Hatake Sakumo's Test

One day later.

At the training ground in Konoha, Ying Yue met his new teammates—Yamanaka Chinatsu and Hyuga Ayane—for the first time.

Sunlight fell upon them. Ying Yue still looked calm and confident, while Yamanaka Chinatsu and Hyuga Ayane seemed a little nervous.

As Ying Yue approached, Chinatsu's cheeks suddenly flushed. She unconsciously raised a hand to fix her long blond hair, then glanced at Ying Yue with a hint of shyness.

Although she tried to stay calm, her blue eyes still revealed a joy she couldn't hide.

"Ying Yue... hello." Chinatsu's voice trembled slightly, as if she were struggling to keep her emotions in check.

Hyuga Ayane stood beside Chinatsu. Her cheeks were faintly flushed too, but she was more reserved and demure than Chinatsu.

She lowered her head and nervously twisted her hands together, seemingly afraid to look Ying Yue in the eye. Her voice was soft and gentle. "Ying Yue... I look forward to working with you."

Seeing their reactions, Uchiha Ying Yue couldn't help feeling a little helpless. He knew he was very popular among his peers, but he didn't want his looks and strength to make his teammates feel uncomfortable working with him.

"Chinatsu, Ayane, you don't have to be so formal," Ying Yue said with a smile, trying to sound relaxed. "We're on the same team, and we'll be completing missions together. Trusting and cooperating with each other is what matters most."

Hearing him say that, Chinatsu blushed again and quickly nodded. "Mm... that's right, Ying Yue."

Ayane nodded lightly too. Though she still seemed a little uneasy, the tension in her eyes had eased somewhat.

Before Jonin Hatake Sakumo arrived, Uchiha Ying Yue, Hyuga Ayane, and Yamanaka Chinatsu reached the agreed meeting place early. To ease the awkwardness, Uchiha Ying Yue decided to start training.

As they trained, Ying Yue gradually realized that his two female classmates were paying him far more "attention" than he had expected.

During a simple Taijutsu exercise, Ying Yue demonstrated a set of basic moves. His movements were swift and fluid, and the definition of his muscles stood out in the sunlight.

Chinatsu and Ayane watched without looking away. Chinatsu, in particular, could barely hold back her admiration.

"Ying Yue's physique is amazing..." Chinatsu whispered to Ayane, her voice tinged with admiration.

Ayane didn't say anything, but the flush on her cheeks grew even more noticeable.

During a Ninjutsu exercise, Ying Yue successfully released a Great Fireball Technique, and Chinatsu clapped excitedly. "Ying Yue, you're incredible!"

This inexplicable "fangirling" left Ying Yue feeling a little awkward and helpless.

Just as Uchiha Ying Yue, Yamanaka Chinatsu, and Hyuga Ayane were meeting for the first time and getting to know each other, the steady sound of footsteps approached.

The three of them turned to look. A man in a dark gray shinobi outfit was walking toward them. His white hair stood out in the sunlight, and a faint smile on his face gave him a warm, breezy air. Yet all three could sense the steady, powerful presence radiating from him.

"I'm Hatake Sakumo," he said as he reached them, his voice steady and strong. "Starting today, I'll be your instructor."

At the sound of the name, Ying Yue felt a slight tremor in his heart.

Ying Yue knew who Hatake Sakumo was: an elite jonin of Konoha, known as the White Fang of the Leaf. He was famous throughout the Ninja World for his extraordinary swordsmanship and lightning-fast movements. Having a legendary shinobi like him as their instructor was an immense honor.

Hatake Sakumo smiled at the three of them. "Before we start taking missions, let's introduce ourselves. Getting to know each other is crucial to working well together in the future."

Uchiha Ying Yue spoke first, confident and composed. "I'm Uchiha Ying Yue. I specialize in Fire Release and Wood Release, and I've also studied Taijutsu and tactics. My goal is to become Hokage and protect Konoha."

Ying Yue's voice was firm and powerful, reflecting both his confidence and his vision for the future.

