Without moving

Hinata watched Toru Kujyo dart through the woods like a phantom, his speed staggering. His target was clear-he was going straight for Kurenai Yuhi.

Suddenly, Hinata noticed something unusual in Toru Kujyo's movements, as though he had discovered something. His fingers shifted slightly, making a discreet gesture.

Hinata understood at once. She gestured toward Shino, then vanished from her spot in a flash. Shino received the signal too, and his swarm immediately sprang into action, splitting into several groups and flying off in different directions.

In the woods, Toru Kujyo had already caught up with Kurenai Yuhi. Kunai in hand, he attacked without hesitation.

"Just what I wanted!" Kurenai Yuhi drew her own kunai to meet him.

The crisp clang of metal echoed through the trees. Toru Kujyo's assault came like a raging storm, every strike aimed at a vital point, forcing Kurenai Yuhi to give her defense everything she had.

This kid's taijutsu is this strong too? Kurenai Yuhi was secretly shocked, but her hands never slowed as her kunai clashed fiercely with Toru Kujyo's.

As the two fought, Kurenai Yuhi suddenly sensed something amiss. Her gaze snapped to Toru Kujyo's eyes, and she found not the slightest sign that he had been affected by genjutsu!

"That's impossible!" Kurenai Yuhi's expression changed dramatically. "I cast genjutsu on him the instant we exchanged blows!"

While she was still reeling, the Toru Kujyo before her suddenly gave an eerie smile. Then, with a pop, he vanished in a puff of white smoke.

"A Shadow Clone?!"

Before Kurenai Yuhi could react, three enormous fire dragons lunged at her from three different directions!

"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"

Roaring flames lit up the entire forest. The three fire dragons bared their fangs and claws as they swept in around Kurenai Yuhi. Fire Release on this scale was far beyond the capabilities of an ordinary genin!

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

Kurenai Yuhi rapidly formed hand seals and spat out a torrent of water, forming a wall around herself. The fire dragons slammed into it with a deafening hiss, and vast clouds of steam instantly spread, shrouding the entire battlefield in white mist.

Using the steam as cover, Kurenai Yuhi quickly escaped the danger zone. Just then, however, she heard the clear jingle of bells.

"What?!"

When the steam cleared, Kurenai Yuhi was astonished to find Toru Kujyo, Hinata, and Shino standing in a clearing nearby. In Toru Kujyo's hand, three silver bells were swaying.

"Sensei," Toru Kujyo asked with a smile, "did we pass?"

Kurenai Yuhi froze for a moment, then shook her head with a rueful smile. "You three really surprised me. I never imagined genin fresh out of the Academy would have this kind of strength and teamwork."

She walked over to them and planted her hands on her hips, appreciation shining in her eyes. "Yes, you passed. And in the most impressive way I've ever seen."

Toru Kujyo handed the bells back to Kurenai Yuhi and said modestly, "We didn't exactly win fair and square. You told us yesterday that you specialized in genjutsu, giving us plenty of time to prepare. Besides, we knew nothing about you, while you knew our files inside out. That actually gave us an advantage in terms of information."

He paused, a sly gleam passing through his eyes. "And you were holding back too, weren't you, Sensei? If you'd really gone all out, even the three of us together wouldn't have stood a chance."

Hinata and Shino both looked surprised at Toru Kujyo's words. Neither had expected him to lay bare the true nature of the test so bluntly.

Kurenai Yuhi was taken aback at first, then burst into hearty laughter. "What a clever kid! No wonder you were the top graduate two years running."

She reached out and ruffled Toru Kujyo's hair, easing the awkwardness. "Come on. To celebrate Team 8's official formation, I'm treating you all to a feast!"

The three followed Kurenai Yuhi along the road back to the village. She suddenly turned around and asked curiously, "By the way, Toru, how did your Shadow Clone break through my genjutsu? That was an advanced genjutsu that even jonin have trouble detecting."

So that was the real reason behind her earlier shock.

Toru Kujyo blinked and gave her a mysterious smile. "That's my own special secret, Sensei."

He turned, winked at Hinata, and pulled a face, making her cheeks flush crimson.

"Oh, already learning to keep people guessing at your age?" Kurenai Yuhi said, pretending to be annoyed, though her opinion of Toru Kujyo rose even higher.

His immense chakra reserves, masterful Fire Release Ninjutsu, mature personality, and excellent instincts as a ninja had all made Kurenai Yuhi see Toru Kujyo in a new light. No wonder he had held the top spot for two consecutive years. Talent like his truly was rare.

What Kurenai Yuhi did not know was that Toru Kujyo could ignore her genjutsu because of the powerful Yin Release chakra within him and his special ability to perform techniques without hand seals. For now, he had no intention of telling anyone those secrets.

The next day was bright and sunny. Unsurprisingly, Team 8's first mission was D-rank.

Their mission site was an artificial irrigation channel at the edge of the village. Days of fallen leaves, along with household rubbish, had obstructed the water flow, and it needed cleaning.

"All right, everyone, here's Team 8's first mission: cleaning the ditch!" Kurenai Yuhi clapped her hands, trying to liven up the mood. The three kids behind her wore different expressions.

Shino Aburame was silent as ever, merely adjusting his sunglasses slightly. Toru Kujyo remained calm, seemingly unsurprised by the mission. Hinata, meanwhile, looked a little nervous, her small hands fidgeting with the hem of her jacket.

"This kind of mission..." A familiar complaint came from nearby. Naruto Uzumaki was cleaning another stretch of the channel with the members of Team 7, his face full of reluctance and his clothes covered in mud. "This isn't work a ninja should be doing! I want tougher missions!"

Sakura Haruno punched Naruto on the head. "Shut up, Naruto! Hurry up and get to work!"

Sasuke stood off to one side with a cool expression, deftly hooking debris out of the water with his kunai. His graceful movements were utterly out of place in their surroundings.

Kurenai Yuhi looked at her own team and cleared her throat. "It may be a D-rank mission, but it's still important work for the village. Now, let's get started!"

She had expected to see the three kids fumbling around, or at least needing some advice on how to clean efficiently. For instance, she had already prepared an explanation of how to channel chakra into the soles of their feet so they could stand on the water while cleaning, or climb the steep walls of the channel.

Reality, however, left her dumbfounded.

Toru Kujyo walked straight to the edge of the channel, gathered a little chakra in his feet, and stepped lightly onto the water. His movements were fluid and effortless, as though he were strolling on level ground. His hands swiftly formed seals. "Wind Release: Minor Breakthrough!" A gentle whirlwind swept up the leaves and rubbish floating on the water, blowing them precisely onto the bank.