BSWS CH-11 Words of a Legend

"Well well well," Kakashi said while looking at the trio in front of him "You are a bag full of tricks aren't you? You managed to get the bells from me, which was supposed to be impossible."

"You three also displayed great trump cards. Fireball Jutsu, an elemental Jutsu that is not supposed to be possible for a Genin to master. Shadow Clone jutsu, a chakra demanding jutsu that is usually employed by those at Jonin level. And Finally Body Flicker, a technique that is classified as a general technique but needs more chakra control than most C rank ninjutsu."

"You three have definitely impressed me greatly. You are probably the best batch I have been assigned to so far." kakashi praised them with a sagely nod.

Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto allowed their elation to show on their faces. Managing to one up a Jonin, even if one who was just testing them, was a great achievement for a bunch of newly graduated genin. But right then, Kakashi's eyes gained a cruel twinkle.

"But, these are unfortunate circumstances. Any other sensei might have just allowed all three of you to pass after this performance. However, I already said I will only pick two. So now the time has come. Pick one of you who will go back to academy." Kakashi said, his voice merciless like a Judge of Hell's gavel.

Naruto and Sasuke looked like their worlds had just crashed. Even after all that effort they put in, surpassing their invidual best and becoming something more, one of them was still going to be sent back. But before they could be put through any more turmoil, a calm voice cut through the silence.

"Sensei, I will go back to the academy. Sasuke and Naruto will be the ones to continue with you." Sakura said.

"Oh? Are you sure?" Kakashi asked.

"Yes. As a civilian candidate, my chakra has been my weak point. Until a month and half ago, I had been wasting my time in the academy. Instead of wasting that precious time I could have trained my self to be much better."

"If not for the inspiration I got from some advice given to me a month and half ago, I would probably have not worked hard and reached the point I have today. Hence going back to the academy will be good for me as that will give me time to become even better before being employed to the missions."

"Unlike me, Sasuke and Naruto have been doing their utmost to become a ninja everyday. It would be unfair to let them go back to the academy when it is clear that they deserve this more than me. Hence, I will be going back to the academy." Sakura said firmly.

"No Sakura!! You cant do that!!" Naruto shouted "You worked so hard to keep us together and made all that strategy that helped us get the bells. Your contribution has been just as important as me or Sasuke, probably even more."

"If anyone deserves to go back to the academy, it is me." Naruto said while looking at Kakashi "I didn't understand the true meaning of being a Ninja until recently."

"Today I got to learn how a true Ninja has to act in missions. I even saw how I can bring out more of my abilities by working together with others. I will work hard after going to the academy and become a ninja that will be ten times better than what I am today. Then the next time I get into a team it will be even easier to pass the Survival Test." Naruto said.

"Both of you are wrong." Sasuke interrupted Naruto "The one who should go back is me."

"I am the Uchiha heir. As such, there will be no lack of teacher who want to guide me to new heights and bring fame to themselves and the village. However, if either of you miss this opportunity then there is no telling if you will get a chance to learn under a Jonin again. So you both go ahead with this team while I will be going back to the academy."

Kakashi watched them all place themselves in the spot to be sent back while saving the other two. He observed them closely before giving a loud clap to stop their discussion and get their attention to himself.

"Alright, you all have made excellent points and put forth reasonable arguments as to why you should be sent back while your partners should not be." Kakashi said with a stare "Should I just send you all back since all of you apparently have so much lacking in you?"

Sakura looked at the other two for their opinion. Seeing them nod, she took the bells from Naruto and held them out to Kakashi.

"yes, we would be fine with that sensei." Sakura said "We now know clearly where we have to improve. And even if we are disbanded from the current team, we already know that we can work together very well."

"The next time we graduate, we will be even more ready, better trained and deadlier. That time we will definitely become the best team that would shock the whole village. So, you can send us back together, we are ready." Sakura said determinedly and Naruto and Sasuke came to stand on either side of her.

"Hmm, Is that so?!"Kakashi glared at them, sending waves of pressure radiating towards them. Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto stood stiffly, grim yet determined expression on their faces as they faced off against the pressure Kakashi let out.

Suddenly, Kakashi leaned forward with his hands at his waist and gave them his signature eye-smile. The pressure he was radiating faded like mist under hot sun.

"You pass!!" Kakashi declared in a pleased voice.

"Huh?!!" Naruto and Sasuke exclaimed in astonishment. Sakura gave a quiet sigh of relief, her final contingency move had proven correct.

"Do you know the reason Genin are sorted into three man groups?" Kakashi asked them. Seeing as they listened to him silently he decided to simply explain.

"At your stage, you are weak. You have neither experience nor ability to get out unscathed in the missions that will take you out of the comfortable borders of our village. At such times, the only ones you can trust are your teammates."

"At any point of time when you face danger in missions, you should always make sure to work with your team. When your teammates put their trust in you, it means they give you the access to their most vulnerable side. Therefore you should never betray that trust."

"If any of you had actually nominated someone other than yourself to be sent back to the academy, I would have sent that self-serving prick permanently packing out of the Ninja Program."

"You might face similar situations on missions, where you might have to choose between the safety of your teammates and the fate of the mission. At times like those, I want you to always put your teammates first before the rules of the ninja to follow the mission through at all cost."

"In the Ninja world, those who break the rules of the village may be scum, that is true. However, those who betray their friends are worse than scum."

The trio listened to the instructions of their sensei carefully and engraved them into their hearts. Sakura was especially even more affected than she expected to be. She knew this fact before and had even heard Kakashi say it in her memories.

However, listening to it in real life, face to face with the legend himself, put whole new importance to the words.