The sun was still high when Genma led his new genin to Training Ground 3. The wide clearing, bordered by tall trees, was perfect for sparring. A light breeze passed, carrying the chirping of birds.
He stood in the center, his arms folded. "Alright, listen carefully. Most jonin do an acceptance test. They make you prove if you're worthy to even be called genin."
"What! But didn't we pass the Academy Test?" Karin called out, already fussing about another test coming. Sukuna grumbled as well. This past half a decade in the academy reminded him of what he dreaded most in his school days.
TEST…
"No, the academy test doesn't matter much. They mostly filter out the most appropriate candidates to be promoted to genin, but that doesn't make you a genin. That's why jonin sensei take their own test," Izumi explained.
Kiyomi raised an eyebrow. "You're saying we have to take another test?"
Genma nodded. "Exactly. It's gonna be simple enough. Just land a hit on me."
Karin looked nervous. "W-we're supposed to fight you? But you're a jonin!"
"Life's not fair, girl. In wartime, even a genin has to fight a jonin on the battlefield," Genma replied with a stern tone.
Sukuna snorted. "Why do I feel like you just don't wanna teach us? This sounds like an excellent way to shrug off responsibility and fail us."
Genma's eyes flicked toward him, but he said nothing. Instead, he took a step back.
"Alright, brats. Your test is simple," he said flatly. "Land a single solid hit on me, and you pass. That's it."
Kiyomi frowned. Even she now thought this jonin wasn't planning on promoting them.
But what choice did they have?
Knowing that the upcoming fight gonna be challenging, she didn't hold back, she activated her Sharingan in front of others for the first time. Only few people knew that she has awaken Sharingan so far, she wasn't planning on keep hiding it anyway.
As soon as her red eyes spinning with focus. Genma who was taking the fight light tense up. For a moment his eyes locked into her eyes and the next he darted them away as swiftly as possible.
'What the... the document never told she awaken her Sharingan. And its a Three-Tomoe one at that.' Genma all but cursed.
He wasn't worried but dealing with a fully developed Sharingan, especially genjutsu from a Uchiha was troublesome.
The question whether she could even use Genjutsu arise inside his head for a second, speaking about her particular condition but he didn't lose his guard. For now, he will consider that she could.
Kiyomi darted forward with her kunai, aiming for his side. Genma shifted smoothly, catching her wrist, and flipped her over his shoulder as if she weighed nothing. She landed hard on the ground but rolled back to her feet, glaring.
'Three Tomoe Sharingan?' Genma was honestly surprised. He recalled the Uchiha massacred 5 years ago. For him, it was Itachi who did it. Now that he things about it, it does make sense for her to unlock this eyes.
Karin quickly followed up. She had already formed hand seals, her chakra flaring. "Water Style: Water Bullet!" she shouted, sending three bursts of water flying toward him. Genma stepped sideways, letting them crash into the dirt. Before she could blink, he was behind her. A quick tap to her shoulder knocked her forward, almost making her trip.
"Too slow," Genma muttered, the senbon bobbing as he spoke. When it comes to long rang, he was only worried about Karin, argubly the only Genin capable of using Ninjutsu.
Kiyomi growled and formed a genjutsu. The air shimmered, and for a second, Genma's movements froze. Her lips curved into a smirk. "Got you."
But with a pulse of chakra, the illusion shattered like glass. Genma appeared behind her, kunai gently pressing at her neck. "Not bad," he said. "But genjutsu alone won't save you. When your enemy knows how to avoid your eyes, you'll be at a disadvantage."
Though he said that but in reality it was Kiyomi's own lack of experience which help him disolve the genjutsu this early. She didn't put him into a Genjutsu immediately after revealing her eyes but waited.
This make Genma prepare for what to come. He was ready for a Genjutsu attack anytime.
Kiyomi's Sharingan whirled in frustration.
Then Sukuna moved. Quiet until now, he stepped forward calmly, fists raised. One second he was few meters away from the Jonin and the next he was already on top of him.
Genma's eyes widen, he didn't even saw the guy moving. It wasn't just speed, the way he moved, like he didn't even existed. Like a shadow.
All of his senses scream at him to move but this time it was him who was slow.
Sukuna threw a straight punch, fast and heavy. Genma had no other option but to blocked with his forearm, but his brows lifted slightly when he was forced to slide a step back from the impact.
'What strength! I felt like Guy threw that punch.' Genma's eyes widened slightly. Still, it wasn't a hit—he blocked it.
But in his mind he quickly shifted the danger level around. All his attention now was on Sukuna.
Without a word, Sukuna pressed in, launching a storm of punches and kicks. His movements were sharp and relentless, every blow carrying frightening weight. Genma parried and sidestepped, but even so, his arms rattled each time they clashed.
