"Kanda Kyoichi is truly devious!"
Yuhi Shinku couldn't help but sigh.
This guy had trick after trick up his sleeve!
But, to be fair, it worked!
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes narrowed slightly.
Faced with such a situation, anyone would hesitate and struggle. Ultimately, their choices would reveal their true character.
Every ninja starts from a place of weakness.
However...
No one wants to team up with a ninja overly obsessed with their self-interests—especially if that ninja happens to be a Uchiha.
Shisui, what will you choose?
If Shisui chose not to give up his spot, Hiruzen would have no choice but to exclude him. He would reluctantly add Shisui to the list of those who needed to be kept in check.
Kyoichi hadn't discussed his exam structure with Hiruzen beforehand, but the outcome aligned perfectly with the Third Hokage's expectations.
His satisfaction with Kyoichi grew stronger by the minute.
---
At that moment, Shisui was indeed struggling internally.
Before the test, Kyoichi had given him a "guaranteed pass" assurance. Now, however, he was presented with a choice that, by all appearances, made the test impossible to pass.
But...
If he abandoned Asuma and Kurenai, would they still be considered a team?
Shisui took a deep breath and finally said, "Sensei, I choose to retake the test!"
"Shisui…"
Asuma and Kurenai looked at him, stunned.
They were four years older than Shisui, yet before this, they'd barely interacted with him and didn't know him well.
So...
They had never expected Shisui to give up his spot for them.
The same shock registered on Hiruzen Sarutobi and Yuhi Shinku's faces.
They understood the intent behind Kyoichi's test.
Everything in the exam, from start to finish, had been building toward this one question. It wasn't just Asuma and Kurenai being tested—Shisui was being assessed too.
The exam was a test of human nature and psychology, far more grueling than the bell test.
And yet...
Shisui's answer was perfect.
Whether he had seen through the test's intent or genuinely felt this way, his decision proved that he was worthy of cultivation.
"Are you certain?"
Kyoichi's face turned serious.
"Yes. As the temporary captain, I failed the mission. My strategy and decisions were flawed. But I trust Asuma and Kurenai. If we try again, I believe we can succeed!"
Once Shisui stated his choice, he felt an immediate sense of relief.
It's just a retest, right?
So what if he had to go back to school?
No big deal!
"And what about you two?" Kyoichi asked with a smile, looking at Asuma and Kurenai.
"Sensei, Shisui's strategy wasn't the issue. The problem was my inability to execute it. I'm willing to return to the academy."
"Me too…"
Neither of them hesitated much.
While their talents might not be on par with Shisui's, both were proud clan heirs with a strong sense of self-respect.
This time, Shisui had clearly outshone them. His strategic planning, logical thinking, and execution were all leagues ahead.
There was no way they could let him bear the responsibility alone.
Moreover...
Even if they tried again, it was clear they weren't going to beat Kyoichi.
This was a jonin!
"So, you lack confidence?" Kyoichi smirked.
"No, I'm confident that with another year of training, I'll catch up. But right now… the gap is undeniable."
Asuma's tone carried a hint of frustration.
Previously, he thought he might not be the best, but at least he could keep up with his peers. This exam, however, made him realize how far he lagged behind.
Dragging down his team, failing to hold the front line—how could he let Shisui give up his spot for him?
"Good. Recognizing your own shortcomings is the first step to improvement. At least you've learned to evaluate yourself. However, your overall tactics weren't wrong: Kurenai for support, Asuma for front-line defense, and Shisui for infiltration."
"The real issue is… I'm just too strong. So… I hereby declare that you've all passed!"
Kyoichi clapped his hands and sheathed his sword.
The trio stood stunned.
They passed?
Just like that?
Shisui pondered for a moment, recalling some of Kyoichi's teachings. Realizing something, he hesitated briefly before saying, "Sensei, the key to this test… was that final question, wasn't it?"
"Exactly. A team will inevitably have both strengths and weaknesses. Some will shine while others must sacrifice. Together, however, a team should achieve a synergy where one plus one equals three. The classic example is the Ino–Shika–Cho trio."
Kyoichi smiled, his voice instructive.
After all, there was a reward for teaching.
"Thank you, Sensei. I understand now."
The trio bowed deeply.
From the looks of it, they were already beginning to form a cohesive team.
"Come on. To celebrate the formation of the First Squad, I'm treating you to ramen."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes narrowed slightly.
Genjutsu Swordsmanship?
The technique bore a striking resemblance to an old method.
But...
Though the theory seemed rooted in Tobirama Senju's work, it had clearly been refined. After pondering for a moment, Hiruzen dismissed his doubts and turned his focus back to the exam.
"What do you think?" he asked Yuhi Shinku.
Shinku, a seasoned jonin with extensive experience training genin, contemplated for a moment before replying.
"Brilliant! That kid's methods are layered and interconnected, even more devious than our old bell test. One misstep, and you're caught off guard."
"If we made this approach standard, I doubt many kids would graduate."
Hiruzen sighed.
The method was effective, but the bar was set extremely high. By this standard, 80% of the children wouldn't qualify as genin, which made it impractical to implement on a large scale.
Still...
The comprehensive nature of the evaluation was undeniable.
After careful thought, Hiruzen said, "We could use this for elite squads… Let's trial it with Minato's team."
"Agreed. Have Minato come by to discuss it."
Shinku nodded in agreement.
If it was an elite squad, the expectations should be higher. Minato's team wasn't just Rin and Obito—it also included Kakashi, a seasoned chunin.
Kyoichi's standards weren't excessive for them.
Before long, Minato Namikaze's shadow clone arrived.
His original body was currently occupied meeting with Obito, Rin, and Kakashi.
"Lord Hokage…"
"Minato, Kyoichi's squad just completed their test. We observed the whole process and found some aspects worth adopting."
Hiruzen cleared his throat as he spoke.
In essence, they had spied on Kyoichi's methods.
But...
It shouldn't be an issue, right?
At worst, they'd make it up to him later.
Hiruzen detailed the valuable insights from the exam.
At first, Minato was puzzled. But as he listened, his eyes gradually lit up.
Ingenious!
As expected of Kyoichi, each layer of the test was intricately connected.
There was no need to wait until morning—he could start the evaluation that very afternoon.
The only concern was…
"Lord Hokage, while this is an excellent framework, there's one issue. What if, and I mean hypothetically, Kakashi fails to grasp the concept and insists on working alone?"
Minato's initial excitement gave way to caution.
"Uh…"
Kakashi was indeed a concern.
Both Hiruzen and Shinku fell into deep thought. After some deliberation, Hiruzen finally said, "If Kakashi refuses to cooperate, we'll revoke his chunin rank. If that doesn't work, we'll send all three of them back to the academy."
That harsh?
Minato inhaled sharply but ultimately nodded.
He didn't know Kakashi well yet, only that the boy had a poor reputation among his peers—few were willing to work with him.
So...
If the test failed and a chunin had to be demoted back to the academy…
That would cause quite a stir.
But...
Judging by Hiruzen's firm stance, he clearly wasn't willing to compromise. If Kakashi truly failed to grasp the importance of teamwork, there would be no room for leniency.
With that reassurance, Minato felt more confident. Still, he planned to invite an additional observer to oversee the process.
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