It's do or die for Group 7. Their teacher has never passed anyone, and they appear to be the worst he has ever encountered. Kakashi says he hates them, yet he has lessons to impart, lessons not just for his students, but for everyone who desires to excel in life.

     

Sasuke's weapons pierced what appeared to be their teacher, but the transformation reverted to its original, and the weapons projected harmlessly from a log. Kakashi had determined Sasuke's location, dropping his guard on purpose to create a trap. Sakura rushed from hiding, worried about Sasuke, only to be confronted by an image of the boy she loves pleading for help. Sakura screamed and fainted. From nearby, a casual teacher, muttered: "Maybe I overdid it. But she should have noticed if it was real or not. That was Ninja tactic number two."

The real Sasuke confronts his teacher, attacks with arms and feet and is able to surprise him by getting close enough to touch one of the bells which would have earned him a victory if only he had grasped it. Kakashi says in surprise, "I'll admit that you're different from those two."

But Sasuke is already resuming his attack. He creates a seal for horse and tiger, to which his teacher stares in amazement: "What? That technique is not something a Genin can do. He shouldn't have enough Chakra." Sasuke sends a stream of fire from his breath, enveloping his teacher, but when the smoke clears, Kakashi is gone. He is not behind nor anywhere above.

A voice yells, "Beneath you!" An arm comes from the earth and drags Sasuke under, leaving him with only his head sticking out. Kakashi kneels before him. "This is the third Ninja tactic know-how." Then he adds, "Looks like your talents are exceptional, but they say that stakes that point out get driven back into the ground."

A short time later, Sakura appears and sees Sasuke's head on the ground. Her eyes pop open when Sasuke calls her name, and she freaks out, thinking it is a severed head calling to her. After she awakes from the faint, she finds Sasuke kneeling beside her. She is happy that he is all right, and suggests that they try harder next time but give up for now. Sasuke glares at her. He is not a quitter. He mutters a confused story about a mysterious man that he must kill. As he speaks, the clock alarm rings twelve noon. They have run out of time. The test is over.

Back at the starting point where Naruto is tied to a post, Kakashi informs his stunned students that they need not return to the academy. They are so bad, they should quit being ninjas. He asks them a very important question which they cannot answer: "Why do you think we're training by breaking into groups?" He reveals the answer. "It is for teamwork. If all three had come together, maybe one would have acquired a bell. Sakura asks, "Why do we need to use teamwork, where there are only two bells?"

It is because the test tries to put the three against each other. It is to find students who put teamwork before their own personal interests. But they were pathetic. Sakura cared more about Sasuke than Naruto. All Naruto did was work on his own. And Sasuke believed the other two were just going to burden him. But missions are done in groups. "If you become captured. Someone will die. In every mission, you put your life on the line."

Kakashi-sensei says he will give them all one more chance later after lunch. They are to eat lunch only if they are up to the challenge. But they must not permit Naruto to eat, and he is to remain tied up. It is his punishment for breaking the rules and trying to eat lunch early. Anyone who feeds him will fail. Kakashi steps away, and Sasuke and Sakura begin to eat their lunches. Naruto, unable to move, is famished, and his stomach is growling loudly. But Sasuke notes that Kakashi is not nearby, and he says that if they are going to get the bells together, it is only going to be trouble if Naruto is hungry. He offers food to his starving teammate. Sakura agrees and she also offers her lunch to Naruto. Because his hands are tied, she must feed him.

Naruto takes the first bite, and there is a loud clap of thunder and smoke. Kakashi has returned and is very angry! "You three broke the rule! Are you prepared for the punishment? Are there any last words?" Sakura is about to faint again, Naruto is quaking in fear, and Sasuke is silent and filled with dread. Sasuke and Sakura jump to be beside Naruto, announcing that they are in this together. They are a three-man team. They are one.

"You there are one, eh?" says their teacher. His dark look washes away. Then he nods, "You pass! You three are the first. The students I had previously were blockheads who just listened to what I said. Ninjas need to think beyond the normal. In the world of ninjas, those who break the rules are called scum. But those who don't care about their friends are even worse scum."

Naruto appears to want to cry, and says, "He's kind of cool."

The training has ended. Everyone passes for the first time ever. The 7th group will begin their missions the next day.

From this episode we learn that the fundamentals of being a ninja do not merely involve a great number of tactical knows-hows and magical skills. Instead, there are significant principles that are required for the success of any group. For the first time, these bickering, selfish children, have worked in unison, and appear capable of engaging in future missions that will test their responsibility and loyalty to each other. It is not about who loves whom, and who hates whom, but of co-ordinating and being there for the assistance and support of one another. The group must be a family in the true sense.

The adventures of Naruto are a training ground, not only for the characters, but for the enraptured fans, and this episode is at the heart of why the Naruto stories stand out head and shoulders above all other Anime adventures.