Naruto was starting to regret his decision of coming on time as his sensei told them to. It has been 2 hours since he arrived at the third training ground along with his teammates, and there was still no sign of their sensei at all.

If they assumed that their sensei would be as late as he was the day before, that would mean there's still around an hour until he reaches. That was a lot of time to waste, and Naruto couldn't bear sitting around here doing nothing like this. It did nothing but make him feel worse, like he never actually worked hard to get to this point. He had followed his sensei's instructions and not eaten either, so his stomach has already started growling since he woke up at 5.00 for early exercising and stretches. He was a shinobi now, after all.

Thankfully the guy that usually stood guard by the fences surrounding the training ground wasn't on duty yet. Maybe he was on the evening shift, but Naruto didn't really care. He felt like a bad person for feeling this way, but he was glad that he didn't have to see the shinobi who had purposely forced Naruto to stay out of the training grounds even though he was supposingly allowed to.

"Haruno-san, I mean- Sakura! What is that you're reading?" Naruto asked his teammate curiously. Said girl was lying on the grass with a thick book placed on her thigh as she scanned through the words with full attention. "I-It's totally okay if you don't want to share about it!"

"No, no, Naruto! I don't mind at all," Sakura sighed at the blonde boy. She had only begun realising how Naruto was always so scared of offending someone when she started to talk to him. It was as if he had to contemplate his every word before uttering it. She knew what kind of environment he grew up around, but to think it'd affect someone this much... "Usually I'd be reading Kishimoto-sensei's books, but since we're about to become proper shinobi, I borrowed this book from the library yesterday. It goes into detail on the types of shinobi including the chakra affinities and different techniques or strategies used in different situations. I'm more suitable to be a healer, but I really want to be the first or secondary fighter."

"Does the book tell you that?" Naruto tilted his head curiously. There was no way a book would have the name of every person alive stating what they're suited to be, right? But then again this book is sooo thick.... He didn't really know what to expect from a book like this. Maybe he was just stupid for thinking that such a thing doesn't exist.

"Oh, the book describes suitable roles for based on your chakra affinity, your chakra levels, your height, speed and so on. It goes into lots of specific details," Sakura flipped to the page describing the medical ninjas' specialties. "Medical-nin can't stand on the front lines, but I want to. I'm still too weak from becoming my ideal role that is a sensor or assault, so I need to train harder."

Naruto's respect for Sakura only grew. Naruto worked really hard, sure. But nobody was born a genius that knows all. Sakura has put in and will put in lots more effort to achieve her dream, and she meant it. Naruto on the other hand was utterly pathetic if he had to say so himself. He worked hard, but he was still so far away compared to Sakura and Sasuke. That alone said a lot about how they tried much more than he did, didn't it?

If staying on this team and being a burden was all he was going to do, he didn't want to do that. So he'll do his best and get stronger for his new teammates, in every way possible. They were working hard, and he too, had to do his part. He attentively scanned through the words on the pages of the book, not missing a single one as he imprinted them all in his brain. He will grow stronger and find a reason for everyone to acknowledge him. He'll be someone who is worthy of attention. He hoped.

"Naruto, you can try going to the Konoha Library and find these books in the shinobi section too. Have you never tried?" Sakura suggested to the blonde boy. Since he was so interested in reading like her, he could try using these books to help him improve too and maybe get a grasp on techniques or new jutsus.

"Well, I tried. They didn't allow non-shinobi to borrow the books," Naruto replied, thinking back to his experience at the library. He could see the receptionist already glaring at him when he walked in, and she immediately started scolding him when he tried to touch the shinobi books. Maybe she was just concerned that kids his age will try something stupid? He had taken that as kindness and continued to read more while she wasn't looking, but he felt like that wasn't the case after she screamed and kicked him out of the library for the day. He didn't want to experience that again, so he never really tried to get to the shinobi section. Maybe it really was restricted.

