Kotetsu Hagane

Afternoon.

Ning Xue leaned by the window with his eyes closed, resting, while the students in the classroom were all excited and anxiously awaiting their teachers.

Time passed bit by bit as the jonin instructors arrived one after another and took away their respective teams.

Kurenai Yuhi took Team 8.

Hinata, Kiba, Shino.

Asuma Sarutobi took Team 10.

Shikamaru, Choji, Ino...

Kakashi took Team 7.

Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke.

Fewer and fewer students remained in the classroom.

Finally, a figure appeared at the classroom door. He was not the imposing elite jonin they had imagined.

Instead, he looked like someone who carried a hint of mockery toward everything, tempered by a measure of seriousness.

He wore a standard ninja flak jacket, had long black hair, and wore a forehead protector styled more like a bandanna.

His gaze swept around the classroom before finally settling on Ning Xue, Sugiyama Tetsu, and Nakamura Daisuke.

"Team 11: Hyuga Ningxue, Sugiyama Tetsu, Nakamura Daisuke." His voice was steady and flat. "I'm your instructor, Kotetsu Hagane. Follow me."

Kotetsu Hagane? The gate guard?

He remembered that name. He had been one of the proctors during the Chunin Ninja Exams, so Ning Xue had some impression of him.

He was partnered with Izumo Kamizuki and specialized in Water Release as well as certain barrier techniques involving sealing arts. Together, they were considered special jonin.

His strength should be decent, though clearly not on Kakashi's level.

"Yes!" Sugiyama Tetsu immediately answered loudly, looking somewhat nervous. Nakamura Daisuke responded a beat slower.

Ning Xue merely stood up silently and followed behind Kotetsu Hagane. His two teammates hurried after him as well.

Kotetsu Hagane did not take them to the rooftop or anywhere similar. Instead, he led them to a relatively quiet clearing behind the school building. He turned around and looked at his three new subordinates, each with a distinctly different style.

"First, let's confirm this." Kotetsu Hagane took out a roster and checked it.

"Hyuga Ningxue, Sugiyama Tetsu, Nakamura Daisuke. Correct?"

"Yes, Teacher Kotetsu!" Sugiyama Tetsu answered first again.

Nakamura Daisuke nodded. Ning Xue merely gave a quiet "Mm."

Kotetsu Hagane put away the roster, folded his arms, studied them briefly, then spoke.

"I'm Kotetsu Hagane. Starting today, I'll be the instructor of Team 11. My requirements are simple: obey orders, work as a team, and complete missions. I dislike needless trouble and unexpected incidents. Understood?"

His scrutinizing gaze fell mainly on Sugiyama Tetsu, who appeared the most restless, and Ning Xue, who was the coldest among them.

"Understood!"

Sugiyama Tetsu straightened his back.

"Oh..."

Nakamura Daisuke replied.

Ning Xue nodded again.

"Then, as is customary, introduce yourselves," Kotetsu Hagane said.

"Tell me your names, what you like, what you dislike, your dreams, and what you're good at. You first." He pointed at Sugiyama Tetsu.

"Me?" Sugiyama Tetsu pointed at himself.

"Mm, that's right."

Kotetsu Hagane leaned against a corner of the wall and waited for their answers.

Sugiyama Tetsu took a deep breath and spoke loudly.

"My name is Sugiyama Tetsu! I like training taijutsu and eating grilled meat! I hate losing and giving up! My dream is to become a powerful ninja and earn everyone's recognition! As for what I'm good at... taijutsu and shuriken!"

(A typical hot-blooded idiot. He'd fit right in with Might Guy.)

Kotetsu Hagane nodded and looked at Nakamura Daisuke.

Nakamura Daisuke scratched the back of his head and said unhurriedly, "I'm Nakamura Daisuke. I like lounging around and eating all kinds of delicious food. What I hate is people rushing me. As for my dream... work until retirement, then open a snack shop. What I'm good at... making cookies."

Kotetsu Hagane's brow twitched almost imperceptibly before he finally turned his gaze to Ning Xue.

Ning Xue looked at Kotetsu Hagane, his tone calm.

"Hyuga Ningxue. I like quiet and dislike noise and trouble. Dream: none. I'm good at basic ninjutsu and taijutsu."

Brief and to the point.

Kotetsu Hagane looked at his three subordinates and, for some reason, felt a headache coming on.

One was hot-blooded and impulsive, one was lazy and afraid of trouble, and one was cold and withdrawn.

Hiss... this combination... was really balanced.

What an excellent matching system.

(But little did he know, he'd drawn a hidden rarity.)

He rubbed his temples, feeling that his future was pitch-black.

"Understood." Kotetsu Hagane offered no further comment and went straight to the point.

"Tomorrow morning at eight, gather at the Fourth Training Ground. I'll give you a simple test to assess your overall abilities and teamwork."

"A test?"

Sugiyama Tetsu and Nakamura Daisuke both froze, while Ning Xue frowned.

"That's right, but don't be nervous. It's only an ordinary test."

"However... how about the one who comes in last treats everyone to grilled meat?"

Kotetsu Hagane looked at the three of them with an amused expression.

"What?!" Sugiyama Tetsu cried out, disbelief written all over his face.

Even Nakamura Daisuke dropped his lazy demeanor and instantly switched into battle mode. (My property is on the line. I can't lose.)

Only Ning Xue remained expressionless.

It was just a test. Getting second place would be enough.

"Any other questions?" Kotetsu Hagane asked.

Sugiyama Tetsu and Nakamura Daisuke looked at each other and shook their heads.

"Then dismissed. Be here on time tomorrow. Don't be late."

After saying that, Kotetsu Hagane flashed away, using the Body Flicker Technique to leave.

He was going to brag to Izumo Kamizuki that some sucker would be treating them to a meal tomorrow.

Only the three members of Team 11 remained, looking at one another. (Actually, only two of them were.)

Sugiyama Tetsu clenched his fists, his face filled with fighting spirit. "Damn it! We have to pass the test!"

Nakamura Daisuke sighed. "Sigh, becoming a ninja really brings nothing good, but we definitely have to win."

The two of them simultaneously turned their gazes toward Ning Xue, who seemed the calmest in the team and also came from a prestigious clan.

"Hyuga, what do you think the test will be?" Sugiyama Tetsu asked.

"I don't know. Maybe teamwork." Faced with their gazes, Ning Xue could only answer blandly.

He said nothing more after that.

"Teamwork..." Sugiyama Tetsu fell into thought. Nakamura Daisuke scratched his head as well.

"See you tomorrow." Ning Xue did not linger any longer. He turned and headed toward the school exit.

Watching Ning Xue's retreating back, Sugiyama Tetsu and Nakamura Daisuke exchanged a glance. Both saw a trace of helplessness and pressure in the other's eyes.

Sugiyama Tetsu took a deep breath. "No matter what, let's do our best tomorrow, Nakamura!"

Nakamura Daisuke replied weakly, "Oh... let's do our best..."