Post-Battle Review

During the yakiniku meal, Kurama Heiji led the three little ones in reviewing the battle and drawing lessons from it.

"Why don't the three of you talk about what you learned from today's fight?" Kurama Heiji said after taking a sip of tea.

"I'll go first!" Kurama Feiyun spoke up first.

"I barely contributed this time and dragged everyone down. Although I used genjutsu, it didn't work. Instead, my opponent seized the chance to reflect it back at me." Kurama Feiyun pinched the corner of her clothes and apologized to Jiogan and Inuzuka Yoru.

Kurama Heiji said bluntly, "Feiyun, there's no need to put yourself down. Your genjutsu failed this time because your opponent was me, a Genjutsu Master far above your level. Your mistake was rashly using genjutsu against a ninja of the same type but higher rank. It was directly countered, leaving you with no room to resist at all!"

"What you should have done was stay alert and prepared before I cast genjutsu, ready at any time to support your companions and break them out of illusions. Yoru's elimination stemmed from that as well. After you were knocked down by the reflected genjutsu, Jiogan and Yoru both focused their attention on you and overlooked little Ranmaru. I used shuriken to stop Jiogan from getting close to you, but my most important goal was to take down Ranmaru. A small genjutsu was enough. Then, by taking advantage of my exchange with Jiogan, I made sure you kept your attention on me."

"And when Jiogan first used Water Release: Water Wave, I left a Shadow Clone in the forest. It transformed into Ranmaru and took down Yoru at the crucial moment!" Kurama Heiji said.

"It was all my fault. My awareness during the fight was terrible. I was basically useless," Inuzuka Yoru sighed.

"Yoru, your problems were indeed the biggest!" Kurama Heiji said without mincing words.

Inuzuka Yoru lowered his head at once, nearly bursting into tears. Kurama Feiyun and Jiogan hurriedly comforted him.

"Yoru, don't blame me for being blunt. Your offensive methods are too limited. Though your power is decent, you have no speed advantage, your hit rate is too low, and you're easily provoked."

"You must first learn to control yourself. The situation on a battlefield changes constantly, and all sorts of unexpected things can happen, whether from the enemy or your own side. You must keep a cool head at all times. Otherwise, a single moment of hesitation on the battlefield can cost you an opportunity or even your life!" Kurama Heiji said.

"Your strength lies in your sensory ability, but you haven't developed it enough. Otherwise, you would have detected the Shadow Clone I left in the forest long ago. As for the Hiden technique Fang Over Fang, its hit rate is too low. You should position it as a finishing move—after Feiyun restrains the opponent with genjutsu, use it for a one-hit kill."

The three little ones listened to Kurama Heiji and found that his words made perfect sense. Jiogan, too, felt he had benefited greatly. As expected of Konoha's Elite Jonin.

"Jiogan, you're the strongest among the three of you, and you also performed the best this time. I'd like to hear what you learned from this battle first!" Kurama Heiji said to Jiogan. He took another sip of tea afterward, putting on an inscrutable air that left Jiogan's face full of black lines.

Still, Jiogan replied, "I arranged the tactics before this battle, but they had major flaws. Actual combat is very different from theory. As for the fight itself, Water Release is my strongest method, but I only know Water Wave and Water Wall. Water Wall is a defensive ninjutsu, so it was useless today. Water Wave, my offensive ninjutsu, does relatively little damage. It's fine against lower-level ninja, but completely ineffective against a Jonin like you, Sensei. I need to keep expanding my ninjutsu repertoire, especially single-target offensive ninjutsu."

"You've covered everything thoroughly. You really were born to be a ninja!" Kurama Heiji said with feeling.

"After all, you haven't yet experienced real combat. The fact that you were able to make a battle plan in advance and successfully carry out part of it during the fight already makes you outstanding among graduates. Most graduates just fight on their own during assessment battles, with no coordination whatsoever," Kurama Heiji said.

Exactly. Even Team 7—Naruto's team in the Anime Timeline—had fought individually during their assessment and had no idea how to cooperate. They only slowly built up teamwork through later missions.

From this perspective, Team 11, Jiogan and the others, indeed had more of an advantage than the other students in their year.

"As for the ninjutsu repertoire you mentioned, that is indeed a problem. Most ninja learn ninjutsu from easy to difficult. There are also some Water Release Ninjutsu that aren't very difficult but have decent single-target power. Since you know Water Wave and Water Wall, why didn't you first learn some easier Water Release Ninjutsu?" Kurama Heiji asked. "Water Wave only becomes highly lethal when mastered to an extreme degree. In most cases, its purpose is to scatter enemy formations and divide the battlefield during team battles."

"My Water Release Scroll was left behind by my father. My father was only a Chunin and didn't have much talent, so he only left behind Ninjutsu Scrolls for Water Wave and Water Wall. I haven't come into contact with any other Water Release Ninjutsu," Jiogan answered.

"I see. My clan has collected some Water Release Scrolls. Of course, they're all fairly common Water Release Ninjutsu. Come to my place later and pick a few to learn!" Kurama Heiji said.

Jiogan immediately stood up and gave Kurama Heiji a deep bow. "Thank you, Heiji-sensei! Thank you so much!"

Ninjutsu Scrolls were the foundation of a ninja's livelihood. Aside from the Three Body Techniques, even the most common ninjutsu had to be exchanged for with battle merits. As for advanced ninjutsu or Hiden techniques, ordinary ninja could forget about obtaining them without paying an equivalent price. Thus, Kurama Heiji's willingness to open his Water Release Ninjutsu Scrolls to Jiogan was not only due to Jiogan's special relationship with his daughter, but also because he truly cherished his talent.

"Next, your paths for improvement are clear. Feiyun, you need to continue strengthening your genjutsu training, as well as your Illusion Resistance. Your role in future battles will be crucial: you'll serve as the vanguard and support. Yoru, you need to strengthen your sensory training and increase Fang Over Fang's speed as much as possible. You'll serve as a Sensor Ninja and secondary attacker. Jiogan, you're the strongest and have the most varied methods. Continue strengthening your Water Release Ninjutsu. You'll serve as the team commander and primary attacker. Once you do that, Team 11's true strength will emerge!" Kurama Heiji said.

Jiogan was sincerely impressed after hearing this. From just one battle, Kurama Heiji had identified the strengths, weaknesses, and improvements needed for all three of them. He was truly worthy of being their mentor.

Jiogan stood again and gave Kurama Heiji a deep bow. "Thank you, Sensei!" Inuzuka Yoru and Kurama Feiyun also bowed deeply, while little Ranmaru barked twice to express his thanks.

"Go back and properly digest the experience you gained from this battle. Make your preparations as well. Three days from now, I'll take you out of the village on a mission and let you see the real Ninja World!"