Chapter 29

To be honest, being rejected from training as a medical ninja didn't affect me too much. Sure, it was unexpected since I hadn't realized my chakra could turn paper into stone under certain conditions. The explanation from the medical ninja was vague and unclear.

"What's wrong with my chakra, Poku-san?" I asked him as we left the lab.

"It's hard to explain," he began, then launched into a detailed explanation, citing works I had never heard of before. In the end, I didn't get a clear answer, except that my chakra could be dangerous to both shinobi and ordinary people.

In short, I didn't understand much, but I know I'll need to do further research on my own. I can't afford for my chakra to do things I'm unaware of, as it could lead to something dangerous or inappropriate happening on a critical day. And if that day involves a battle... Yeah, I definitely don't need that.

I returned home in a less-than-cheerful mood, which my mom immediately noticed. Without asking too many questions, she prepared me a hot cup of calming tea along with some sweets.

"Thank you," I said, expressing my gratitude.

"So, tell me," Mom chuckled. "What happened?"

"Yeah…" I sighed, shaking my head. "I went to the Medical Academy."

"Go on," she nodded. I had told her I wanted to become a medical ninja, and she had supported my decision without much fuss. "And, I assume something happened there. Tell me what."

"I was supposed to pass two practical tests," I replied. "I passed the first chakra control test easily, but the second… It turns out my chakra isn't suitable for being a medical ninja."

"Why?" she asked, surprised. "I thought chakra was just chakra… isn't it?"

"Exactly," I said, pursing my lips. "I thought the same… until today. When I took the test, under the influence of my chakra, the paper turned to stone."

"Oh," she said, drawing it out. "And what was supposed to happen?"

"The paper was supposed to emit medical chakra," I explained. "It's greenish in color."

"Ah," she nodded, recalling her own experiences. I wasn't sure if she had ever been treated with medical chakra, but she quickly grasped the difference between what should have happened and what actually did. "Well, things like that happen. As my grandfather used to say, 'I'm your grandpa...'"

She smirked, and I gave her a slightly confused, curious look.

"He also said, 'Not every cat gets the cream,'" she continued. "Basically, sometimes life doesn't go the way we want, no matter how hard we worked, how much we studied, or how good our genes are."

"Well, yeah," I agreed. "But still... never mind. I'll just focus on my training so I won't have to rely on medical ninjas if I get hurt."

"That's the right attitude," she said softly, smiling. "I think it's a good decision."

Talking to her made me feel better instantly. It's strange, really. Not everyone can talk through a problem with you and help you feel better so quickly. Of course, Mom didn't solve my problem, but she made the bad taste in my mouth disappear. And that's something. More than anyone else could do.

The next day, at dawn, I was already training with the captain. The sun had barely risen, and I was doing physical exercises. Since I'd promised myself I would train, I couldn't afford to slack off. Not that I even considered being lazy, but that's another matter.

After a while, I sensed the captain's presence in a nearby tree. My senses had sharpened a lot lately. The captain noticed but didn't comment.

"Good morning, sensei," I greeted sensei loud enough for him to hear.

"Good morning, Suzuki," he chuckled, quickly appearing beside me. "I see your sensory abilities have improved again since yesterday."

"Yes, sensei," I replied. "They've improved, and it's really remarkable."

"Indeed," he nodded. "But, as they say, every barrel of honey has its spoonful of tar, right?"

"Are you talking about my failure to get into the Medical Academy?"

"Yes," the captain nodded. "That's exactly it. Don't be upset. Not everyone is meant to become a medical ninja. At least you tried, unlike many others who might have the talent but never dared to test it."

"Yes," I sighed, agreeing with him. "I just thought… Ah."

I waved it off. The captain probably understood what I meant. He simply shook his head and crossed his arms.

"Enough moping around," he said in a lively tone. "It's time to train. And the fact that you showed up early today — that's great. Let's work on your Stone Armor."

"Hai, captain," I responded.

Before the girls arrived, I sparred with the captain, fully covered in Stone Armor. Getting used to fighting with this technique was difficult because when it deactivates, my balance shifts, and my body starts moving differently. This was something the captain particularly focused on — making sure that when I activate or deactivate the technique, either from physical force or other causes, I don't fall victim to my own awkwardness.

