"Hey hey hey hey hey! What?! There's another outdoor survival test? Those who fail have to go back to school to repeat their training?"
As the afternoon arrived, the three members of Team 8, led by their team instructor Yūhi Kurenai, arrived at an open space within the academy grounds. But when Kurenai announced this, she was met with a series of shouts as if someone were slaughtering a pig.
"That's right. Out of the twenty-seven graduates, only nine can pass the assessment. The rest have to go back—and that's seriously embarrassing, you know."
Seeing Kiba's shouting and yelling, Yūhi Kurenai couldn't help but chuckle softly. However, when she glanced at the other two students—Yuki and Shino—their unblinking, calm expressions made her secretly nod in approval.
This is a pretty good team composition. Honestly, since Yūhi Kurenai had only recently been promoted to Jōnin, this was her first time taking on the role of team instructor. But this team seemed quite promising indeed.
The Inuzuka clan, skilled in handling ninja hounds; the Aburame clan, unparalleled in insect manipulation across the ninja world; and the famously powerful Hyūga clan. All three students came from prestigious families, no less impressive than the Ino-Shika-Chō trio of Team 10.
"What the heck… We finally passed the exam, and there's something like this waiting for us afterward."
Among the three, Kiba was the most lively. Though not the sharpest tool in the shed, a team needed someone like him to lighten the atmosphere.
"It's fine. We just have to pass, right?"
Compared to Kiba, Yuki beside him appeared much steadier. That unflappable composure, even when facing unexpected situations, was an essential trait for an excellent leader.
"Agreed. If a team of our caliber can't pass this test, then no one else can either. After all, this year's strongest graduate is right here, right, Yuki? Of course, I'm pretty strong myself. As for the other one… well, barely passable, I guess."
As for Shino—the last of the three—his eyes and mouth were hidden behind sunglasses and a high collar, making it difficult to see his expression. But judging from his tone and phrasing, it wasn't hard to tell that Shino wasn't as taciturn as one might imagine. His silence at school had likely been because he saw no need to speak.
After carefully observing her three students, Yūhi Kurenai's face revealed a satisfied smile. She then continued, "The specific test format is to seize these bells. If you can take these three bells from me, you pass. The test begins at sunrise, right here. Remember that."
As she spoke, Kurenai casually removed the three bells from her waist and shook them almost absentmindedly before the eyes of Yuki and the others… Then she vanished on the spot, transforming into a puff of smoke, leaving the newly formed Team 8 standing there.
"Sunrise… tomorrow morning?"
So troublesome, having to come all the way to the academy first thing in the morning. Hearing this, Kiba couldn't help but shake his head.
However, Yuki, standing beside Kiba, widened his eyes slightly, then glanced over at Shino.
Sensing Yuki's gaze, Shino nodded knowingly and reached out to grab Kiba, who was about to leave.
"What's up? Aren't you guys heading back?"
"Not yet. Before that, let's introduce our specialties and assign roles."
Seeing Kiba's bewildered expression, Yuki ignored his question and continued on his own, "I'm best at taijutsu. My Byakugan can observe any location within a kilometer and distinguish chakra flow."
Then Shino added, "I specialize in controlling the 'Kikaichū' insects within my body. My focus is long-range assassination, and I also have certain advantages in tracking capabilities."
Though he didn't understand why they had to introduce themselves right now, since both his teammates had done so, Kiba reluctantly followed suit. "My sense of smell is super sharp! And the coolest thing is the 'Beast Mimicry Jutsu' I use with Akamaru! In terms of speed and lethality—"
"Got it. Then Kiba will handle the diversion, Shino will provide support, and I'll seize the bells."
"Hey! Let me finish! And why are you giving orders like it's the most natural thing in the world?"
"Sounds reasonable. Let's get ready."
What the heck is going on? As Kiba watched his two teammates start moving toward opposite sides, he was still utterly confused. Neither Yuki nor Shino seemed inclined to humor him.
"Wait, isn't the test tomorrow morning? Why do you guys look like you're about to fight right now?"
"Tomorrow morning? Teacher Kurenai only said the test begins at sunrise. She never said it was tomorrow morning."
"That's obvious nonsense! It's already afternoon, the sun's setting—how could the sun possibly be…"
As he spoke, Kiba pointed exasperatedly at the sky. But the moment his gaze turned upward, his beast-like, slender pupils suddenly widened.
The sun's trajectory was east to west, and now was the time for sunset. So the sun should be in the west.
Yet when Kiba looked up at the sky, he saw the sun above his head slowly rising from the east! That… that was impossible!
"Don't panic. It's just Teacher Kurenai's genjutsu."
Sensing that Kiba couldn't figure this out on his own, Yuki casually offered a reminder.
At that moment, the veins around his white pupils suddenly bulged—clearly a sign that the "Byakugan" had been activated.
Genjutsu? Wait, so all three of us are in a genjutsu world?
In an instant, Kiba whirled around, scanning his surroundings. The Ninja Academy was still the Ninja Academy, but there wasn't a single bird or insect in the trees around them—a clear sign something was off.
"When did we fall under a genjutsu? I had no idea!"
"When Teacher Kurenai shook the bells earlier… Get ready. Just follow the direction of my kunai and charge. Hurry up."
Before Kiba could fully grasp what was happening, Yuki had already swiftly drawn a kunai from the pouch at his waist and hurled it toward a large tree not far away!
Damn it! They all treat me like an idiot!
Shooting Yuki a glare, Kiba immediately began forming hand seals at top speed, activating his clan's secret technique: "Beast Mimicry: Four Legs Jutsu"!
The "Four Legs Jutsu" concentrated chakra in all four limbs, allowing the user to move on all fours like a beast, significantly enhancing balance, attack power, and speed.
In this state, Kiba's combat capabilities would undergo a qualitative leap! So much so that the moment Yuki's kunai flew toward the tree, Kiba's figure was already pouncing in that direction like a cheetah—almost like a husky chasing a frisbee!
As expected of a Hyūga. Ordinary environmental illusion-type genjutsu are completely useless against him.
When she saw Yuki's kunai flying with pinpoint accuracy toward her hidden position, Kurenai nodded approvingly, then her figure materialized from the large tree.
"This isn't a diversion—I'm taking the bells myself!"
Seeing Teacher Kurenai indeed ahead of him, Kiba's eyes lit up. His agile body scraped against the ground, rebounded, instantly shifted several positions, and then reached out from the side toward the bells hanging at Kurenai's waist!
There was no denying that, enhanced by the "Four Legs Jutsu," Kiba's speed was indeed exceptionally fast among genin. However…
Speed is one thing, but pure speed holds no value against a genjutsu-type ninja like Yūhi Kurenai.
"Got it! Huh?!"
The next second, Kiba's claws swiftly snatched at the bells on "Yūhi Kurenai's" waist. But before he could feel the bells' texture, this "Yūhi Kurenai" instantly transformed into a tree! And its seemingly bare, lifeless branches ruthlessly entangled Kiba's entire body in an embrace.
One down. Next… Hmm?
Confirming that Inuzuka Kiba was now immobilized, Kurenai, still concealed within the original tree, was about to check on the other two. But at that moment, a dense swarm of insects had somehow crawled up the trunk of her tree, surrounding Yūhi Kurenai!