Attack?

"Five hundred ninety-eight, five hundred ninety-nine... six hundred!" Chiba finished his last push-up and looked at the sky.

It was noon. Time to eat.

Chiba stood up and walked to the center of the clearing, their usual place to eat. Since the three of them had begun training separately, their individual training had also spread out through the forest.

Today was the day before the Chunin Exams. Tomorrow was the Chunin Exams. Kushina Uzumaki had no training plans for them today either. She had told Chiba and the others yesterday that today was a rest day, and they were not allowed to do any overly strenuous training.

Tomorrow was the Chunin Exams, after all. Though he was not particularly interested, since he had qualified and signed up, it would not hurt to gain some experience.

After all, Chiba's opponents were either Elite Jonin-level fighters like Kushina, or absurd geniuses like Kakashi. Even his teammates were geniuses. His understanding of combat was geared toward such gifted or high-ranking opponents, making his range of practical combat experience far too narrow. He needed to understand how ninja of different talents and strength levels fought. As that range of experience continued to expand and deepen, his assessment of opponents before a battle would become more accurate.

Wasn't there a saying: know yourself and know your enemy, and you would never be defeated? The more accurate his initial assessment was, the better he could know his enemy, greatly increasing his chances of victory.

Strength was certainly an important factor in battles between ninja, but at its core, ninjutsu was a contest of wits. Catching an opponent off guard could often decide the outcome.

One could say that battles between ninja were full of possibilities. That was the conclusion Chiba had reached after repeatedly reflecting on his few previous battles over the past several days.

Chiba looked around.

Hirohiko and Yukina were not done yet?

Kushina Uzumaki gave them the entire morning for daily training. Once morning had passed, they were not allowed to train any further. After training, they were dismissed for free time, which meant Chiba and the others had half a day to themselves.

As for lunch, Kushina Uzumaki had not brought bento for them either, telling them to sort it out themselves. The three of them had decided to get ramen together.

Thanks to Kushina's bento, Chiba had saved money on lunch, and sometimes even dinner. So, while saving up to buy the next grade of Weighted Training Gear, he could still afford a bowl of ramen every day. Besides, Old Man Ichiraku knew he had a large appetite and always secretly added plenty of extra noodles and chashu. Chiba's bowl was always more than filling.

Since neither Hirohiko nor Yukina was here, they were probably still training.

Just then, Hirohiko emerged from the woods first. Upon seeing Chiba, he quickened his pace slightly and walked toward him.

Yukina also slowly emerged from the forest on the other side.

Judging by their appearance, neither of them had done especially exhausting training.

"Let's go get ramen!" Once everyone had arrived, Chiba took the lead. Hirohiko and Yukina nodded, and the three headed toward the village.

But just as they were about to leave the wooded clearing, a square object came flying at them head-on. It was incredibly fast. With a sharp whoosh, it was already upon them.

Hirohiko and Yukina were walking in front, while Chiba lagged behind, brows slightly furrowed with a thoughtful expression. Clearly, Chiba had slipped back into his own world and was pondering something.

As the square object flew toward them, Hirohiko and Yukina reacted immediately. One ducked left and the other right, each tilting their head aside to evade it.

Thud!

Hirohiko and Yukina dodged the square object. In an instant, it shot past them, struck Chiba squarely on the forehead, then bounced high into the air!

That hurt!

Chiba instinctively covered his forehead, instantly snapping out of his reverie.

Did I ignore my surroundings again? Getting lost in thought like no one else existed... I really need to break that habit! Chiba gritted his teeth. That one really hurt; the blow had knocked his head back.

"Who's there?!" Hirohiko barked.

"Chiba, are you okay?" Yukina glanced back at him, already assuming a combat stance.

Chiba even saw that one of Hirohiko's hands had slipped into the Ninja Tool Pouch at his waist. At the first sign of movement, Hirohiko would attack, using a ranged strike to disrupt the enemy while Yukina charged in through the opening, followed by a three-man combination.

With one look at their movements, Chiba understood what he needed to do. When Yukina charged through the opening, he would attack from above. If those two strikes failed, Hirohiko would follow up...

