Chapter 42:
"I didn't expect Shino and Konohamaru to be eliminated already. Though they might've been holding back, these brats aren't totally useless after all."
In the forest at night, a campfire burned brightly, giving away their position all too easily. Kakashi stood beside the fire, speaking to Anko, who was sitting nearby.
"Sixth Hokage, do you think Boruto and the others will come?"
By the fire were several students Anko had already subdued and tied up, including Iwabee and Denki.
"Hmm… who knows? We're clearly waiting for them here—they'll definitely suspect it's a trap and won't come to rescue anyone. But if they don't, they'll all fail."
Kakashi let out a bored yawn.
"I'll stay here and keep watch. Sixth, why don't you go read Make-Out Paradise and get some rest?" Anko said with a relaxed expression.
"No thanks. I've practically memorized it at this point."
Kakashi looked up at the pitch-black sky, slipping into memory. He thought of the brilliant man who, like himself, had white hair.
After his father's suicide, young Kakashi had fallen into despair—until that man helped him find strength again.
"Your father committed suicide, huh… Look, since we both have white hair, why don't you treat me as your father from now on?"
That was their first meeting—Kakashi and Jiraiya—in the hot springs of Konoha. With his ridiculous antics, Jiraiya comforted the wounded heart of young Kakashi.
From that day on, Kakashi became Jiraiya's devoted fan, especially obsessed with his novels. He bought three copies of each—one for personal reading, one to lend out, and one to collect.
"To write such profoundly philosophical works… only Jiraiya-sama could do that," Kakashi said wistfully. After Jiraiya, there was no more Make-Out Paradise.
"We're the only ones left. In that fight with Anko-sensei, we were nearly wiped out. If it hadn't been for Iwabee and Denki's sacrifice, we wouldn't have escaped," Shikadai whispered from the bushes.
Boruto's group had reunited with the new Ino-Shika-Chō trio. After some discussion, they decided to use the cover of night to rescue the other captured students.
If they rescued the others and joined forces, they might stand a chance against Kakashi. If they didn't, they'd have no chance at all—and when the exam ended, they'd all be sent back to the Academy.
"I didn't think Uncle Kakashi would be here too. That complicates things."
With Kakashi present, their plan to rescue the others, recover their strength, and then face him for the final battle was no longer feasible.
Even though Kakashi and Anko were clearly holding back, for these students who weren't even genin yet, it was already exhausting just trying to rescue their classmates from the two of them. Escaping afterward would be nearly impossible.
"Looks like we'll have to go straight into the final battle right after rescuing them," Shikadai said with a pained expression. If he got sent back to the Academy, it wouldn't be too hard to explain to his dad—but his mom? He'd be dead.
His head throbbed at the thought.
"In any case, getting the bells isn't our priority. We have to defeat Uncle Kakashi and Anko-sensei. They need to pay for toying with us."
The seven of them moved out together. The strongest among them—Mitsuki and Shuyu—formed two teams. One team would distract Kakashi, while the other rescued the captured classmates.
Once their classmates were rescued, they'd team up to take down Anko, and finally, Kakashi.
The team distracting Kakashi included Mitsuki, Boruto, and Sarada. The rescue team was made up of Shuyu and the new Ino-Shika-Chō trio.
"These brats are here," Kakashi murmured as soon as the group sprang into action, his eyes on the grass rustling faintly in the darkness ahead.
"Ninjutsu: Partial Expansion Jutsu!"
Chōchō Akimichi was the first to strike, her gigantic left hand sweeping toward Anko.
With a mischievous smile, Anko leapt into the air, dodging the attack.
"Ninja Art: Super Beast Imitating Drawing!"
A painted hawk swooped down from the sky, forcing Anko to land.
The moment her feet hit the ground, she used a substitution jutsu to narrowly avoid Shikadai's Shadow Possession Jutsu.
"As expected, a substitution."
Shikadai had used the same tactic in their last battle with Anko, and she had escaped in the same way.
