Chōza Akimichi stood up, dusting off his clothes.
Looking at Ryoma and the other two, he couldn't help but exclaim with admiration,
"Truly, the younger generation is formidable!"
Chōza felt that at the same age, he could not have achieved what Ryoma and his teammates had.
In a short amount of time, facing an enemy clearly stronger than their team, they had quickly made the correct judgment and formulated a rather meticulous plan.
Ultimately, they achieved their group's objective.
Perceptive, meticulous, and their strength was more than sufficient.
Although it was their first time cooperating, they already understood how to seize the right moment in battle and actively sought coordination with each other.
Chōza was growing fonder and fonder of these three disciples of his.
Combined with Ryoma's behavior just before the test began,
Chōza thought to himself, 'Was he already planning to team up with the other two to deal with me from that moment? It seems this plan was also led by this little guy Ryoma. Truly worthy of being Shikaku's nephew, just as difficult to deal with as him!'
Chōza looked at the three. Logically speaking, he was satisfied with all their performances.
But there was still one final hurdle:
The distribution of the bells!
Chōza addressed the three, saying, "Excellent coordination. Even I couldn't react in time and fell for your trick. So, you decide for yourselves. Which two of you will get the bells?"
Watching Asuma and Kurenai's expressions clearly change,
and Ryoma standing between them, still showing no sign of panic at all,
Chōza grew even more curious.
'What choice will you make?' Chōza wondered silently to himself.
Ryoma helplessly shook his head. These days, being a ninja was tough!
You had to play the act all the way through.
Made it seem like a life-or-death parting~
Then, Ryoma threw one of the bells in his hand to Kurenai.
Asuma watched Ryoma's action, his mouth opening slightly, but in the end, he didn't say anything.
Seeing Asuma's constipated look again, Ryoma couldn't help but be amused by him.
This Asuma, really torturing himself for the sake of his own pride.
'Sigh, the power of love is truly great!' Ryoma sighed inwardly.
Then, looking at Old Asuma, who had gloomily lowered his head, Ryoma called out to him, "Hey! Asuma."
Asuma, hearing his name, looked up in confusion, only to see something flying towards his face.
Asuma instinctively reached out and caught it. Opening his palm, he found a bell lying quietly in his hand.
Chōza watched Ryoma's action, very puzzled.
Based on the battle just now, Ryoma could be said to be both the commander of this fight and the main combatant.
Yet he hadn't kept a single bell for himself, giving them all to his teammates.
What did this mean?
It was only then that Ryoma cleared his throat and slowly began to speak, preparing to showcase his superb acting skills.
He said, "In that case, I'll withdraw."
Both Asuma and Kurenai looked at Ryoma with shock on their faces.
Frankly, during the test just now, it was Ryoma who first proposed fighting together, and he also contributed the most effort, which was why the other two silently allowed Ryoma to hold the bells.
This also implicitly meant that both Asuma and Kurenai tacitly agreed that Ryoma could later distribute the bells.
Chōza had naturally observed these details as well.
Chōza looked directly into Ryoma's eyes and asked, perplexed, "Can you tell me the reason for your choice, student Ryoma?"
Ryoma replied with an unconcerned expression, "Emmm, there's really no particular reason. If I had to give one, it might be that I feel those two need this opportunity more than I do."
"That idiot Asuma kept shouting about graduating early from the ninja academy and becoming a genin as soon as possible. Now that he finally has the chance, if he has to go back and stay in the ninja academy for another year, he'd probably go crazy."
"Besides, I am that guy's big brother! In matters like this, the big brother has to step up for his little brother!"
Asuma was deeply moved by Ryoma's words.
This guy was really breaking the rules, saying such touching things.
Sniffle, this is gonna make me, Old Asuma, shed little pearls~
Then Ryoma turned his head to look at Kurenai. "As for Kurenai, she has a dream, you know? To become a powerful female genjutsu ninja. That sounds really cool. Plus, if it weren't for Kurenai's genjutsu at the end just now, my Flying Corps soldiers wouldn't have succeeded so easily."
