Naruto: I, Shikotsumyaku, Byakugan Princess

Chapter 197, Class 7

The third exercise area is located on the riverbank in the center.

Sunlight filters through the dense foliage, scattering dappled patterns of gold across the water's surface. Artemisia-like weeds grow along the stream's banks, while the stream flows gently over the mossy crevices, its murmuring sound soft and delicate.

"Fishing test?!"

The peaceful atmosphere was suddenly shattered. The little fish in the stream seemed to understand, and they panicked, creating ripples on the water's surface, shaking their heads and spitting out bubbles as they swam away.

Naruto was completely dumbfounded as he watched Kakashi pull out one fishing rod and bucket after another from the scroll.

He never imagined that the final test for graduating from the Ninja Academy would be neither ninjutsu nor combat, but fishing!

What exactly is the connection between fishing and ninjas?
He racked his brains but couldn't figure out the connection between the two.

No wonder the pass rate for the test was zero. Which ninja would train to go fishing normally? Naruto couldn't help but complain in his mind, but as he thought about it, the image of a pineapple-headed ninja suddenly popped into his mind.

If it were him, he might actually pass this inexplicable test!
"Is this a test of wilderness survival skills?"

Sasuke stroked his chin thoughtfully. Although he still found fishing during the ninja exam absurd, he could at least make a rough explanation for it.

However, if all they needed to do was catch fish, it was not difficult for him and Hui Li at all. They didn't need any fishing rods or tools. They just needed to keep releasing lightning into the stream, and all the living creatures in the water would float up on their own.

He always felt that this assessment was not as simple as it seemed.

"Gray Li, what do you think?" Sasuke turned to look at Gray Li, who had been silent since the beginning, wanting to hear her opinion, but found that her expression was even more interesting.

Confusion, regret, bewilderment...

It seemed to contain all sorts of emotions, yet none of them seemed to be present; in short, it was very strange.

"I preach!"

With a dazed look in her eyes, Hui Li shook her head vigorously. She had clearly seen the two bells in Kakashi's inner pocket, but for some reason, the famous bell-stealing battle had suddenly turned into fishing.

But to say she was completely unaware would be an overstatement.

Looking at Naruto and Sasuke, who had become much stronger, and considering that he himself was also a variable, Kakashi's desire not to get a good beating was understandable.

"Alright, come over and get your fishing rods, buckets, and bait. I'll explain the rules!" Kakashi called out to them as they collected their fishing gear. The three of them could only put aside their thoughts and pick up their gear to see what the other was up to.

call out!
The fishing line lashed the air with a sharp whistling sound.

thump!
The water, reflecting the golden light, rippled gently. The metal hook, baited with bait, drew a graceful arc before being cast cleanly into the stream. Kakashi covered his eyes with his hand, checking the position of the fishing line floating in the river.

He gripped the curved fishing rod, his arm bobbing up and down to test the depth of the hook in the water, and it took him a long time to find the perfect spot.

After bending down to clear away the weeds along the edge of the stream and scooping up half a bucket of water, Kakashi sat contentedly on a blue stone by the stream, fishing rod in hand, and explained the assessment rules to Haili and the others.

"The rules are very simple."

Let's go fishing together from now on, with a time limit of four hours.

During this process, no one is allowed to use ninjutsu or any methods involving chakra. You can only fish the same way I do. If the total number of fish you catch exceeds my total, you pass the test.

"Is it really that simple?"

Upon hearing this, Naruto was stunned, and Sasuke also looked puzzled. They had been prepared for the other party to propose some outrageous rule, such as fishing for a hundred tailed fish, but they did not expect the rule to be so simple.

Although the other party stipulated that they could only fish and not use ninja techniques, the three of them together could catch three times the amount of fish. Even if they were not as skilled as a fishing veteran like Kakashi, the difference in numbers was enough to make up for the difference in skill.

Surely this rule can't have a zero success rate!
"Sorry, I haven't finished speaking yet..."

At this point, Kakashi's gaze suddenly drifted to the water's surface, and then, as if sensing something, he waited quietly. After a while, the vertical fishing line swayed slightly, and the water's surface immediately rippled in a circular pattern.

