Chapter 150 - Team 7 - Fail

Daichi was furious as he heard the verdict. 'Damn it DAMN IT!' Killing Intent and chakra rose as he looked at the man in front of him.

Sensing Daichi's murderous intent, Kakashi tensed and prepared himself for any attack the boy might launch. But it was unnecessary.

Daichi looked at the man for several seconds and then took a few deep breaths. His Gamer's Mind did its job and kept him calm. Daichi took one last deep breath and looked at Kakashi with a calmer attitude. He then looked at the two bells in his hands and had a sad smile on his face.

"I guess it was just never meant to be." Without wasting another second he threw the bells at Kakashi who caught them and tied them back on his waist.

"Since there's no point in sticking around any longer, I'm going home." Daichi turned around and was about to leave but Kakashi stopped him.

"Wait."

"What?" Daichi turned back and looked at the man.

"The bell test? You knew didn't you?" Kakashi looked at Daichi and he had a serious expression.

Daichi thought for a few seconds and decided that lying would be pointless. He had a feeling that Kakashi would know if he was dishonest about the answer. "I did."

"How?"

"When I was traveling with Lady Tsunade last year, I asked her about her Genin days and she told me about the Genin test her sensei gave her and her team. The bell test is something the Third gave his students and she told me what it was about and what had happened." Daichi replied.

Kakashi nodded. The Hokage had informed him that Daichi had been training with Tsunade the last few years. 'I suppose the test was bound to come up during one of their conversations.'

"If you knew the only way to pass was teamwork then why didn't you tell them about it?" Kakashi asked the kid.

"I think you know why!" Daichi replied with some snark.

The man sighed. "So you figured out that I would have disqualified you and your team if you had said the specifics of the test to either of them… If you had told them then it would have made this whole test pointless and I would have sent you all back to the academy."

"It's what I would do if I was in your shoes." Daichi said agreeing with the man.

"But you realize that you just manipulated them into helping you? What you showed wasn't real teamwork. You only sought their help as a means for you to succeed.." 'Just like I did.' Those words went unsaid.

Daichi shook his head at that. "I didn't manipulate them into doing anything they didn't want to do. I only stated the facts. And besides it worked… Up until they screwed everything up."

Kakashi narrowed his eyes as he looked at the kid in front of him. "A means to an end. That's what they were to you isn't it. You never even considered forming a genuine bond with them did you? You had a day and several hours to get to know your teammates and at least form a rapport. But you didn't."

Daichi got angry hearing that. "I've been training since I was 5 years old. I study everything I could get my hands on to improve myself. I sleep less than 5 hours a day and train until my bones feel like jelly. I know what kind of life I'm walking into. And I know I'm the most talented kid in the academy but I also know full well that talent alone isn't enough. So I push myself to go beyond my limits. And you've seen the results of that. So tell me Kakashi. Do you really expect someone like me to play nice with some arrogant brats who hadn't even shown a fraction of the dedication I have? Who thinks this is just another game?"

Kakashi looked at Daichi and felt the anger coming off him. 'His standards are high. I see now. He only respects those who put in just as much effort as he does. I think I understand how he's friends with that Lee kid. Daichi values dedication and hardwork and sees those who don't give it their best as useless.'

Daichi was once again calm. He looked at the Jonin and spoke. "And since we're on the subject of manipulation, why don't we talk about yours."

Kakashi just narrowed his visible eye to that.

Seeing the man's silence, Daichi continued. "You played on their fears. You knew both of them wanted to be Genin more than anything. They spent several years together in the academy so they would trust each other more than a stranger like me. So instead of turning the three of us against each other you turned those two against me."

Daichi didn't say anything more but Kakashi saw the boy's clenched jaw. "If you have something to say Daichi, then spit it out."

"The bell test was the wrong exam for this scenario." Daichi said boldly, looking at the man.

Kakashi just stood there without any visible reaction to the assessment. "And why do you think it was wrong?" His tone gave no indication of what he was feeling.

"This test would have worked for three Genins who were together in the academy. The years spent together studying, sparring and competing with each other would have at least helped in forming some trust between three Genins… But in our situation, I was virtually a stranger to them. In their eyes this test determined their future and failing it would have destroyed their careers before it even began. With the way this test was set up and with how you played on their emotions, those two betraying me was inevitable." Daichi was unusually calm as said those words. He thought about the whole test and it's impacts on himself and the other two and came to this conclusion.

Kakashi closed his eyes as he thought about Daichi's take on the test.

At that moment both of them heard groans coming from the two unconscious graduates. Mari and Seto slowly got up and looked ahead. Fear was present on their faces when they saw Daichi looking at them.

"Alright. The test is over."

Kakashi's voice drew their attention.

Seto looked at the clock on the wooden stump and saw that they still had some time left. "But it's not noon yet. We still have a short amount of time."

"No. Its over. Because you two didn't understand the point of this test." Kakashi shook his head and denied them the chance.

"Point of the test? What do you mean?" Mari asked as she slowly stood up.

The Jonin sighed loud and looked at the two. "Why do you think we put you in squads of three?"

"I don't understand." Seto mumbled as he tried to think of an answer.

"You should put that on your T Shirt." Daichi said, looking at the boy.

"Why you…"

"What I mean is you two didn't even realize the true point of this exercise. You didn't even come close." Kakashi said to the two.

"The true point of the test?"

"What are you talking about? I still don't get it."

"And there's the back of the shirt." Daichi quipped as he looked at the boy.

Seto gritted his teeth. But before he could say anything Kakashi interrupted and gave them the answer.

