If class assignments were based on grades, Aozora guessed his mentor would probably be a Chunin.
It wasn't that he didn't want to perform well, but after six years of finishing last in every ranking, suddenly being first at everything would raise eyebrows. How would the Third Hokage react? How about Danzo?
So, to avoid giving them any weird impressions, Uchiha Aozora only displayed his usual skills and his talent for ninjutsu. After all, it was normal that he hadn't shown any ninjutsu ability before—he hadn't even refined his chakra.
While he was still worrying, another person walked in from outside.
The newcomer wore a white-gray high-collared coat, green-tinted glasses, and carried a huge canister on his back.
"Uchiha Aozora, Moonlight Gale, Inuzuka Aya, meet me at Training Ground Six!"
With that, he vanished in a blur.
Aozora immediately recognized his assigned Jonin instructor.
Although members of the Aburame clan dressed similarly, the canister betrayed him instantly.
Without a doubt, this ninja was the strongest of the current Aburame clan—the most versatile Aburame in history—Aburame Shiho. Reconnaissance, defense, powerful attacks, assassination… he excelled at everything. Whenever he appeared on the battlefield, the combat effectiveness of Konoha forces increased several ranks.
Aozora's heart burned with excitement at the thought of having such a legendary ninja as his instructor.
The only downside? Shiho's abilities focused on insects, which made Aozora a little worried that he might not learn much directly applicable.
Inuzuka Aya and Moonlight Gale clearly recognized him as well. The three exchanged smiles and quickly left the classroom.
But the moment of camaraderie lasted barely a few seconds.
Before they had gone more than a few steps, Aozora heard complaints from his future teammates.
"Why did they throw in a tail-end like him?!"
"Even if it were just me and Gale, it would be fine. Now we have to protect Uchiha Aozora. So unlucky!"
She muttered as they ran, and her small white dog barked in agreement. Neither of them seemed aware of the volume they were making.
Moonlight Gale glanced at Aozora, a little embarrassed, and offered a comforting smile.
Aozora didn't react much. He was more curious about how Aya would feel once she realized he was the weakest of the three.
Training Ground Six was far from the school—half the distance across Konoha. Despite running non-stop, it still took them nearly twenty minutes to arrive.
There, at the central tree of the training ground, they saw Aburame Shiho perched on a branch.
"A bit slow," Shiho commented briefly, then added, "but understandable."
"Today, you are still students of the Ninja Academy. But I expect your actions to be quicker in the future."
"If not, I won't hesitate to dissolve Class Three."
The three responded immediately, and even Inuzuka Aya didn't object.
Nodding once, Shiho continued with his usual stoic expression:
"I am your instructor for Class Three—Aburame Shiho."
"Now, let's get acquainted."
Excited, Inuzuka Aya took a half-step forward—but with a bang, Aburame Shiho on the branch dissolved into a cloud of insects, dispersing into the forest.
"Find me," his monotone voice echoed from all directions, "and attack with the intent to kill me!"
Training Ground Six was Konoha's smallest field, barely the size of a soccer field, and the trees were sparse. Hiding anyone should have been impossible.
Yet, listening to the voice, the three had no idea where Shiho was.
"Get acquainted, huh? Looks like if we don't show our real skills, we won't even get to state our names!"
Aozora chuckled softly, gripping a kunai in hand, ready for battle.
Inuzuka Aya crouched slightly, stroking her small dog's head, her eyes full of fierce excitement.
Moonlight Gale drew the katana on his back, pacing lightly, scanning the area carefully.
Suddenly, Inuzuka Aya's eyes brightened, her elegant nose twitching as she exclaimed, "Found you!"
She quickly formed hand signs. In the next moment, her fingernails elongated, and chakra covered her hands and feet.
Using all fours, she transformed into a nimble cat, leaping and climbing through the trees as if the branches were solid ground.
For the Inuzuka clan's reconnaissance abilities, neither Moonlight Gale nor Aozora doubted her at all.
Flanking her left and right, they raced forward.
Aya's speed, enhanced by her beast mimicry, outpaced both Gale and Aozora.
She soared through the trees, then leapt into the air, concentrating chakra on her claws to tear through the tree in front of her.
Unfortunately, behind the tree was not Aburame Shiho, but a white-gray coat containing a detonating tag.
Boom!
The explosion's shockwave sent Aya flying backward, and stones thrown into the air slashed her arms and face.
Before she could even regain her footing, a kunai shot from a distant tree.
A whish sound sent a chill down her spine, filling her with a sudden fear of death.
Clang!
The metal collided beside her ear. The deflected kunai cut across her face, smeared with war paint, but she didn't care about her appearance—only relief at escaping with her life.
Seeing his kunai deflected, Shiho's eyes widened slightly beneath his glasses, lingering for a fraction of a second.
That second was all Moonlight Gale needed.
Chakra surged through his feet, and he appeared instantly before Shiho.
Swish!
Gale's katana drew in a blur.
The blade was precise, fast, and relentless. Even a Jonin of Shiho's caliber didn't dare underestimate him.
Bang!
The katana collided with the kunai, creating a sharp clash.
Gale knew his body was weaker, so he didn't engage in brute force. He struck and immediately withdrew, then launched another series of precise strikes, slicing, thrusting, and pinning Shiho in place.
Gale's swordsmanship was extraordinary—the Konoha blade style flowing through him like a swift wind, sharp and unending.
Any ordinary Chunin would quickly falter against such a relentless onslaught.
Yet Shiho remained calm, casually blocking the strikes.
Aozora observed Gale's fatigue but did not enter the fight. Instead, he drew a kunai, adjusted his footing, and fixed his gaze on Shiho.
Shiho felt a chill when Aozora lifted the kunai. Even though the kunai was ordinary, something about Aozora's intent sent a warning through Shiho's instincts.
It was a simple, standard kunai—but the danger he sensed made him pause, even for a moment.