"Huh? Where's Kakashi-sensei?"
After finishing a day of Tree Climbing training, the two rivals of Team 7 only saw Tian Yin here and asked where Kakashi had disappeared to.
Tian Yin was silent for a moment before saying slowly, "He went to gather intelligence. I really didn't expect this."
She hadn't expected Kakashi to actually trust her, entrusting his team to the protection of Tian Yin, a Root member. He himself had taken Tian Yin's Shadow Clone to proceed with his own plans.
Although, in Tian Yin's perception, Kakashi wasn't without leaving backup measures here.
But why was this? They hadn't even spent a full day together. What was the basis for his judgment?
"Why did you say you didn't..." Naruto's blurted-out question was cut off by a karate chop from Sasuke.
How could Naruto let this go! And not long ago, because he hadn't told Sasuke the trick to climbing the tree, this seemed like pure retaliation from Naruto's perspective.
So, right in front of Tian Yin, the two began Naruto vs. Sasuke.
Seeing this, Tian Yin smiled, thinking that Sasuke must know the meaning of Anbu and was deliberately stopping Naruto from asking further.
How sharp.
Well, anyway, this opportunity was truly rare. She should get on good terms with Team 7.
In an instant, she stood up and separated the two, saying, "First, let's eat. Seeing how energetic you are, I'll guide you later."
"Tch, who's stronger, you or Kakashi?" Sasuke looked at the hand he couldn't break free from, recalling the scene of fighting Kakashi during the bell test.
Without a doubt, Tian Yin should also be at least Jonin-level strength.
But in the previous battle with Zabuza's group, apart from Zabuza, the others' strength was undoubtedly inferior, so it couldn't prove Tian Yin was stronger than Kakashi.
"To prove who's stronger than whom, in most cases, you need to have a real fight. But even then, depending on the location, combat mindset, and Ninjutsu compatibility, it's still hard to truly determine superiority."
"So, Sasuke. What you should consider now is who is stronger than you, then learn from them or surpass them. That's the right path, isn't it?"
This reasoning was undoubtedly logical and sensible. Sasuke, being a very rational thinker, pondered it and found Tian Yin's words made sense.
However, he still had to maintain his cool facade, putting on a cool expression to say he wanted to assess Tian Yin.
In response, Tian Yin instantly ruffled Sasuke's jet-black hair.
"Seems I passed the assessment," Tian Yin laughed, looking at Sasuke's surprised expression.
"Hahaha, Sasuke's expression! You're really something."
Seeing Sasuke's rare moment of embarrassment, Naruto seemed very happy, running over to mock him. Then the two rivals started up again.
Even during the meal, they competed over who could eat more, refusing to calm down at all.
It was at this moment that Sakura saw the photograph on the wall with a corner torn off, triggering the hidden story of Tazuna's family.
From Tazuna's words, everyone learned about a man named Kaiza.
To put it simply, he was the stepfather of the boy who said on the first day, 'Heroes and fools are no different. They don't even exist.' He had been publicly executed for organizing resistance against Gato.
Since then, the people of this country lost their courage. This deeply affected Naruto, who suddenly stood up, intending to run out to continue training!
"Wait, you've overextracted your Chakra. Continuing before your stamina recovers is life-threatening."
Tian Yin quickly stopped him. If she remembered correctly, Naruto encountered Hana, who was picking flowers in the forest, the next morning.
But the plot had already changed. She couldn't risk letting Naruto run around.
"I want to prove to him that heroes exist in this world!" Naruto's eyes were firm, his expression serious as he headed for the door.
However, Tian Yin wouldn't just allow it like Kakashi did in the original work.
A blue rope shot from Tian Yin's fingertip after she formed Hand Seals, instantly binding Naruto.
No matter how Naruto struggled, he couldn't break free. In the end, he could only lie on the ground kicking and screaming, waiting until Tian Yin, Sasuke, and Sakura finished eating before Tian Yin, as the caster, released him.
"Let's go. We'll walk slowly from here to the training ground to digest our food. Then, until Kakashi-senpai returns, I'll teach you Taijutsu every day at this time."
After saying this, Tian Yin created a Shadow Clone to stand guard and then led the three members of Team 7 on a slow walk to the training ground.
"First, I need to confirm each of your current levels. Naruto, you first."
Tian Yin stood casually, then continued, "No using Chakra, or I'll reward you with another binding."
Naruto gulped and nodded obediently. Tian Yin was inwardly amused. This was the way to deal with a mischievous kid.
[I need him to master basic Chakra control as soon as possible. Otherwise, the other reason I'm here won't be achievable.]
Thinking this, Tian Yin began to spar with Naruto.
A few minutes later, looking at Naruto knocked flat on the ground, Tian Yin quickly shook her head.
His Taijutsu technique? Just brute strength and good stamina. That's it.
No wonder Jiraiya spent three years later teaching him so little.
Next was Sasuke.
He was completely on another level. His Taijutsu had almost no wasted movement. Even without the Sharingan, he had extremely sharp perception, and his strikes were very fast.
But he had a fatal weakness: a severe lack of real Combat Experience.
This could be solved with more battles, which was probably why Orochimaru found thousands of Ninja for him to fight in the original work.
Finally, Sakura.
To be honest, the results of testing Sakura greatly surprised Tian Yin.
Forget the original work. Just talking about the battle with Zabuza, she was the first taken out instantly. Even after being healed, she chose to stay behind.
Tian Yin had thought Sakura wouldn't even be able to handle ordinary Taijutsu sparring. But unexpectedly, Sakura could actually hold her own for a few moves.
"Not bad. Like Naruto, you have little actual technique, and your training volume and physical fitness are far inferior. But your eyes are good. What triggered this change in you?"
When asked, Sakura instinctively placed a hand on her abdomen.
[Fear of death? That's quite reasonable. Although my presence changed the plot, the outcome might not be bad.]
In her previous life watching the original work, Tian Yin hadn't been without prejudice against Sakura. But now that she was truly in this world, she wanted to judge people with her own eyes.
"Don't worry, I absolutely won't let Sakura get hurt like that again!"
Naruto declared confidently, completely unaware that Sakura wasn't the least bit touched, her eyes still glancing toward Sasuke.
[Buddy, being a simp isn't the way. Though, I seem to recall Naruto liked Sakura mostly just to compete with Sasuke?]
Well, Tian Yin pushed these thoughts aside. She wasn't interested in messy, complicated things. They would only slow down her progress to becoming stronger.
"First, learn to protect yourself. Your Taijutsu is really lousy, a complete waste of such a naturally gifted body."
Tian Yin created two Shadow Clones, intending to guide them one by one. She herself would personally instruct Naruto.
"Really? My body is even more amazing than Sasuke's?!"
Naruto's eyes sparkled with disbelief.
Since childhood, when had he ever heard anyone acknowledge him? Now someone was telling him so naturally and calmly that he actually had talent?!
"Your physical fitness and Chakra reserves are indisputably the highest among the three. But because of that, your Chakra control is poor. So, just get your Taijutsu up to par and bring your Chakra control to a passing level, and you'll take off."
After seriously listening to Tian Yin's words, Naruto shouted, "Great!" and immediately tried to run over to brag to Sasuke and Sakura, forgetting his training with Tian Yin.
And in the following hour, Naruto's howls of pain were enough to let his two teammates understand that having good physical fitness was indeed a real thing.
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