Next, Yamanaka Chinatsu stepped forward, a little nervous. "I'm Yamanaka Chinatsu. I specialize in the Mind Body Switch Technique, and my goal is to become an excellent medical ninja and support the village and my teammates."

Her voice wavered slightly, but her words were full of determination.

Finally, Hyuga Ayane lifted her head slightly, her voice gentle but firm. "I'm Hyuga Ayane. I specialize in Gentle Fist and defensive Ninjutsu. I hope to become a shinobi who can protect everyone."

Her voice was quiet, but her resilience was unmistakable.

Hatake Sakumo nodded, satisfied with their introductions. "Good. Each of you has your own strengths and goals. That's a good start, but that's not enough to become true shinobi. We need to learn about each other through actual combat."

Hatake Sakumo stood in the middle of the training ground, arms crossed over his chest, his expression turning serious. "Next, I'll test your abilities. I want all three of you to attack me with everything you've got. Your goal is to make me take you seriously."

Hearing this, Ying Yue, Chinatsu, and Ayane exchanged glances, then each took up a battle stance.

Ying Yue narrowed his eyes slightly. Red light glimmered in his Sharingan as he swiftly analyzed Sakumo's every move.

Chinatsu interlaced her fingers in front of her chest, preparing to use the Mind Body Switch Technique, while Ayane activated her Byakugan, ready to coordinate with Ying Yue's attack.

"Ready?" Sakumo asked with a faint smile, reaching for the White Fang Short Blade on his back.

Ying Yue moved at once. He was so fast that, in the blink of an eye, he was in front of Sakumo, striking at his side with a powerful Taijutsu blow.

But Sakumo simply turned, and Ying Yue's attack missed him by a hair.

At the same time, Chinatsu launched the Mind Body Switch Technique from a distance, trying to control Sakumo's movements.

But Sakumo merely adjusted the flow of his chakra a little and easily broke free of Chinatsu's control.

Seeing this, Ayane rushed forward and used Gentle Fist to strike at Sakumo's chakra pathways. She wasn't as fast as Ying Yue, but her attacks were precise, aimed at restricting Sakumo at close range.

Yet Sakumo's extraordinary reflexes and agility let him respond almost as soon as all three attacks came. He easily dodged Ying Yue and Ayane's blows and drew the White Fang Short Blade, preparing to counterattack.

Just then, Ying Yue, Chinatsu, and Ayane swiftly adjusted their tactics. Ying Yue attacked again, using more agile movements to keep Sakumo pinned down, while Chinatsu took the opportunity to use a support technique behind him. Ayane attacked from the side at the same time, and the three performed a flawless combination.

Sensing the coordination and resolve behind their attacks, Hatake Sakumo smiled faintly.

He swung the White Fang Short Blade lightly and deflected Ying Yue's attack. But he had clearly increased his chakra output, showing that he was now taking the test seriously.

In the end, under the pressure of Uchiha Ying Yue's powerful Taijutsu, Chinatsu's Mind Body Switch Technique successfully locked Sakumo in place, while Ayane's Gentle Fist struck one of his chakra points with precision.

Sakumo

After a brief pause, he raised a hand to signal the three to stop attacking.

"Good," Sakumo said, nodding lightly as he sheathed the White Fang Short Blade. "Your teamwork is excellent. Uchiha Ying Yue, your speed and combat judgment are outstanding for your age. Chinatsu's Mind Body Switch Technique and Ayane's Gentle Fist were both well executed. The three of you truly make a strong team."

Sakumo walked over to them, his expression serious yet encouraging. "I'm very pleased with your performance. From today on, we're a team. In future missions, I hope you'll keep working together so well, make the most of your strengths, and grow together."

Ying Yue, Chinatsu, and Ayane answered in unison. "Yes, Teacher Sakumo!"

Ying Yue felt a rush of satisfaction. He knew that he and his teammates had passed the test and earned Sakumo's approval. From now on, they would face even greater challenges together.