Sukuna, of course, didn't use his cursed technique or Sharingan abilities. He only relied on taijutsu. But with his years of training and powerful physique, he was almost going toe to toe with Genma.
"Tch," Genma thought, teeth clenching lightly on his senbon. "This kid's taijutsu… it's not normal."
It was a particularly trickly style, no !
But Sukuna was relentless, fast and had much weight behind his strikes which put Genma on back foot. He really felt like he was fighting someone like Guy.
But that wasn't the most ridiculous thing, the worst was that it felt like the boy was reading his movements. Like he already knew what Genma was about to do and had a counter.
If he didn't knew better than he might have suspected the boy to secretely be a Uchiha or a Hyuga.
Karin threw kunai from the side, forcing Genma to adjust his position. Kiyomi added shuriken with precise aim, trying to box him in. Their teamwork forced Genma into a tighter space.
Since they had trained together, of course their teamwork was good.
Sukuna seized the moment. He dropped low, sliding across the ground, and drove his elbow into Genma's ribs. The jonin grunted, stepping back sharply. His senbon almost slipped from his mouth.
"You actually landed one," Genma admitted, rubbing his side. His calm tone now carried a flicker of surprise.
The sudden burst of speed from Sukuna—he hadn't calculated that. Sukuna actually wasn't using his CE up until now; it was pure physical power. Only then did he pour some curse into it.
Karin gasped. "He hit him!"
"He actually landed a blow…" Kiyomi sighed. She knew that if there was one, it would be this monster, but she wouldn't admit it.
Sukuna adjusted his glasses, expression cool as ever. "Not good enough though."
Genma nodded. "Right. That wasn't solid enough. If that's the best you've got, I'd still kill you in a real fight."
"Come on!" Kiyomi shouted angrily. "You said land a hit! He landed a hit!"
Genma's eyes narrowed, his tone sharpening. "And you think a little tap like that means something? A shinobi's strike has to end the battle. Anything less is worthless."
Genma replied, though he too felt a bit embarrassed at this act. He hadn't thought these brats would really land a hit on him.
As for why? Because he didn't wish to take a team right now. It was here ony because of the Hokage's order, but he hadn't planned to pass them from the beginning.
Frustration boiled in Kiyomi's chest. She bit her lip and charged again, her Sharingan spinning. She tried to outpace his movements, feinting left, then right, and finally slashing high. But Genma caught her wrist again and twisted it, sending her spinning to the ground once more.
Karin tried to cover for her, charging straight in with another set of seals ready. But before she could release her jutsu, Genma's hand tapped her stomach, knocking the breath out of her. She stumbled back, clutching her gut.
"Still predictable," Genma muttered.
Only Sukuna stood firm. He didn't directly attack, knowing how unfair it was asking newly graduated academy students to land a hit on a jonin. He knew the test was already rigged from the start.
At first, he thought it was something akin to how Kakashi did it with the bell test. That it wasn't about passing but about something else. He tried to figure it out, but now he truly felt that Genma just wasn't interested in passing them.
But still, he couldn't just stand around. What this jonin did wasn't under his control, however, he had to make sure the next hit was strong enough that Genma couldn't shrug it off like earlier.
He went at Genma again, his strikes faster now, each one sharper than before. Their blows clashed—fist against forearm, kick against shin. The air cracked with the sound of impact.
This time around, Genma wasn't taking him lightly. It was harder to catch him off guard. Still, Genma was impressed, though he didn't show it. "This kid's raw strength and technique… it's on par with some jonin. And he's doing it without any chakra so far. It's indeed impressive."
Finally, Sukuna launched a heavy roundhouse. Genma caught his leg and spun him, sending him crashing into the dirt. Sukuna pushed himself up, panting slightly, but his glasses still glinted with calm defiance.
The three regrouped, breathing heavily. Karin wiped sweat from her brow, Kiyomi glared with clenched fists, and Sukuna remained stoic.
Genma let the silence stretch before sighing. "Time's up."
Kiyomi snapped. "What?! He landed a hit! We should've passed!"
Genma's expression hardened. "A shinobi can't celebrate scraps. Almost winning means nothing in a real battle. You three aren't ready."
Karin's shoulders slumped. "So… we failed?"
"You failed," Genma said, nodding.
He turned and walked away, hands still in his pockets, the senbon gleaming between his lips, without saying a word more.
Leaving two girls completely gobsmacked and Sukuna sighing, much like a certain Nara, wondering how troublesome this was.
...
A/N : Well that happened. For a reason of course as I really don't see any Jonin helping Sukuna get stronger, he don't need one.
xxx
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