Don't Blame Me

The progress level of Asuma Sarutobi did not meet Mikoto Uchiha's expectations for a direct descendant of a great clan.

She had originally assumed that as a young master of the Sarutobi clan and the biological son of Hiruzen Sarutobi, he should at least possess some extraordinary strength, regardless of his personality.

But looking at it now, he seemed nothing more than mediocre.

He might rank near the top in the Ninja Academy, but he could not be considered a true genius.

The opponent's two short blades were crafted from special materials, yet in his hands, they failed to unleash their proper power.

His moves were rigid, his attack power was average, and his combat intelligence was laughably shallow.

"Clang! Clang!" With a flick of her hand, she knocked Asuma Sarutobi's short blades away. Mikoto Uchiha said, "Do you have any other tricks?"

With his weapons knocked from his hands, Asuma Sarutobi realized the danger and retreated rapidly.

When he discovered that Mikoto Uchiha did not pursue him, he felt even more stifled.

The opponent clearly did not take him seriously.

In a fit of shame and anger, he took a deep breath and then formed hand seals.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

"Whoosh~"

A fireball half the height of a person suddenly appeared in the training ground.

In an instant, the temperature in the space rose rapidly, and Nebula Kotetsu, who was watching the battle not far away, could feel a wave of heat radiating outward.

A flash of envy crossed his eyes.

It's a fireball, wow~

Although it was far from the size of the Great Fireball from his memories—which was taller than a person—and its momentum was quite ordinary, the opponent had genuinely breathed out a large fireball in the open space.

This was something he could not do at his current level.

For a newly graduated Genin, being able to perform a C-rank Fire Style jutsu was already a sign of excellence. It represented both a person's superior talent and a family background that did not hold them back.

Watching the spirited Asuma Sarutobi as the fireball whistled through the air, Nebula Kotetsu secretly encouraged himself.

It's just a Fireball Jutsu.

As long as I spend more time with girls, sooner or later, I'll be able to blow one too! And when I do, it will definitely be bigger than yours! Stronger than yours!

While he was filled with envy, not far away, Mikoto Uchiha's eyes remained completely calm.

Fireball Jutsu.

A common C-rank Fire Style technique.

Being able to perform a C-rank ninjutsu upon graduation was a difficult feat for ordinary people, but for a child of a great clan, it was nothing rare.

Moreover, with her keen eye, she could tell at a glance that Asuma Sarutobi's level of Fireball Jutsu was average.

His hand seals, chakra output, and even the formation of the fireball itself all had areas that were lacking.

Knowing the opponent's actual level, she had no interest in delaying any further; she wrapped her arm in chakra and swung it sharply.

"Bang!" The fireball dissipated under the casual strike of the Jonin.

"Alright." As the heat wave faded, Mikoto Uchiha offered a perfunctory compliment: "Your strength is not bad."

Asuma Sarutobi finally straightened his back a little.

Mikoto Uchiha then looked at Kurenai Yuhi: "Kurenai, come up."

Hearing this, Kurenai Yuhi walked slowly to the opposite side of Mikoto Uchiha.

"Teacher Mikoto."

"My specialty is genjutsu."

Mikoto Uchiha nodded: "Good, then use your genjutsu to attack me."

Kurenai Yuhi nodded.

Currently, she had mastered two main genjutsu techniques.

One was the "Ninja Art: Light Confusion Technique" she had used against Mikoto Uchiha during the previous assessment.

She was now going to use the other one.

Genjutsu, Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique! she recited silently in her heart, channeling her chakra.

Opposite her, Mikoto Uchiha stood quietly, allowing Kurenai Yuhi to cast the genjutsu. As the technique took effect, a glimmer of light flashed in her eyes.

Immediately after, nothing happened.

Mikoto Uchiha showed no signs of being under the influence of the technique at all; she looked at Kurenai Yuhi and nodded.

"Not bad."

"Kurenai, your talent for genjutsu is good. Work hard, and in the future, you will surely be an outstanding genjutsu ninja."

