Minato Namikaze led the two to Training Ground 12 in Konoha.
Clearing his throat, he put on a serious expression and said,
"Although you've passed the Academy's graduation exam, you still need to pass an assessment before officially receiving missions as genin. If you fail, you'll have to return to the Academy for another year."
This was a common tactic used by Konoha's jonin instructors—putting psychological pressure on new recruits before the real test began. However, Minato's naturally kind face made it difficult for him to appear truly intimidating.
"Oh," Kakashi replied indifferently.
Uchiha Tunan, on the other hand, wore a determined expression. "Kakashi and I will do our best to complete the assessment."
Minato nodded and pulled out two small bells from his waist, shaking them slightly as he explained,
"I have two bells. Each bell represents a spot to become a genin. You must take them from me within an hour."
After hanging the bells back on his belt, Minato gave them a warm smile. "If you're ready, we can start."
"Shua!"
Kakashi vanished instantly, concealing himself in the surroundings.
Uchiha Tunan adjusted his glasses and bowed slightly. "Minato-sensei, forgive my offense."
The ground beneath Minato suddenly exploded as Kakashi shot up from underground, his hand reaching for the bells.
Just as his fingers brushed against one—
"Boom."
Minato's body flickered out of existence, replaced by a wooden log.
Perched casually on a tree branch nearby, Minato crossed his arms and smirked. "Tunan, you should help him. Kakashi can't take the bells alone."
"Dingling~"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Minato's expression changed.
Standing directly behind him, Uchiha Tunan dangled one of the bells in his hand, smiling softly.
"Sensei, does this mean the assessment is over?"
For a brief moment, Minato's eyes widened in surprise before his expression softened into a smile.
"That was an excellent genjutsu."
The illusion dissipated instantly, revealing Minato standing where he had been before. He jumped nimbly onto another tree to evade Kakashi's surprise attack.
Uchiha Tunan lowered his hand, his three-tomoe Sharingan spinning slowly as he bowed. "Minato-sensei, forgive my offense."
The real test had only just begun.
Still standing on the branch, Minato smiled. "Don't hold back."
"Sensei, be careful," Tunan warned, quickly forming hand seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball roared toward Minato, followed by kunai thrown in rapid succession.
The kunai clashed in midair, altering their trajectories to strike from unexpected angles.
"Ding, ding, ding..."
Minato effortlessly leaped over the fireball, dodging the kunai that emerged from the flames.
"Step."
Just as Minato landed, the ground beneath him suddenly turned into a muddy quagmire.
"Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld!"
Kakashi had activated his jutsu, causing Minato's footing to sink. Slowly but surely, his body was being pulled under.
Kakashi emerged from the shadows, walking toward him. "Hand over the bells."
"Boom!"
A log replaced Minato's body once again.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. His head snapped toward the treetops—Minato was watching them with an amused expression.
"You two have good teamwork," Minato said, casually scanning two nearby bushes where he suspected his students were hiding.
"Whoosh!"
Four Fūma Shuriken whizzed toward him from different directions.
"Special ninja tools?" Minato noted, his expression calm.
As they reached him, he skillfully stepped on each one in midair, using them as platforms to stay above the attack.
However, the moment his body started descending, Minato realized something.
The Fūma Shuriken were connected by chakra threads—an elaborate trap.
The threads retracted instantly, tightening into a net around him.
"A well-planned strategy," Minato thought.
Quickly, he drew a kunai, slashing at the chakra threads. He knew he couldn't cut them, but the force would accelerate his descent, helping him escape the net.
Inside the Hokage's office...
Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the test unfold through his crystal ball, exhaling a cloud of smoke from his pipe.
"As expected, both Kakashi and Tunan already possess chunin-level abilities," he muttered. "It would be a waste to assign them only D-rank missions."
He took another puff, raising an eyebrow as he observed the battle.
"Oh? He's already learned Lightning Release? This kid's ninjutsu talent is even greater than I expected."
Back at the training ground...
Minato successfully freed himself from the chakra threads just as Kakashi burst from underground once more, his short blade aiming for Minato's arm while his free hand reached for the bells.
Minato smiled and countered.
"Clang!"
Kunai met blade, and with a flick of his wrist, Minato sent Kakashi airborne.
"Lightning Release: Ground Surge!"
"Crackle!"
The chakra wires connected to the Fūma Shuriken sparked with electricity, forming a lightning net above Minato.
From the ground, Kakashi smirked beneath his mask.
Watching intently, Uchiha Tunan's Sharingan analyzed every movement.
"This is Minato's real body... and he hasn't used the Body Replacement Jutsu."
Despite working alongside Kakashi, Tunan had held back, careful not to reveal too much of his true strength.
Minato Namikaze, even at this young age, was far beyond a normal jonin.
Suddenly—
Minato vanished from their trap and reappeared on top of one of the Fūma Shuriken.
He smiled down at them. "The test is over. You both pass."
Kakashi tensed. "Hiraishin... You marked the shuriken earlier?"
Minato chuckled. "You two worked well together. Your coordination exceeded my expectations. If not for your lack of mission experience, your skills alone would qualify you for chunin rank."
Tunan narrowed his eyes. "So he mastered the Flying Thunder God so early..."
Smiling, he bowed. "Sensei, you give us too much credit. In a real battle, Kakashi and I would have lost."
Minato scratched his head. "Well, I am a jonin, after all. When you two reach my age, I'm sure you'll surpass me."
With a bright grin, he clapped his hands together.
"Alright! To celebrate Team Nine's formation, I'm treating you both to ramen!"
Kakashi sighed, reluctantly sheathing his short blade. He wasn't in the mood for ramen—losing this test only made him more eager to train.
However, when Tunan smiled and said, "Then Kakashi and I will gladly accept," Kakashi shrugged.
"Ramen it is."
Minato checked the time. "Lunch is in thirty minutes. Head over to the newly opened Ichiraku Ramen in the shopping district. I have someone to pick up first."
Before either of them could respond, he disappeared in a yellow flash.