The sun had barely risen when Naruto and Hinata arrived at Training Ground Three. The cool morning air carried the faint rustle of leaves as the pair stepped into the clearing.
To their surprise, Sasuke was already there, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed, his eyes closed in quiet concentration.
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Huh. Didn't think you'd actually show up early, Uchiha."
Sasuke opened one eye, his voice as aloof as ever. "I don't waste time."
Hinata smiled softly, standing beside Naruto. "It's good that we're all here. It gives us time to plan."
Naruto glanced at her, then at Sasuke. "Plan, huh? Not sure if Mr. Lone Wolf here is interested in teamwork."
Sasuke scoffed but didn't argue, simply looking away.
The trio had spent the hours in relative silence, each mentally preparing for what was to come. When Kakashi finally appeared, it was in a puff of smoke, his demeanor as casual as ever.
"Good morning," Kakashi greeted, waving lazily.
Naruto's eyes narrowed, his tone sharp but measured. "Three hours late again. At this point, you're just trying to see how much we'll put up with."
Kakashi's visible eye crinkled in amusement. "Sharp observation, Naruto. But maybe it's all part of the test."
Hinata, standing confidently beside Naruto, added, "If it's a test of patience, you should know we've already passed."
Kakashi chuckled, his gaze shifting between the three. "Impressive. You're more focused than I expected. Well then, let's move on to the real challenge."
He reached into his pouch and pulled out two small bells, letting them dangle from his fingers. "Your task is simple: take these bells from me. If you don't, you'll fail. And since there are only two bells, one of you will be going back to the Academy."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "So, we're competing with each other."
Kakashi shook his head. "Not necessarily. How you approach the task is up to you. You have until noon." He tied the bells to his belt and stepped back. "Ready? Begin."
Naruto immediately turned to Hinata and Sasuke, his voice calm but firm. "Listen. This isn't just about the bells. Kakashi-sensei is testing how we work together. If we try to go solo, he'll beat us. Guaranteed."
Sasuke crossed his arms. "And what makes you so sure?"
Naruto smirked. "Because that's exactly what I'd do if I were in his position. He's a jonin. If we don't think strategically, we don't stand a chance."
Hinata nodded in agreement. "Naruto-kun's right. We need to work as a team if we're going to succeed."
Sasuke hesitated, his pride warring with the logic of their argument. Finally, he gave a curt nod. "Fine. But don't get in my way."
Naruto grinned. "Good enough. Let's do this."
Naruto created a dozen Shadow Clones, each one moving to surround Kakashi from different angles. At the same time, Hinata activated her Byakugan, scanning Kakashi's movements for any openings.
"He's fast," Hinata said, her voice calm but focused. "Even with clones, we'll need to be precise."
Naruto nodded. "Hinata, you focus on disrupting his movements. Sasuke, use your fire jutsu to keep him from getting comfortable. I'll handle the distractions and look for an opening."
Without waiting for confirmation, the three moved into action.
Kakashi dodged Naruto's clones effortlessly, his movements smooth and calculated. "Not bad," he said, deflecting a kunai thrown by Sasuke. "You're working together, but let's see how long that lasts."
Hinata appeared in his blind spot, her Gentle Fist aiming for his chakra points. Kakashi sidestepped, but the force of her strike disrupted his footing, forcing him to retreat.
Naruto grinned from above, launching a barrage of kunai with explosive tags attached. "Gotcha!"
The explosions forced Kakashi into the open, where Sasuke was waiting. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" Sasuke shouted, sending a massive ball of flames hurtling toward their instructor.
Kakashi countered with a substitution jutsu, reappearing behind Naruto. "Not bad, but not good enough," he said, grabbing one of Naruto's clones and dispersing it.
Despite their best efforts, Kakashi stayed one step ahead, his experience and skill far surpassing theirs. But as the fight continued, their teamwork became more seamless. Hinata's Byakugan allowed her to anticipate Kakashi's movements, while Sasuke and Naruto adapted their attacks to close off his escape routes.
Finally, Kakashi landed in the middle of a clearing, surrounded by the three genin. Naruto stood in front of him, Hinata to his right, and Sasuke to his left.
"Not bad," Kakashi admitted, his tone light but impressed. "You've managed to work together better than most teams I've seen. But let's see if you can take these bells."
Naruto smirked, his voice steady. "We don't need the bells to prove we're ready. You've already seen what we can do."
Hinata stepped forward, her gaze unwavering. "And we're stronger together than we are alone. That's the lesson you wanted us to learn, isn't it?"
Kakashi's visible eye widened slightly before crinkling in a smile. "Smart. You passed."
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As the group sat together, Kakashi addressed them. "Teamwork is the key to being a shinobi. You understood that, and that's why you're ready to move forward. From now on, we're Team Seven."
Naruto glanced at Hinata, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Told you we'd get through this."
Hinata returned his smile, her confidence shining through. "We did it together, Naruto-kun."
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Author's notes.
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