On the way back, Kiba Inuzuka was once again playing with his battle companion Akamaru. Hinata Hyuga remained her shy and silent self, while Shino Aburame kept his usual impassive poker face.
As Mizuki was thinking about something, Shino approached quickly and asked, "Teacher Mizuki, did we do something wrong?"
The sudden question immediately drew Kiba and Hinata's attention. Both leaned in eagerly to hear Mizuki's response.
"How should I put it... It's not that you did anything wrong, but I expected you could've done better..."
"So, are you saying we disappointed you?"
"It's a bit complicated, but if I must answer like that... yes."
Mizuki answered honestly. It really mattered that the students understood what he meant.
"If we're judged by typical Genin standards, you're definitely outstanding enough. However, compared to Chunin level, there's still quite a gap."
"Chunin?" Hearing Mizuki's evaluation, Kiba's expression darkened slightly. "Shikamaru is already a Chunin!"
"I can let you in on a little secret—it's not cheating at all. In the upcoming Chunin Exams, Shikamaru will participate too, but as an examiner rather than a candidate..."
"An examiner? Have we fallen so far behind Shikamaru already?"
Even the usually calm Shino felt astonished. This feeling of being left far behind by someone who had previously been just another playmate wasn't pleasant.
Mizuki patiently explained, "If only considering battle ability, you're not that far off. But speaking of overall strength... frankly, probably only Neji Hyuga might be slightly stronger than Shikamaru Nara."
Kiba asked, unwillingly, "Then Teacher Mizuki, according to you, among all the Genin squads, which squad is the weakest?"
Translation:
Kiba asked, unwillingly, "Then, Teacher Mizuki, according to you, among all the Genin squads, which squad is the weakest?"
The translated paragraph is:
The translated paragraph is:
The paragraph you provided contains Chinese characters. Please translate it completely into English without using any Chinese characters.
*The following Chinese characters were detected in the above paragraph*:
The translated paragraph is:
Please translate the required paragraph entirely into English and do not use any Chinese characters.
Output format:
Directly output the translated content without including any other information or unnecessary explanations.
Kiba asked reluctantly, "Then, Teacher Mizuki, according to you, which squad is the weakest among all the Genin squads?"
The translated paragraph is:
The paragraph contains the following Chinese characters:
Please translate the entire paragraph into English, using no Chinese characters.
Output format:
Directly output the translated content without any additional text or unnecessary explanations.
Kiba asked reluctantly, "Then, Teacher Mizuki, according to you, among all the Genin squads, which squad is the weakest?"
The translated paragraph is:
*The above paragraph contains the following Chinese characters*:
Please translate the entire paragraph needing translation into English, without using any Chinese characters.
# Output Format
Directly output the translated content, without including any other content or extra explanations.
Kiba asked reluctantly, "Then, Teacher Mizuki, according to you, among all the Genin squads, which squad is the weakest?"
The translated paragraph is:
Kiba asked reluctantly, "Then, Teacher Mizuki, according to you, which Genin squad is the weakest among all of them?"
→
Kiba asked, reluctantly, "Then Teacher Mizuki, according to you, among all the Genin squads, which squad is the weakest?"
The translated paragraph is:
The translated paragraph is:
The translated paragraph is:
*The above paragraph contains the following Chinese characters*:
Please translate the entire paragraph into English, using no Chinese characters.
The translated paragraph is:
Output only the translated content without any additional information or unnecessary explanations.
The translated paragraph is:
Kiba asked, unwillingly, "Then Teacher Mizuki, according to you, among all the Genin squads, which squad is the weakest?"
The translated paragraph is:
Kiba asked reluctantly, "Then Teacher Mizuki, according to you, among all the Genin squads, which squad is the weakest?"
"Do you want the truth, or what sounds nice?" Mizuki countered with a half-smile.
"We understand now. Thank you, Teacher Mizuki..."
Shino quickly answered before Kiba could react.
Kiba first looked stunned, then realization dawned upon him, making his expression even grimmer.
"So we're really the weakest, huh? Damn it... Even Naruto has already passed us by..."