"Teamwork! This whole exercise was about teamwork. That is what determines whether you pass or fail in this test."

Seto and Mari's eyes widened as they heard that answer. "Wait. Working together? That was the answer?"

"Yes. It's the most basic foundation a team needs. When you worked together you were able to force me to a corner and you completed your objective.."

Seto and Mari's face showed realization. But a second later there was confusion as well.

"Wait. But there are only two bells. If we had gotten the bells one of us would have failed. There's three of us so there would have been group conflict no matter what." Mari said as she looked at her teacher.

"Yes. Exactly. I purposely pitted you three against each other. Everything I did from the two bells to what I said was to see if you would ultimately turn on each other after you got the bells for selfish gains or if you would put the needs of others ahead of your own. Self sacrifice. That's the mark of a true shinobi… While individual skills are important, teamwork is also a necessary element. And you proved it… Individually none of you could have gotten the bells but together you did. And it was going well until you two decided to attack your teammate. If you hadn't, you might have passed."

Seto and Mari looked shocked as they understood the truth behind the exam. Seto suddenly looked at Daichi. "Wait. Daichi! Did you know the purpose of this test? Did you know that teamwork was the key to passing?"

Daichi, seeing no point in lying and wasting time, simply nodded his head.

Seto got angry seeing that response. "Why didn't you tell us?"

Kakashi was the one who answered that question. "Because if he did then I would have failed all of you on the spot. If he had told you the answer, you two would have played along and it would have only wasted my time. I have no interest in teaching Genins who try to pull the wool over my eyes."

Kakashi looked at the three and sighed. "Whatever the case… you three fail the test. Go home."

"But that's not fair." Mari clenched her fists tight. She was holding back her tears with great difficulty.

But Kakashi showed no sympathy. "Life isn't fair. And in this test, I make the rules. If I say you fail, you fail! End of conversation."

With those words Kakashi vanished in a pile of leaves. Daichi, not wanting to spend another second with them, also quickly left the place.

Seeing their instructor and teammate vanish without another word, Seto and Mari had a gloomy face as they looked at each other. They too went their separate ways without saying a word.

—-

Daichi was walking down the street and his eyes were focused on the quest message that popped up after he got the bells.

[You have successfully retrieved the bells.]

[Quest 'Get the Bells…' Completed.]

You have decided to take the first option to complete this task.

[Option 1:]

Work with your teammates and successfully retrieve the bells.

[Rewards:]

High probability of becoming Genin.

5000 Exp. (This reward will be given only after the official announcement.)

Daichi was surprised as he read the contents of the results. 'It's not marked as a failure. And the reward says high probability of becoming a Genin… But how? Those two attacked me and in turn I knocked them unconscious. So I'm pretty sure we blew the test…'

At that moment Daichi recalled the system message that appeared when he broke his arm to escape and when he trapped Kakashi.

[Reputation slightly increases with Hiruzen Sarutobi.]

Daichi quickly understood what that meant. 'He was watching. The Hokage was watching the test. Does that mean there is a chance he'll override Kakashi's decision?... But still, even if he did, would I even want to work with them?'

It was only noon now. Daichi wandered around the streets and went to Shi's restaurant. He ordered some food and thought about the test. 'Should I have used Mana puppetry on them?... No. It's best that I knew their true colors now. If they were willing to double cross me in this test, then they would no doubt do it again if the stakes were high. This was for the best I guess…'

He ate some lunch and went to the forest where he and Lee trained. He meditated for sometime and left with a much calmer and clearer head.

He still had a few questions about what had happened. 'Why the heck didn't my charisma stat work on them? Is it not high enough or is there something else?'

Daichi thought back to every interaction he had with the team and came to a conclusion. 'I have a high charisma stat but I didn't put much effort into making a good conversation with them. I only interacted with them when I had to work with them as a team… Perhaps that's the reason that stat didn't help me…'

Daichi reached home and found his grandfather on a chair enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. Kensei looked at Daichi and smiled. But that smile turned into a frown when he saw Daichi's sad smile.

"What's wrong?"

Daichi just sighed and took a seat next to his grandpa. "I failed."

Kensei was silent when he heard that. After a few seconds he consoled his grandson. "I'm sorry Daichi. I know how much you wanted to be a Genin."

Daichi just looked down and nodded his head. "You don't want to know what happened?"

"I have no doubt that you've given it your best shot and that's all I need to know."

Silent tears fell down Daichi's face as he sat there in silence. Kensei looked at his grandson and felt sympathy for him. 'Its his first time experiencing a failure of this magnitude and at something as important as this. It's no wonder he's taking it so hard.'

"Victory and defeat. Success and failure. They're part of our lives. Don't let one failure define who you are. You are much more than that and you know it."

Daichi rubbed his face and stopped crying. He kept looking forward and nodded his head.

"Look at it this way. You have one more year to train and hone your skills. Next time they won't even stand a chance against you." Kensei said as he tried to cheer him up.

"Thanks Gramps." Daichi nodded and appreciated the kind words. Both of them sat there in silence. As time went by Daichi felt much better. He accepted his loss and vowed to do better next time. Even though he knew the Third Hokage was watching he didn't put much stock in that belief that his team would be shown special treatment.

'I can't let this get to me. Gramps is right. This is only just a minor setback. I can use this time to complete some dungeons and raise my strength and skills. Looks like I'll be graduating with Naruto's class afterall.'

But at this very moment a meeting was taking place in the Hokage tower that would determine Daichi's future.