"Damn it, did my teacher stand me up?"
Iruka, wearing a forehead protector and with his hair tied in a ponytail, now had a scar on his nose and was muttering incessantly.
He kept glancing at the sky.
Today, his teacher said he would test his progress, and Iruka was excited, arriving at the Training Ground early.
Unexpectedly, after waiting for a long time, the agreed-upon time had passed, but there was still no sign of his teacher.
Since becoming a Chunin squad leader a year ago, his progress has been visible to the naked eye.
Moreover, he had gained the Third Hokage's recognition and became a teacher at the Ninja School, diligently learning many things.
He was just waiting to show off in front of Satoru.
Caw!
Just as he was getting anxious from waiting, an eagle's cry echoed from a distance.
As he looked up, a giant flying eagle had already appeared above him.
"Damn it, I didn't learn this move, what a loss."
When Iruka saw the eagle, he knew his teacher had arrived and recalled the days of learning under Satoru.
This secret Ninjutsu, called Pupil Setting Hand, he and his two other teammates had all learned.
Unfortunately, only Mibu Shinobi had some Genjutsu talent and learned a half-finished version, while he and Ibara Keisen had not learned this move.
This was also why he secretly called Satoru his teacher.
He truly taught them as disciples!
Whoosh!
Satoru leapt down from the sky, and the flying eagle quickly shrank and was put into his bag.
Pfft!
He landed lightly on the ground, looking at Iruka with an awkward smile.
"Haha, I seem to be late!"
"Yes, teacher, I remember you're not someone who likes to be late, are you?" Iruka asked curiously.
In his eyes, his teacher was a man who was diligent in everything he did, and he had never seen him be late.
Satoru raised his head and, using the music knowledge he had just learned, said in a low, clear voice, "Is that so? How did you know that I just received the official Jonin appointment from Hokage-sama, as well as the position of Analysis Team leader?"
A few crows flew over Iruka's head, and he whispered, "Teacher, I didn't know."
But he was happy for his teacher in his heart.
"Is that so? Do you know now?"
"I know."
Satoru nodded in satisfaction, understanding.
"By the way, I heard you're going to be a teacher at the school?"
Iruka nodded, excitedly saying, "Teacher, you said my talent isn't too strong, but I'm more meticulous, which is more suitable for being a teacher.
Coupled with my actions as a squad leader this past year, I've also realised this point.
I feel that being a teacher might be a good choice, and I can also contribute to Konoha,
Inheriting the Will of Fire from the Third Hokage and you."
"..."
Satoru wanted to tell him that the Will of Fire was nonsense.
It was like worshipping a god; if it worked, it was a god; if it didn't, it was feudal superstition.
But he still choked.
Because saying this openly was useless to others.
Instead, it was harmful to him.
He was a firm executor of the Will of Fire; how could he have such thoughts?
Bah!
The Will of Fire was him, and he was the Will of Fire.
"Very good, becoming a Chunin at fourteen and being able to teach at the Ninja School at fifteen.
You truly are my disciple, Keep it up.
The future belongs to you." Satoru patted his shoulder, encouraging him.
Compared to the original timeline, becoming a Chunin two years earlier was considered a genius among civilians.
"Teacher, you're only two and a half years older than me, don't talk like you're already old!!!"
Iruka was speechless.
"Less nonsense, I didn't call you here to chat.
Let me see your progress over these years. If you embarrass me,
Hmph hmph,
You know my methods, Iruka." Satoru threatened.
Gulp!
Hearing his teacher's words, Iruka's throat moved as he recalled the punishments for failing training missions under his teacher; those tastes were more terrifying than any dangers he had experienced during his year as a squad leader.
Then he became full of confidence again; he was a man who became a Chunin at fourteen, only two years older than his teacher, and had undergone a year of squad-leading training.
What was there to fear?
Iruka looked at his teacher, full of fighting spirit.
"Come on, teacher, I'm a man who will be a role model for students, and I won't be afraid of your Genjutsu."
His eyes were burning.
"Oh?"
Satoru looked at him seriously, gazing at his confident eyes.
"Very good, you truly are my disciple, you must have this confidence. Come on, let me see your current strength."
Whoosh!
Satoru retreated a certain distance, then formed the hand seals for confrontation.
Iruka did the same.
Wind~
Hair fluttering~
Whoosh!
Clang, clang!
Shuriken collided in the air, emitting sparks of passion.
Kunai also clashed in a brief skirmish, and Iruka displayed excellent Taijutsu, engaging Satoru.
"Iruka, this much ability isn't enough." Satoru held a Kunai with one hand, countering all of his attacks.
Iruka's lips curved into a smile: "Hehe, of course not..."
Tiger~ Tiger~ Rabbit...
Sizzle~
Satoru released his perception; the Shuriken and Kunai Iruka had just thrown now outlining a huge formation, surrounding him.
"Fire Release: Fire Cut."
Each Ninja tool emitted a thin line of fire, forming an inverted bowl around Satoru, rapidly shrinking.
Whoosh!
And in Satoru's perception, even the ground was surrounded by Ninjutsu, the soil cut into small grids, rapidly contracting towards him.
Looking at Iruka, he had already closed his eyes: "Teacher, I won't let your Genjutsu stop me, take this.
This is a Fire Release Ninjutsu I developed using the Fire Release nature transformation you taught me, teacher. Every fire line carries condensed high temperature, and its cutting power is even stronger than your Wind Release, teacher. You must be careful."
Iruka's tone held a hint of pride.
At the same time, he also worried if he would accidentally kill his teacher?
That's why he spoke out his Ninjutsu.
Slap!
Suddenly, a hand patted his shoulder.
"Who, don't disturb me, I'm sparring with my teacher!" Iruka slapped away the hand on his shoulder.
Suddenly.
He abruptly opened his eyes, and what entered his sight was Satoru's smiling mouth.
"Not bad, you can even develop Ninjutsu now, amazing."
Iruka looked at him, then at the place where the Ninjutsu had just been performed.
At this moment, the ground there was like burnt grass jelly, in pieces, with only a small, dismembered, woven limb on the ground.
"Was that a Pupil Setting Hand clone just now?"
Recalling his earlier spar with Satoru, he hadn't used Ninjutsu or Genjutsu, but had fought him with Taijutsu and Shuriken. He had thought his teacher was going easy on him...
He didn't expect it to be a clone. When did he do it?
His teacher had been under his gaze the whole time, and because it was an assessment, he had anticipated that his teacher wouldn't attack him with Genjutsu at the beginning, which was why he had made a series of arrangements.
"When exactly was it?"