With a sharp leap forward, I tried to strike the captain. Already accustomed to the inertia, I let my legs lift off the ground, spinning. My powerful blow collided with the captain's block. He wasn't planning on backing down. Cracks spread across my stone skin, signaling one thing: the armor would soon collapse, and I could be in trouble.

Leaping back a few steps, I blocked the captain's kick. The stone cracked even more and began to crumble. As I've learned, sometimes it's better to completely discard the armor and reapply it for safety.

Focusing with a hand seal, I let the Stone Armor fall apart and nimbly ducked under the captain's next strike. He immediately shifted tactics and sped up. Every time I spar with him, I have to push myself harder because the captain is always a step ahead, and far stronger. A sharp kick, spinning into the air. Sensei blocked, then countered.

Receiving his strike with a soft block, I allowed him to push me back a few meters. Though… soft block? With the captain's strength, even an elephant would hit softer. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend anyone get struck by that. Twisting in midair, I formed several hand seals:

"Earth Style! Stone Armor!" The technique smoothly coated my body, forming a solid defense.

Landing on the soft ground, I felt my feet sink slightly, but I was used to that by now. Leaning forward and crouching, the captain's powerful blow struck my crossed arms in less than a second. The impact sent me flying several dozen meters. I rolled across the grass, tearing up large chunks of turf, before trying to get back on my feet.

"Not bad, not bad," the captain said, smirking. "Let's continue."

The captain suddenly attacked, zigzagging toward me, making it impossible to predict where his strike would come from. I took a stance, similar to a boxer's, waiting for him. As soon as he got close enough, I threw a punch, twisting my torso to add force. The captain dodged my punch and landed a powerful knee strike right to my ribs, under my extended arm. The Stone Armor cracked, and I was knocked onto my back.

At that moment, I sensed Shiko and Ayamane hiding in the bushes, waiting for their chance. I was sure the captain would signal them to join. Or perhaps he already had.

And I was right. The shadows beneath the bushes darkened, stretching rapidly, trying to connect with my own shadow. I had to act fast. If Ayamane managed to capture me with her shadow, it would take precious time to break free, and I doubted the captain would give me that time. I had to do something.

With a focusing seal, the Stone Armor fell off me as if it had never been there. As I began descending, I made my next decision.

"Earth Style! Stone Spear!"

A stone spear rose slightly from the ground, forming a sharp platform. For Ayamane to capture me with her shadow, she would now need to extend it up the platform, buying me some time.

And I was right. Landing and immediately jumping to the side, I dodged the shadow. Rolling across the ground, I got up, ready to block the captain's strike, but it never came. Instead, Shiko emerged from the bushes, using her technique.

It felt like my mind had been struck by a hammer, as if it was being pushed deep inside. I sensed another presence invading my thoughts. My body froze, and now the captain was closing in, ready to land a hit. I could force Shiko out of my mind at any moment—I knew how to do it without harming her consciousness. I might have to take the captain's blow, but I wouldn't hurt her. She's still a valuable teammate, both reliable and understanding.

Just before the blow landed, Shiko dispelled her technique and withdrew from my mind. The captain's fist slammed into my face with full force. The impact sent me spinning through the air and crashing painfully to the ground. My body refused to respond for a few seconds as I recovered. It felt like a thousand birds were circling around my mind, trying to deafen me with their incessant chirping.

As soon as I tasted blood in my mouth, my body began to respond again. Rolling onto my stomach, I slowly got to my feet and wiped my face with my hand. Blood smeared across my skin, and I wiped it away.

"Tch," I spat blood onto the ground, the metallic taste lingering in my mouth. Let's just say I didn't enjoy that at all, but… they got me. Yeah.

"How are you feeling, genin?" the captain asked.

"Could be better," I replied, trying to stop the ringing in my ears. "I didn't expect Ayamane and Shiko to join you, sensei."

"A shinobi must always be ready for unexpected reinforcements for their opponent," he shrugged.

Taking a deep breath and exhaling, I nodded to the girls as they slowly approached.

