"Yayoi, don't get cocky."
"Keep making fun of me, and you'll regret it when my sister gets back."
Seeing Yayoi's grin, Shengshu's face twisted with frustration.
"Give it a rest. When Tsunade-sensei gets back, she'll just break your other leg. The fact that you think anything else might happen is laughable."
"You—you—you..."
Shengshu pointed at Yayoi, unable to get a word out for a long moment. Finally, he flung his sleeve and stormed off.
"Miyoshi-kun, don't you think it's a little harsh to make fun of Shengshu like that?" Yan asked gently.
"It's good to tease him a little and teach him a lesson. Otherwise, we'll soon be burying one black-haired person after another."
Yayoi dropped his mocking expression as he spoke.
"Besides, Yan, could you stop laughing before you say that?"
"Ah..."
Yan covered her mouth, which had unconsciously curled into a smile.
After saying goodbye to Shengshu, Yayoi followed the location given by the Ninja Academy to the meeting place.
On the way, he happened to run into Rin as she was leaving her clan compound, and the three of them headed to the rooftop together.
They arrived ten minutes early. This was a legendary ninja, after all.
Both Yayoi and Yan respected him.
But to their surprise, someone was already there when they reached the rooftop.
He had silver-white hair, wore a Jonin vest, and carried a short sword. He looked thoroughly ordinary.
When Yayoi and the others arrived, they saw him sitting on the railing. He greeted them with a hearty smile.
"Good. Looks like everyone's here, and nobody's late."
Once all three had arrived, the silver-haired man hopped down from the railing and stood before them. Then he introduced himself.
"I'm Hatake Sakumo. Well, starting today, I'll be your Jonin instructor.
"I specialize in swordsmanship and the Body Flicker Technique. Now, why don't you introduce yourselves?"
"I'm Uesugi Yayoi. I specialize in medical ninjutsu. I'm so-so at taijutsu and ninjutsu. If you get hurt and aren't already dead, Sensei, I'll do my best to save you."
Yayoi spoke first, even joking with Hatake Sakumo.
"Haha, you've got plenty of spirit."
Hatake Sakumo wasn't offended by Yayoi's joke. If anything, he thought they had the energy of youth.
"I'm Uchiha Yan. I specialize in genjutsu and ninjutsu. I'm so-so at the Sharingan and taijutsu."
"I'm Hyuga Rin. I specialize in swordsmanship and the Soft Fist. My Byakugan can handle reconnaissance."
After they had introduced themselves, Hatake Sakumo nodded with satisfaction.
A member of the Hyuga Clan who knew swordsmanship? That was a little strange.
But there was no denying that the twin Eye Technique clans were formidable.
The Byakugan had the finest reconnaissance capabilities, able to discern an enemy's movements within a kilometer.
The Sharingan had earned a reputation as an opponent you'd be wise to flee in a one-on-one fight.
As for Yayoi, he was Tsunade's future student, and his medical ninjutsu was exceptional.
Their team was practically top-tier. Hatake Sakumo even thought they could handle an S-rank Mission.
But that was only a thought. Newcomers had to start with relatively low-level missions.
"Let's start with a little team test. Given your abilities, I'll decide what rank of mission to assign you."
Hatake Sakumo thought it over before speaking.
"Come at me with everything you've got. Don't hold back."
The team test came so quickly that Yayoi reacted at once.
He gave Yan a look. She immediately understood, swiftly formed hand seals, and unleashed fire ninjutsu.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Song!"
Yan formed the hand seals quickly. In the blink of an eye, a series of ferocious chakra dragons took shape in flames and roared toward the White Fang.
"Rin!"
"Got it!"
Rin drew her Twin Swords. As chakra flowed into them, the sharp Wind Element gradually gave off a blue-green glow.
Rin's Twin Swords were different from the swords used by Yayoi and Yan. They hadn't been forged with complete Alchemical Circuits.
Instead, Yayoi had specially designed them by focusing on how they guided the Wind Element and extended chakra, carefully balancing the proportions.
Compared to Yan's Fanghua, which possessed a Word Spirit, Rin's Twin Swords were better at guiding the Wind Element and enhancing chakra transmission.
Rin's Soft Fist shifted into swordsmanship, her movements like a dance.
A sword dance made of wind and storm.
Her sharp blades swept forward like a raging tide. As Hatake Sakumo dodged Dragon Flame Song, they thrust fiercely at him.
"Is this the Hyuga Clan's Soft Fist?"
Hatake Sakumo met Rin's Twin Swords with his short sword, his gaze grave as he studied her technique.
Suddenly, blue light flared from the swords in Rin's hands.
Blue chakra blades extended from the Twin Swords and shot toward Hatake Sakumo.
"Chakra Molding. Her chakra control is incredible."
Hatake Sakumo couldn't help but praise her.
Even though the distance seemed impossible to cross to an ordinary person, Hatake Sakumo didn't panic in the slightest.
Then, in an instant, he appeared behind Rin.
"But that's as far as you go."
Hatake Sakumo raised his hand to strike.
"Sharingan, activate!"
Yan suddenly attacked from one side, activating her Sharingan at the same time.
Her Two-Tomoe Sharingan whirled, two tomoe slowly turning in her eyes.
Yan drew Fanghua and charged forward at once.
Hatake Sakumo had his back to Yan, so she couldn't use genjutsu. But she made her decision in an instant, drawing Fanghua and preparing to land a vicious blow.
Hatake Sakumo saw through her plan immediately. As he used the Body Flicker Technique to subdue Rin, he appeared at Yan's side the very next moment.
"What incredible speed with the Body Flicker Technique!"
Yayoi frowned, drew Mirror, and activated Mirror Eye. His two Mirror Eyes accelerated his analysis, and he studied Hatake Sakumo's movements at full speed.
Just as Yan swung her sword at Hatake Sakumo, he sheathed his blade and clenched his fist, chakra gathering in his hand.
His punch came with unstoppable force, landing right in Hatake Sakumo's palm.
"Not bad. You're already on par with an average Jonin."
Hatake Sakumo's hand trembled involuntarily from the impact of Yayoi's punch. He opened his fist and praised him, surprised by just how strong the team was.
Even the weakest, Yayoi, could protect himself. The Uchiha girl and the Hyuga girl both had impressive offensive abilities.
And the Hyuga girl might even follow the same path as him. She had the Hyuga Clan's talent, but after transforming the Soft Fist, she had already moved beyond the bounds of swordsmanship.
Hatake Sakumo had a sharp eye. He could tell at a glance what kind of swordsmanship Rin practiced.
Truly impressive. She had broken free of her clan's constraints and reached such a level.
"Your abilities are enough for our first mission to be A-rank."
Hatake Sakumo's voice fell silent.
Yan returned to Yayoi's side, still looking shaken.
Rin quietly sheathed her Twin Swords, brushed the dust from her clothes, then silently rejoined Yayoi.
"Keep working hard to grow. Until then, I'll protect you young seedlings of the village."
After saying this, Hatake Sakumo seemed to remember something and smiled.
"Sensei, could you teach Rin swordsmanship?" Yayoi asked at once.
Hatake Sakumo's style was swift, ruthless, and precise. With his speed and strength, a single strike could take down a Jonin.
That was why Hatake Sakumo was known as the Konoha White Fang.
When chakra coated the White Fang, a flash of white light would streak past, and a Jonin would fall.
The White Fang was Konoha's greatest trump card.
Other Ninja Villages even had special rules allowing their ninja to abandon their mission without penalty if they encountered the White Fang.
It was a reputation forged in the blood of his enemies.
Before you continue