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***
"Shinku Yuhi, I think I've heard Dad mention that name!"
Izumi Uchiha said, her eyes widening slightly in surprise.
"Yes, during the last Ninja World War, this Shinku Yuhi senior used Genjutsu to disrupt the leader of the Kumogakure army, leading to Konohagakure's victory,"
Itachi Uchiha told Izumi.
He had long suspected that Shinku Yuhi would be the jōnin sensei for Izumi's team.
While Izumi's two teammates, Mitsumi Inoue and Ken Ishida, had relatively low overall skills, their chakra manipulation was among the top five in their class.
Furthermore, since Izumi was from the Uchiha clan, it was clear that the Fourth Hokage intended for Shinku Yuhi to train all three genin on this team to be Genjutsu specialists.
"So impressive!"
Although Izumi excelled academically, she had yet to fully grasp the details of the battles during the last Ninja World War.
Although Shinku Yuhi had made significant contributions during the war, Konohagakure's Yellow Flash was so renowned that the rest of the village paid less attention to the others.
"Hehe," Itachi chuckled inwardly.
Izumi and the others probably didn't realize yet that Shinku Yuhi's role as a jōnin instructor wasn't exactly a good thing for them right now.
After the graduation exams, it wasn't guaranteed that these students would become ninjas.
Graduation was just the beginning.
"Then who will Itachi's jōnin instructor be?" Izumi murmured.
Itachi was actually somewhat curious about his jōnin sensei.
The Fourth Hokage knew his true strength.
While Minato didn't know Itachi's current strength, it was clear that an ordinary jōnin wouldn't be able to serve as his teacher.
"The final group, Shikaku Nara."
"It turns out to be him?"
Itachi was startled.
Although Shikaku was one of the possibilities he had in mind, knowing that he would be the jōnin instructor for the next few days was still a huge surprise.
Because back when he was in the ANBU, once when Itachi was carrying out a mission assigned by the Hokage, Shikaku Nara was the commander.
The man's plan of action was flawless, his calculations accounting for every enemy move.
Shikaku had left a deep impression on Itachi during that operation, but in terms of strategy, his wisdom surpassed even the Hokage's.
Itachi felt inferior.
Shikaku's words would undoubtedly see through some of his disguises.
However, Itachi wasn't overly worried.
Since the Fourth Hokage had chosen this division, he would naturally reveal some of the details to Shikaku.
Minato had told Itachi that the Third Hokage had long observed Itachi's deliberate concealment of his abilities.
Now, Itachi understood why Shinichi Hattori was in the same class with him.
Then, Kanhara Junpei left the classroom.
Shortly after, the jōnin instructors from each class began to arrive to take their students.
Shikaku Nara approached, along with a middle-aged man with black hair and red eyes, dressed in standard Konohagakure ninja attire.
"Senior, please go first,"
Shikaku said, hands in his pockets, standing still, his gaze fixed on Itachi.
Itachi nodded respectfully.
"Do you already know who I am?"
Shikaku thought to himself, then turned his attention to the other two students in his class.
"Izumi Uchiha, Mitsumi Inoue, Ken Ishida, I'm your jōnin instructor. Follow me," Shinku Yuhi said softly, appearing very kind.
"Then I'll be leaving,"
Izumi smiled at Itachi, then left her seat and left the classroom with the other two members of her group.
As soon as she left, Itachi immediately approached Shikaku.
Shinichi Hattori had already reached the teacher before him.
"Daisuke Kido, I'm Shikaku Nara. Come down quickly."
The other boy in Itachi's group was a little more reserved, so Shikaku had to call out to him.
"Ah,"
Daisuke Kido leaped and landed beside Shikaku.
Itachi and the other two followed Shikaku out of the ninja school gates.
Shikaku walked to a large tree in front of the gates and stood in its shade, leaning back with his arms folded.
"Remember your first day as freshmen entering the ninja school?"
He asked, gazing towards the gates.
"I remember."
Daisuke Kido replied.
Itachi Uchiha and Shinichi Hattori nodded slightly.
"In a few years, you completed all the courses and training, passed the ninja school's assessment, and became ninjas."
"So, what did you work hard for? To become a ninja?"
Shikaku first looked at Shinichi Hattori and asked, "Can you answer me?"
Shinichi Hattori nodded, pushed his glasses on the bridge of his nose, and said, "At first, it was to live up to my parents' expectations, and the adults around me kept saying that becoming a ninja was a very honorable thing."
"But I soon realized that was just to coax the child."
"Go on."
His answer made Shikaku find it very interesting.
"Becoming a ninja is much harder than I imagined at first. As for why I persisted, it's because from the perspective of the village, this profession needs someone to do it."
"Otherwise, without the support of the ninja village or if the ninja village is weak, it will be coveted or even invaded by other major villages. If that situation really comes to that, as a ninja, the ability to protect yourself must be stronger than that of an ordinary person."
