Team Drill (Please Recommend and Favorite)

Tsunade's imminent departure instantly wiped away Gengetsu's good mood. Although he had initially approached Tsunade with strong ulterior motives, after nearly half a year together, they had formed a certain bond.

Still, he was not truly a child. He quickly composed himself, tied his forehead protector around his brow to cover the Yin Seal mark, then used the Body Flicker Technique to head for another Training Ground according to Tamoki's earlier instructions.

Clearly, everyone had great confidence that he would pass the assessment.

At Training Ground Eleven, three figures were already waiting when Gengetsu arrived.

"Kazuhara-senpai, I'm Uzumaki Gengetsu!"

As he landed, Gengetsu took the initiative to greet the middle-aged man among the three. This Jonin team leader was from the Sarutobi Clan.

"You're a little faster than I expected. Then, Gengetsu, from today onward, you're one of our team!"

Sarutobi Kazuhara smiled gently. "Well, let's introduce ourselves again. Tell us what you're good at so we can coordinate better in the future! Gengetsu, you go first!"

"Yes, Kazuhara-sensei!"

Gengetsu nodded and changed how he addressed him. "I'm proficient in Water Release, Monster Strength taijutsu, and Medical Ninjutsu!"

"Uchiha Shinsui. I specialize in Fire Release, taijutsu, ninja tool throwing, and genjutsu!"

"I'm Kanzuki Chiba. I specialize in Water Release and Fire Release. Please take care of me, Gengetsu-kun!"

Gengetsu looked at his male and female teammates, inwardly surprised. There was actually an Uchiha among them, and it seemed he had already awakened his Sharingan.

Still, Uchiha Shinsui... wasn't that name a little too much?

Then he looked at the other one. Long straight black hair, a tall and slender figure, clean features, a quiet temperament, and a gentle voice. She was just too flat. It was all Tsunade's fault for warping his standards of beauty!

"Now that you've gotten to know each other, let's have a drill."

Sarutobi Kazuhara's expression turned stern as he pointed at Gengetsu and the other two. "From now on, fight with the intent to kill me!"

Gengetsu froze slightly. This was intense. Wasn't he supposed to be snatching bells or something? Was this guy really from the Sarutobi Clan? But on second thought, it made sense. He had just graduated from the academy, but the other two were no rookies.

His gaze shifted to Uchiha Shinsui and Kanzuki Chiba. The former still wore a cold expression as he said, "Kazuhara-sensei specializes in Wind Release, Fire Release, and Earth Release. Chiba, use Water Release to keep him occupied. I'll engage him in close combat and use genjutsu to create an opening when possible. Gengetsu, you'll use taijutsu to deliver the final attack!"

"Understood!"

Kanzuki Chiba nodded seriously.

Without asking for Uzumaki Gengetsu's opinion, Uchiha Shinsui activated his Sharingan—one tomoe in his left eye and two in his right—then charged forward, rushing Sarutobi Kazuhara from the side. "Go!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Kanzuki Chiba formed hand seals.

Water Release: Water Disruption Wave!

Kanzuki Chiba opened her mouth and spat out a pillar of water straight at Sarutobi Kazuhara.

Sarutobi Kazuhara rapidly formed hand seals and crouched. An Earth Wall immediately rose up. But right afterward, Uchiha Shinsui, charging in from the side, finished his hand seals as well. He exhaled, sending a massive fireball howling forward. It collided explosively with Kanzuki Chiba's water pillar, producing billowing vapor that surged in every direction.

How was that supposed to be teamwork?

Gengetsu was a little dumbfounded. After thinking it over, he still charged straight ahead, smashing through the Earth Wall before him with a single punch. Just in time, he saw Uchiha Shinsui being kicked away by Sarutobi Kazuhara amid the rolling vapor. He immediately leaped up and drove down a punch.

Boom!

Mud flew everywhere as the ground caved in, Gengetsu's Monster Strength punch blasting out a massive crater. But Sarutobi Kazuhara narrowly evaded it and began forming hand seals at high speed before he had even landed.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Sarutobi Kazuhara opened his mouth and spat out bullet after bullet of compressed air, blanketing Uzumaki Gengetsu and Uchiha Shinsui.

As expected of a Jonin. Even with the same ninjutsu, its power was clearly far greater than Nobukazu's had been.

