It's Over Before It Even Started?

The next day, at the Ninja Academy.

The graduating students were gathered together, sitting together for the last time.

"I can't believe even Obito graduated," Genma said, a senbon needle in his mouth as he saw Obito and Shisui finally arrive. He couldn't help making a quip.

Obito's face instantly turned red. "Hey! What do you mean by that, Mr. Senbon? I'm a genius!"

"Heh."

Shisui walked past him without a word.

A genius?

Considering how Obito had rushed over yesterday and arrived 2 minutes late, barely passing his three ninjutsu skills exam, he probably only graduated because the teachers went easy on him.

Utterly shameful!

Shisui didn't say anything, but his attitude was clear from those two chuckles.

"Hmph, just you wait...forget it, not worth talking to you guys."

Obito was about to habitually boast about his "Sharingan," but remembering Shisui's talents, he probably wouldn't even awaken his Sharingan before Shisui did. Instantly, he lost all confidence.

Moreover.

Even if he did awaken the Sharingan, it didn't necessarily mean he could become a "genius" overnight.

With Kyōichi's guidance and exchanges with Shisui, Obito had finally understood one thing.

To forge iron, one's self must be hard!

Without a solid foundation, even if he possessed the Sharingan, he would still be no match for others.

Of course.

That was just common sense speaking.

When the Uchiha activated their hacks, common sense often went out the window. But Kyōichi's reasoning made sense.

"You all seem very spirited!"

"Sensei?"

A familiar voice.

The students' eyes lit up.

Teacher Kyōichi?

Why was he here?

Many of the students didn't know the circumstances. They assumed Kyōichi was only a temporary teacher for the war and would resign after it ended. They didn't know he had been promoted to jōnin sensei afterwards.

"You've all done well. Obito's an embarrassment but at least he barely passed... However, showing up late to your exam as a genin is unacceptable. You must fix that bad habit or you'll be letting your team down..."

"The same goes for all of you!"

"Most of all, I don't want to see any of your names on the Memorial Stone."

Kyōichi's expression turned solemn.

Although he had only taught them for a month, they were still his students.

The classroom atmosphere grew heavy.

Many were quite moved, like Raidō Namiashi and Aoba Yamashiro.

Frankly speaking.

The ninjutsu skills Kyōichi taught were at jōnin level - real life-saving skills for the battlefield. Even if they were assigned to genin teams, civilians like them might not necessarily get to learn such things.

Now, Kyōichi's words were heartfelt.

"Alright, Team One, Uchiha Shisui, Sarutobi Asuma, and Yūhi Kurenai, come with me."

"Huh?"

Rin, Obito and the others naturally knew Kyōichi had taken the jōnin exam recently, but most didn't know.

"Team One?"

Raidō was stunned for a long time.

Only when Shisui, Asuma and Kurenai stood up and walked over to Kyōichi did he come back to his senses.

Wow!

"I thought Sensei only came to give us one last lesson."

"Didn't expect Sensei got promoted to jōnin!"

"Damn, Sensei fooled us."

"..."

There was an uproar in the classroom.

They knew Kyōichi was very strong, but he was still only a chūnin before. They didn't expect such a quick promotion to jōnin sensei.

Moreover.

Based on the students he was leading, many realized - the village held Kyōichi in very high regard, otherwise they wouldn't have given him such elite genin like Shisui, Asuma and Kurenai.

This was an elite team!

Could it be...

Sensei was at elite jōnin level?

They each speculated.

"See you all later," Kyōichi said, waving at everyone before leaving the classroom.

Shisui, Asuma and Kurenai followed behind him. After walking some distance, Kurenai couldn't help laughing out loud.

"Hey!"

Asuma was a little anxious.

Laughing at Sensei, you wanna get kicked off the team?

"It's fine, you can laugh if you want. After all...you're not my disciples yet!"

Kyōichi smiled gently at the three.

The three were stunned for a moment, dumbly looking up at Kyōichi.

Not...yet?

"Don't worry too much. There will be a small test. I heard that according to tradition, there are all kinds of bizarre tests. The Third gave a bell test when he took disciples."

Kyōichi paused for a moment, glancing over the three.

They all had solemn expressions.

A bell test?

They had heard about it, it did sound tricky.

"I don't have any bells prepared, so we'll skip that. As long as you can injure me, I'll consider you as passing the test. How about it?"

He smiled amiably, looking gentle and harmless.

Shisui exchanged a look with Asuma and Kurenai. After a moment of hesitation, their eyes quickly hardened with resolve.

Injuring a jōnin would be difficult.

But.

It was still better than having to snatch bells from a jōnin. At least there was a sliver of hope.

"Let's go. The Forest of Death."

Kyōichi finished speaking and his figure instantly vanished.

Body Flicker Technique!

Shisui's eyes widened.

Asuma and Kurenai ran some distance before stopping, puzzled when they saw Shisui hadn't moved. "Shisui, what are you doing?"

"Sensei's Body Flicker is even faster than before. No, maybe he never went all out with it before."

Shisui took a deep breath.

"Huh, really?"

Asuma scratched his head.

Faster?

He didn't notice anything.

"Let's go."

Shisui didn't elaborate.

His own Body Flicker was probably the best amongst the graduates, but compared to Kyōichi, it was like a little trick before a master. Especially this time...

There was no disturbance at all.

He vanished instantly, as if teleporting.

Of course, Kyōichi didn't go at full speed. He was secretly observing Asuma, Kurenai and Shisui's conditions - Shisui was always last, while Asuma rushed ahead.

At the outskirts of the Forest of Death.

Team One gathered here.

Kyōichi sat there leisurely as the three arrived, slightly short of breath.

In taijutsu, all three were quite mediocre.

Kyōichi took stock of this, glancing at them and said, "Shisui, you were always last, maintaining formation. That's a good habit from your guard platoon. Even if you fail the test, I'll keep you on."

"Huh?"

Asuma was taken aback.

The journey counted too?

He had just blindly ran ahead without thinking.

"So it was you Sensei. I couldn't detect any traces and thought it was someone else..." Kurenai said in relief.

"Kurenai, your sensory perception is good. Your positioning during the trip was also decent. Well done, you pass."

Kyōichi smiled.

He wasn't surprised Kurenai sensed him. Genjutsu users often had good perception, and Kurenai led Team 8 in canon, the tracking team.

How could she lead a tracking team without sensory abilities?

Kurenai smiled bashfully, then quickly suppressed it when she noticed Asuma's expression.

At this time, Asuma was stunned speechless.

He glanced at Shisui and Kurenai conversing, then back at Kyōichi.

Damn it.

Weren't they supposed to take the test together? Yet these two got a head start on answering?

To be honest, he had a distinct feeling of failing before the test even began.

"Shisui, Kurenai, you two passed. Do you still want to take the test? Especially you, Kurenai. If you fail, I will ensure Shisui stays, but might not keep you."