The Jōnin Leading the Nebula Kotetsu

Seeing the notification suddenly pop up from the system, Nebula Kotetsu was taken aback.

Immediately, he did not hesitate in the slightest.

"Bind."

[Binding Target 3: Kurenai Yuhi (Copy - Asuma Sarutobi)]

[Current Mission: Second Impression (Change Kurenai Yuhi's first impression of you as a playboy and unreliable, and make her realize that you are a higher-quality male in the ninja world than Asuma Sarutobi)]

[Mission Time Limit: One year.]

[Mission Reward (Choose one): Genjutsu: Drifting Snow Lv1, Trap Making Lv2, Genjutsu Resistance Lv2.]

After a rough glance at the panel information, Nebula Kotetsu closed it.

Binding Kurenai Yuhi could not extinguish the fire in his heart.

Looking at Asuma Sarutobi, who stood before him with a condescending and arrogant expression, he slowly rose to his feet.

Amidst the excited, gossiping gazes of everyone present, he, being half a head taller than his opponent, lowered his head slightly to look down into the other's eyes, articulating his words clearly enough for everyone in the large classroom to hear.

"If you are dissatisfied with the team assignments."

"You should run home and beg your father, the Third Hokage, to change the arrangements."

"Instead of standing here, barking at me like a mad dog in your incompetence."

"Young Master Asuma."

Visibly, Asuma Sarutobi's eyelids began to twitch.

His eyes quickly turned red, and his fists clenched involuntarily.

Nebula Kotetsu's expression remained unchanged, though his muscles were secretly tensed in preparation. Under the enhancement of Lv1 Taijutsu, his Lv1 Big Slap was ready to strike, ensuring that if Asuma Sarutobi attacked in a rage, he could strike back first.

"You! You! How dare you!" Asuma Sarutobi roared in fury.

He had not expected that Nebula Kotetsu, whom he had assumed to be a soft target, would actually dare to oppose him.

Even less did he expect the other to strike so precisely at his sore spot.

"Go back and beg your father, the Third Hokage."

He did not like the old man!

What made him even more annoyed was that he had actually planned to do exactly that!

Shame and rage made his blood boil, and his cheeks began to flush red.

He tightened his fists, feeling the anger in his heart becoming uncontrollable; looking at the wicked, handsome face before him, he couldn't wait to punch it into a pulp.

"Asuma." Following a soft voice, Asuma Sarutobi felt someone grab his sleeve.

It was Kurenai Yuhi.

"Asuma, don't be like this." Kurenai Yuhi shook her head slightly: "The teacher is coming soon."

Looking into Kurenai Yuhi's gentle eyes, Asuma Sarutobi quickly regained some clarity, yet the anger in his heart remained unvented.

He glared fiercely at Nebula Kotetsu: "You just wait!"

Nebula Kotetsu: "..."

He flashed a "is that all?" expression, driving Asuma Sarutobi even further toward madness, before sitting back down in his seat.

Consequently, while the other newly formed teams chattered away, only their team remained silent.

Asuma Sarutobi was thinking about how to deal with Nebula Kotetsu.

Nebula Kotetsu was pondering how to make Kurenai Yuhi admit that he was a higher-quality, more reliable male in the ninja world than Asuma.

What a headache.

"Creak~"

The classroom door was opened once again.

A slender figure appeared in the sight of the three.

Beneath the standard Konoha Jonin flak jacket was a simple black undershirt.

Her long legs formed smooth curves, and her fair, beautiful face drew the gaze of everyone present.

Nebula Kotetsu was also looking, and he recognized the newcomer at a glance.

The wife of the Uchiha clan head, the woman sent away by the hands of her own "kind" eldest son.

Mikoto Uchiha.

Beautiful.

This was Nebula Kotetsu's first impression.

Whether in posture or appearance, Mikoto Uchiha almost perfectly displayed the superior genes of the Uchiha clan.

Combined with the composure of her Jonin-level strength, she possessed an even more unique temperament.

It was a powerful aura.

Whether among his girlfriends, ex-girlfriends, or the teachers at the Ninja Academy, Mikoto Uchiha was likely the kunoichi with the most imposing aura he had ever encountered.

She swept a glance over the teachers, then spoke in a cold, detached voice: "Asuma, Kurenai, Nebula Kotetsu."

"Follow me."

Kurenai Yuhi stood up immediately, dragging Asuma along to follow. Nebula Kotetsu trailed behind them.

Before long, the group arrived at a wide, shaded clearing in the mountains behind Konoha.

Mikoto Uchiha came to a halt and began to size the three of them up.

The tense and awkward atmosphere of the team could not escape her observation.

However, she had no interest in pointing it out right now.

"Sit down and rest for a moment; there's no need to be so stiff."

"I am Mikoto Uchiha, your team leader Jonin."

"From today on, you are partners on the same team. To help you get familiar with each other as quickly as possible, start by introducing yourselves in detail."

"Asuma, you start first."

Asuma Sarutobi didn't want to speak, but faced with the pressure of Mikoto Uchiha's gaze, he said, "Asuma Sarutobi, I specialize in Wind and Fire style chakra... My dream is to become a great ninja whose name will be passed down through history." As he spoke, he glanced at Kurenai Yuhi beside him. "And to protect the people who are important to me."

"I am Kurenai Yuhi, I specialize in chakra control and Genjutsu... My dream is to live a stable and happy life."

"I am Nebula Kotetsu, I specialize in Medical Ninjutsu, I like peace and quiet, and I hate trouble. My dream... is world peace."

The others looked at him with somewhat strange expressions.

For a ninja, combat was the mainstream.

Kurenai Yuhi's desire for a stable life was already unconventional enough, but they hadn't expected Nebula Kotetsu's dream to be even more absurd.

Mikoto Uchiha's gaze lingered on his face for a few seconds before she said, "Alright, that's enough for the introductions. Before the team is officially formed, you have one more test to pass."

Asuma Sarutobi asked instinctively, "What kind of test?"

"Attack me!" Mikoto Uchiha's gaze was cold and sharp.

"I'll give you ten minutes to discuss. After ten minutes, the three of you will attack me using every means at your disposal."

"I need to know your specific skill levels and whether you meet the standards for a team."

This was, of course, a lie.

Setting aside the high-achieving Kurenai Yuhi and the master of advanced medical ninjutsu, Nebula Kotetsu, she wouldn't send Asuma Sarutobi back to the Ninja Academy based on his status alone.

For the Uchiha clan, improving relations with the Hokage's faction was far more important than a minor squad assessment.

But there was no need to explain such things to a few kids who had just graduated.

"If you pass the test, there will be a reward."

"A reward?" Kurenai Yuhi's eyes brightened slightly.

As Mikoto Uchiha stepped away for a moment, the three of them gathered to discuss a strategy.

Kurenai Yuhi: "What should we do? Going up against a Jonin seems a bit too difficult, doesn't it?"

Asuma Sarutobi thought for a moment and said, "If a Jonin gets serious, of course there's no hope, but don't worry, Kurenai. No matter what happens, I'll be by your side."

"Let's start by making a plan."

As he spoke, he looked at Nebula Kotetsu with some hesitation.

Nebula Kotetsu said, "Don't worry about me. If the plan is reasonable, I will execute it."

It wasn't that Asuma Sarutobi was worried about that; he was wondering if he could kick Nebula Kotetsu out of the group.