Chapter 28: A decisive Loss

The next morning, we all gathered at the training ground an hour early, eager to review any last-minute strategies. Nerves were high, and we wanted to ensure we had every possible advantage going into this challenge with our new sensei. However, when we arrived, Hatoshi-sensei was already there, calmly waiting. His presence alone was enough to unsettle us a bit. We hadn't uncovered any additional information about him, but it seemed like we would face him without further preparation. After a quick exchange of glances, we decided to start early, figuring it was better to confront whatever awaited head-on.

When Sensei gave the signal, I immediately took the lead, launching into close combat. I used Body Flicker Jutsu to close the distance, then created clones to distract him. As I charged forward, it became clear how much Sensei was holding back. His movements were effortless, and I realized he could have taken me down at any moment. He was testing us, not fighting seriously.

Within 20 seconds, the difference in our abilities was obvious. My strikes were easily countered, and my movements were predictable. Despite the overwhelming gap, Nora followed up with his Mind-Body Switch Technique, aiming to take control of Sensei's body, but Hatoshi-sensei dodged it without breaking a sweat. Even so, Baskin tried to capitalize on the distraction by firing his Fire Bullet Jutsu, but that too was ineffective. Sensei saw it coming from a mile away, and Baskin hesitated, opting not to use his Shadow Shuriken technique.

Seeing that our initial plan had completely fallen apart, Nora abandoned his ranged approach and joined me in close combat, hoping to overwhelm Sensei together. But instead of engaging us directly, Sensei swiftly turned his attention to Baskin, catching him off guard and defeating him with ease. Nora and I tried to react, but Sensei was already two steps ahead. He returned to us and effortlessly took us down as well, hardly breaking a sweat.

It was over. Just like that, we had lost. The entire fight lasted only a couple of minutes. The gap in skill was undeniable. We knew we were outmatched, but none of us had expected to be defeated this decisively. We sat on the ground, defeated in both body and spirit, fear creeping in as we realized we might be sent back to the academy.

But to our surprise, instead of criticizing us, Hatoshi-sensei looked at us with approval. He crossed his arms and, watching us recover from our shock, spoke in a calm but firm voice, "You all did well. I didn't expect you to win, but I saw effort and teamwork. You used your individual skills thoughtfully, and even though you were outmatched, you didn't give up. That's what I wanted to see."

His words caught us off guard. We had expected to be reprimanded but were instead being praised. Sensei's approval gave us a glimmer of hope.

"You were thinking on your feet, adjusting as the fight went on. That's good, but you need to refine your execution. Strategies are important, but so is adaptability. Remember, I'm here to guide you, not just test you. There's potential in each of you, and I can see it."

Relief washed over us. We may have lost the fight, but Sensei recognized our efforts, and that was more important than victory. Instead of being sent back to the academy, we had earned his respect. We were still a team, and this was just the beginning.

Seeing that we were still surprised by his praise, Sensei decided to explain further. He said he was impressed with how we had developed a strategy and even had a backup plan in case our initial approach failed. He highlighted the importance of a leader planning in any situation and complimented me specifically for showing leadership during the exercise. He also pointed out that my speed and mastery of the Body Flicker Jutsu were impressive for someone at my level.

However, Sensei made it clear that our defeat was inevitable, given the massive difference between a Genin and a Jonin. "There was no chance for you to win this time," he admitted, but added that this was expected. After acknowledging our efforts, he moved on to address our mistakes and weaknesses, starting with me.

My weakness was simple: I lacked real-world combat experience. I had only ever fought using the academy's basic style, which worked fine against my classmates but would never be effective against stronger opponents. Sensei explained that kids often fight with straightforward attacks, without using feints or counters. In a true battle, analyzing your opponent's movements and predicting their next steps to create openings for counter-attacks is crucial. From now on, he expected us to move beyond the basics and into more strategic fighting.

He also pointed out my lack of offensive or defensive ninjutsu. While I knew some Genjutsu, it wouldn't be very effective against stronger opponents unless it was of C-rank or higher. I needed to diversify my skills if I wanted to become a well-rounded ninja.

Next, he moved on to Nora. His primary issue was similar—lack of battle experience and situational awareness. Sensei suggested that Nora learn a few mid-range ninjutsu techniques to complement his Mind-Body Switch Jutsu. While the Mind-Body Switch was powerful, it left him vulnerable if it missed. The plan was to teach him ninjutsu that could create openings for his technique. Additionally, Sensei planned to sharpen Nora's sensory abilities, which would be a valuable asset for our team.

Finally, Sensei addressed Baskin. His focus would be on battle strategy and physical training, as he was the physically weakest member of our team. Sensei saw potential in him but said he needed to improve his endurance, strength, and stamina to be more effective in battle.

After outlining our individual weaknesses, Sensei had us do some light practice for the remainder of the session. We worked on basic drills to solidify our teamwork, and Sensei gave pointers along the way. Once we finished, he told us that today would be our last day of rest. Starting tomorrow, we would begin our official duties as a Genin team. Our mornings would be spent doing D-rank missions, and our afternoons would be reserved for training.