The training ground fell silent except for the sound of labored breathing. Nobue stood frozen, his pale eyes fixed on the ground as his shoulders trembled with internal conflict. His hands opened and closed repeatedly, the very foundation of his beliefs about Hyuga superiority cracking under the weight of their repeated failures.
The weight of their potential failure hung heavy in the air as Hikaru waited for Nobue's answer.
Seconds stretched into what felt like minutes. Hana shifted nervously beside them, while Hideaki watched from his position with obvious interest, making no move to hurry their decision.
Finally, Nobue's head lifted slowly. His jaw worked silently for a moment before he managed to speak, the words seeming to cost him physical effort.
"I..." he began, then stopped. His hands clenched into fists at his sides. "I've always..." He struggled with the words, pride warring with necessity. "This isn't how I was trained." His voice trailed off as he looked at Hikaru, then at Hana.
"But none of us are winning by ourselves," Hana said quietly, her usual enthusiasm replaced by gentle understanding.
Nobue's eyes closed briefly, and when they opened again, something had shifted in his expression. The rigid pride was still there, but it was tempered by reluctant acceptance.
"Ok...," he said finally, the single word dropping like a stone. "I will... trust you both this once."
Hikaru's breath escaped in a quiet rush of relief. "Thank you, Nobue-kun. I know that wasn't easy."
"Don't make me regret this," Nobue replied, but there was less hostility in his voice than before.
"Fifty minutes remaining!" Hideaki called out, his grin suggesting he was enjoying their team dynamics more than the actual combat.
This time, when they moved into position, the difference was immediate and dramatic. Nobue attacked with his usual move, but now his movements created genuine openings rather than seeking personal success. When Hikaru called for a position change, Nobue genuinely listened and stepped back so his teammate could take over.
Hana held back with her nin-ken pack as planned, her earlier frustration replaced by focused patience as she waited for the right moment.
Hikaru moved with enhanced reflexes, throwing two kunai at carefully calculated angles while forming rapid hand seals. A focused stream of compressed wind shot from his mouth toward the projectiles, accelerating them toward Hideaki's position.
But this time, Nobue didn't try to take advantage of the opening himself. Instead, he adjusted his assault to limit their sensei's movement options, creating the exact situation Hikaru had requested.
"Much better!" Hideaki acknowledged, deflecting Nobue's strike while sidestepping the wind-enhanced kunai. For the first time, his movements showed real effort as genuine coordination forced him to work harder.
Hana saw the opening and rushed forward, her claw techniques targeting Hideaki's left side. Her attack was perfectly timed with her teammates' efforts, arriving just as Hideaki's attention was split between multiple threats.
When Hikaru called out to switch positions, the transition was seamless. He dashed forward as Hana back off and Nobue stepped back to recover, their movements flowing like a practiced dance.
Hikaru feinted a direct punch, then smoothly transitioned into a low sweep. When Hideaki lifted his foot to avoid the attack, Hikaru immediately sprang upward into an inverted kick strike toward his sensei's head.
"Not bad!" Hideaki acknowledged, deflecting the kick with his elbow while stepping back. For the first time, his breathing showed slightly erratic.
Hikaru pressed his advantage, flowing between physical attacks with enhanced reflexes that allowed him to react instantly to Hideaki's counters. He ducked under swipes and immediately counter with a well-timed follow-up strikes.
When Hideaki caught Hikaru's wrist during a cross punch, Hikaru used the momentum to spin into a back kick that nearly connected with their sensei's ribs.
"Nobue-kun!" Hikaru called out as he stepped back.
Without hesitation, Nobue resumed his Gentle Fist attack. But this time, his techniques found better openings because Hikaru's unorthodox combinations had disrupted their sensei's defensive patterns.
"Hana-chan, now!"
The Inuzuka girl and her nin-ken brothers converged from multiple angles, their pack formation creating a complex web of threats that Hideaki had to address simultaneously.
The seamless transitions kept constant pressure on their sensei, preventing him from fully recovering between different fighting styles. Each teammate supported the others without competing for individual success.
"Thirty minutes remaining!" Hideaki announced, and for the first time, sweat beaded on his forehead.
Hikaru threw himself directly into the combined attacks alongside his teammates. He came in low while Nobue attacked high, their different fighting approaches creating a combination attack that required genuine effort to solve.
But Hikaru had been saving one technique for the crucial moment. As he closed distance, at the exact instant when Hideaki try to block Nobue's strike, Hikaru formed different hand seals with practiced speed.
"Magen: Narakumi no Jutsu!" (Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique)
For a brief moment, Hideaki's eyes widened as the illusion took hold, showing him visions designed to create fear and confusion. The genjutsu wasn't powerful enough to fully knock out a Jōnin, but it created a crucial window of distraction.
The unexpected mental attack, combined with Nobue's Gentle Fist strike from above and Hana's pack converging from multiple angles, created a situation that finally impressed their sensei.
Hikaru watched as Hideaki's expression shifted—whether from the genjutsu's effects or genuine surprise at their improved teamwork, he couldn't tell. But then their sensei smiled and deliberately brought his left hand forward from behind his back, using both hands to defend against their coordinated attack.
For a moment, the training ground fell silent except for heavy breathing from all participants.
"Both hands," Nobue observed with satisfaction, deactivating his Byakugan.
"You made me use both hands," Hideaki confirmed with a broad grin, lowering both arms from their combat positions. "Congratulations. You've proven you can work together when it matters."
