Can these children not realize the gravity of the situation at all?
Kakashi took a deep breath. "Have you ever thought that if you give up this time, you will never have another chance to become a ninja?"
Naruto shrugged. "I know, but I'm giving up voluntarily for the sake of my comrades. It's no big deal."
Sasuke gritted his teeth. "They don't understand a thing! You might as well let me..."
Sakura said, "Why don't the two of you just fight?"
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a silent look. "......"
Obito's phantom beside Kakashi remarked with keen interest, "These kids are stumbling along, yet they're willing to sacrifice themselves for each other. It's truly baffling."
Kakashi couldn't help sighing inwardly: *But Naruto got one thing right. If I get the chance, I will definitely trade my life for yours.*
"Obito, you are a comrade I cherish."
The figure of Obito beside him slowly dissolved, leaving only a wisp of blue smoke.
Kakashi looked at the three of them with a solemn expression. "You can give up; that is your right. But if you all give up, it loses all meaning."
"Make your choice. Who do you intend to have step down?"
Sakura stood to the side, remaining silent. She understood that whatever came next would be crucial.
Yet for some reason, she wanted to see what kind of stunt Naruto was going to pull.
Sasuke immediately wanted to speak, but his mouth opened and closed as if a fishbone was stuck in his throat.
Naruto glanced at Sasuke, then at Sakura.
*What, you want me to take the fall if I say the wrong thing later?*
*Well, then I won't be holding back.*
"I suggest the three of us all give up," Naruto said with a smile.
Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi were all taken aback.
Naruto paused for a moment and slowly continued, "Doesn't everyone feel like this profession of being a ninja is pretty pointless?"
Kakashi looked at him. "Why do you say that?"
"To complete missions efficiently, we have to suppress our emotions, violate our own human nature, and even turn our blades against our own people. A ninja like that isn't worth being."
Naruto's voice suddenly rose. "Sasuke, you said yesterday that your dream is to revive your clan and get your revenge. But if you get yourself killed trying to complete an assignment, what the heck are you going to revenge?!"
"Sakura, I've met your parents. They aren't great figures, nor are they the descendants of heroes, yet they have to send their own daughter to the front lines just like great figures would. What are they hoping for? Good luck?"
"As for me, I just want to live like an ordinary person. But the villagers despise me, the people around me look down on me, and on top of that, I'm supposed to eagerly cozy up to them despite getting the cold shoulder, all while trying hard to surpass the Hokage so everyone will acknowledge me. What kind of bullshit logic is that?!"
Come to think of it, in his past life, Naruto had once been labeled a "social recluse" by those around him because a colleague saw him pulling Firefly in Honkai: Star Rail.
Not only that, in their eyes, playing Genshin Impact made you a "Genshin player," watching anime meant you were obsessed with 2D drawings, making JoJo references meant you were unhinged, buying merchandise meant you had more money than sense, and discussing manga plots meant you were neglecting your proper work...
These unfriendly remarks kept fermenting, eventually turning into simple and crude labeling, giving rise to nicknames like "goblin" and "rat."
Later on, as an exhausted corporate drone, he could no longer take it and threw a fit of rage that lasted an entire afternoon.
"I want everyone to acknowledge me, but if the price is abandoning my teammates and destroying my humanity, then I'd rather not do it!"
"You don't have to be a ninja to earn recognition; you can do other things!"
"Sasuke, is becoming a ninja really the only way to get your revenge? I can start training with you from today onward. We can go to the library to study ninjutsu, practice at the training ground, and spar with strong opponents."
"Sakura, I'm willing to accompany you in doing everything you want to do. First, we'll beat away all the toxic, poser guys in the village, and then castrate every man who plays with women's feelings so they can never stand up straight again... except for me."
Sakura let out a sudden snort of laughter.
Unfazed, Naruto looked at Kakashi, whose expression was gradually becoming blank. "Boss, I'm willing to run errands for you whenever I have time and buy the latest issue of *Make-Out Tactics*—the movie version too!"
