Don't Blame Me

Asuma Sarutobi's progress fell short of Mikoto Uchiha's expectations for the direct descendants of a major clan.

She had thought that, as the son of Hiruzen Sarutobi and a young master of the Sarutobi Clan, he would at least have some exceptional ability, regardless of his personality.

But now, he seemed rather ordinary.

He might rank near the top at the Ninja Academy, but he wasn't a true genius.

His two short blades were made of special materials, but in his hands, they hadn't shown their full potential.

His moves were stiff, his attacks mediocre, and his combat sense laughably poor.

Clang! Clang! With a flick of her hand, Mikoto knocked Asuma's short blades away. "What else have you got?"

His weapons knocked from his grasp, Asuma sensed the danger and quickly retreated.

When he saw that Mikoto wasn't pursuing him, he felt even more stifled.

She clearly didn't take him seriously.

Humiliated and angry, he took a deep breath, then formed Hand Seals.

"Fire Release: Fireball Technique!"

Whoosh!

A fireball half his height appeared in the training ground.

The temperature in the area rose rapidly. Even Nebula Kotetsu, watching from a short distance away, could feel the wave of heat radiating toward him.

A trace of envy flashed in his eyes.

A fireball!

It was nowhere near as large as the Great Fireball he'd seen in his memories, which had been taller than a person, and its presence was nothing special. Still, Asuma had truly breathed a huge ball of fire into existence in the open space.

It was something Nebula couldn't do yet.

For a newly graduated Genin to use a C-rank Fire Release was already impressive. It spoke to a person's talent and a family background that wouldn't hold them back.

Watching Asuma stand proudly as the fireball roared, Nebula silently cheered himself on.

It was only a Great Fireball.

As long as I spend more time with girls, one day I'll be able to breathe fire too! And when I do, my fireball will be bigger and stronger than yours!

While he envied Asuma, Mikoto remained unmoved.

The Fireball Technique.

An ordinary C-rank Fire Release.

For an ordinary person, graduating with the ability to use a C-rank jutsu was no easy feat. For a child of a major clan, it wasn't particularly unusual.

Besides, with her keen eye, she could tell at a glance that Asuma's Fireball Technique was only average.

His hand signs, chakra output, and even the fireball itself all had room for improvement.

Now that she knew his actual level, she had no interest in dragging things out. Chakra enveloped her arm as she swung it sharply.

Bang! The fireball dispersed under a casual strike from the Jonin.

"That's enough." Once the heat had faded, Mikoto offered insincere praise. "Not bad."

Asuma finally straightened his back a little.

Mikoto then turned to Kurenai Yuhi. "Kurenai, come up."

At her words, Kurenai walked over to face Mikoto.

"Teacher Mikoto."

"My specialty is genjutsu."

Mikoto nodded. "All right. Attack me with your genjutsu."

Kurenai nodded.

At the moment, she knew two main genjutsu.

One was the "Ninja Art: Light Confusion Technique" she'd used against Mikoto during the previous evaluation.

Now she was going to use the other one.

"Genjutsu: Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique!" Kurenai thought, channeling her chakra.

Across from her, Mikoto stood quietly, letting Kurenai cast the genjutsu. As the technique took effect, a glint flashed in her eyes.

Then it vanished.

Mikoto showed no sign of having fallen under the technique. She simply nodded at Kurenai.

"Not bad."

"Kurenai, you have a talent for genjutsu. Keep working at it, and you'll become an outstanding genjutsu ninja one day."

Kurenai beamed. "Yes, Teacher Mikoto. I'll work hard."

"Have you learned any other techniques besides genjutsu?" Mikoto asked suddenly.

Kurenai thought for a moment. "Well, I haven't learned any elemental ninjutsu yet."

"My Taijutsu is pretty average too."

Bang!! The dirt beneath Mikoto's feet suddenly burst into the air!

Kurenai was startled mid-sentence. Then she saw a flash of steel dart toward her! Without a word, Mikoto had drawn a short blade from somewhere and launched a surprise attack!

Kurenai's keen senses picked up an intense killing intent!

In a panic, her pupils contracted. She instinctively hooked a Kunai with each hand, using one to block the short blade as she ducked, while stabbing with the other toward her attacker's waist.

But the attack came to an abrupt halt. The short blade stopped in front of Kurenai, brushed against her Kunai, then pulled back.

Kurenai stood up. Her heart was pounding, and a layer of cold sweat covered her back. For that one second, she'd genuinely thought she was about to die.

Seeing her like that, Mikoto spoke sternly. "Kurenai."

"From today on, I'll be giving you extra attention during close-combat training."

"Remember, physical reflexes are a basic requirement for a ninja."

"Whether you specialize in genjutsu or the five elemental natures, without good close-combat and reflex skills, you'll be nothing but a sitting duck on the battlefield. Do you understand?"

Kurenai obediently nodded, not daring to argue. "I understand, Teacher Mikoto."

After fighting two people in a row, Mikoto wasn't even breathing hard. She then looked toward the filler in the team... Nebula Kotetsu.

"Filler" was a name Nebula had come up with himself.

He felt that Mikoto Uchiha wouldn't have taken on the role of this class's Jonin leader just to teach them.

An Uchiha Jonin teaching Sarutobi children sounded like there was more to it.

As the third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's own son, Asuma was surely a central figure. Kurenai, Asuma's sweetheart and the only daughter of the renowned genjutsu Jonin Shinku Yuhi, wasn't insignificant either.

That left him, the eldest son of the Kotetsu Clan. Setting aside his captivating good looks, the only thing he had to offer was the Mystical Palm Technique, which could make him useful as the team's medical support.

"Nebula."

"Come on. Attack me with everything you've got."

Nebula nodded and stepped forward.

Then, standing in front of Mikoto, he took a pair of gloves out of his ninja pouch and started putting them on.

Mikoto frowned.

"What are you doing?"

Nebula replied, "I'm putting on gloves."

"Why?"

"I... have sensitive skin." Mikoto was his Jonin leader, and out of respect, he didn't want to make physical contact with her.

He couldn't bring himself to say, "I'm afraid you'll enjoy it," so he made up a random excuse instead.

But Mikoto wasn't having it.

"Take them off!" she said coldly. "Ninjas often fight at close quarters when their lives are on the line."

"How are you supposed to fight with gloves on? Even if you protect your hands, what if you spot an opening and need to throw a Kunai?"

"Are you going to throw it with your gloves on?!"

Nebula had no choice but to take off the gloves and grip his Kunai.

Looking at Mikoto in front of him, he decided to be as careful as he could and avoid touching her. If he accidentally did...

Well, don't blame me. You're the one who asked for this, Teacher.