The relief was immediate and overwhelming. Hana let out a whoop of excitement, pumping her fist in the air while the Haimaru brothers barked happily. Even Nobue allowed himself a small smile, his pale eyes showing genuine satisfaction with their shared victory.
Hikaru simply stood there for a moment, letting the reality sink in. They had actually done it.
"That was much better," Hideaki said, settling onto a nearby log and wiping sweat from his forehead. "Once you started actually working together instead of competing with each other, you became a genuine threat."
"So we're real genin now?" Hana asked eagerly.
"You are," Hideaki confirmed, pulling out a water bottle. "Though I'm not sending you on missions immediately. Your teamwork improved dramatically, but you need proper coordination training before facing real responsibilities."
"But first," he said, standing up with a grin, "let's make this official after a short rest."
After resting for a period, they made their way back to the administration building, where a Chūnin clerk prepared the necessary documentation. Hikaru let out a quiet breath of relief as the reality of their success finally sank in.
"Team 8," the clerk announced, stamping their documents with official seals. "Specialization: Tracking and Scouting. Jōnin instructor: Sarutobi Hideaki. Team members: Hyuga Nobue, Inuzuka Hana, Muranaka Hikaru."
"Team 8?" Hana asked, tilting her head curiously.
"That's right," Hideaki confirmed with a grin. "Although we were the latest team to form, the Hokage kept this number for us. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
They moved to the photography station where an elderly photographer positioned them carefully for their official team photo.
"Jōnin instructor in the center," he directed. "Genin in front, please. Try to look professional but not too serious—these photos will be in your permanent records."
Nobue stood with perfect posture, though his expression was less rigid than before. Hana grinned widely, one hand resting on a Haimaru brother's head. Hikaru settled between them, his earlier nervousness replaced by genuine confidence.
"Everyone ready?" the photographer asked. "On three... one, two..."
The flash captured Team 8's first official moment together. Hikaru blinked away the spots in his vision as satisfaction settled over him.
"Now we're officially Team 8," Hideaki said as they received their copies. "You're no longer academy students—you're full genin of Konohagakure."
All three genin straightened as the weight of those words settled over them. They were real shinobi now, with all the responsibilities that entailed.
"How about we celebrate?" Hideaki suggested as they left the building. "I know a good ramen place."
"Ramen Ichiraku?" Hikaru asked hopefully.
"Yep, same place," Hideaki said with a knowing smile. "Same place where we had our first conversation about family respect, if I recall correctly."
"I've heard the food there is amazing!" Hana said excitedly. "And the owner's supposed to be really nice to everyone."
The walk to Ichiraku was relaxed and comfortable, a stark contrast to their earlier tension. They chatted easily about the test, their techniques, and what training might be like going forward.
"Welcome!" Teuchi called out cheerfully as they approached the ramen stand. "Oh, Hideiki-san! Good to see you again. And you brought your team!"
"Team 8's first meal together," Hideaki announced as they settled onto the stools. "What do you recommend?"
As they waited for their order, the atmosphere grew even more relaxed. Hana shared funny stories about the Haimaru brothers' antics, while Nobue occasionally added dry comments that were surprisingly funny. Hikaru found himself laughing more than he had in weeks.
"You know," Nobue said quietly to Hikaru as they ate, "your strategy was... not bad."
Coming from a Hyuga, it was about as close to an acknowledgment of competence as Hikaru was likely to get.
"We all did well," Hikaru said with a small smile. "That's what teamwork means."
Nobue nodded slowly, as if the concept was still settling in his mind.
During their meal, Hana's head turned toward the street as a group of older genin walked past, their conversation drifting over.
"—the first round of the Chūnin Exams starts tomorrow—"
"—wonder which teams will make it to the finals—"
Hana's eyes lit up with excitement. "Think we'll get to compete, Hideaki-sensei?" she asked eagerly.
Hideaki shook his head while slurping his noodles. "Not yet. Those exams are brutal—teams need months of preparation. Focus on your basics first. You just passed the test, don't think too far ahead."
Nobue's jaw tightened slightly as he nodded along.
Hikaru's shoulders relaxed with relief, knowing their current skills wouldn't qualify for something that dangerous. The Chūnin Exams were a level of challenge they definitely weren't ready for yet.
"Besides," Hideaki added with a grin, "you three have plenty to learn about working together before taking on anything that serious. Let's master the basics first."
Nobue was quiet for a long moment, his chopsticks moving carefully through his ramen. Finally, he spoke without looking up. "Today was... different than I expected."
He paused, seeming to weigh his words carefully. "Perhaps there is some value to... coordinated tactics."
"See?" Hana said cheerfully, nudging him with her elbow. "Teamwork isn't so bad after all."
Nobue's lips twitched in what might have been the beginning of a smile. "Perhaps not."
As they finished their ramen and prepared to leave, Hikaru looked around at his new teammates and sensei. The day had started with uncertainty and fear, but it was ending with something promising—the beginnings of what might become genuine friendship.
"Meet at Training Ground Eight tomorrow morning," Hideaki said as they parted ways. "We'll start working on proper coordination exercises. And remember—you're a team now. That means you look out for each other, on and off missions."
"Yes, sensei," all three replied in unison.
Walking home through the village streets, Hikaru couldn't help but smile. Team 8 was real, officially formed and registered. More importantly, they had proven they could work together when it mattered most.
Maybe this shinobi life wouldn't be so difficult after all, as long as he had teammates he could trust—and who were learning to trust him in return.