Sakura said with a deadpan expression, "Wanna bet I report you to the Konoha higher-ups for producing adult content as a minor?"
"Sorry, slip of the tongue."
The corners of Sasuke's mouth couldn't help lifting slightly. "Naruto, what on earth are you trying to say?"
"I'm trying to say~" Naruto smiled, "If the concept of a ninja is filthy, then there's no need to become a ninja. If this world is distorted, then go and change this world."
"If we keep following the distorted rules of this world, there will never be a way out. It's better to change it and forge a completely new path."
"However," Kakashi couldn't help interrupting, "won't this path be a bit too difficult?"
Naruto gave a faint smile.
Beside him, a figure in white robes and black hair stood quietly. His sword-like eyebrows slanted up into his temples, his dark eyes were narrow and profound, and his jet-black hair fluttered freely in the wind. Every movement he made exuded danger and power.
If this were on Douyin, some intense background music would probably be playing right about now.
That person living in the era of internet censorship let out a light laugh. "How hard can it be for a person to hold their ground?"
Naruto roared toward the sky, "How hard... can it be?!"
With granaries full of surplus rice, and a sharp spirit in the chest!
As the saying goes:
The Spring and Autumn Cicada chirps against the tide of destiny, an ambitious hegemony refuses to bow its head.
Countless schemes make a saint among Gu, laughing at the mortal world, who dares not submit?
The surroundings were pin-drop silent, with only the heavy breathing of a few people beating a rhythmic drum in the air.
Sasuke's heart surged with emotion, youthful spirit overflowing in his chest as if he wanted to run right up to Itachi on the spot and beat him with a barrage of "don't bully the young" punches.
Sakura couldn't conceal her smile, only lamenting that the ninja world didn't have mobile phones; otherwise, she would have recorded this segment at all costs and posted it on Hupu so Naruto and the netizens could cordially discuss each other's family trees.
Aside from being shocked, Kakashi smiled, sighed, and felt a tiny trace of relief in his heart.
"What about you two?" He looked at Sasuke and Sakura.
Sakura spread her hands. "I'm afraid Naruto might actually go spar with those toxic guys, so I have to stop him."
Sasuke was stunned for a second before letting out a cold snort. "I don't need the title of ninja, and I couldn't do something that betrays my comrades."
Kakashi nodded, a myriad of emotions welling up in his chest.
There was nothing more to say.
"Then, this mission..." Kakashi looked at the three of them.
"...You have all passed!"
Sasuke's eyes widened directly.
"Passed?" Sasuke couldn't help speaking up. "Why? Didn't we fail this mission?"
"You didn't fail," Kakashi shook his head. "Indeed, a ninja's duty is to put aside their emotions and complete missions efficiently."
He paused for a moment before adding, "But as Naruto said, someone who abandons their teammates to complete a mission is lower than trash."
Kakashi looked at Naruto earnestly. "I really like your ideal, but I still hope you can operate as a ninja from now on."
"Naruto, there is a lot of unfairness in this world. But as long as people are around, there is a chance that the world's unfairness can be remedied."
Kakashi took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing into smiling crescents.
"Before you change the world, I will protect you."
Upon hearing this, understanding dawned in Sasuke's heart.
Naruto was slightly startled, his gaze softening along with it.
Kakashi was still that very same Kakashi.
He wouldn't change just because the plot changed; he would always be that "yasashii" teacher who was wholeheartedly devoted to his comrades.
It was a pity that the Obito you hold so dear is responsible for your master's death.
Kakashi's promise wouldn't become unbreakable just because of his gentleness.
Kakashi announced, "From now on, we will officially take on commissions from the Land of Fire as Team 7. Dismissed!"
...
The bell test had come to an end.
Sakura and Naruto went to Ichiraku Ramen to grab a bite to eat, and afterwards found a secluded spot with no one around.
"Let's hear it," Sakura said, her back against the wall as she looked seriously at Naruto.
"What on earth were you thinking? Why didn't you follow the plot, and instead forcefully use Talk-No-Jutsu on Kakashi?"