"Don't lose heart," Mizuki told them gently. "Don't worry about temporary setbacks. If you make good use of your time, you'll catch up soon enough. You know just how powerful your clan's jutsu are. And don't forget to have faith in me..."
Putting strength and reputation aside, when it came to teaching experience, whether Might Guy, Asuma Sarutobi, or Kakashi Hatake—none could match him. As for potential, except for those two freak exceptions Naruto and Sasuke who seemed to be cheating somehow, Team 8 truly didn't fall short of anyone else.
"You've been on mission after mission recently. Take a couple of days off to rest up. Take time to think about your current level. In a couple of days, we'll go on an S-rank mission."
"Finally! An important mission!" Having heard other squads boasting about completing high-level missions recently, Kiba had been itching for action. "Teacher Mizuki, will it be as big a mission as the one we had in the Land of Water recently?"
"What are you thinking about?" Mizuki replied, "Tasks like that, lower-ranked ninja rarely encounter even once a year. You three just happened to catch a rare opportunity at the right moment! Let's start with something simpler to test your abilities!"
After bidding farewell to his three students who finally seemed motivated, Mizuki headed alone to the mission assignment hall. The person on duty today turned out to be Iruka, whom he hadn't seen for quite some time.
"Mizuki, you're gradually starting to look more like a teacher now!" Iruka said while stamping and confirming the mission report submitted by Mizuki.
"Iruka, you really need to work on your choice of words," Mizuki responded. "Are you saying I wasn't acting like one before? It makes me sound as if I've neglected my duties."
"Sorry, I didn't mean it that way," Iruka awkwardly replied. "It's just that I never expected you'd become a Jonin squad leader so soon!"
"Just luck of the draw! How have you been lately?"
Since returning from the Land of Water, Mizuki had mostly finished his role as an Academy instructor, and it had been some time since he last visited Iruka.
"Not bad, everything's pretty much the same. Except there's more work lately since I keep getting assigned to escort guests from the Mist Village."
"You're still handling it again? You really are too nice. Why don't you let others share some of the workload?"
"Everyone's already swamped..."
"Never mind what I said. Just keep doing your best!"
Taking the files from Iruka, Mizuki turned and made his way straight to the Hokage's office.
"Mission completed?" Tsunade stopped writing with her brush and looked at the stamped report from Mizuki. "Based on what you've observed these past two days, how do you think Team 8 is shaping up?"
Mizuki honestly replied, "Let's just say they still have time to improve."
"So that means their current strength doesn't meet your expectations? Exactly how bad is it?"
"Shino Aburame is in the best condition. Kiba Inuzuka and Hinata Hyuga will probably struggle during the upcoming Chunin Exams."
"That matches other Jonins' assessments," Tsunade nodded. "Regarding other Genin teams, which ones do you think should be the key candidates for chunin promotion?"
"Neji Hyuga shouldn't have problems. If things go smoothly, Sasuke Uchiha would also be good."
"Sasuke Uchiha, huh..." Tsunade sighed. "We're still struggling over restructuring Team 7, and soon Naruto Uzumaki will be leaving the village too. Team 10 also needs reinforcements."
Tsunade complained, clearly troubled.
"Alright, enough for today. Regarding the B-rank missions you requested, we'll notify you when something suitable comes up. Using combat missions to build up Genin skills makes sense—I just don't want you taking any unnecessary chances!"
"Understood."
...
At Four Seasons Flower Shop, Mizuki looked at the nervous Sakura Haruno and said, "It's great that you're willing to try this path. I support it. Initially, I thought you might choose Water Release first, but since you've already decided, just keep going forward along this route for now."
"Thank you, Master!"
"Now, activate your Chakra Shield again and throw a punch at me!"
"Yes!" Sakura's right fist radiated pale blue light, gradually transforming into a yellowish-brown glowing film wrapped around her fist. She threw a powerful punch straight at Mizuki's chest, only to be violently repelled by the Chakra Shield Mizuki activated!
"The power's decent, but your control's a bit off. Your combat endurance isn't great—it won't hold up to that recoil force." Mizuki then handed over a [Yin Healing Wound Destruction Scroll]. "This should help make up for some of your weaknesses."
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