"Inojin, behind you!" Chōchō warned, but it was too late—Anko's first target was the only member of the trio with aerial capability.
Her left hand morphed into a snake, wrapping around Inojin and pulling him in.
"Let's take out one first," she said, reaching to remove his white headband.
But suddenly, Inojin looked up—revealing a pair of three-tomoe Sharingan. It was actually Shuyu.
From the start, Shuyu had disguised himself as Inojin and acted alongside Shikadai and Chōchō.
As for the beast painting jutsu earlier, it had been prepared in advance by the real Inojin, hidden in the shadows. Though Shuyu had mimicked the hand seals, the chakra powering it had come from Inojin.
"Genjutsu, release."
Though Anko dispelled the illusion in time, it was too late—Shikadai's Shadow Possession Jutsu had hit her.
"My body… won't move…"
The immobilized Anko was easily struck down.
Of course, Anko had been holding back. Normally, she could have broken free from Shikadai's jutsu in an instant.
"Looks like your plan worked," she said, unbothered even after being "eliminated" and releasing the students she'd captured.
But Kakashi, unhurried as ever, continued tangling with Boruto, Sarada, and Mitsuki.
"Hmph! Uncle Kakashi, just give up. Once everyone's here, there's no way you can win," Boruto said, still full of bluster even after being kicked to the ground.
"How many times do I have to say it? Call me Sixth Hokage. Hmm… but I'll take your suggestion under consideration. In the meantime, allow me to give you a memory you'll never forget…"
Kakashi suddenly vanished.
"Where did he go?!"
Sarada, with only a single tomoe in her Sharingan, couldn't keep up with Kakashi's Body Flicker Technique.
"Konoha Secret Taijutsu Technique: One Thousand Years of Death!"
Kakashi reappeared behind Boruto, dropped into a crouch, formed the tiger hand seal—and jabbed Boruto in the rear.
"Why's Boruto screaming so horribly?"
Chōchō looked toward the sound after untying the other students.
"Don't worry about it! Either way, it can't be good. Let's hurry and help!" Shikadai said, activating his own Body Flicker Technique.
"Boruto, are you okay?" Mitsuki helped up Boruto, who was trembling with his legs clamped together, tears welling in his eyes.
Boruto didn't answer. He just clenched his teeth and shook his head, glaring at Kakashi with vengeful eyes.
Sarada, meanwhile, looked at both Boruto and Kakashi with disgust.
"Looks like everyone's here now…" Kakashi said, ignoring the many figures appearing before him. He narrowed his eyes. "Well then, congratulations. I surrender. You all pass."
"Huh?" the others said in confusion.
"What!" Boruto growled, clenching his jaw. If Kakashi surrendered, how was he supposed to get revenge for the Thousand Years of Death?
"I said I surrender. You pass."
Kakashi gave them a strange look.
"But… you only have one bell. And weren't the rules that only the ones who get a bell pass?" Shikadai pointed to the bell on Kakashi's waist.
"Oh, that? This test was meant to show that abandoning your teammates only puts you at a disadvantage. Working together is the right answer."
"The shinobi world is harsh. Reality is full of rules. Those who break the rules are scum—but those who abandon their comrades… are worse than scum."
"You've proven that you understand this. When you chose to rescue your comrades and fight as one, you already passed."
"A final word of advice as your senior: in the real world, missions come with all sorts of hardships. To overcome them, you need the help of comrades—and unwavering resolve."
"Now, time for your reward. Release!"
With that, the white headbands tied to everyone's foreheads transformed into real Konoha forehead protectors. Even Itachi once again wore the full Leaf headband he hadn't donned in ages.
"Calm down, Kushina. Look, Boruto's passed the Academy graduation exam…"
Minato gave a wry smile as he hugged a struggling Kushina like a pig headed for slaughter.
"I don't care! I won't forgive Kakashi! My adorable grandson actually—actually got—by Kakashi… I don't care, I won't let this go!"
Though Kushina was normally blunt and cheerful, she was a woman after all—and she just couldn't bring herself to say "butt poked," no matter what.
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