Chapter 99: Red Eyes, White Eyes, and a Medic!
Third Training Ground.
Nara Keisuke reviewed the ninja profile sheets in his hand while sizing up the three subordinates assigned to him.
A genius youth from the Uchiha, a main family girl from the Hyūga, and a commoner-born logistics soldier. Paired with him, a newly promoted Special Jonin from a ninja clan... It was truly a rather novel team composition.
"First time meeting you all."
Keisuke flicked the profile sheets in his hand. The three thin sheets of paper flew from his palm like arrows released from a bow, accurately shooting towards each team member. "Let's all start with a simple self-introduction. Name, age, contact information, what you're good at, your hobbies, your dreams in life, and so on. For example..."
Before his three subordinates could speak, Keisuke cleared his throat and took the lead in reciting the holy scripture.
"My name is Nara Keisuke. I'm 13 years old. I live in the Kikyo Castle area in the northwest of Konoha Village, unmarried. I don't smoke, I don't drink, I'm not obsessed with winning or losing, I don't dwell on troubles, and I desire a peaceful and quiet life. As for my dream in life... probably to be with the people I like and spend my life in peace and happiness."
The squad leader's scripture recitation ended. Uchiha Shisui, Hyūga Retsu, and Shizune silently exchanged glances. In the end, it was "gentlemen first."
"Nara—no, Captain Nara." Uchiha Shisui took a step forward, first nodding to Keisuke, then looking at the other two teammates. "My name is Uchiha Shisui, 13 years old. I live in the Uchiha settlement in the center of the village, um... unmarried. I'm relatively good at ninjutsu and genjutsu, and I consider my use of ninja tools to be passable. As for hobbies... does fishing and grilling fish count? If not, then it's raising crows."
At the end, Shisui took a deep breath and said with great solemnity, "My dream is to protect the village and not let anyone destroy it!"
Born into the Uchiha clan, yet inheriting the Will of Fire... Nara Keisuke gave a polite round of applause. Uchiha Shisui rubbed his dango nose, a little embarrassed.
The remaining two female teammates looked at each other, neither speaking first. Keisuke looked at them and gestured to the more familiar Shizune. "Shizune, you go first."
Keisuke and Shizune were indeed more familiar. This didn't refer to the kind of spiritual familiarity where they "had never met but had long known each other in spirit." Rather, it was because Keisuke had spent the past few months learning by Tsunade's side, and had met Shizune, who was also receiving Tsunade's guidance, on many occasions. The two would even occasionally discuss their progress in medical ninjutsu.
"Understood." Shizune looked at Keisuke, who had invited her, nodded, and said softly, "My name is Shizune, 12 years old. I live near the Konoha Hospital, um... unmarried. I'm good at medical ninjutsu and am currently self-studying the development of poisons. My favorite thing to do is read history books in Konoha's ancient archives. My dream is to travel the world and visit all the cultural ruins."
Although Shizune's dream was not quite what he had expected, Keisuke still continued to applaud as a sign of encouragement.
All eyes turned to the last person. Uchiha Shisui was Keisuke's former classmate. Shizune was his "nodding acquaintance." The relationship between the three was not very close, but they were at least familiar with each other. Keisuke looked at the last "true stranger."
White eyes, white skin, white clothes. Her whole person looked like a snow woman who had walked out of a storybook illustration.
"Hyūga Retsu, 11 years old, skilled in the Gentle Fist," the girl said, her tone cool and her introduction concise. "Unmarried."
Keisuke and the others looked at this last team member in silence, for a moment not knowing what to say.
"Forget it, that counts as a self-introduction, I suppose." Keisuke rubbed his head. Among his three subordinates, there was, after all, one who would be more difficult to handle. He could only hope that she was just a person of few words, and not some other problem...
However, Keisuke was relatively satisfied with the ability types of his three subordinates.
Uchiha Shisui's ninjutsu and genjutsu.
Hyūga Retsu's taijutsu and sensory perception.
Shizune's medical and logistical support.
Plus Keisuke's own secret techniques.
The team's ability combination could be called comprehensive, with no blind spots.
"The self-introductions end here. Now for the next part." Keisuke stretched, loosening his muscles and bones. "In the profile sheets Lord Hokage gave me, all three of you have already passed the Chunin Exams. A Chunin is already sufficient to take on the duties of a regular squad leader. For the Third Hokage to gather us in one team clearly shows that he has high hopes for this squad."
Giving the three team members some time to digest, Keisuke continued, "In my view, a captain's duty is first to protect his subordinates, and second to complete the mission. From any angle, I need to have a basic understanding of your approximate strength. So now, one-on-one, let me see your skill level. Uchiha Shisui!"
"Yes!" Shisui stepped forward. The other two team members timely retreated.