Gengetsu was secretly startled. He pressed a palm to the ground. Earth Release: Earth Style Wall!

A wall rose at just the right moment, blocking every air bullet.

"Your reaction was fast, but it wasn't enough!"

Sarutobi Kazuhara's voice rang out. Gengetsu's pupils contracted as he turned toward Kanzuki Chiba. "Watch out below!"

"Too late!"

A hand shot out from beneath the ground. Sarutobi Kazuhara grabbed the too-slow-to-react Kanzuki Chiba, who let out an involuntary cry, and dragged her underground, leaving only her head exposed.

"One of them is a Shadow Clone!"

Uchiha Shinsui gritted his teeth.

"Never give your back to the enemy!"

Sarutobi Kazuhara's voice sounded again. He leaped down from the Earth Wall and rushed directly at Uchiha Shinsui.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Sparks scattered as the two collided at high speed, exchanging blow after blow. Gengetsu glanced over once before withdrawing his gaze and looking toward the other Sarutobi Kazuhara. He brought his hands together. "Kazuhara-sensei, excuse me!"

Sarutobi Kazuhara, who had just dealt with Kanzuki Chiba, felt his heart skip a beat. Then he saw Uzumaki Gengetsu open his mouth and spit out an ultra-high-speed water blade.

"Water Severing Wave? He didn't even need hand seals!"

Sarutobi Kazuhara's heart lurched, and he hurriedly dodged. He knew that Earth Release alone would have a hard time blocking that technique.

Gengetsu took the opportunity to step forward. At the same time, water rapidly gathered around him, forming a vortex before transforming into an enormous water column. Sarutobi Kazuhara, who had just avoided the Water Severing Wave, had no time to form hand seals and could only dodge again. Gengetsu used the opening to rescue the buried Kanzuki Chiba.

"Thank you, Gengetsu-kun!"

Kanzuki Chiba's cheeks flushed slightly. A dignified Chunin had actually been rescued by a Genin who had just graduated from the academy. How embarrassing!

But that technique just now... was it the Second Hokage's? So amazing!

"Don't mention it!"

Gengetsu replied casually, his eyes fixed firmly on Sarutobi Kazuhara. Meanwhile, on the other side, Uchiha Shinsui was already being suppressed. Though his taijutsu was outstanding and he had the Sharingan, he was still no match for Jonin Sarutobi Kazuhara, whose speed was equally astonishing. He would probably lose soon.

"It looks like conventional tactics won't be enough to beat him. In that case, let's go big!"

Having made up his mind, Gengetsu said to Kanzuki Chiba beside him, "Be careful. I'm going to use a technique!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he brought his hands together and exhaled. Thick fog surged forth.

After using the Hidden Mist Technique, he formed hand seals again and exhaled. A fierce wind howled out, quickly thinning the dense mist while spreading it even farther, enveloping Sarutobi Kazuhara, who had originally intended to use Wind Release to blow the mist away.

Is he using the mist for sensing? And Shinsui also has an advantage in a foggy environment!

With his wealth of experience, Sarutobi Kazuhara immediately deduced Uzumaki Gengetsu's objective. But then Gengetsu formed hand seals once more, leaving behind a Shadow Clone while his Main Body rushed toward the other battlefield to support Uchiha Shinsui.

"Kazuhara-sensei, I'm about to use a large-scale S-rank Water Release technique. Be careful!"

Gengetsu's Shadow Clone spoke, then gathered a Chakra vortex in his left hand while pouring water created with Water Release Chakra into it with his right. A water vortex immediately formed in his left palm.

"Nature transformation and shape transformation... the younger generation is truly formidable!"

Sarutobi Kazuhara exclaimed in admiration, only for his pupils to abruptly shrink. "How is that possible?!"

With a flick of Gengetsu's left hand, the water vortex shot toward him. Then it suddenly expanded with a roar, transforming into a gigantic Water Tornado.

"Not good!"

Cold sweat broke out on Sarutobi Kazuhara's brow as he retreated rapidly, but he was still caught by the Water Tornado. His body instantly exploded into a puff of smoke.

Beside Gengetsu, Kanzuki Chiba's little mouth fell open as she stared in shock. "A technique like that... proficient... I see!"