"By the way, how did you know I'd land there?" I asked them.

"It's simple," Ayamane answered with a light smile. "I calculated how you'd act based on what I already know. Then I positioned Shiko so she wouldn't have to do much."

"I see," I nodded. "So, I was predictable."

"You've identified your problem correctly, Suzuki," the captain said with a smirk. "I'm glad. Yes, being predictable in a fight is usually a death sentence. Always be prepared for your opponent to know most of the information about you, if not all of it."

There's a lot of logic to that. If I know everything about my opponent, I can build my battle strategy much more accurately than if I know nothing. Shaking my head at the thought, I wiped away the blood still trickling from my split lip. There were stains on my clothes too. Great, I'll have to wash all of this later.

Afterward, we had a team training session, which wasn't as intense compared to my sparring with the captain. We practiced various movements and tactical team formations. These movements weren't particularly secret… but still better than nothing. I'm sure the other Great Nations have their own techniques that we know little about, but so do we. I'm sure when we reach higher ranks, these secret or semi-secret tactics will be available for us to study.

As always, we had lunch together.

"Captain," Shiko called. "So, when are we heading on our next mission?"

"Soon," Captain Kiochi replied. "I've already been informed we have a mission."

"We won't be going to the Administration?" Ayamane asked.

"No," the captain shook his head. "I'll take care of the mission details, and we'll head out directly to complete it."

"Can you tell us what the mission is?" Shiko asked.

"Let it be a little mystery for you," the captain smirked. But seeing Shiko's pleading expression, he sighed. "It's a mission in another country, with a high chance of encountering rogue ninjas and other interested parties."

"Oh," Shiko said, drawing out the word.

It's interesting to think about what kind of mission this will be. I remember the captain hinting that we'd be working with other teams. I have a feeling this mission might be the one. I wonder which team we'll be working with...

***

Soubidzuma Kiochi climbed the steps to the Hokage's Administration with a pleasant smile on his face. The scar he had recently acquired still ached slightly, but not as much as it did at first. Oh, how that rogue ninja had infuriated him with his agility.

His team of genin had turned out to be not as useless as he initially thought. A boy from a simple family and two girls—one from the Nara clan and the other from the Yamanaka clan. The boy had shown excellent results for someone without a clan, managing to surpass nearly all the other students. Then his elemental talent emerged, making him the clear favorite. The girls tried as well, but not as hard as they could have.

To see how they would perform in his absence, he pretended to have a mission. For the next few weeks, he carefully and actively observed what his genin were doing. And... two-thirds of his team disappointed him. The lack of systematic training by personal choice was something he couldn't understand. But... maybe it was because he wasn't a kunoichi. The boy, however, was the perfect genin in his eyes—diligent, talented, and without too many issues in his head. In short, very good.

The first mission quickly revealed who was the predator in the team and who was the herbivore. And once again, the comparison didn't favor the clan girls. No, they weren't a complete disappointment, but they weren't showing the results or drive he would have liked to see.

In general, he could conclude that things could have been much worse. His team could have been killed on their first C-rank mission, which would not have been a pleasant mark on his record.

Reaching the Hokage's office, he knocked on the door. After a few moments, one of the ANBU opened it, today serving as the Hokage's visible messenger. When Soubidzuma was younger, he had served in such a role himself... Hiruzen had given him plenty of work back then. But that was during the war.

One of the captains he'd be working with was already in the office. It was the legendary Might Guy, dressed in his signature green jumpsuit. His thick eyebrows, slightly stern features, and bowl-cut hairstyle made him quite memorable. Every jonin knew this man as one of the best taijutsu masters. Guy was renowned for his unwavering loyalty to the village.

Guy's team was famous for including the nephew of the head of the Hyuga clan. The situation surrounding that event had been tense, nearly sparking war with the Hidden Cloud, though the crisis had been averted at a high price. His team also had a boy who couldn't use ninjutsu and a girl striving to become a weapons master. They were considered one of the strongest genin teams, but compared to Suzuki, Soubidzuma thought he could probably defeat the Hyuga three times out of four.

"Good day, Hokage-sama," Kiochi bowed and greeted Might Guy. "Guy-san."

