Kakashi cleared his throat, looking at Naruto and Sakura, then spoke. "Well, it's time to decide. Will you both return to the academy, or will one of you join the ranks of genin to start undertaking missions?"
Naruto held the two bells, hesitating for a moment before Kakashi's words. There was finally a tangible incentive, unlike the ambiguity from earlier.
Naruto was the first to speak. "Of course, I'm going back to the academy! Who wants a moody and creepy teacher like you?" He glanced reluctantly at the bell and tossed it to Sasuke.
Sakura, nodding in agreement, added, "Naruto's right." She shot Kakashi a wary look, as if he were a suspicious character. In her mind, she couldn't help but feel relieved at the thought of keeping Sasuke away from Naruto and Kakashi's influence.
Kakashi, suppressing his amusement at their reactions, turned to Sasuke. "What about you, Sasuke?"
Sasuke shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm coming back for dinner. Naruto, Sakura—you're probably starving since we skipped breakfast. Let's go grab some barbecue; my treat." Sasuke casually tossed the bell back to Kakashi and led the way.
"Barbecue?? Now we're talking, Sasuke!" Naruto's eyes sparkled with excitement as he imagined the food. Due to financial constraints, he rarely got the chance to enjoy it.
Seeing a chance to dine with Sasuke, Sakura quickly grabbed both her and Sasuke's backpacks, happily joining him. Her heart fluttered, feeling that her bond with Sasuke was growing.
Naruto, seizing the opportunity, snatched Sasuke's backpack and began to boast about it. Sasuke didn't object, instead offering Kakashi a respectful nod before leaving with Naruto and Sakura.
Behind them, Kakashi called out, looking slightly defeated, "Hey, are you three ignoring me? And I haven't even given the results yet..." He touched his forehead in frustration. Though he admired their teamwork, he felt a bit overlooked.
"Didn't we fail anyway? We get it! Now, don't spoil our barbecue!" Naruto shouted over his shoulder, unconcerned.
Kakashi sighed, "Naruto...when did I ever say you failed?" This stopped all three in their tracks.
Sakura spun around, puzzled. "What are you trying to say, Sensei?"
Realizing he had their attention, Kakashi smiled and declared, "It means you all passed. From this moment on, Team 7—Kakashi's squad—is official. You are now genin!" He raised his thumb in approval, leaving Naruto and Sakura stunned with excitement.
Suddenly, Sasuke's thoughts were interrupted by a system notification: [Congratulations to the host for reaching genin rank and unlocking C-level rewards]
C-level rewards? Sasuke's thoughts raced. So as my ninja rank rises, so do the rewards. No wonder the previous rewards were D-level. Genin clearance corresponds with C-level rewards... Clarity settled in his mind, realizing he would need to advance in the upcoming chunin exams to keep progressing.
"But Sensei," Naruto asked, scratching his head in confusion, "didn't only two people pass? Why'd we all get through?"
"The true purpose of the test was something else," Kakashi explained, leading them toward a nearby memorial. "The ninja world is filled with dangers, challenges, and choices. When we're on a mission, we'll face numerous situations and dilemmas."
He gestured at the memorial stone, voice somber. "You'll often have to choose between your mission and your comrades. Do you prioritize the mission by following orders, or do you break the rules to protect each other? Those who took the test before you prioritized following the rules, but that's not the kind of team I want."
"It's true that rule-breakers are considered trash, but those who abandon their comrades are even worse."
Kakashi's gaze softened as he looked at the stone, where the names of fallen friends were engraved. "I don't want to see any of your names here. That's why teamwork is the foundation of our lesson."
"Even though each of you was willing to give up for different reasons, you chose to stand together and prioritize each other's well-being. I recognize that spirit in all of you."
Naruto and Sakura stared at the memorial, both moved by Kakashi's words. Sasuke, too, found himself reflecting. If Kakashi knew the fate awaiting his dearest friend, he'd understand how much sorrow the ninja world can bring.
Breaking the silence, Kakashi's tone lightened as he pointed to a backpack. "You must be hungry. I've prepared lunch for all of you. Naruto, go grab it."
Sasuke and his teammates snapped out of their thoughts, quickly returning to the present.
"Lunch box?? No way! We're having barbecue, not boxed lunches!" Naruto immediately waved his hand in dismissal, barely glancing at the box. He wasn't going to settle for anything less than Sasuke's promised feast.
"But a meal for four is expensive," Kakashi chuckled, half-joking. "We'll have to split it as a team."
Sasuke smirked, not ready to let Kakashi off that easily. "Oh, so a teacher doesn't know how to build team spirit over barbecue? Sakura, don't you think he should treat us?"
Sakura gave Kakashi an exasperated look, understanding Sasuke's point. "Yeah, Sensei, if you really cared about us, you'd buy us barbecue. Or else Naruto and I might let slip that little 'nosebleed' episode."
Naruto chimed in, grinning mischievously, "Exactly, Sensei. Buy us barbecue, or the story's out!"
Kakashi's mouth twitched, realizing he was outnumbered. "Fine, fine... we'll go for barbecue. But Naruto, don't go spreading stories."
Sasuke couldn't resist teasing him. "And for the record, Sensei, just because someone carries around... certain books doesn't mean they're not, well, you know."
Naruto and Sakura laughed, throwing playful glances at their teacher as they walked off together, finally an official team.