Kamizuki Izumo

Afternoon.

Hyuga Ningxue leaned against the window, eyes closed to rest, while the students inside the classroom were one by one filled with excitement, waiting restlessly for their teachers.

Time ticked by, and the jonin instructors arrived one after another to collect their respective squads.

Kurenai Yuhi took away Team 8.

Hinata, Kiba, and Shino.

Asuma Sarutobi took away Team 10.

Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino...

Kakashi took away Team 7.

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke.

The number of students in the classroom dwindled.

Finally, a figure appeared at the classroom door. The person who arrived was not the imposing elite jonin one might have imagined.

Instead, he was a man who looked somewhat playful toward everything, yet possessed a touch of seriousness.

He wore the standard ninja flak jacket, had long black hair, and his Forehead Protector was styled like a bandana.

His gaze swept across the classroom, eventually landing on Ningxue, Sugiyama Tetsu, and Nakamura Daisuke.

"Team 11: Hyuga Ningxue, Sugiyama Tetsu, Nakamura Daisuke." His voice was steady, devoid of inflection. "I am your instructor, Kamizuki Izumo. Follow me."

Kamizuki Izumo? The gatekeeper?

He remembered the name; he was one of the proctors during the Chunin Exams, a detail he still recalled.

He was partners with Hagane Kotetsu, skilled in Water Release and certain sealing-style barrier techniques. Together, the two of them were considered special jonin.

His strength should be decent, though clearly not on par with Kakashi.

"Yes!" Sugiyama Tetsu replied loudly at once, appearing somewhat nervous. Nakamura Daisuke also responded a beat later.

Ningxue simply stood up silently and followed behind Kamizuki Izumo. Her two teammates hurried to keep up.

Kamizuki Izumo did not take them to a place like the rooftop, but instead led them to a relatively quiet open space behind the school building. He turned around and looked at his three new subordinates, each with their own distinct style.

"First, let's confirm." Kamizuki Izumo took out a list and checked it.

"Hyuga Ningxue, Sugiyama Tetsu, Nakamura Daisuke, correct?"

"Yes! Instructor Izumo!" Sugiyama Tetsu answered first again.

Nakamura Daisuke nodded. Ningxue simply gave a soft grunt of acknowledgment.

Kamizuki Izumo put the list away, crossed his arms over his chest, and after sizing them up, he began to speak.

"I am Kamizuki Izumo, and from today on, I will serve as the instructor for Team 11. My requirements are simple: follow orders, work as a team, and complete missions. I do not like unnecessary trouble or accidents. Do you understand?"

His gaze was scrutinizing, falling primarily on the seemingly restless Sugiyama Tetsu and the most aloof of the group, Ningxue.

"Understood!"

Sugiyama Tetsu straightened his back.

"Oh..."

Nakamura Daisuke replied.

Ningxue nodded again.

"Then, as is customary, let's do some self-introductions," Kamizuki Izumo said.

"Tell me your names, what you like, what you dislike, your dreams, and what you are good at. Start with you." He pointed at Sugiyama Tetsu.

"Me?" Sugiyama Tetsu asked, pointing at himself.

"Yes, that's right."

Kamizuki Izumo leaned against a corner of the wall, waiting for their answers.

Sugiyama Tetsu took a deep breath and said loudly.

"My name is Sugiyama Tetsu! I like training in taijutsu and eating grilled meat! I hate admitting defeat and giving up! My dream is to become a powerful ninja and earn everyone's recognition! What am I good at...? I'm good at taijutsu and shurikenjutsu!"

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

Kamizuki Izumo nodded and looked toward Nakamura Daisuke.

Nakamura Daisuke scratched the back of his head and said slowly, "I'm Nakamura Daisuke. I like lounging around and eating all kinds of delicious food. The thing I hate is when people rush me. My dream...? To work until I retire and then open a snack shop. As for what I'm good at... making cookies."

Kamizuki Izumo's brow furrowed imperceptibly, and he finally turned his gaze toward Ningxue.

Ningxue looked at Kamizuki Izumo, her tone flat.

"Hyuga Ningxue. I like quiet, and I hate noise and trouble. Dream: none. I am good at basic ninjutsu and taijutsu."

Concise and to the point.

Kamizuki Izumo looked at these three subordinates, and for some reason, he felt his head beginning to ache.

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

Hiss... this combination... it really is balanced.

What an excellent matchmaking mechanism.

(Little did he know, he had unlocked a hidden variant.)

He rubbed his temples, feeling as though his future was shrouded in darkness.

"Understood." Kamizuki Izumo offered no further comment, moving straight to the point.

"Assemble at the Fourth Training Ground tomorrow morning at eight. I will conduct a simple test to evaluate your overall capabilities and level of teamwork."

"A test?"

Sugiyama Tetsu and Nakamura Daisuke were both taken aback, while Ning Xue frowned.

"That's right, but don't be nervous; it's just a standard test."

"However... how about the one who ranks last treats everyone to barbecue?"

Kamizuki Izumo looked at the three of them with a playful expression.

"What?!" Sugiyama Tetsu exclaimed, an expression of disbelief plastered across his face.

Even Nakamura Daisuke shed his lazy demeanor, instantly switching to a battle-ready face. (My savings are on the line; I cannot lose.)

Only Ning Xue remained expressionless.

It was just a test; he just needed to aim for second place.

"Any other questions?" Kamizuki Izumo asked.

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

"Then, dismissed. Assemble on time tomorrow, and don't be late."

After saying this, Kamizuki Izumo's figure flickered as he used the Body Flicker Technique to depart.

He had to go show off to Hagane Kotetsu that he had a sucker treating him to a meal tomorrow.

Back at the spot, only the three members of Team 11 remained, looking at one another. (In reality, just two.)

Sugiyama Tetsu clenched his fists, his face filled with fighting spirit. "Damn it! We must pass this test!"

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

The two of them turned their gazes in unison toward Ning Xue, who appeared the calmest and hailed from a prestigious clan.

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

"I don't know. Perhaps it will be about teamwork." Faced with their gazes, Ning Xue could only reply indifferently.

He said nothing more after that.

"Teamwork, huh..." Sugiyama Tetsu mused. Nakamura Daisuke scratched his head as well.

"See you tomorrow." Ning Xue did not linger, turning and walking in the direction of the school exit.

Watching Ning Xue's retreating figure, Sugiyama Tetsu and Nakamura Daisuke exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint 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 responded listlessly. "Oh... let's do our best..."