"And I believe I'm a bit stronger than Kurenai, so it would naturally be easier for me to pass this type of test next time. Most importantly,"
Ryoma gave a mischievous smile, glancing at Kurenai and the deeply moved Old Asuma standing to the side,
and said, "I'd feel bad splitting those two up~ Tsk tsk tsk. As the saying goes, it's better to destroy ten temples than to break up one marriage. What a sin, what a sin."
This one sentence instantly turned Kurenai's cute little face bright red.
She even started stammering, "N-no... that's not it, Ryoma-kun, don't talk nonsense! It's nothing like that!"
Seeing Kurenai's kawaii expression, Ryoma finally couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
A loli when young, a beauty when grown.
Old Asuma, Old Asuma, you really have it good!
This made Kurenai practically want to bury her head in her collar.
By now, Old Asuma felt like sliding into a kneel and rushing before Ryoma to call him godfather!
If you do not disdain me, Asuma is willing to acknowledge you as godfather!
Godfather above, receive my, Old Asuma's, bow~
Ryoma waved his hand dismissively, saying nonchalantly, "Besides, if I go back, at worst I'll just hang out with Snake Uncle for another year. Maybe I'll come out even stronger."
Hearing Ryoma's answer, Chōza nodded with extreme satisfaction.
Not only was this child personally capable, but what was even more precious was his understanding of sacrificing his own interests to protect his comrades.
Putting on an unconcerned front must be to prevent his comrades from worrying or feeling sad for him!
Too outstanding!
A hundred points! A hundred points.
Yet another handsome guy succumbs to Ryoma's powerful acting skills~
What Chōza didn't know was that the nonchalance wasn't an act by Ryoma; he really didn't care much about this stuff.
Just kidding, I'm a man favored by Snake Uncle!
Asuma now quickly stepped forward, throwing the bell in his hand to Chōza, saying with a proud and aloof expression,
"Big Bro, you really love stealing the spotlight! I, Old Asuma, am not the kind of person who would easily abandon my big brother and leave on my own! I'll go back with you!"
Kurenai also handed her bell back to Chōza without hesitation, her soft voice filled with determination. "We are teammates of the same squad. If we leave, we leave together!"
Looking at the two of them with their resolute expressions, Ryoma felt somewhat moved.
It must be said, these two really are a match for the future, truly understanding.
Chōza, seeing that all three before him had made their own decisions, felt even more gratified.
These are truly children who can become the future pillars of Konoha!
This is what being a pillar means!
Chōza gave the three a hearty, bright smile and said loudly, "In that case, you three... are all qualified!"
Then he explained the real purpose of this test to Ryoma and the others,
making Old Asuma exclaim, 'City life is full of schemes, I want to go back to the countryside!'
Seeing Kurenai and Asuma's indignant expressions, Chōza scratched his head sheepishly and said,
"Alright, alright. To celebrate the formation of our Team 6, and of course to compensate you and reward your excellent performance, I'll treat everyone to barbecue! Meat until you're full, until you're stuffed!"
"Hooray! Long live Teacher Chōza!!!" The three erupted in cheers of satisfaction.
...
The Hokage's office.
Chōza was reporting the process of the assessment to the Third Hokage before him.
After hearing Chōza's account, the Third once again felt that this child Ryoma truly embodied the Will of Fire so well.
Look at his awareness, his character.
Just two words: absolutely genuine~
He's practically a born inheritor of the Will of Fire!
Far stronger than that rebellious son of his, not just by a little bit.
Looking at the honest and simple Chōza, the Third asked slowly, "Chōza, what kind of person do you think Ryoma is?"
Chōza answered without hesitation, "Tenacious, independent, responsible, cares for his teammates. In short, very much to my liking."
Hearing Chōza's reply, the Third nodded with satisfaction.
"Do your best. I hope you can train them to become the future pillars of Konoha."
Chōza replied with a serious expression,
"Yes! Lord Hokage, I will definitely turn them all into the great pillars of Konoha!!!"
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