Hyuk stood in silence as Kakashi's words hung in the air. The test had pushed him more than he expected. His teammates were on edge, Naruto breathing heavily from his reckless attacks, and Sasuke… well, he was as cold and determined as ever, but still without the power that would make him truly dangerous. No Sharingan yet, but he's still a threat.
"Work as a team if you want to succeed," Kakashi said calmly, adjusting his hitai-ate. His relaxed stance showed that he wasn't remotely worried about their attempts to get the bells.
Naruto, as always, had other ideas. "We don't need teamwork! I'll beat you on my own, believe it!" He charged again, fists flying. But Hyuk knew better. He's still too raw, too eager.
Kakashi effortlessly dodged Naruto's wild punches, barely moving. Sasuke, watching from the side, analyzed the situation but stayed back, clearly waiting for an opening. He's holding back until he sees something worth attacking. Typical.
Hyuk wasn't interested in waiting. He darted to the right, eyes focused on the bells attached to Kakashi's belt. Sasuke, noticing his move, followed suit, both of them coming at Kakashi from different angles. If we time it right, we might force an opening.
Kakashi smirked under his mask. "You two actually think you can work together? Interesting."
Just as Hyuk reached out for the bell, Kakashi disappeared, leaving them both grasping at empty air. He reappeared behind Naruto, grabbing him by the back of his collar and tossing him into a nearby tree. "You're too slow, Naruto."
Hyuk cursed under his breath. Kakashi's too fast. He's watching everything.
"Get it together!" Sasuke growled at Naruto, frustration boiling in his voice.
Hyuk's eyes narrowed. This isn't working. Kakashi's testing more than just strength—he's testing how we think. He scanned the area, formulating a new plan. Naruto and Sasuke couldn't be trusted to pull it together, but maybe… just maybe he could manipulate the situation to his advantage.
"Hey, idiot," Hyuk called to Naruto, drawing his attention. "Keep attacking. Distract him as much as you can."
Naruto blinked in confusion but quickly nodded. "Got it!" He charged again, this time with a clone, aiming to overwhelm Kakashi with numbers.
Sasuke looked at Hyuk with a hint of skepticism. "What's your plan?"
"You focus on getting an opening. I'll handle the rest," Hyuk replied coolly. He had no intention of sharing the whole plan. Sasuke would be useful, but in the end, it was about Hyuk taking the bell himself. Trust no one.
Kakashi expertly dismantled Naruto's clones, but for the first time, his attention was split. Sasuke, taking advantage of the distraction, threw a kunai toward Kakashi's blind spot. Kakashi dodged, but this time, it wasn't as clean as before. A flicker of surprise crossed his face.
Now was Hyuk's chance. He moved swiftly, aiming for the bell once again, but Kakashi shifted, just barely evading. "You're clever, Hyuk," Kakashi said with a chuckle. "But you're still holding back."
Hyuk's cold expression didn't falter. He's reading me. Fine. Let's change the game.
He darted back, regrouping with Sasuke and Naruto. "We have to push him together. He can't defend from all angles at once."
Sasuke frowned, not liking the idea of relying on teamwork, but he nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But don't get in my way."
Naruto grinned. "Let's show Kakashi-sensei what we're made of!"
The three of them moved in unison, Naruto's clones leading the charge, Sasuke attacking from a distance with precise kunai throws, and Hyuk staying low, watching for the smallest opening.
Kakashi's defenses were impeccable, but even he couldn't deny the pressure they were putting on him. For the first time, he actually moved from his spot, dodging attacks with a little more focus. "This is more like it."
Hyuk could feel the tension rise. Now. I just need one more push. As Kakashi countered another of Naruto's clones, Hyuk saw his chance. He launched himself forward, hand outstretched toward the bell.
But just as his fingers brushed the cold metal of the bell, Kakashi vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving a wooden log in his place. Substitution Jutsu. Damn.
"You're quick," Kakashi's voice echoed from behind them, "but you're still thinking too much like individuals."
Hyuk turned, eyes narrowing. He's testing something deeper. There's more to this than just grabbing the bell.
Kakashi continued, his voice serious now. "Ninjas who can't work together will always lose. You may be prodigies, but without trust, you'll fail every time."
Hyuk remained silent, his mind racing. Trust? I can't afford that. But if it means winning… maybe I'll play along. For now.
The test wasn't over yet, but Hyuk could feel it—something had shifted. This battle wasn't just about bells or strength. It was about understanding the balance between power and connection. A lesson he wasn't ready to fully accept… yet.