Baring Fangs and Claws

"Tch, this drill is boring as hell."

"The teachers must have too much time on their hands, putting together a ninja game like this for no reason."

"Exactly! I'm going to become a great Konoha Ninja someday. How can I play a little kids' game of make-believe?"

In the woods, one group of students was strolling along at leisure, grumbling as they went. Clearly, they weren't taking the drill seriously either.

"Rustle." A faint sound came from the bushes.

"Sensei, we've already spotted you. Come on out!"

"Oh? That's unexpected. I didn't think your sensory abilities would be so good." "Feimu" walked out of the bushes, then asked in puzzlement, "What's wrong? Shouldn't you attack when you see an intruder?"

"Huh? Come on, Feimu-sensei, it's only a drill. Are you taking it seriously?" The three students exchanged glances and laughed.

"Is that so? I see..." "Feimu" nodded, then threw a Kunai without warning.

"Pfft!" The sharp Kunai struck one student in the head. Blood sprayed as he collapsed to the ground.

"W-what?!" The other two went pale with fright, staring at "Feimu" in disbelief. "This can't be real, can it? Is it a Genjutsu, Feimu-sensei?!"

"Why don't you guess?" "Feimu" smiled faintly, then used the Body Flicker Technique to appear in front of another student and drove the Kunai viciously through his heart.

Only one remained. Though he still hadn't fully grasped what was happening, he could clearly feel the genuine killing intent that "Feimu

" was radiating!

"It's supposed to be a drill... Feimu-sensei, have you gone mad?!"

"Thud." The last student was taken out as well.

"Feimu" looked contemptuously at the fallen bodies and said coldly, "These are the new sprouts of Konoha that Lord Hokage spoke of? They're nothing but trash with no use whatsoever!"

Throwing down the bloodstained Kunai, "Feimu" continued toward another part of the forest.

"Huh? Feimu-sensei, aren't you supposed to be in the eastern sector... Huh?!"

"Pfft!" He plunged a Kunai into the unsuspecting Konoha teacher.

"Feimu" shook his head, his eyes full of indifference. "Even the Chunin are like this. They're all trash."

Everywhere he went, "Feimu" killed teachers and students alike while they were off guard. Because the groups were so far apart, no one noticed the murders!

Starting in west sector one, "Feimu" wiped out 47 groups of students in succession,

along with three Konoha teachers, all the way to east sector twelve. "Huh? There's no trace of ninja activity at all. What's going on?" Looking at the empty sector, "Feimu" felt puzzled, though he didn't pay it much attention. "Hmph! They even got their assigned sector wrong. Students these days are all garbage!"

"Feimu" then continued toward the next sector.

"Come out. I've already sensed your presence."

"Another group with good sensory abilities... Huh? So it's you. That explains it." After slaughtering nearly a hundred students along the way, "Feimu" had found a group worth noting.

The three were Asuma Sarutobi, Might Guy, and Rin Nohara.

Asuma Sarutobi, a genius of the Sarutobi Clan and the current Hokage's second son.

Might Guy, the child of Might Duy, Konoha's hidden special combat asset.

Rin Nohara, the daughter of the director of Konoha Hospital.

All three were on "Feimu's" list of people to watch closely.

A faint smile remained on "Feimu's" face as he started to approach and say something.

But just then, Rin suddenly cried out, "Watch out! He's not Feimu-sensei!"

"What?" Asuma and Guy were startled. They immediately stepped back and looked at him warily. "Rin, what do you mean?"

Rin kept her eyes fixed on "Feimu" and said through gritted teeth, "This person... he reeks of blood. He just killed people, and a lot of them!"

The smile never left "Feimu's" face. He merely chuckled and said, "Has someone finally noticed? Looks like the newcomers aren't all useless trash after all, are they?"

"Clang!" Asuma reacted quickly, drawing Flying Swallow. "Who the hell are you? How dare you trespass on Konoha's turf!"

"Having good sensory abilities alone won't be enough." The instant he finished speaking, "Feimu" appeared before Asuma and slashed the Kunai in his hand toward his neck.

Asuma's pupils contracted. At that moment, he suddenly recalled the chill against his neck during his simulated battle with Shunren. In the nick of time, he raised Flying Swallow and managed to block the deadly blow!

"Clang!"

Asuma quickly retreated.

"As expected of the Hokage's son." "Feimu" was astonished. Then he flicked his sleeve and sent a shower of Shuriken flying.

Asuma hurriedly formed Hand Seals, his heart jolting. Damn, I won't finish the seals in time!

But just then, Guy launched a powerful Konoha Whirlwind kick and knocked aside the incoming Shuriken.

"Asuma, Guy, run!" At the same time, Rin threw a pellet at their opponent.

"Bang!" The pellet released a thick cloud of smoke.

"A smoke bomb?"

"Feimu" sneered. "But at your speed, you won't escape..."

"Eight Gates Released Formation, third gate, Gate of Life! Open!!" Guy's skin flushed red as blood surged through his body. Grabbing Asuma with one hand and Rin with the other, he raced away like a wild horse freed from its reins!

When the smoke cleared, "Feimu" smiled and took out a roster, placing a large check mark next to the names of Asuma, Guy, and Rin.

"You passed. The others should be just about finished with the cleanup too, right?" With one hand, he tore off "Feimu's" human-skin mask and put on another unfamiliar face. Notably, he was now wearing a Sand Ninja Forehead Protector!

He looked toward the mountain to the west and said coldly, "Carry out the next mission in the plan: eliminate the Uchiha force!"

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!" Dozens of figures gathered in front of the "Sand Ninja" in quick succession.

At the same time, they deftly changed into Sand Ninja attire.