Kurenai Yuhi beamed with joy: "Yes, yes, Teacher Mikoto, I will work hard."

"Aside from genjutsu, have you not mastered any other techniques?" Mikoto Uchiha suddenly asked.

Kurenai Yuhi thought for a moment and said, "Hmm~ aside from genjutsu, I haven't mastered ninjutsu of other attributes yet."

"As for close-quarters taijutsu, my level is quite average." "Bang!!" The soil beneath Mikoto Uchiha's feet suddenly erupted!

Kurenai Yuhi, who was in the middle of speaking, was startled. Immediately after, she saw a flash of a blade rapidly approaching! Without a word, Mikoto Uchiha had pulled a short blade from somewhere and launched a sudden sneak attack!

With her keen perception, she sensed a surge of intense killing intent!

In her anxiety, Kurenai Yuhi's pupils constricted instantly. Then, subconsciously, she gripped her kunai with both hands, blocking the incoming short blade with one while ducking to dodge, simultaneously thrusting the other toward her attacker's waist.

However, the attack came to an abrupt halt. The short blade stopped in front of Kurenai Yuhi, retreating the moment it made contact with the kunai.

Kurenai Yuhi stood up, and at that moment, she realized her heart was pounding wildly, and a thin layer of sweat had broken out on her back. For that one second just now, she had truly thought she was going to die.

Seeing her state, Mikoto Uchiha said in a stern tone, "Kurenai."

"Starting today, I will focus specifically on your close-quarters training."

"Remember, taijutsu reflexes are the fundamental quality of a ninja."

"Whether you specialize in genjutsu or the five elemental ninjutsu, without excellent close-quarters combat and reaction abilities, you are nothing but a lamb waiting for slaughter on the battlefield. Do you hear me?"

Kurenai Yuhi nodded obediently, not daring to argue: "Understood, Teacher Mikoto."

Having sparred with two people in a row, Mikoto Uchiha didn't even pant for breath. She then looked at the filler in the team... Nebula Kotetsu.

"Filler" was a term Nebula Kotetsu had come up with himself.

He felt that the reason Mikoto Uchiha had taken on the role of jonin instructor for this squad couldn't be as simple as just teaching.

An Uchiha jonin teaching the descendants of the Sarutobi clan—it didn't sound straightforward.

As the biological son of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Asuma Sarutobi was definitely the core focus. Kurenai Yuhi, as Asuma Sarutobi's sweetheart and the only daughter of the famous genjutsu jonin Shinku Yuhi, also carried significant weight.

Only he, the eldest son of the Kotetsu family, remained. Aside from his charmingly handsome appearance, he only had the Mystical Palm Technique to show for himself, which could serve as logistical medical support for the squad.

"Nebula."

"Come, attack me with all your strength."

Nebula Kotetsu nodded and stepped forward.

Then, in front of Mikoto Uchiha, he took a pair of gloves out of his ninja tool pouch and prepared to put them on.

Mikoto Uchiha frowned tightly.

"What are you doing?"

Nebula Kotetsu: "I'm putting on my gloves."

"Why put on gloves?"

Nebula Kotetsu: "I... my skin is quite sensitive." Mikoto Uchiha was his jonin instructor, and out of respect, he didn't want to have physical contact with her.

He couldn't bring himself to say, "I'm afraid you'll get too excited," so he made up a random excuse.

Little did he know, Mikoto Uchiha did not appreciate it.

"Take them off!" she said coldly. "Close-quarters combat for a ninja often occurs between life and death."

"How can you fight wearing gloves? Even if you protect your hands, what will you do if you spot an opening and need to throw a kunai?"

"Will you throw it while wearing gloves!?"

Nebula Kotetsu had no choice but to take off his gloves and grip his kunai.

Looking at Mikoto Uchiha in front of him, he decided to be as careful as possible later to avoid contact. If he accidentally touched her...

Then don't blame me; it was you who requested it, Teacher.