Before long, Shiranui Genma arrived at the classroom. He swept his gaze across the room and said lazily,
"Team Two, you're with me."
Tetsuhara Akira exchanged glances with his teammates, waved goodbye to Ino, and stood up to leave.
---
Training Ground
Shiranui Genma leaned against the railing, a senbon clenched between his teeth. He looked to be around thirty, carrying a relaxed, almost careless air—but Akira could clearly sense the stable, powerful chakra of a jōnin beneath that façade.
"Alright, everyone's here," Genma said, looking over the three of them.
"I'm your jōnin instructor, Shiranui Genma. From today on, I'll be responsible for your mission assignments, training… and survival education."
He spat out the senbon, his expression turning serious.
"First, let's make one thing clear. Being a ninja isn't child's play. You'll get injured on missions. People will die. If you're not mentally prepared, now's your last chance to quit."
Silence fell.
"Good." Genma nodded. "Then we'll begin the team entry test."
"What's the test?" Akira asked.
"Take the bells."
Genma pulled two bells from his waist.
"Rules are simple. Get the bells from me before noon. Anyone who doesn't get one won't eat lunch—and may be sent back to the Academy."
The same test Kakashi used.
Akira immediately understood—it was a test of teamwork.
"Begin!"
The instant Genma spoke, Akira was already moving.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!"
Compressed air bullets fired in rapid succession, sealing off Genma's movement.
At the same time, Ishida Ken slammed both palms onto the ground.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
Three earthen walls erupted upward, surrounding Genma at the center.
Aoki Ren leapt onto one of the walls and hurled a kunai wrapped with explosive tags.
Their coordination was flawless—as if they had rehearsed it countless times.
A flash of surprise crossed Genma's eyes. His figure blurred and vanished—
Body Flicker Technique.
"Behind us!" Akira sensed the chakra fluctuation instantly, spun around, and threw three kunai.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The kunai were deflected by senbon. Genma appeared ten meters away, grinning.
"Good teamwork," he said. "But still too slow."
"It's not over yet."
Akira rapidly formed hand seals.
"Water Release: Water Encampment Wall!"
A surge of water rose up, forming a protective barrier. Sunlight refracted through it, scattering rainbow-colored light.
Genma narrowed his eyes—
And at that moment, Flying Thunder God activated.
Akira didn't teleport to Genma.
He appeared behind Aoki Ren.
She was already forming hand seals for Fire Release when Akira pressed a hand onto her shoulder.
"Ren—use your strongest Fire Release. Three o'clock direction, thirty-degree angle."
"Eh? B-but—"
"Trust me."
Ren clenched her teeth and instantly changed her seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball roared forward.
At the same time, Akira vanished again and reappeared beside Ishida Ken.
"Ken—Earth Release: Rock Pillar Spears. Aim five meters above the center of the fireball."
Though confused, Ken reacted on instinct.
"Earth Release: Rock Pillar Spears!"
Jagged stone spears shot toward the designated point.
Genma moved to evade the fireball—then abruptly sensed the earth spears descending from above. He dodged left—
And in that exact instant, Akira appeared to the right of Genma's original position.
Flying Thunder God—activate!
Akira's hand reached for the bells.
Genma reacted instantly, thrusting a senbon toward Akira's wrist.
Akira didn't dodge.
The senbon pierced straight through as his other hand closed around the second bell.
Splurt.
Blood splashed into the air.
"Got them."
Akira landed steadily, a senbon embedded in his left wrist and both bells clenched in his right hand. The wound wasn't deep, but blood soaked into his sleeve.
The entire training ground fell silent.
Aoki Ren and Ishida Ken stood frozen. They hadn't even fully registered what had just happened.
Genma stared at Akira for a long moment—then smiled.
"Space-Time Ninjutsu…"
"The Flying Thunder God Technique, huh?"
"A simplified version," Akira replied calmly, pulling out the senbon and wrapping the wound with a quick bandage.
"Effective range is about ten meters."
Genma's eyes sharpened. "Who taught you?"
"The Fourth Hokage was close friends with my father," Akira said.
"He left behind introductory notes on the Flying Thunder God. I mostly taught myself."
Genma inhaled slowly.
Twelve years old.
Mastering Flying Thunder God.
Exceptional battlefield command.
And the resolve to trade his own injury for victory.
"You pass," Genma announced.
"Not just you—all three of you pass."
He looked at them one by one.
"Tetsuhara Akira, your tactical planning already exceeds genin level.
Aoki Ren, Ishida Ken—your ability to perfectly follow commands under unfamiliar leadership shows exceptional trust. That's invaluable."
Then his tone hardened slightly.
"But Akira—one thing I must criticize. Trading injury for opportunity should only ever be a last resort. A ninja must treasure their own life… because your comrades need you alive."
"Yes, Genma-sensei," Akira replied seriously.
"Good." Genma nodded. "Now, to celebrate passing…"
He pulled out three bento boxes from his ninja pouch.
"My treat. But before we eat—"
He pointed at Akira's bleeding wrist.
"Ren, treat his injury with the Medical Ninjutsu you've learned.
Ken, analyze the battle just now and submit an improvement report by tonight.
Akira—explain your tactical thinking in detail."
"Yes!"
The three answered in unison.
---
During lunch, Genma watched quietly.
Akira was explaining the principles of the Flying Thunder God.
Ren listened with rapt attention.
Ken scribbled notes furiously.
"An interesting team," Genma muttered, taking a bite of his rice ball, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth.