"Yo–you overslept?"
After hearing Hyūga Ayato's apologetic words, all three members of Team 7 froze.
Overslept?
What did that mean?
Did it mean there was no test about patience or endurance at all—
And that they had been suffering out here for four hours simply because Ayato slept in!?
"You've gotta be kidding me, bastard! We've been suffering out here for FOUR HOURS while you were sleeping at home!? I'm gonna beat you up!"
Naruto rolled up his sleeves and lunged toward Ayato—only for Sakura to grab him quickly.
"Calm down, Naruto! I'm sure something important happened last night. Jonin often have missions…"
Sakura tried to sound polite and understanding—
But inside she was cursing Ayato to death.
"Idiot," Sasuke muttered coldly. He glanced at Sakura with disdain before looking straight at Ayato.
"As Team 7's instructor, your assignments should all be related to us. You wouldn't receive solo missions."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Ayato. You didn't have a mission last night, did you?"
He was right—jonin in charge of a squad rarely accepted independent missions, since they had to focus on training their genin.
Ayato shrugged.
"Last night? Yeah, I had a lot going on. Technically, you could call it a mission. Details would take too long… let's just say it was a busy night."
"...…"
Team 7 stared at him blankly.
Ayato had said everything… and also nothing.
Listening to him was like hearing no explanation at all.
Sakura, curious and still trying to be polite, raised her hand.
"Ayato-sensei, could you… explain briefly what you were doing last night?"
Ayato gave her a thumbs-up.
"Training Hinata to get stronger.
And then… drinking with some lovely older ladies. Last night's big sister had an amazing figure."
He really had been busy—
First helping Hinata train,
Then going to the pleasure district to drink with courtesans.
So busy.
"......"
Team 7 went from speechless—
To furious.
This was the "busy night"!
This was the reason they starved for four hours!?
"YOU—! That wasn't a mission at all! You were just out drinking with women! I'M GOING TO TEAR YOU APART!"
Sakura's forehead bulged with a giant anger mark, flames practically rising behind her. She charged at Ayato with no care for image.
She had once imagined Ayato as a responsible teacher…
But reality?
He was a carefree, shameless rogue of a teacher, and his irresponsibility had caused them to wait miserably for hours!
Even if he WAS insanely handsome—
She still wanted to punch him!
Ayato held up a finger like a wise elder.
"Lesson one from your teacher: comforting lonely women is also a man's duty."
"CALM DOWN, SAKURA-CHAN!"
Naruto tried to restrain her—
"GET LOST!"
Sakura punched Naruto several times on instinct, then lunged at Ayato again, practically on the verge of tears from frustration.
"If you stay angry like that, your hormones will go wild," Ayato said lightly as he caught her wrist and performed a clean takedown, pinning her to the ground effortlessly.
"Mm!" Sakura gasped softly, the pain from the wrist-lock making her wince.
"So painful…"
"Don't be fooled by how refined and elegant I look," Ayato whispered, leaning slightly toward her ear. "I'm the kind of man who acts when I need to. I don't mind knocking someone out—even if they're a girl. Calm down, Sakura."
Sakura felt his breath near her ear, and her face flushed uncontrollably.
"…Y-Yes, Ayato-sensei."
She complained inwardly:
Refined and elegant?
Where on earth!?
What kind of "elegant teacher" pins his female student face-down on the ground!?
"Good."
Ayato released her.
Naruto, holding his bruised head, pointed at Sakura furiously.
"WHY!? Why am I the only one getting beaten up!? And YOU—why are you BLUSHING after being pinned to the ground!?"
Somehow… only he kept getting hit!
"Anyway, introductions."
Ayato sat cross-legged and began speaking calmly.
"I am Hyūga Ayato. Twenty years old. Elite jonin. I have an adorable distant younger cousin.
I like sweets. The person I respect most… my goals… difficult to say."
He paused, then added proudly,
"My preferred type? Beautiful women. Lolis, big-sister types, young moms—if she's pretty, she's my type. But if someone angers me—even the most perfect beauty—I'll make her cry."
"And what I hate most… is managing brats like you."
He clapped his hands lightly.
"That's about it. Your turn."
"..."
Team 7's collective expression:
Is this really our teacher?
Not a single useful detail in his entire introduction!
Naruto jumped up enthusiastically.
"Me, me, me! I'll go first!"
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto. I like ramen. My favorite food is Ichiraku ramen! The person I respect the most is the Third Hokage!"
He adjusted his forehead protector, face bright but filled with determination.
"My dream is to gain everyone's acknowledgement and become Hokage!"
Even if it killed him—
He would achieve that dream.
"People I hate…"
He glanced at Sasuke bitterly.
"People I like… the type I like…"
He peeked shyly at Sakura.
"I see."
Ayato analyzed him calmly.
A Nine-Tails jinchūriki who wants recognition… whose dream is to become Hokage.
And the person he respects most… is that old fox, Hiruzen.
His brainwashing was quite strong.
Sakura followed.
"I… I'm Haruno Sakura. My dreams… the person I like… the person I admire…"
Her voice trailed off as she stole a glance at Sasuke and blushed hard.
"Tch. What's so good about Sasuke?" Naruto muttered unhappily.
Sasuke spoke last.
"I am Uchiha Sasuke. I have nothing to say. But I do have one ambition—
I will kill that man with my own hands."
His eyes darkened, filled with murderous hatred as his brother's silhouette rose in his mind.
Revenge was his only fuel.
He would gain the power necessary to avenge his clan.
Ayato exhaled deeply.
"These little brats are such a headache…"
A Nine-Tails jinchūriki whose dream is Hokage.
A surviving Uchiha bent on revenge.
A lovestruck girl with no focus.
The bottom-last troublemaker.
The edgy avenger.
The hopeless romantic.
Such a troublesome group.
If not for the master-disciple system, he would've quit and gone traveling long ago.