"Agreed.
"Return to camp and rest for two days. Once your injuries have fully healed and your Chakra has completely recovered, I'll train with you myself."
"I'll replicate a Jonin's combat rhythm, techniques, and approach to offense and defense. We'll work on your weaknesses, stamina, physical conditioning, and ability to adapt in battle."
Kawaki Aoba's eyes lit up, anticipation creeping into his voice.
"Thank you, sir!"
"No need to thank me. Training promising juniors is my duty."
Yuhi Shinku smiled faintly, then turned serious.
"But I should warn you now: training at the Jonin level will be far more intense than anything you've done before. It will be grueling and exhausting. It may even force you to rethink everything you know about fighting. Are you ready?"
Kawaki Aoba kept walking, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. His answer came without the slightest hesitation.
"I've been ready for this.
"No matter how hard it gets, I can endure it."
"Good."
Yuhi Shinku nodded slightly, his eyes full of expectation.
"I look forward to seeing a new Kawaki Aoba—one capable of taking on a Jonin head-on—as soon as possible."
They walked side by side, their steady footsteps pressing into the sand as they receded into the distance.
Far away, deep along the Sunagakure border, Baki stood atop a dune after his retreat. He looked back toward the Konoha border, the killing intent in his eyes still ice-cold.
"Kawaki Aoba..."
"I miscalculated when I let you survive today."
"But your talent, your resilience, and your resolve are all etched into my mind now."
"The next time we meet, I won't give you another chance to grow. I'll kill you myself and snuff out Konoha's rising star!"
The evening wind howled across the empty borderlands, sweeping sand into the air and carrying his