Shinichi Hattori replied very calmly.
"Is that the reason?"
Shikaku nodded, then looked at Daisuke Kido and asked, "What about you?"
Daisuke Kido was a very straightforward man.
He said with anticipation, "Because I want to become a powerful ninja, so that I can become a respected hero."
"Hero,"
Shikaku muttered, his gaze resting on Itachi.
Itachi glanced at the forehead protector he hadn't put on yet and said, "Actually, my reason is very similar to Hattori's."
"It's very simple. I'm Itachi Uchiha of Konoha."
He raised his eyes, meeting Shikaku's.
This simple answer would seem meaningless to most people, but it shifted Shikaku's expression.
Shinichi Hattori also began to ponder the underlying meaning of Itachi's words.
"Uchiha of Konoha?"
Shikaku muttered to himself.
It was obvious that Itachi had truly understood what he was asking, which was why he answered so.
"Just like Minato said, you're a guy with a lot of expectations!"
Shikaku looked at Itachi, a faint smile on his face.
But he quickly regained his composure and looked at Itachi and the other two before him.
"This concludes my questions. From now on, as long as you can pass my test, you will become a true ninja."
....
Talent
"Test?" Shinichi Hattori and Daisuke Kido said in unison, their eyes widening.
Itachi Uchiha, though aware that new genin faced a test from their jōnin instructor, didn't know the details.
Having graduated from the Ninja Academy in a single year at age seven, he'd been assigned to a genin team under Shikaku Nara, a seasoned jōnin of Konohagakure.
"If you fail, you'll return to the Ninja Academy for more training and await the next test," Shikaku said, arms crossed, his tone calm but firm.
"Another test?" Daisuke's face paled.
Like most graduates, he thought passing the Ninja Academy's exam made him a ninja.
Facing a jōnin's personal test was daunting.
Itachi stayed composed.
A prodigy with advanced taijutsu, sharp intellect, and the early sparks of his Sharingan, he was confident he could impress, even if defeating Shikaku outright was unlikely.
Shinichi adjusted his glasses, studying Shikaku.
"Sensei, what's the test?"
"A duel with me," Shikaku replied with a sly grin.
"But I won't spill the details. Follow me. We start now."
His gaze lingered on Itachi before he turned and headed toward the hills behind Konohagakure.
The three genin followed.
Daisuke's face was tense, his nerves clear.
Facing a jōnin was no small task.
Shinichi looked serious but less panicked, while Itachi walked calmly, his mind analyzing the situation.
"Itachi, you don't seem worried," Shinichi whispered, glancing at him.
"I'm fine," Itachi said evenly.
Shikaku led them to a wide clearing in the hills.
He turned, pulling two bells tied with red strings from his ninja pouch.
A breeze rustled the trees, and the bells chimed softly.
"The test is simple."
Shikaku said, eyeing the three genin.
"Snatch these bells from me before sunset. Those who get a bell pass. Only two bells exist, so one of you returns to the Ninja Academy."
Shinichi and Daisuke exchanged glances, shock in their eyes.
Itachi's expression didn't shift, but he recognized the test's similarity to Konoha's traditional bell test, designed to evaluate teamwork, not just skill.
"Three fresh genin against a jōnin?" Itachi thought.
Even an average jōnin would be nearly impossible to beat.
The graduation exam already tested their abilities, so this test likely had a deeper purpose.
"What's your plan?" Shikaku asked, clutching the bells' red strings.
"Itachi, let's team up!" Daisuke urged, his voice desperate.
"If only two pass, it has to be us!"
"Calm down," Itachi said, glancing at Shinichi.
Ignoring the advice, Daisuke shouted, "I'm going!"
He charged at Shikaku, his taijutsu solid for a genin but no match for a jōnin.
Shikaku vanished in a blur, reappearing behind Daisuke and grabbing his shoulder.
Daisuke froze, eyes wide with fear, as Shikaku prepared to toss him forward.
In a flash, Itachi appeared in front of Daisuke, catching him as Shikaku let go.
His speed was remarkable, hinting at skills beyond a typical genin.
"Thanks, Itachi!" Daisuke gasped, steadying himself.
"It's fine," Itachi said, looking at Shinichi.
Shinichi, who'd been deep in thought, snapped to attention.
"I need to tell you something," he said, eyeing Shikaku warily.
"Not here."
He gestured toward the nearby woods and darted into the trees.
Itachi nodded to Daisuke, and they followed.
Deep in the forest, Shinichi stopped under a large tree.
"This test isn't as simple as Shikaku-sensei claims," he said, pushing up his glasses.
"Our strength alone can't beat a jōnin. There's another meaning to this."
Itachi nodded, impressed. "You're right. It's not about strength."
Shinichi continued, mainly addressing Daisuke.
"This bell test is a Konoha tradition. The rule about only two passing seems unfair because ninja teams always operate in groups of three under a jōnin. There must be a way for all of us to pass—together."
....
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