Hui Li's eyes lit up; through the water, she could see a small fish about an inch long hanging on the hook.

The sharp hook pierced the upper lip, and no matter how much the small fish struggled, it was to no avail; instead, the hook tightened even more.

At that moment, Kakashi suddenly snapped his wrist and lifted the fishing rod upwards. The strong fishing line immediately taut, and the small fish, powerless to resist, was pulled out of the water and thrashed about in the air.

"Success!"

Naruto exclaimed in surprise. It was the first time he had ever seen someone fishing. The novelty of this recreational activity momentarily overshadowed his nervousness about the assessment.

"Phew! Good luck today!"

Kakashi was very satisfied with Naruto's exclamation of surprise. He lifted the fishing rod, and the small fish drew a neat circle in the air before landing precisely in his palm.

Remove the fish and put them in the bucket, then bait the hook and cast it out.

All the movements were done in one smooth motion. In a short while, the fishing line was back in the middle of the stream. Kakashi manipulated the hook with his wrist, making it bob up and down. The bait mimicked the movement of insects in the water, constantly tempting the greedy fish in the stream.

A moment later, small fish resembling crucian carp, about the length of a finger, came down the stream, slowly moving around the bait, ready to bite at any moment.

Sasuke and Hairi's expressions became slightly serious. They didn't really understand the intricacies of fishing, but Kakashi's smooth and effortless movements clearly showed that he was no ordinary person. It would probably be more difficult for the three of them to surpass him in fishing than they had imagined.

"Let's get back to the assessment rules. Besides having to catch more fish than me, the person who contributes the fewest fish will be eliminated..."

"Wait a minute!" Naruto raised his hand to interrupt Kakashi: "Doesn't that mean that no matter how many fish we catch, one of us will inevitably have to be eliminated?"

"answer!"

Kakashi, seeing that Naruto understood the assessment rules, snapped his fingers in delight:
"A minimum of one, a maximum of three. Anyone who violates the rules by using ninjutsu or fails to contribute enough to the team will be eliminated and sent back to the ninja academy for retaking the exam. These are the complete rules for the fishing test."

"Why are there such cruel rules?!" Naruto gritted his teeth, his face full of anger as he questioned the leisurely Kakashi.

They finally graduated from the Ninja Academy and were about to take their first step in pursuing their dreams, but this bizarre assessment was destined to shatter one of their dreams.

If it were due to a lack of ninjutsu or combat skills, that would be one thing, but fishing, which has nothing to do with ninja missions, completely determined their fate, which Naruto simply couldn't understand.

"Life is full of choices and trials. Where are there so many perfect things?" Kakashi sighed and gently lifted the fishing rod with his wrist.

underwater.

Seeing the bait rising in front of it as if it were about to escape, the little fish hesitated for a long time, but in the end, greed overcame caution, and it bit into the sweet bait and swallowed it.

Wow…

The fish's tail thrashed, splashing water everywhere. Kakashi had already thrown the catch into the bucket and was casting his line again.

Two small fish were struggling and swimming inside the bucket, which meant that the Gray Glass trio was already two points behind.

"The so-called inability to achieve perfection is merely a compromise made due to the individual's lack of ability," Sasuke said slowly, clearly disagreeing with Kakashi's viewpoint.

As he spoke, he looked at Hui Li beside him, his eyes filled with longing—a longing unrelated to romantic love, yet more intense than when he looked at his lover.

They are the same age, and they face the same desperate and fatal crisis.

When the Uchiha clan was massacred, he could only helplessly accept everything, lying in the hospital wallowing in self-pity. Meanwhile, Haili turned the tables and killed the elite Jonin of Kumogakure during their surprise attack, earning the title of Konoha's strongest genius.

If he had possessed the formidable strength of Hai Ri during the Uchiha Clan Massacre, things certainly wouldn't have turned out so badly.

If he were stronger, his parents wouldn't have been killed by Itachi, the Uchiha clan wouldn't have been wiped out, and all problems would have been solved in the face of absolute power.

All tragedies stem from the inadequacy of the individuals involved.

