Getting Acquainted

If instructors were assigned based on grades, he figured his instructor would probably be a Chunin.

It was not that he did not want to do well, but he had been dead last for six years. If he suddenly came first in everything, what would the Third Hokage think? What would Danzo think?

Therefore, to avoid giving the Third Hokage and the others any undesirable ideas, Uchiha Aozora only displayed the strengths he had always shown, along with his talent for ninjutsu. After all, it was perfectly normal that he had shown no talent for ninjutsu before, since he had not yet refined Chakra.

Just as he was worrying, someone else walked in from outside.

The newcomer wore a white-gray high-collared trench coat and green sunglasses, with a huge jar strapped to his back.

"Uchiha Aozora, Gekko Hayate, Inuzuka Aya, report to Training Ground 6!"

With that, he vanished with a "whoosh."

Uchiha Aozora immediately recognized his Jonin Instructor.

Though the Aburame Clan all dressed quite similarly, the jar on his back thoroughly gave him away.

Without a doubt, this ninja was the strongest member of the modern Aburame Clan and the most versatile ninja in history: Aburame Shibi. Scouting, defense, direct assault, assassination—there was nothing he could not do. So long as he appeared on the battlefield, Konoha's forces would rise several levels in strength.

Thinking that this great figure was his instructor, Uchiha Aozora's heart burned with excitement.

The only pity was that all of the man's abilities revolved around insects, making Uchiha Aozora worry that he would not be able to learn anything particularly useful.

Inuzuka Aya and Gekko Hayate had clearly recognized him as well. The three exchanged smiles and quickly left the classroom.

Unfortunately, that warmth lasted less than a few seconds.

After only a few steps, Uchiha Aozora heard complaints from his future teammate.

"Why did they have to shove a dead last into the team?!"

"Even if it were just Hayate and me, that would be fine. But with Uchiha Aozora here, we'll have to protect him later. What bad luck!"

She muttered as she ran, while the Little White Dog beside her barked in agreement. Neither girl nor dog had the slightest awareness of their volume.

Hearing her unrestrained grumbling, Gekko Hayate felt a little embarrassed and gave Uchiha Aozora a comforting smile.

Uchiha Aozora did not really care.

Aozora was merely curious about how Inuzuka Aya would feel once she discovered that she was actually the weakest of the three.

Training Ground 6 was quite far from the Ninja Academy, separated from it by half of Konoha. The three did not stop once, yet it still took them nearly twenty minutes to reach Training Ground 6. There, they spotted Aburame Shibi on a branch of the large tree at the center of the grounds.

"A little slow!"

Aburame Shibi offered that assessment before saying, "But understandable."

"Today, you are still students of the Ninja Academy. But in the future, I hope you will move faster."

"Otherwise, I would not mind disbanding Team 3."

The three quickly acknowledged him, and even Inuzuka Aya did not make a fuss.

Nodding, Aburame Shibi continued expressionlessly, "I am Team 3's instructor, Aburame Shibi."

"Next, let us get acquainted."

Inuzuka Aya excitedly stepped forward half a pace, but Aburame Shibi on the branch turned into a cloud of insects with a bang, scattering into the woods.

"Find me," his flat voice came from all directions, "then attack me with the intent to kill!"

Training Ground 6 was the smallest of Konoha's training grounds, covering no more than the area of a football field. The trees were sparse as well, making it practically impossible for anyone to hide.

Yet as the three listened to the voice ringing around them, they could not find any trace of Aburame Shibi.

"Getting acquainted? Looks like if we don't show some real skill, we may not even be worthy of giving our names!"

Aozora chuckled, already gripping a Kunai in his hand and preparing for battle.

Inuzuka Aya crouched halfway down and stroked Little White's head, her eyes filled with eager fighting spirit.

Gekko Hayate drew the Samurai sword from his back and paced lightly, his gaze constantly sweeping over the surroundings.

Suddenly, Inuzuka Aya's eyes lit up. Her delicate nose twitched slightly as she shouted, "Found you!"

With that, her hands rapidly formed Hand Seals.

The next instant, her nails lengthened and sharpened, while Chakra covered both her hands and feet.

Using both hands and feet, Inuzuka Aya transformed into an agile cat, climbing and leaping between the trees as though walking on flat ground.

Neither Gekko Hayate nor Uchiha Aozora had any doubts about the Inuzuka Clan's tracking abilities.

One to the left and one to the right, the two immediately ran after Inuzuka Aya.

Inuzuka Aya, having used Beast Mimicry Ninjutsu, was simply too fast. Neither Gekko Hayate nor Uchiha Aozora could keep up with her.

They saw her dart rapidly between the trees before leaping into the air. A great amount of Chakra gathered around her nails, and with one strike, she tore apart the large tree before her.

Unfortunately, behind the tree was not Aburame Shibi, but a white-gray high-collared trench coat. Inside the coat was an Explosive Tag.

Boom!

The instant she saw the trench coat, Inuzuka Aya shot backward, but she was still struck by the blast's aftershock. Flying stones from the explosion cut several wounds across her body.

Before Inuzuka Aya could steady herself, a Kunai shot out from a distant tree.

With a whoosh by her ear, Inuzuka Aya's scalp went numb as the terror of death rose in her heart.

Clang—

The next second, the sound of metal striking metal rang beside her ear.

The Kunai, knocked off course, sliced across her face streaked with war paint. Yet Inuzuka Aya had no thought for whether she would be disfigured. All she felt was relief at having escaped death.

Seeing the Kunai he had thrown get knocked away, surprise appeared in Aburame Shibi's eyes beneath his sunglasses, causing him to remain on that tree for one second longer.

That single second of hesitation was seized by Gekko Hayate.

Chakra erupted beneath his feet, and he instantly appeared before Aburame Shibi.

Slash!

Gekko Hayate's Samurai sword instantly left its sheath.

The angle of this strike was precise and its speed swift. Even Aburame Shibi, a Jonin, did not dare take it lightly.

Bang!

The Samurai sword collided with a Kunai, producing a piercing sound.

Aware of his physical disadvantage, Gekko Hayate did not wrestle with Aburame Shibi. Instead, he retreated immediately after one strike, then instantly swung his sword again. The Samurai sword moved like an extension of his arm, slashing, thrusting, and pressing in from every angle, keeping Aburame Shibi occupied.

Gekko Hayate's talent for swordsmanship was exceptional. The Konoha Style Swordplay unfolded in his hands like a swift gale—sharp and fast, yet unceasing.

If an ordinary Chunin faced such rapid close-range swordsmanship, it would not take long before they revealed an opening.

But Aburame Shibi remained calm, casually blocking Gekko Hayate's attacks.

Though Gekko Hayate's swordsmanship was impressive, his body was too frail. He possessed formidable combat strength for a short time, but he could not sustain it.

Uchiha Aozora also noticed that Gekko Hayate was beginning to falter, but he did not enter the fight. Instead, he drew a Kunai, constantly adjusted his footing, and fixed his gaze firmly on Aburame Shibi.

The moment Uchiha Aozora raised his Kunai, Aburame Shibi felt a chill in his heart. He instantly sensed danger and hurriedly glanced at Uchiha Aozora in the distance and the Kunai in his hand.

The Kunai was utterly ordinary, but his gaze was exceptionally sharp.

It was clearly just a standard-issue Kunai, yet Aburame Shibi sensed a trace of danger from it.