"Let me see if you've made any progress during this time." Keisuke beckoned to Shisui, signaling for him to attack first. Although they had made a promise before, due to the sudden war, Shisui had been constantly carrying out missions, and their subsequent challenge spar had been left unresolved. This could be considered their second spar.
"No problem, Captain!" The scene of his last challenge against Keisuke flashed through Shisui's mind, and his whole person rapidly retreated. His scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan instantly activated. Three shuriken that had appeared in his hand at some point immediately flew out, whistling towards Keisuke's position.
"Not opening with the Great Fireball Technique?" Keisuke's hand swept past his waist, and as smooth as flowing water, he drew the ninja tool [Little Jizō] into his hand. As his arm swung, the lacquer-black blade drew several simple, regular lines in the air. The movements were concise and clean, without a single bit of wasted energy.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The blade of [Little Jizō] and the shuriken collided. Three crisp sounds of metal clashing rang out at almost the same time, and the latter were knocked away.
[B-rank Ninja Combat Mission Detected!]
[B-rank Mission: Squad Member]
[Mission Content: Defeat/Kill Uchiha Shisui]
[Mission Reward: B-rank Shinobi Secret Scroll]
'Still a B-rank mission? It seems Shisui's progress hasn't been as fast as I thought...'
Keisuke held [Little Jizō] and stood silently in place, waiting for Shisui's next attack. The three black tomoe spun ceaselessly in the scarlet pupils, the powerful insight of the Sharingan continuously watching the opponent's every move.
'A sword?' Shisui was slightly taken aback by Keisuke's action of drawing a sword to counter. 'It's only been a few months. Has the Captain... added swordsmanship to his repertoire of abilities?'
Shisui was also a skilled swordsman. But facing the Nara clan's shadow techniques, he really did not want to engage in close-quarters combat with the other.
His ten fingers danced rapidly. Shisui molded and transformed his chakra. After taking a deep breath, he spewed out the fire-nature chakra from within his body. "Great Fireball Technique!"
Whoosh—
The scorching fireball was released by Shisui. The bright light illuminated the earth, and the searing temperature caused the air to slightly distort.
"Shisui, I'm already familiar with your Fire Release." Keisuke's voice came from behind the scorching fireball. But the next moment, that voice sounded as if it were right next to his ear. "I hope you can show me something new."
A sense of alarm suddenly arose in Shisui's heart. He subconsciously drew the kodachi from his back, his waist twisting sharply. The snow-white blade of the ninja sword, following his movement, spun out a full, crescent-moon-like trajectory in the air.
A lacquer-black blade appeared out of nowhere, intercepting the attack path of this slash.
Clang!
Another crisp, short sound of collision rang out. A sprinkle of red sparks exploded from the collision point of the two swords, dancing in the air. The snow-white blade reflected Shisui's slightly contracted scarlet Sharingan, and an emotion of shock that could not be concealed. He actually hadn't noticed Keisuke's swift approach in the first instance... When did the other's movement speed become so fast...
'Not good! Shadow Secret Techniques!'
Shisui suddenly reacted, wanting to quickly get away from Keisuke's shadow. But unexpectedly, Keisuke did not use this close-range opportunity to restrain him with [Shadow Secret Techniques]. His arm exerted a light force, and his B-rank [Strength] attribute, following the blade of [Little Jizō], spread and was transmitted to the other weapon.
Feeling the astonishing force from the kodachi, Shisui gritted his teeth and used the force to flicker backward and retreat.
"Getting distracted in the middle of a battle. Is this the genius of the Uchiha clan?" Keisuke flipped his wrist, and [Little Jizō] drew a brilliant flourish in the air. "Shisui, if I had used a [Shadow Secret Technique] just now, you would have died once already."
"My apologies! Captain!" Shisui returned the kodachi to the scabbard on his back, and his hands once again formed hand signs. His whole person split into two, one on the left and one on the right, and they ran in a circle around Keisuke.
Keisuke sized up the two Shisuis. His eyes suddenly blurred, and he saw the opponent go from one to two, and then from two to four. Before Shisui had completely closed in, his number had already surged to more than a dozen.
'Is this... the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique?' Keisuke narrowed his eyes. 'Or is it a special Body Flicker Technique that Shisui developed himself?'
The nearest Uchiha Shisui suddenly accelerated, rushing in front of Keisuke. His body leaped high into the air, and he shot out a flying kick.
Keisuke unhurriedly raised his left hand and blocked the other's powerful, charged kick.
Bang!
Fist and foot collided, producing a solid, dull sound.
'It's a solid body?' A thought flashed through Keisuke's mind. But before he could launch a counter-attack, another Uchiha Shisui came slashing with his sword. [Little Jizō] was drawn to block, and once again, it collided with Shisui's kodachi.
Clang!
A crisp and pleasant sound of metal clashing erupted. The second Uchiha Shisui who had attacked was also a solid body!
(End of Chapter)
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