"Greetings, Soubidzuma Kiochi," Might Guy replied, smiling widely. "We're waiting for one more person."

"Good day, Kiochi-kun," Hiruzen Sarutobi responded, adjusting his hat and pulling out his smoking pipe. "How is your team?"

"They're showing results," Kiochi replied vaguely.

"That's good," the Hokage exhaled, taking a puff from his pipe. "Guy has already informed me that his team won't be taking the chunin exams this year."

"Really?" Kiochi looked at the thick-browed man in surprise.

"I don't think my team is ready," Guy answered calmly. "And… how could I surpass Kakashi in our contest if he doesn't even have a team yet?"

Ah, one couldn't forget the rivalry between Might Guy and Hatake Kakashi. It was well-known among the jonin, and people even placed bets on it. Kiochi didn't participate, knowing that Kakashi and Guy were great friends without any real animosity. Others understood this too and enjoyed watching them.

"If they went to the exam now," the Hokage continued, "do you think they'd pass all the trials?"

"Hmm," Kiochi thought for a moment. "I'm only confident in one genin's skills: Suzuki Grandvitara. I think he's already at the level of a weak chunin in terms of abilities."

"Mhm," the Hokage nodded. "Then I want him to definitely reach chunin-level skills by the next exam. Can you do that?"

"Yes, I can," Kiochi answered confidently. He knew he could do it. He would increase Suzuki's training weights and focus on his techniques. What he hadn't told the Hokage was the full truth: Suzuki was already nearing the upper limits of a chunin in terms of chakra quantity and control. With a bit more intensive training, Suzuki would be at the level of a tokubetsu jonin in those areas.

"Excellent," the Hokage smirked.

At that moment, there was a knock at the door. The ANBU calmly opened it, and Sarutobi Tetsuya, the captain of the Twelfth Team, entered.

"Good day," the jonin greeted everyone. "Sorry for the slight delay. I got held up at the hospital."

"All the captains are present," the Hokage said, ignoring the jonin's last words. "Good. These folders contain the missions for your teams. Review them."

The captains took the folders and examined the mission briefs. Their assignment was to protect scientists from the capital's university during archaeological excavations in the Land of Frost, a buffer country to the Land of Lightning. This increased the likelihood of encountering Cloud shinobi. Rumors suggested that the locals had discovered a valley hiding something mysterious between the mountains.

At first glance, the mission seemed simple: protect the scientists during the excavations. However, a quick look at the map revealed that this mission was at the upper limit of C-rank, perhaps even approaching B-rank. The chances of encountering Cloud shinobi were extremely high. The enemies could be rogue ninjas or regular combat teams. Additionally, they couldn't forget the dangerous chakra beasts lurking in the mountains, local bandits, and other potential surprises. The journey promised to be full of challenges.

"Hmm," the captain of the Twelfth Team said thoughtfully, studying the map's details. "What are the rules for responding to attacks?"

"You may only retaliate if attacked," the Hokage calmly stated. "Avoid being the aggressor. If you are attacked, respond based on the situation."

The mission briefing specified that they were to meet the scientists in the border town of Naeba. The excavations and research were expected to last at least three months, with the possibility of an extension to four. This extra time was also accounted for in the mission payment. The extended duration would provide valuable experience for the genin, something everyone understood.

"Any questions?" the Hokage asked the captains.

They simply shook their heads. There were no questions. They were well-versed in the rules of engagement in a potentially hostile country, having completed similar or comparable missions before. The main concern would likely be agents of the Raikage, but the captains were confident in their ability to handle them. The key was to avoid direct conflicts that could escalate into another war between shinobi.

'"No questions," the Hokage confirmed, noting their confidence. "Then prepare your genin. You may go."

"Hai," the jonin replied in unison.

They lingered in the hallway to discuss the mission in more detail and coordinate their actions.

"Let's head to the new restaurant by Akamimi and discuss the mission there… what do you say?" Sarutobi Tetsuya suggested.

"Yes," Guy agreed. "Lead the way."

Kiochi merely shrugged, indifferent to where they discussed the mission. But there was indeed much to talk about: their conversation would cover a range of topics, including the possibility of joint training.