled both Kakashi and Hiruzen, who observed Sasuke closely through the crystal ball. They couldn't understand why Sasuke didn't seem happy about joining the team.
Unbeknownst to them, Sasuke's smile was not a result of the team's establishment. Instead, it stemmed from a hidden joy. Sasuke had received an unexpected reward from the system for passing Kakashi's test. The reward was an increase in his ninjutsu mastery level, specifically in ninjutsu control. Sasuke saw this as an opportunity to enhance his skills further. He knew that he had to practice outside of Konoha to avoid Hiruzen's attention, as Naruto's presence would attract scrutiny. Additionally, being part of the seventh team meant they would have daily missions, leaving little time for personal training. In this context, the reward was significant for Sasuke's development.
Caught up in his thoughts, Sasuke didn't pay attention to Naruto and Sakura's observations about his smile. Sakura found Sasuke's smile warm, while Naruto, not feeling jealous, suggested that Sasuke should smile more if it looked good on him. These comments brought Sasuke back to reality.
However, Sasuke had no time to engage with his teammates. He waved his hand dismissively, declaring that he was not going and had to practice instead. He swiftly left, not giving Kakashi and the others a chance to respond. Kakashi called after him, reminding the team to gather at six o'clock the next morning for their mission.
Kakashi understood Sasuke's behavior. Children who have experienced loneliness for a long time tend to be happy when accepted by others but also resist showing their emotions and forming close relationships. Sasuke's arrogance masked his underlying happiness, but Kakashi believed that Sasuke's loner persona could change with time.
Kakashi's perception of Sasuke's character was shared by Hiruzen, who saw him as a tsundere kid, difficult to approach but capable of transformation
. Both Kakashi and Hiruzen hoped that Sasuke's training would help him overcome his past loneliness and make him a loyal member of Konoha, despite being the last survivor of the Uchiha clan.
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