Survival Test

Yamei stood awkwardly in place. He couldn't really blame himself, could he? Who knew the side effects of Magic Hand would trigger so suddenly...

"Um... maybe I should come back tomorrow..."

"N-no, it's fine. I'm okay. You... tell me what Ninja Tools you want," Tenten said, her voice soft as she kept her head down.

"I want a Ninja Sword."

"A Ninja Sword? Do you have any specific requirements?"

"Strong enough, tough enough, and sharp enough!"

Yamei stated his requirements and took out a design drawing. "Make it look like this."

Tenten recovered a bit, took the blueprint, and studied it thoughtfully. "To meet all three requirements, we'll need some special materials. The cost might go up accordingly. I don't know if you, Yamei-kun, can accept that?"

"I can accept it!"

"Alright. Come pick it up in three days." Tenten nodded, not looking up at Yamei once.

"Okay... then I'll be going. Thanks, Tenten."

Yamei knew the young girl was shy and embarrassed right now, so he quickly ran out of the Ninja Tools shop.

Only after confirming Yamei had left did Tenten stand up and glance at the doorway. A cold breeze blew past, and her pretty face flushed.

What's going on with this Yamei...? What's happening to me...? It feels weird... broken...

Tenten's mind was a jumble of thoughts.

She was alone today, but under the circumstances, she couldn't open the shop.

Suppressing her racing heart, Tenten finally closed the shop and fumbled her way home.

Meanwhile, Yamei returned home and began organizing his gains from the day.

"Analyzing: Hatake Sword Style integrated into Hundred Rivers Sword Style."

"Analyzing, Konoha Style Taijutsu: Konoha Gale integrated into Art of a Hundred Refinements."

Analyzing, estimated time: 4 hours.

The next morning.

Bang!

The room door was pushed open, and Yūhi Kurenai stood before Yamei's bed.

"Get up! We're going for a Survival Exercise."

"Ugh~ Can I skip it..."

Yamei stretched lazily. He really... didn't want to get out of bed at all.

"What do you think?" Yūhi Kurenai shot him a look. She had come to wake him personally precisely because she was afraid he'd be lazy.

"Fine, fine. For your sake, I'll reluctantly go." Yamei waved his hand.

By the time they arrived at the meeting point, Hinata, Shino, and Kiba were already waiting.

"Morning, Hinata."

"Good morning, Yamei-kun."

"Morning, Shino, Kiba."

"Morning!"

Seeing Yamei rejoin the team, Yūhi Kurenai took out four bells from her pouch.

"Your mission today is to cooperate and take the bells from me! Those who don't get a bell will be punished!"

Yamei raised his hand.

"Yamei, do you have a question?"

"I have to participate too?"

"..."

Yūhi Kurenai blinked in surprise. She silently tossed a bell directly to Yamei and then looked at Hinata and the others.

"Yamei doesn't need to participate."

Shino and Kiba were silent for a moment. They didn't think Yūhi Kurenai was showing favoritism; this could only mean... Yamei's strength was likely beyond their imagination!

Yamei-kun is already this strong... I'll definitely catch up to you. Hinata's eyes flickered.

"Alright, let's begin!"

Yūhi Kurenai said, then leisurely tied the bells to her waist.

?(Yūhi Kurenai.jpg)

Yamei also flashed away, appearing on a distant table and chairs to watch the show.

"Byakugan! Activate!"

Hinata instantly activated her Byakugan, while Shino beside her formed hand seals. "Insect Gathering Technique!"

"Akamaru!"

Inuzuka Kiba roared, "Four Legs Technique!"

"Beast Human Clone!"

"Woof woof woof!"

Two Inuzuka Kibas appeared simultaneously, baring their teeth and flailing.

The two Inuzuka Kibas moved with agile bodies, instantly charging forward and swinging their arms to grab the bells. To their surprise, Yūhi Kurenai dodged to the side and kicked each of them flying.

Before Yūhi Kurenai could even stabilize herself, several small insects appeared on her feet, and at the same time, Hinata attacked! Her every move was powerful.

"They're already coordinating?" Yūhi Kurenai's lips curved into a smile. As she pushed Hinata back, she eliminated the insects on her body.

She changed her hand seals: "Genjutsu, Mirage."

"This is bad! Everyone, pay attention, Teacher Kurenai's presence has disappeared," Hinata quickly notified everyone the moment she lost sight of Yūhi Kurenai.

"The insects can't sense anything!" Shino's tone was somewhat grave.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly found himself bound by a giant tree, and Yūhi Kurenai's figure appeared on the trunk.

"Demonic Illusion, Tree Binding Death!"

A kunai fiercely pierced Shino's body, but his body instantly crumbled into a pile of insects.

"Insect Clone? Not bad," Yūhi Kurenai smiled and nodded, her figure flashing.

"Boom!"

"Fang Over Fang!!"

Two spinning white lights fiercely collided with the spot where Yūhi Kurenai had just been standing.

"Teacher Kurenai! I got the bell!" Hinata's voice suddenly rang out.

Yūhi Kurenai was stunned. She turned her head and saw that Hinata had somehow appeared behind her.

"Little Hinata, are you sure the bell in your hand is real?" Yūhi Kurenai's face suddenly broke into a smile.

"Huh!?" Hinata's expression changed. She seemed to sense something and abruptly slapped behind her with Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms!

The thirty-two palms were unleashed in an instant, but the person hit dissipated with a bang.

"Substitution Technique!"

Hinata's expression changed as she felt a terrifying punch coming her way.

She only had time to raise her hand to block before being sent flying back several meters with a bang.

"Didn't Teacher Kurenai specialize in Genjutsu? Why is her Taijutsu so powerful?! And... it feels so familiar..."

Hinata was shocked in her heart, and then immediately thought of Yamei, a wry smile appearing on her face: I didn't even consider this piece of information?

Suddenly, a figure rapidly attacked within her Byakugan's vision! She didn't even have time to defend.

"Fang Over Fang!"

At the critical moment, Kiba, with Akamaru, arrived, forcing Yūhi Kurenai back, while countless insects swarmed around.

Shino slowly appeared, the Insect Gathering Technique complete.

"Teacher Kurenai, it seems you are about to lose," Shino's tone carried an undeniable certainty.

"Oh? Is that so?" Yūhi Kurenai slowly appeared in the three's line of sight, then lightly opened her hand seals.

Everything around them instantly changed. The traces of the previous battle vanished, the swarms of insects disappeared, and Shino and the other two stood frozen in place.

"We failed..."

At this point, how could they not understand that everything before was an illusion?

"No, you succeeded," Yūhi Kurenai said with a smile, clapping her hands. "Your coordination during the battle and your unwavering protection of your teammates have proven yourselves."

After speaking, Yūhi Kurenai distributed the bells to the three: "Consider these bells a memento."

"Someone will be here to take photos of us later, and then... we'll meet at the barbecue restaurant this afternoon!"

"To celebrate the establishment of Team 8, I'm treating you all to barbecue this afternoon."

"Yay! That's great!" Kiba said happily.

"Woof woof!"

"When will the photographer get here?" Yamei checked the time, wanting to go see what Kakashi and the others were up to.

After all, Naruto and Sasuke's strength now was extraordinary! He wondered if Kakashi, that weak old man, could handle it.

"Yamei-kun," Hinata called out somewhat dejectedly when she saw Yamei appear.

"You were already very impressive. Kurenai's Genjutsu is only second to mine."

"Mhm, mhm." Hearing this, Hinata immediately beamed.

Yūhi Kurenai shot him a glare. While what you said is true, don't I have any pride?