This is the truth he came to understand under the influence of Gray Glass.

So for the past five years, he has abandoned his pathetic and pointless pride, shamelessly begging Kakashi to teach him how to become stronger, all so that he could achieve perfection someday and no longer have to compromise!
"If we want to eliminate the person who contributed the least, then as long as we ensure that everyone catches the same number of fish, and the total number of fish caught is greater than Kakashi's, we can achieve a pass for everyone, right?"

Seeing Kakashi's arm pause slightly, Sasuke revealed a confident smile; he had no doubt that he had found the perfect solution.

"How do you know that doing this won't lead to everyone being eliminated?" Kakashi glanced at Sasuke, whose smile was gradually freezing, and said something even more cruel:

"But that's not necessarily true!"
You can take a gamble, use the three of you for a year, and see if this approach works. I'll reveal the final result in four hours.

"Oh, no! You only have... three hours and fifty-four minutes left." He glanced at the timer that had somehow started, then ignored the three people behind him and took out his "Icha Icha Paradise" to look at it.

"hateful!"

Sasuke also showed the same expression as Naruto.

He couldn't help but look at Hui Li. If everyone's catch was to be the same, then those who caught more fish would have to make a compromise.

It could be him, or it could be Gray Glass.

If his decision leads to a complete rejection by everyone, then everyone will have to waste a year at school, which is undoubtedly the worst-case scenario.

Wow!

A red koi carp leaped into the air and fell into the bucket. Kakashi leisurely cast his line and continued reading and fishing. This fishing ground was sparsely populated and extremely rich in resources.

Seeing Sasuke and Naruto hesitate, Hui Li immediately made the decision: "Let's go with Sasuke's method. We'll guarantee that everyone's fishing count is the same. Either we all pass together, or we all go home!"

"Okay!"*2
Naruto and Sasuke smiled broadly. Hui Li's decision was exactly what they wanted. If they had to eliminate someone, it would be better to eliminate everyone together.

Without further hesitation, they picked up their buckets and fishing rods and immediately set off.

Kakashi paused in his book-flipping motion, a smile appearing on his face. Hui Li's eyes flickered, precisely capturing that smile.

She had already figured out Kakashi's fishing test.

Fishing and bell-grabbing are essentially the same thing in a different guise; they still test teamwork and the willingness to sacrifice for one's teammates.

He simply omitted the combat portion.

In the original story, the battle was Kakashi's way of assessing the three of them, mainly testing their preferred fighting styles to facilitate future mission assignments.

The fishing trip he's taking now is a variation of the test he's undertaken to avoid being ganged up on and beaten up by three supermodel genin.

If they follow the original problem-solving approach, as long as the three of them keep the same number of fish caught, even if their combined number is less than Kakashi's, they can still pass this fishing test.

Having understood the logic behind the question, Hui Li decided not to cheat using ninjutsu.

With a few casual flicks of her fishing hook, and thanks to her keen observation skills and exceptional physical control, she perfectly mimicked Kakashi's casting technique in no time.

However, she had some difficulty controlling the force. After breaking a few pebbles with the metal hook, she finally found the best point to exert force, and then pinched the deformed hook back into its original shape, baited it, and threw it into the stream.

Sasuke was faster than Hairi.

The Sharingan with two tomoe has such a strong ability to copy taijutsu that after casting his fishing hook, he imitated Kakashi's up-and-down movement of the fishing rod, his movements almost perfectly synchronized with his opponent's.

In a moment.

The two of them, one in front and one behind, caught two small, unidentified fish.

Compared to the two ninjas with naturally gifted eye techniques, Naruto's movements were particularly clumsy. He couldn't figure out the trick to fishing for a long time. Watching his two companions successfully catch fish, he became anxious and scratched his head and paced around in circles.

If he continues to fail to catch any fish, Sasuke and Haili will likely have to wait for him to ensure they catch the same number of fish. If this continues, the three of them might very well be outmatched by Kakashi.

It seems likely that everyone will be eliminated!
"When casting, try to use your wrist, not brute force," Sasuke said slowly as he cast his line, revealing the secret to fishing, just as Naruto was at a loss.

