In the Konoha Forest, near the gate of the Third Training Ground, three children sat together, staring in the direction of the village. They had already been waiting for over an hour.
"Rin, we've been waiting forever! This guy still isn't here!" Obito groaned impatiently.
Rin puffed out her cheeks and nodded. "Yeah, he's really unreliable!"
Kakashi gave Obito a sidelong glance. "More unreliable than you? You're late every single day."
Obito's face twisted in frustration. "What was that, Kakashi?!"
Before the bickering could escalate, a familiar voice cut in, light and cheerful.
"Oh? You all seem full of energy today."
Ryoma appeared with a smile, clearly in a good mood.
The three of them stiffened immediately at his grin.
"G-good morning, sensei!" they stammered in unison.
"Good, good. You look lively—that's what I like to see. Let's head inside."
But in their hearts, all three couldn't help but mutter the same complaint: This teacher feels way too unreliable…
Soon after, at the training ground, Ryoma stood before Kakashi, Obito, and Rin, explaining the rules.
"So all we need to do is grab the bells from you, sensei, right? That means we pass?" Kakashi asked.
Ryoma nodded. "That's right. Whoever performs the worst won't get any lunch."
"Ehh?!" Obito yelped, feeling a bad premonition rise in his chest.
"You've got two hours," Ryoma continued calmly. "So… let's begin."
The words had barely left his mouth before a sharp whistle cut through the air—Kakashi had already hurled a kunai straight at him!
Ryoma snatched the weapon out of the air with one hand, smiling. "Not bad."
But Kakashi was already behind him, blade poised to strike.
Obito froze in place, trembling slightly, while Rin covered her mouth in shock.
In the next instant, Ryoma vanished and reappeared behind Kakashi.
"Body Flicker?!" Kakashi gasped, eyes widening.
Before he could react, Ryoma seized him by the ankle and flipped him upside down.
Kakashi didn't give up—he reached for the bell at Ryoma's waist with one hand, while thrusting his kunai forward with the other.
"Not bad. Don't be afraid to take risks," Ryoma said lightly, twisting his head aside to dodge the strike before tossing Kakashi away like a ragdoll.
"Ugh!"
Kakashi crashed straight into Obito, sending the two of them tumbling across the dirt.
Ryoma folded his arms, watching them with a faint smirk. "Tell me—what exactly is a ninja? Because right now, you two look more like cheerleaders than fighters. Are you planning to just sit back and clap for each other?"
Rin blinked at his words before realization struck her. "Kakashi, Obito—we can't fight alone. We have to work together!"
Ryoma gave a satisfied nod. "Exactly. Girls really are sharper sometimes."
Rin's cheeks flushed at the unexpected praise, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Kakashi stood, dusting himself off in silence.
Obito pouted, rubbing his bruises. "But sensei, there are only two bells. How are we supposed to work together when one of us is guaranteed to lose?"
"That just means," Rin said firmly, "we'll share what we have. If one of us fails, then we all share it together!"
Ryoma's eyes softened. He could see it clearly now—Rin was the heart of this team, the one holding them together.
Kakashi had talent and arrogance, always trying to go it alone.
Obito had spirit, but lacked confidence, quick to complain instead of finding solutions.
Only Rin was thinking of the team as a whole.
"Alright then," Ryoma said, tucking the bells away again. "Come at me. I won't use ninjutsu—just try and take them."
Two hours later, Obito collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
"Sensei… you're nothing but taijutsu! You didn't even use ninjutsu once!" he groaned.
Not once in those two hours had they even managed to touch the bells.
Kakashi lay on his back, bruised but still glaring with determination, before being kicked to the ground yet again.
"Idiot…" he muttered, dragging himself upright.
Obito suddenly flared up.
"Did I say something wrong?! He's Senju Ryoma—the successor of the First Hokage's bloodline! Wasn't the First Hokage famous for taijutsu too? Are you trying to be funny?"
Kakashi's sharp words left Obito stunned.
Wait, what?
Senju… Ryoma?
Our teacher is that amazing?!
Rin, who came from a civilian family and had never known Ryoma's true background, stared at him in awe. At the mention of the First Hokage, the "God of Shinobi" in every villager's heart, her eyes filled with admiration.
Ryoma gave an exasperated laugh. "Hold it. My name is Ryoma—not Senju."
Kakashi blinked, bewildered. "Sensei… you're not from the Senju clan?"
Ryoma chuckled.
"Why worry about things like that? Just call me 'Sensei Ryoma.' That's enough."
But just as he spoke, another Kakashi appeared silently behind him.
A clone!
Both Rin and Obito brightened—maybe this time!
Kakashi reached for the bell, but in the next instant, the Kakashi standing beside them dispersed into smoke.
The real Kakashi was face-first in the dirt, pinned effortlessly by Ryoma.
"When did you—?!"
Kakashi gasped, realizing too late.
Ryoma loosened his hold and patted his shoulder with a smile. "Impressive. Already skilled with clones at your age. Remember this: a shinobi's strength doesn't lie only in power. As a team, you can minimize casualties on real missions… and in war."
His tone grew more serious.
"Strength matters. But teamwork makes one plus one greater than two. Your combined abilities can turn the tide of battle. Ignore it, and your weaknesses will be the enemy's way in."
He gestured. Roots burst suddenly from the ground beneath the three.
"Watch out!" Kakashi shouted, leaping back immediately.
Rin reacted fast, retreating too.
But Obito froze, confusion all over his face.
"Huh—?!"
A root coiled around him, dragging him straight to Ryoma's feet.
"Wahhh!"
Ryoma crouched down, flicked Obito's forehead lightly, and grinned.
"See? This… is the team's weak link."
"Flaws can be fatal. Imagine this—your squad is on a mission. Obito carries vital intel. He gets captured. The enemy says: reveal your secrets… or he dies."
"W-what?!" Obito spluttered, cheeks red with shame.
Kakashi rolled his eyes. "Hopeless."
Ryoma's smile faded into something heavier.
"I'm making an analogy. This is the reality of a shinobi's path. You'll face choices like these. Do you sacrifice one comrade to protect the village? Or do you abandon the mission for the sake of your friend, and in doing so, allow greater losses?"
Obito's lips trembled. "T-That's unfair! You took me off guard—and you said you wouldn't use ninjutsu, but you did!"
Ryoma's expression turned grave. "Fair? There is no fairness on the battlefield. Only survivors… and dead heroes."
His voice cut sharper with each word.
"You've seen the Hero's Stone outside the village, haven't you? Those names etched in stone—they were all once shinobi like you. Do you think they died whining, 'It's not fair'? Do you think the enemy held back just because the mission intel said they were weaker?"
The weight of his words sank into them. Rin's fists clenched. Kakashi's eyes darkened. Even Obito lowered his head.
Ryoma fixed his gaze on Obito.
"If you don't want to be a burden, train harder. Stop daydreaming about unlocking your Sharingan and start putting in the work."
"If others train five hours, you train ten. If they train ten, you train twenty. You don't have the luxury to waste time—your talent alone won't carry you."
"War is coming. And it will be far crueler than you imagine."
His words struck like a hammer, and before Obito knew it, tears welled in his eyes.
He sniffled, rubbing at them furiously.
"T-Tch… You scold me like that… of course I'd cry…"
Ryoma watched him quietly, a wry smile tugging at his lips.
Crying, huh? Maybe that's not the worst response.