Sakura stared at him with a slightly shocked expression. They didn't allow non-shinobi to borrow the books? That's nonsense, Sakura herself had been borrowing the shinobi books home since she was 10. They had absolutely no problem with it when it was her, they even wished her luck on her shinobi journey! How could they treat Naruto so differently? She really needed to confront him about that, but she wasn't exactly sure how to. 

"Naruto, we can go check it out later if we have time, what do you think? Same with the training grounds, since we have headbands now, they have no choice but to let us," Sakura smiled reassuringly. She wanted to see for herself, how they actually treated Naruto. She couldn't imagine what Naruto could ever have done to everyone to receive so much hate, he was really kind, quiet and the sweetest, most hardworking child you can ever find. 

Naruto beamed at the idea of finally being able to go to the library with a friend of his own that loved to read as well. Kiba hated the idea of reading, so he never really got to go on library trips with the Inuzuka boy, sadly. He could only read alone hiding in empty hallways of the library in a corner. Kishimoto-sensei's books were the only ones that kept him company. 

"Sure, Sakura! I won't forget this time, I promise!" Naruto grinned happily while also being slightly embarrassed. Sakura huffed with her crossed arms as a smile spread across her face. Well, at least he realised that he forgot about walking home with Sakura. "Do you think Sasuke will want to come along too?"

The two of them immediately glanced at Sasuke who seemed to be in a terrible mood. You could practically feel the irritation radiating off him as he repeatedly threw a kunai tied to a wire string at a tree about 30 meters away. He seemed to be muttering the number of his streak underneath his breath, a sign that he had successfully hit the same spot over and over again with no fail. Truly talented, the Uchiha is.

"Doesn't seem like the best time," Sakura shrugged with an nervous smile which Naruto nodded in agreement to. Their sensei was sure taking their sweet, sweet time today. If Naruto wasn't here, Sakura was sure she'd end up behaving like Sasuke too, except that she'll be praying for it to 'accidentally' hit Kakashi. "What do you think the test will be about, Naruto?"

"Well, since he's testing us personally, I'm assuming it'll be something to let us showcase our skills at our best.. Like, sparring, maybe?" Naruto suggested unsure of his answer. He could be horribly wrong, maybe he'd be testing something like their sensory abilities instead. Scratch that, it's overly specified to one specific type of skillset. It's gotta be something else other than hide and seek. 

"That sounds possible. Maybe he'll get us to spar against each other? That'll let him know how our relationships are like too," Sakura hummed in approval. Teamwork and coordination between teammates was crucial in any shinobi mission, she knew. That's because everyone who was stupid around her never tried to cooperate with anyone. If their relationships are in a bad state, it will affect their performance in missions, so Kakashi sensei might not let them pass because of that.

Sasuke had been listening in on their conversation as well, since there really wasn't much to do that was relevant right now except for preparing for the upcoming test. If the sensei wanted to see their relationship, that'll mean he'd have to put up a friendly act in front of his sensei so that he can pass. What was he supposed to do? Go 'You are my one and only best friend, Naruto! I could never hurt you!'? Was that what his sensei would want? He scoffed at his own thoughts. That was terribly stupid. He'll just continue his kunai throwing until Kakashi arrives.

As if on cue, there was a huge burst of smoke, leading to the three Genins coughing as it entered their pharynx. The smoke soon cleared to reveal none other than their overly dramatic new sensei, Kakashi Hatake, standing in the middle of the huge grass field. The same book from yesterday remained in his hand as he sent his cute Genins a wave as a greeting. "Yo! Sorry for being so late, a black cat crossed my path and I had to take the long way."

"S-Sensei..." Sakura couldn't help but let the deadpan expression on her face show completely without bothering to hide her unamusement anymore. How immature was this new sensei? She was so occupied with thinking of her new future with her teammates and this test overall yesterday that she had forgotten to file a complaint of her new terribly irresponsible sensei to the council, and hopefully get a nice answer of him getting permanently banned from ever becoming a jounin sensei. They would grow so much faster with a sensei who took this job more seriously than whoever this is! Who taught this man to be hours late to a meet up, one whose time was set by him, nonetheless?