"You're not baiting it right either. Don't put the live earthworm on the hook like a hollow tube. Instead, divide it into three strands, fold them up, and skewer them like a skewer." Hui Li then picked up the hook and slowly skewered the earthworm onto it, showing Naruto more details.

"you……"

Naruto's azure eyes immediately sparkled.

"Don't get me wrong, I just don't like letting Kakashi get away with it!" Sasuke awkwardly raised his chin.

That's textbook-level tsundere!
Hui Li silently complained in her heart that without Sakura as a major conflict, the relationship between Naruto and Sasuke had been relatively harmonious over the past five years, unlike before when they were at odds. In addition, Naruto's strength had increased under her influence, which was enough to attract Sasuke's attention.

The relationship between the two is half rival, half friend, and also family who spend the New Year together; their bond is much deeper than in the original novel.

Next, the two taught Naruto how to fish while sharing their catch with him to ensure that everyone had the same amount.

gradually.

Naruto also figured out a few tricks and successfully caught a koi.

Whether it was a newbie protection period or just plain good luck, the first fish he caught was bigger than the combined catches of Hui Li and Sasuke.

The competition rules only counted quantity, not quality. Even if he caught a big fish, it wouldn't matter. Hui Li and Sasuke thought sourly as the four of them sat side by side, quietly fishing and enjoying this rare tranquility.

Time passes quickly.

As the sun sets, the clear stream is gradually tinged with the red glow of the sunset.

"The assessment is over!"

Kakashi glanced at the clock, stretched, and announced that the time had come. The three, who had become slightly addicted to fishing, regretfully got up, placed their three buckets in front of Kakashi, and awaited the final answer.

"Congratulations, everyone passed!"

Without even glancing at the three fish buckets, Kakashi announced the final result.

"Eh!"

Naruto and Sasuke, who were anxiously waiting, were initially delighted, but then became angry at Kakashi's perfunctory attitude: "What is this! We've worked so hard for so long, and you're not even going to check?"

"There's absolutely no need to check. No matter how many fish you catch, as long as you keep the same number, I'll let you pass... Only those who don't abandon their comrades are qualified to become ninjas!"

Kakashi firmly stated his opinion.

Naruto and Sasuke suddenly realized, while only Hairi nodded knowingly.

The purpose of the assessment was indeed this: the events involving Konoha's White Fang, Obito Uchiha, and Rin undoubtedly influenced Kakashi's later life, and he valued his comrades more than anyone else!

"Besides that, there is a second purpose."

Kakashi looked at the three remarkable young geniuses before him, the setting sun casting a golden shadow over them, and suddenly said with a touch of emotion:

"While waiting for Hairi to arrive in the classroom, I saw Sasuke and Naruto still practicing taijutsu. Not just now, but for the past five years, all three of you have been doing this, not wasting a single second."

Effort is good, but it should be done in moderation; a bowstring will break if it is stretched too tight!
There are 365 days in a year. It's enough to spend 300 days pursuing your dreams and doing meaningful things. For the rest of the time, your teacher hopes you can do some meaningless things.

Life cannot be devoid of meaning, nor can it be entirely about meaning; only by combining the two can one go further.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Haiji exchanged glances, then simultaneously looked at Kakashi, who was still lecturing them:
"So... that's why you often sneak peeks at erotic books?"

"What pornographic book? This is great art!" Kakashi, who had just been musing on philosophy, suddenly became agitated.

"I secretly read it, it's porn! It's porn!"

Naruto raised his hands and loudly retorted, unaware that he had already exposed himself.

"You didn't learn these principles in Icha Icha Paradise, did you?" Sasuke teased his mentor, noting his familiarity with the name, suggesting he might have read the book.

Hui Li hadn't read the book, so she didn't feel comfortable interrupting. However, watching Kakashi get impatient, she found it even more interesting than fishing.

"How can something artistic be considered pornographic?"

Kakashi continued arguing, his face flushed and neck red, which caused Ash, Sasuke, and Naruto to burst into laughter, filling the training ground with a joyful atmosphere.

(End of this chapter)