Chapter 78: Don't Underestimate Students
What was it like to teach over three hundred people?
Over two hundred pairs of eyes stared at him—curious, expectant, doubtful.
Mugetsu had no doubt that if this were someone more timid, they'd probably freeze under that kind of pressure.
But Mugetsu wasn't just anyone.
The more students there were, the more excited he felt.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Hayate Mugetsu, and I'll be in charge of this summer special training."
With a calm smile, Mugetsu introduced himself.
Though his name was already known at the Ninja School—and many of the students had seen him substituting for various classes—he didn't assume everyone recognized his face. A proper introduction was necessary.
"Teacher Mugetsu!"
A few students who were already familiar with him greeted him enthusiastically.
Mugetsu nodded with a soft smile, then continued.
"I know many of you are wondering why there's a summer training session right after the holidays—and what the goal of it all is."
"Well, let me be clear. This special training has only one purpose: to improve your strength and prepare you to become capable ninja in the future."
He deliberately left out harsher truths—such as the possibility of looming war.
After all, the conflict hadn't officially broken out yet. Even the most vigilant ninja in Konoha likely hadn't predicted that the village would eventually become the central battleground—besieged by the Four Great Shinobi Villages.
"How will the training be handled, exactly?"
Raido spoke up, skepticism in his voice.
"You don't expect us Genin to go through the same training as the students, do you? Our strength isn't even on the same level."
He was Asuma's teammate—dragged here at his suggestion—and clearly unimpressed.
Mugetsu didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gestured toward a boy nearby.
"This is Uchiha Shisui, one of the students from my class. He's currently in First Grade. If you're curious about the level of Ninja School students—why not spar with him?"
Mugetsu smiled as he spoke.
He had already anticipated this sort of reaction.
Graduated Genin, having seen combat and been trained by Jonin, naturally viewed students—and Chunin teachers—with some level of condescension.
But this was the Shinobi World. And here, strength spoke the loudest.
If they wanted to challenge the school's standards, Mugetsu would let reality speak for him.
As Shisui calmly walked out to the center, Asuma's eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
He vividly remembered that humiliating scene from two months ago—when he, a proud Genin, had been utterly crushed by a First Grade student.
That memory was burned into his mind. He'd never forget it.
"Raido, you have to fight him," Asuma whispered through clenched teeth. "He's just a First Grade student…"
He was eager to share the pain—to see Raido's disbelief turn into regret.
"This doesn't feel right… he's only a First Grade student," Kurenai murmured, clearly uneasy.
"I'm a senior now. It's only right that I see for myself whether the standard of the Ninja School has slipped," Raido declared, stepping forward.
If Mugetsu had called out a Fourth Grade student, he might've let it slide.
But a First Grade student? That felt like a direct insult. Combined with Asuma egging him on, Raido couldn't back down.
The other students instinctively gave them space, forming a ring for the upcoming fight.
"If you can't handle it, just surrender. I won't be held responsible if you get hurt," Raido said, drawing a kunai from his pouch.
"Thank you for the warning, senpai. I'll be careful not to overdo it," Shisui replied politely.
Raido was momentarily impressed. At least the kid was respectful.
He decided to take it easy on him—let him lose without too much embarrassment.
Meanwhile, Obito had already buried his face in his hands.
He knew Raido. He knew his strength.
Raido Namiashi probably wouldn't even be able to defeat the current Obito—so how could he possibly be a match for Shisui?
This was a one-sided massacre.
But the one being crushed… wasn't the First Grade student, Shisui.
It was the already graduated Genin, Raido Namiashi.
"Go, Shisui! Teach that guy not to look down on us current students!"
Anko pushed her way to the front, cheering loudly.
Kotetsu and Izumo followed her, squeezing through the crowd to shout alongside her.
"Uchiha Shisui? Isn't he that super genius from First Grade?"
"I heard he got full marks in every subject."
Some of the Fourth Grade students had clearly heard of Shisui's reputation.
"Even if he's a genius, there's no way a First Grade kid can beat an actual Genin… right?"
Despite wanting Shisui to win, most of the students remained skeptical.
After all, the idea of a First Grade student defeating an official Genin was simply too shocking.
"Begin!" Mugetsu called out, acting as the referee.
"Here I come."
Raido Namiashi gave a short warning before charging toward Shisui, kunai in hand.
Shisui calmly pulled out his own kunai and met the attack head-on.
Clang—clang—clang.
The sharp clashing of metal rang out nonstop.
No matter how aggressive Raido's strikes were, Shisui blocked each one effortlessly.
Raido's expression began to shift.
This strength… this speed… this reaction time—was this really a First Grade student?
Backing off, Raido quickly formed hand seals and used the Clone Technique, creating five illusions to confuse Shisui.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique."
Shisui formed his own seals without hesitation, exhaling a massive fireball nearly three meters high.
Raido blinked.
"Wait, which one of us is the student again?"
Watching the blazing inferno roar toward him, Raido glanced at his intangible clones… and his brain short-circuited.
Thankfully, the fireball wasn't fast.
Snapping out of it, Raido turned and sprinted full speed, narrowly escaping its radius.
But just as he started to breathe in relief—
A kunai touched the back of his neck.
Cold and sharp.
Only then did he realize—Shisui was behind him.
And he hadn't even noticed.
"…I lost."
Raido lowered his hand. "I shouldn't have underestimated the current generation of Ninja School students."
"If this were real combat, I'd be dead."
"You're too kind, senpai."
Shisui retracted his kunai and replied modestly.
He could have ended the fight instantly.
But Raido had fought honorably, and his earlier comment likely wasn't malicious.
So Shisui had chosen to go easy—to avoid humiliating him completely.
"…He held back," Asuma thought, watching the scene unfold.
"That Fireball Jutsu wasn't as strong as the one he used on me."
"Senior, do you have a grudge against that guy or something?"
Kotetsu, noticing someone beside him grinning a little too happily, tilted his head.
At first, he thought it was just another smug student, but then… he spotted the forehead protector.
"…Huh?"
"No grudge," Asuma denied smoothly.
"I just remembered something funny, that's all."
---
Author's Note:
Technically, Raido Namiashi isn't listed as Asuma's teammate in the manga. However, in an anime flashback during the Chunin Exams, Asuma, Kurenai, and Raido were shown together. Rin even called out to them while celebrating Kakashi's promotion to Jonin.
Since the canon isn't entirely consistent, I chose to go with the flashback version for this story.
Naruto has plenty of timeline oddities.
Like how Kakashi graduated and became a Chunin years before Obito and Rin—but still ended up on a team with them and participated in the Chunin Exams together. Totally illogical, but that's the Naruto timeline for you.
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