An Unexpected Test

Yamanaka Ino chuckled, covering her mouth, as she watched Asuma's dejected expression. Lu Yu is as lazy as ever.

Asuma hadn't expected the top student from the Ninja Academy year after year to be so... "outstanding." His dream was to watch clouds. Could he be any more of a slacker?

Seeing that Lu Yu had no intention of continuing, Asuma turned his gaze to the other three.

"What about you guys?"

Ino politely nodded to Asuma and introduced herself.

"My name is Yamanaka Ino. I excel at my clan's secret techniques. I like many things, such as growing flowers and flower arranging. I dislike nothing. My dream is... is... to marry the person I love."

She hesitated for a long time on the last sentence, as if trying hard to speak her true feelings. In the end, she expressed her wish somewhat indirectly.

Ino's pretty face flushed as she shyly glanced at Lu Yu. To her dismay, she found the scoundrel had already started dozing off...

"Marry the person you love?"

Asuma keenly noticed Ino's subconscious glance at Lu Yu and felt a pang in his heart.

This look, this dream... it seemed like signs of an early romance...

He then shifted his gaze to the yawning Shikamaru.

"My name is Nara Shikamaru. I excel at my clan's secret techniques. I like a leisurely life and dislike troublesome things. My dream is the same as my older brother's."

"Mm."

Asuma nodded helplessly, thinking sadly, Another slacker, as expected.

Choji saw Asuma's gaze sweep over him and spoke up proactively.

"My name is Akimichi Choji. I excel at my clan's secret techniques. I like to eat and hate it when others steal my first bite or my last bite. Also, I absolutely forbid anyone from calling me 'fat pig.' My dream is to become as handsome as Lu Yu."

"Very good."

After a preliminary understanding of the three, Asuma nodded and said, "We've gotten to know each other a bit. Everyone, take a break here and wait for a few people."

Wait for people?

Lu Yu, who had been ready to slip away after Choji's introduction, looked at Asuma suspiciously upon hearing this. This script is wrong. Shouldn't he say a few words, tell us to go home and prepare, and then we'll fight for the bells tomorrow?

Asuma didn't offer much explanation. Just then, a noisy commotion could be heard from a distance.

"Finally, no more training! This is awesome! Teacher Kakashi, where are you taking us?"

"Well, we're almost there, Naruto. Don't rush."

"Dead last, can you be quiet? You're so noisy."

"You jerk, Sasuke, you're enjoying it too, aren't you? Stop pretending."

Hearing these familiar voices, Lu Yu and the other three exchanged glances, seeing a deep sense of confusion in each other's eyes.

Even Lu Yu was a bit bewildered. What's going on? Are two teams having class together?

Soon, Kakashi appeared in Lu Yu's sight, leading Team 7. Kakashi scratched his head sheepishly and approached Asuma.

"Sorry, Asuma, for making you wait."

"Heh, Kakashi, I'd be more surprised if you weren't late one day."

Naruto and Sasuke, who had been looking around with interest a moment ago, were instantly petrified when they saw Lu Yu waving at them.

No way? Are we dreaming? Is that really our boss over there?

We've already been assigned to teams, and you're still going to give us special training?

The moment they saw Lu Yu, their minds exploded. All the hardships they had endured over the years flashed through their minds. They swallowed hard, looking at Lu Yu with disbelief.

Seeing the two staring blankly, Kakashi smiled and said, "Come on over, Sasuke, Naruto. Tomorrow's first lesson will be conducted by both our teams together."

Sasuke and Naruto looked at Lu Yu with complex expressions and walked over dazedly, sitting beside Lu Yu. Naruto looked at Lu Yu suspiciously.

"Boss, you didn't arrange this, did you? Are we going to have even more intense special training tomorrow?"

Seeing the two who were almost traumatized by his training, Lu Yu chuckled. "No, don't overthink it. I suspect the teachers investigated us and knew we often hung out together, so they want to see how strong we really are."

Lu Yu didn't lower his voice when he said this. Asuma and Kakashi's eyes flashed with shock upon hearing this. They couldn't help but sigh.

As expected of the Nara clan. Their minds are indeed extraordinarily sharp.

Clearing his throat, Asuma addressed the six of them. "We've only gotten to know each other preliminarily. Tomorrow, Kakashi and I need to understand you further. We need to observe the true level of you few truant kings. Therefore, we will gather here at nine o'clock tomorrow morning for a practical combat training session. Understood?"

Upon hearing Asuma's words, excitement appeared on the faces of the seven people.

"Yes! Teacher!"

Seeing the excited expressions on everyone's faces except Lu Yu's, Kakashi and Asuma nodded with satisfaction and quickly departed.

It was still early, and Haruno Sakura watched as Ino and the other girl began chatting away incessantly.

The boys, meanwhile, instinctively gathered around Lu Yu, waiting for him to take the lead.

Feeling their expectant gazes, Lu Yu smiled and said:

"Now that you've graduated, you need to develop the ability to handle things independently. Unless it's an absolute emergency, I won't be stepping in tomorrow. It's all up to you lot. Do you understand?"

Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Choji exchanged glances and nodded heavily.

"Alright, discuss your tactics properly and show them what we're made of."

Lu Yu turned and walked away as soon as he finished speaking, and the group knew without even thinking that he was off to enjoy life again.

However, recalling what Lu Yu had just said, they couldn't help but feel their fighting spirit soar.

Shikamaru narrowed his eyes, looked at Naruto, Sasuke, and Choji, and said:

"I have a plan for tomorrow's practical exercise..."