After offering his advice to his teammates, Inoiki left the training ground and headed home. Upon entering, he found his mother busy with her daily work. She glanced up as he walked in and asked, "How was your day?"
Inoiki gave her a small, reassuring smile. "It was fine," he replied simply, not wanting to burden her with the details of his upcoming test. Without further conversation, he went straight to his room to complete his evening practice, already mentally preparing for what the next day would bring.
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The next morning, Inoiki reluctantly skipped his usual training routine. Izumo had called them in early, and he knew there was no room for delay. He arrived at the training ground first, just as the morning mist was beginning to lift. Within a few minutes, Ishida and Rishu showed up, both looking a bit nervous but determined. None of them wanted to risk failing the test and being sent back to the academy.
They waited together in silence, the tension palpable. All three had arrived before the designated time, unwilling to be late and give Izumo any reason to disqualify them. Finally, as the exact hour arrived, Izumo appeared, walking calmly toward them.
Izumo surveyed the three students with a critical eye, his expression neutral. "It seems you're all ready for the survival test," he said, a slight edge to his voice, as if weighing their readiness. Then, he added, "But before we begin, I have one question. Yesterday, I didn't introduce myself. Did any of you manage to collect information about me?"
At this, Ishida and Rishu turned to Inoiki, surprise and unease on their faces. Though Inoiki had warned them the day before to gather intel on Izumo, they hadn't taken it seriously. After a few half-hearted attempts, they had given up, thinking Inoiki was overthinking the situation.
Inoiki saw the panic in their eyes and shook his head. He had expected as much.
Looking back at Izumo, Inoiki spoke confidently. "Your name is Izumo Kamizuki. You're a Chunin of Konoha, known for your proficiency in Water Release jutsu and your expertise in throwing sharp weapons."
Izumo raised an eyebrow, his expression still unreadable. For a moment, he said nothing, letting the tension build. Ishida and Rishu stood awkwardly, clearly regretting not having listened to Inoiki's advice.
Finally, Izumo gave a small nod, acknowledging Inoiki's efforts. "Good. You've done your research," he said, his voice steady. "Knowing your allies—and your opponents—is essential for a shinobi. Inoiki, you showed initiative. But this was a team exercise. The two of you," he glanced sharply at Ishida and Rishu, "did not."
Ishida and Rishu looked down, embarrassed by their failure to take the task seriously.
"This is your first lesson," Izumo continued, his tone firm but not unkind. "Survival isn't just about strength or skill in combat. It's about intelligence, resourcefulness, and working together as a team. You need to learn to rely on each other if you want to succeed."
With that, Izumo stepped back, crossing his arms. "Now, let's see how well you handle the real test."
Izumo pulled a small bell from his pocket and held it up for the team to see. The soft jingle caught the attention of Inoiki, Ishida, and Rishu. "Your task is simple," Izumo said, his tone calm but firm. "Use all your skills, all your tactics, and take this bell from me. If you manage to do that, you pass the survival test."
Inoiki eyed the bell, knowing full well how easy it would be for him to take it if he went all out. It would be like taking candy from a child. But the test wasn't just about individual strength—it was about teamwork. He understood that if he didn't at least pretend to work with Ishida and Rishu, he could risk failing the test altogether.
Taking a deep breath, Inoiki turned to his teammates and quickly formulated a plan. "Ishida, Rishu—flank him. You go left, you go right. Your job is to limit his movement and keep him from escaping. I'll go in from the front and make a move for the bell."
Ishida and Rishu nodded, moving into position without hesitation. They weren't as fast or skilled as Inoiki, but they trusted his judgment. As they flanked Izumo on both sides, Inoiki darted forward, his speed a blur as he closed the gap between himself and their sensei.
Izumo's eyes widened for a brief moment, surprised at Inoiki's raw speed. In the blink of an eye, Inoiki was upon him, launching into a fierce hand-to-hand combat exchange. The first blow came fast, a sharp punch aimed at Izumo's midsection. Izumo deflected it with his forearm, but the force of the impact reverberated through him.
Inoiki pressed the attack relentlessly, his movements fluid and precise. Each strike was powerful yet controlled, leaving Izumo little room to counter. A roundhouse kick whipped through the air, forcing Izumo to duck, only to be met with a swift knee aimed at his ribs. Izumo barely managed to block it, but he could feel the strength behind the attack. Inoiki wasn't holding back nearly as much as he'd thought.
Despite his best efforts to keep up, Izumo was being thoroughly outclassed. Inoiki's speed and strength were overwhelming, leaving Izumo no choice but to stay on the defensive. Every time Izumo tried to create distance, Inoiki was there, closing the gap instantly with quick, aggressive strikes. A punch aimed at Izumo's chest landed with precision, and for a brief moment, Izumo staggered back.
Inoiki's movements were effortless, his precision unnerving. He clearly had the upper hand, and Izumo knew it. If this kept up, he'd lose the bell in no time. He had no other choice.
With a flicker of hand seals, Izumo used the Substitution Jutsu at the last possible second. Inoiki's fist shot forward, aiming for Izumo's chest—but instead of landing a blow, his fist collided with a log that appeared in Izumo's place, splintering it.
Inoiki narrowed his eyes as Izumo reappeared a short distance away, the bell still jingling in his hand. The sensei gave him a measured look, clearly impressed but maintaining his composure. "Well done, Inoiki," he said, catching his breath slightly. "You've definitely proven your strength. But don't forget—this isn't just about power. You're going to need more than that to win."
Inoiki glanced back at Ishida and Rishu, who had done their best to flank Izumo but hadn't been able to keep up with the speed of the fight.
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