Training Field One.
Situated on the outskirts of the village, nestled just inside a dense forest.
When Ren arrived, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino were already waiting.
"Ren-sensei!" Ino greeted enthusiastically, waving as he approached.
"No need to be so eager," Ren replied, his tone indifferent.
"Even if we don't pass, you're still our teacher, right? This test is an opportunity to learn and gain experience," Ino said confidently.
She knows how to speak well… Ren thought, watching her.
"Don't think that just because you talk sweetly, I'll go easy on you," Ren said, his eyes narrowing. "I might be the most ruthless instructor in this year's cohort."
"So…" His gaze swept over the three of them. "Are you prepared to face death?"
The three swallowed nervously.
He's just trying to scare us… right? He wouldn't actually kill us…? they all thought simultaneously.
"Ren-sensei, what's the test?" Ino asked, raising her hand.
"The test…"
Ren glanced up at the sky.
A clear, sunny day.
"The test is—"
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a sharp whistling sound cut through the air as a metallic glint shot out from the forest and embedded itself in Ren's neck. Blood spurted out as if from a burst artery, staining the ground in crimson.
Thud!
Ren's eyes lost their focus, and he collapsed, blood still pooling beneath him.
The suddenness of it all left the three completely stunned. Ino screamed, hands clamped over her mouth.
"Ahhh!"
What's happening…? Is Sensei… dead?
Shikamaru stared, wide-eyed and frozen, at the lifeless body on the ground.
Rustle, rustle!
Three figures leaped out from the forest, surrounding the three young ninjas.
"More brats?" one of them sneered, moving to inspect Ren's body.
"This one's dead."
The declaration sent another shockwave through Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino.
"Is this real…?" Ino murmured.
The three newcomers wore headbands engraved with the symbol of the Hidden Mist and bore the appearance of battle-ready shinobi.
"Mist ninjas…? Here?" Shikamaru questioned, his voice wavering.
"Isn't it obvious?" one of the Mist ninjas grinned menacingly.
"We're here for revenge. Did you forget how many of our people you killed a few years back?"
"It was your Mist Village that invaded Konoha!" Shikamaru retorted, unable to hold back.
Thud!
Before he could react, Shikamaru was sent flying by a punch so hard that his body rolled across the ground. The searing pain in his abdomen made it feel as though he'd been hit with a sledgehammer. He struggled to rise, every movement agonizing.
They're too strong… far beyond us. These guys must be jonin…
Shikamaru's mind raced with despair. Their jonin teacher had been killed, and they were just newly graduated genin. There was no chance they could fight these foes.
The Mist ninja who had attacked Shikamaru grabbed Ino by her ponytail, yanking her close. Ino screamed in pain.
"Partial Expansion Jutsu!"
Reacting at last, Choji's arm swelled as he attacked. But the enemy dodged easily, countering with a swift kick that sent Choji sprawling next to Shikamaru.
"Ugh!"
The Mist ninja dragged Ino closer to Ren's body, pulling out a blood-stained kunai and tossing another at Choji's feet.
"Hey." He pointed to Shikamaru.
"Kill him."
"If you don't, this girl dies."
He pressed the bloodied kunai against Ino's neck, drawing a thin line of blood.
"No! Please, don't!" Choji screamed, eyes wide with terror.
"Do it!" the Mist ninja commanded coldly.
"I can't…" Choji stuttered, his body shaking uncontrollably.
"Choji, if you kill me, they might spare you and Ino. But why play their game? Why be their toy!" Shikamaru's voice, though strained, carried an edge of defiance.
"No." The Mist ninja shook his head.
"If you kill him, we might spare you two. Maybe even the girl."
"Do you think we believe you?" Shikamaru spat back, his tone harsh.
"Believe what you want, but if you don't act, you'll watch this girl die first." The kunai pressed harder, more blood seeping out.
"No! Don't!" Choji shouted, eyes filled with panic.
"Do it!" the Mist ninja barked.
Choji looked at Shikamaru, eyes brimming with terror and uncertainty. "What… what should I do…?"
Shikamaru's hands trembled as he gripped the kunai, eyes darting around, searching desperately for a solution.
What do we do…?
Would someone notice and come help? Was there any hope?
They were no match for three jonin-level enemies. Any direct confrontation was suicide.
What do we do…?
"If it gives even a sliver of a chance for you and Ino to survive, kill me," Shikamaru said, thrusting the kunai toward Choji. His voice was steady, though his hands still trembled.
Choji stared, stunned, at the weapon Shikamaru offered.
"What's taking so long?" the Mist ninja's voice cut in again.
"Can we switch?" Choji's voice cracked.
"Switch what?" The Mist ninja frowned.
"Let me die instead. Spare Shikamaru and Ino." Choji stood, voice quivering but firm.
"Choji…" Shikamaru's eyes widened.
"No." The Mist ninja smirked. "Where's the fun in that? I want to see you struggle between loyalty and survival."
"Since you're hesitating, how about you do it?" He pointed to Shikamaru.
These bastards!
Shikamaru cursed inwardly, glaring at their captors.
"Shikamaru, do it!" Choji said suddenly, his eyes full of determination.
"That way, you and Ino can live."
"Idiot! Don't say that!" Ino shouted, despite the pain. "I don't need you sacrificing yourself for me!"
She always complained about her teammates, but they were childhood friends, tied by their families.
"Shut up!" The Mist ninja kicked her.
"Ugh!" Ino gritted her teeth but maintained a defiant stare. "Why make it complicated? Just kill us all! The village will avenge us!" she shouted.
Shikamaru froze, processing her words.
"That's right. We won't sacrifice each other just to survive!" His voice steadied, and he stood taller.
Choji mirrored his stance, moving next to Shikamaru.
"Oh? Finding courage now?" The Mist ninja scoffed.
"Looks like you're willing to watch her die." The kunai pressed down, more blood trickling from Ino's neck.
"Do it!" Ino squeezed her eyes shut, shouting.
Shikamaru's gaze didn't waver, and Choji prepared to look away, unable to bear the sight.
The Mist ninja looked at them, seeming to gauge their resolve. Then, he released Ino.
"You pass."
Suddenly, the scene around them shifted, shattering like a broken illusion. The forest returned to the quiet training field. Their injuries were gone, as was the blood. Ren stood before them, unscathed.
"Ren… Sensei?" Ino's eyes widened in disbelief.
She glanced at the spot where his body had fallen—nothing but grass.
Shikamaru collapsed to the ground, letting out a deep breath.
"So, it was just genjutsu…" he muttered, relief washing over him.
"W-What happened?" Ino stammered, Choji equally confused.
"As Shikamaru said, it was all an illusion," Ren said calmly.
"A genjutsu… so it was all fake?" Ino touched her neck, finding no wounds.
"How did you notice?" Ren's eyes were on Shikamaru.
"Three people attacking the village alone was too implausible," Shikamaru explained. "And you, a jonin, dying so easily didn't make sense either. Plus, they seemed obsessed with making us kill each other, even though they could have finished us off."
"Good reasoning, but it's still risky to rely on assumptions," Ren replied coolly.
"I wasn't sure. But we had no other options," Shikamaru admitted, exhaling. "I had to gamble on hope."
"Was that really you pulling my hair and kicking me?" Ino demanded.
"All part of the test," Ren answered.
"My criteria were simple: show a willingness to die for your comrades or see through the genjutsu. You did both."
"So, congratulations."
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