"Hmm?"
What the—?!
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow, instantly distracted.
At the same time—
A kunai flew towards Jiraiya's waist.
Trying to steal something?
He immediately dodged, but—
Bang!
The Kakashi in front of him turned into a wooden log.
The next moment, a blade slashed across Jiraiya's waist.
A bell's string was cut!
But—
Almost simultaneously, Jiraiya's hair grew, ensnaring Kakashi's hands.
Kakashi gritted his teeth, tossing the bell towards the ground.
"Kyōen!"
Kurenai was sprinting below, throwing kunai and shuriken.
There were no more traps around.
The only thing she could do was clear the obstacles for Kyōen and find a safe landing spot.
Whoosh!
A wooden spike flying toward Kyōen was severed by a kunai thrown by Kurenai, creating a loud noise.
Kyōen turned around, immediately grabbing the edge of the flying log.
Then—
With force, he propelled himself upwards, reaching for the falling bell.
Clang!
He caught it!
As Kyōen grabbed it, Jiraiya's hair reached him.
He was cocooned by the hair, pulled up like a chicken, and joined Kakashi by his side.
Jiraiya shot Kyōen a fierce glare.
If it hadn't been for that one thing, he never would have been distracted and allowed the bell to be taken.
This kid…
Small but clever, looking like he didn't notice anything, but his mind is sharper than anyone else's!
"Hah, you kids aren't simple. You were at odds yesterday, but today you're working together?"
"Lord Jiraiya, it was all part of the strategy!" Kyōen grinned.
Kakashi's face turned red.
Strategy?
What kind of strategy was that?! They were just arguing yesterday!
Jiraiya let go of Kyōen and used a rope to tie Kakashi up.
"I told you, the worst performer gets tied up by me and doesn't get lunch."
Jiraiya pulled Kakashi down.
Kyōen followed closely behind.
Jiraiya chuckled and walked over to a nearby tree, tying Kakashi to the trunk.
"Hmph!"
Kakashi turned his head, not offering any defense.
Two lunch boxes were placed beside him.
Kurenai walked over and stood with them.
Jiraiya pointed to the two lunch boxes.
"As per the rules, each of you gets one, but he doesn't. If anyone dares to give him food, they'll also have to join the afternoon exam."
"But—"
Kurenai was about to argue, but Kyōen had already grabbed one lunch box and started eating.
She froze, then picked up the other one.
Jiraiya smiled slightly. "Well then, I'll go eat some ramen. You two keep an eye on him."
"Yes."
Kyōen responded respectfully.
Jiraiya left.
Kurenai's emotions were complex, holding her lunch box but with no appetite.
"I'm sorry. I was supposed to help, but in the end, you ended up tied up."
"…"
Kyōen continued eating, as though he hadn't heard her.
Seeing this, Kakashi could only awkwardly try to comfort her: "You did well. Besides, you definitely wouldn't have passed a solo exam."
Kurenai's genjutsu had played a good role in covering them, and her sensory ability had pinpointed their location.
Not to mention—
The cover from genjutsu, clones, and traps.
So, she had contributed.
Kakashi knew he had performed the worst—
As a Chūnin, it was Kyōen who had guided the battle, even considering his presence and giving him space to attack.
Without Kyōen and Kurenai's cooperation, there was no way he would have cut the bell's string.
Compared to that...
Kyōen seemed more like a qualified Chūnin.
Was he truly an unqualified ninja?
Kakashi felt a sense of self-doubt and sank into a low mood, only for his stomach to growl loudly.
He was hungry!
Just as he felt ashamed—
"I ate half, so if you don't mind, you can finish my other half. If we all take the exam together, our chances will be better."
Kyōen handed over his lunch box.
Kurenai looked down—
He had only eaten half!
It dawned on her.
Kyōen wasn't holding a grudge against Kakashi; he had already planned to take the exam with him.
She immediately made a decision.
"You two have consumed more energy from close combat. I mostly supported, so I only need a third of it to recover some stamina. The rest is for you two."
"You're both taking the exam together. It wouldn't be right to leave me behind."
Kurenai smiled.
Kakashi blinked, speechless, only feeling a lump in his throat.
"Don't misunderstand. I just don't want one less person in the team. And by feeding you, we're still following the rules for the exam."
"Right."
Kurenai nodded and then subtly glanced at Kyōen—
Sure enough.
The real Kyōen was very gentle, considerate, and understanding, always thinking of Kakashi's feelings even at times like this.
Yesterday, it was clearly to correct Kakashi's mistakes.
She reached out.
"Can I take off your mask?"
"Sure—"
Kakashi reluctantly uttered the word.
The mask was removed, revealing his handsome face.
Kyōen handed over his lunch box, using chopsticks to feed Kakashi.
Regardless of whether the exam would happen again in the afternoon or whether they passed outright, they still had to eat.
Tsk!
Jiraiya is being very cooperative, still hasn't shown up!
Kyōen fed Kakashi.
While eating, he had to hold back the emotions and sorrow welling up inside…
This was the hardest meal Kakashi had ever eaten.
Just then—
Whoosh!
A figure landed in front of Kyōen and the others.
"You actually dared to break the rules. Looks like you want another exam, huh?"
Jiraiya's face was cold.
"Exactly."
Kyōen nodded.
Jiraiya sneered, "Then fine, in the afternoon, I'll give it my all…"
Kakashi's breath hitched, his face paling.
"No, I—"
"I'll let you pass."
After Jiraiya finished his sentence, Kakashi and Kurenai were stunned, and Kyōen wore a surprised expression.
But—
Jiraiya suddenly slapped Kyōen on the shoulder.
"Don't pretend, did you guess it?"
"Kind of? As one of the Sannin, if you're willing to be our lead jōnin, you wouldn't give us an impossible test, so I figured we had a chance of passing together."
Kyōen explained.
Jiraiya seemed a little surprised and said, "But you could've given up on him. That wouldn't affect you becoming my subordinate."
"If becoming your disciple means giving up on a comrade, would you trust me to watch your back?"
"Ha ha ha."
Jiraiya burst into laughter.
Then, he became serious and said, "That's right. In war, sacrifices are inevitable. But someone who doesn't care about the lives of their comrades, how can the other ninjas trust their lives and missions to them?"
Kyōen's and Jiraiya's words…
Were like thunder, exploding in Kakashi's ears.
The lives of comrades?
He fell silent.
Yesterday's words from Kyōen echoed in his mind.
"Coming back after two years, it's not without reason. How you see others is how others see you…"
If yesterday, Kakashi was angry and frustrated—
Now, he had more to reflect on.
Could it be—
That in past missions, he shouldn't have given up on saving those people?
No!
As a ninja, missions and rules are the most important!
Kakashi's inner thoughts and his past mindset were in a fierce battle, and for a moment, he couldn't decide which side to take.
Kyōen hadn't expected this to be settled in one battle.
A stubborn old guy like Kakashi wouldn't be so easily "converted," or he wouldn't have been the "team's cancer."
This was just a good start.
However, the next moment—
[As Hokage, you didn't intentionally win people's trust, but your personality still earned their trust.]
[Reward: Chakra control ability increased]
Hmm?
Kyōen glanced at Kurenai, not too surprised, just feeling a bit strange—
The main goal hadn't been achieved.
But the secondary goal...
Still, not bad.
Increased chakra control ability—can't complain about that.
Big win!