Perhaps that was what natural teamwork meant. Hirohiko did not like talking, Yukina rarely spoke, and Chiba often ignored those around him as he sank into his own thoughts.

Yet with only a movement, a glance, or a shift in expression, the three of them seemed linked together. A chain of coordinated moves would spring to mind, followed by seamless cooperation.

Although he understood their intentions, Chiba stopped them. One hand grabbed Hirohiko's hand inside the Ninja Tool Pouch, while his other lightly patted Yukina on the shoulder.

"It's fine. It's only a wooden sandal. Whoever threw it has no ill intent," Chiba said softly.

Thud!

That hurt!

Chiba clutched his head, the corner of his eye twitching. The square object that had flown into the air dropped back down and landed right on top of Chiba's head as he stepped forward to stop Hirohiko and Yukina.

Damn it! Does this wooden sandal have a grudge against me?

Chiba cursed inwardly.

"Clack..."

As Chiba cursed internally, the square object fell to the ground. Hirohiko and Yukina looked closely and found that it really was a wooden sandal.

What rotten luck! I got hit twice by a flip-flop! Chiba stared at the wooden sandal on the ground and cursed inwardly.

"You're fine?" Hirohiko asked with a poker face.

Yukina, meanwhile, examined the top of Chiba's head. "There's a bump, but you're fine. You're not bleeding."

Yukina visibly relaxed after checking him.

Since Yukina was shorter than Chiba, he had bent over while she examined his injury. Now that she said he was fine, he straightened up and looked past her toward the front.

Standing before the three of them was a white-haired middle-aged man. He stared at Chiba in stunned disbelief. When he saw the three looking at him, he cleared his throat. "Could I trouble you to toss my wooden sandal over here?"

Only then did the three notice that the man was standing on one leg, with his other foot bare. That wooden sandal presumably belonged to him.

"Hmph!" Hirohiko glanced at the sandal on the ground and snorted. "You had bad intentions!"

Yukina also frowned. "Why did you attack us?"

The implication was clear: they would not help him retrieve his wooden sandal.

Chiba, however, was somewhat dazed.

Damn, this is Jiraiya! One of the Sannin! The man who taught the Fourth Hokage, the Seventh Hokage, and the strongest Teacher! A central figure in the world of ninja!

But upon hearing Hirohiko and Yukina's words, then looking at the wooden sandal that had struck him twice, Chiba's brief excitement at seeing the familiar major figure Jiraiya was immediately crushed.

Jiraiya wouldn't throw a shoe at us for no reason. Is he testing us?

Thinking this, Chiba picked up the wooden sandal and casually tossed it to Jiraiya.

"Chiba..." Hirohiko and Yukina looked at him.

Chiba shook his head. "He has no ill intent. It's just a test."

A test? Why test us?

Hirohiko and Yukina were slightly puzzled.

Jiraiya caught the wooden sandal, waved to the three of them, said, "Thanks," and turned to leave.

Once he turned away, the smile on Jiraiya's face faded.

Uchiha Hirohiko and Hyuga Yukina had reacted exceptionally well. They truly deserved their reputations as geniuses. At seven years old, they could evade my throw. That strike would have almost certainly hit a Chunin.

But... that Taki Chiba had not dodged at all. He had even foolishly taken the second hit. He was far too unalert!

Did he really defeat Kakashi? With reactions like that, it should be impossible! This was somewhat disappointing.

Hirohiko and Yukina, meanwhile, stared at Jiraiya's wooden sandal in astonishment.

Chiba, did you see that it was a wooden sandal flying at us? I... couldn't see it at all!

"Wait!" As Jiraiya turned to leave, Chiba called out to him.

"What is it?" Jiraiya turned back in confusion.

"You think you can just hit me like that and leave so easily?" Chiba's expression slowly darkened.

Hirohiko and Yukina glanced at Chiba and said nothing. One had already placed a hand on his Ninja Tool Pouch, while the other took half a step back and adjusted into the ideal striking stance.

"Oh? What do you want to do?" Jiraiya fully turned around, looking at Chiba with interest.

"Naturally..."

Chiba narrowed his eyes, and a smile slowly curled across his lips.