Kakashi was able to sense the anger radiating off Sakura, and decided to continue on before his currently not so cute Genin could say anything about him being incredibly late to anything. "Alright! Since we're all here, I guess we can now start our test!"

Sakura held back from complaining and silently cursed her sensei in her mind for being so late as the Genins watched him take out an alarm clock and place it on the grass. He set the timer for it to ring at noon and pulled out two bells tied onto a red string from his pocket. "Today, you will be fighting against me together."

'So, I was right! It is about teamwork, just in a different way than I pictured it,' Sakura nodded to herself in determination. 'We will all work together, I'm not sure if we can beat him, but our chances will definitely be much higher. Surely Naruto has something up his sleeves if he was able to become Genin out of nowhere.'

"But, there is a twist," That was when Kakashi held his hand up, directing the Genin's attention the the two bells dangling from his fingers. "Since none of you are strong enough to beat me, you just have to take one of these bells to pass. If you can't get one of these bells, you will be sent straight back to the academy since you're not qualified to become a proper ninja. That means among the three of you, only two will be able to officially become Genin."

Wait, what? Sakura's eyes narrowed in confusion. That just changed everything about this whole test. So this wasn't a teamwork test, it was about abandoning one to save yourself, after all? As Sakura looked to her sides, she stared at her two teammates with a frown. She didn't like it. She didn't like it one bit. But if she had to choose....

Sasuke scoffed. Well, that made it a tad bit easier than having to act like close friends with his teammates. He didn't care whether Sakura and Naruto passes or not, as long as no one holds him back from his goals, nothing else mattered to him. Nothing else....

Naruto's eyes had immediately widened at Kakashi's statement. It's all over now. This was completely planned from the beginning, wasn't it? Naruto was never meant to become a ninja to begin with. They placed him with the two smartest ones in class and made a test that only allowed to people to pass just so that Naruto could never become a shinobi. 

He knew it was the truth that he should come to terms with. He knew becoming shinobi was something that he didn't deserve, but it felt terribly unfair. However, who was he to complain? He was the one who was completely talentless and unlikable. He was the one who didn't put in as much hardwork as his teammates did, it was no wonder that people don't like him at all. He should just save his teammates the trouble and quit right now.

Kakashi stared at his Genin's faces, satisfied at their reactions. "Alright, if you understand, all of you may start at the count of three, two, on-"

"K-Kakashi sensei....?"

Kakashi stopped in the middle of his counting, and the one who interrupted him was none other than Naruto Uzumaki, who had one arm held up in the air, asking for permission to talk. Kakashi heaved a small sighed before nodding. "What is it?"

"The...purpose of this test, uhm," Naruto spoke timidly. Kakashi raised his eyebrows. Did this kid already figure it out? So soon? That'll be impressive. But he waited for the blonde boy to continue his sentence before he said anything. "I mean, I understand your protests, but there's really no need to go to all this trouble. I-If you guys really want, I'll just....um...." Naruto bit his lip to hold back a cry as he spoke. "I can...just go back home, y'know."

This time, Kakashi was confused. What does that mean? Protests? go back home? What even is going on in the boy's head at the moment? "What do you mean, Naruto? What protests?"

"Um, y'know, with me becoming a shinobi and everything..." Naruto muttered quietly. Protests against Naruto becoming a shinobi? Was that a thing going on in the council? Kakashi thought to himself. It was plausible, he'll just ask the Hokage about it later on. But whatever Naruto is thinking about this test right now, it was completely false.

"Naruto, I can assure you, that is not the intention of this test. You just need to come at me with full strength. If you win, you pass. It is completely fair, and I am not trying to kick you off the list with this test. I don't know why you think that's the case, but it is not," Kakashi explained, frowning slightly. Naruto didn't seem to believe him, but he nodded reluctantly anyway. 

"Well, then..... The test will now begin."