— Sensei, do we need to pick up the third member? — I asked, not waiting for someone else to take the initiative.
Choza turned to me, looked with his kind eyes for a brief moment, and calmly replied:
— No. He's already waiting at the meeting point.
That surprised me a little. Instead of heading upstairs in the Academy building like we usually did, we went outside. We walked in silence. The sunny morning had already turned into a warm afternoon, and a light breeze was sweeping dust across the paved paths.
After a few more minutes, we reached a small clearing — one of the Academy's training grounds.
Genma was already standing at the edge of the field. He'd grown noticeably in the couple of months since I last saw him. His style hadn't changed — dark uniform, collar buttoned high, and the ever-present toothpick in the corner of his mouth. As calm as ever.
— Alright, let's sit on the grass, — Choza suggested, settling down with a soft but solid thud.
— Let's get to know each other a little. I'll go first, and then each of you, same format.
He placed his hands on his knees and began:
— I'm Choza Akimichi, jonin of the Leaf Village. I love fried beef... Actually, I just love good food. My goal and dream is to become the head of the Akimichi clan.
A jonin. That's a good start, I thought. I should try to learn more about him — he's clearly not as simple as he seems.
— Who's next? — Choza asked before the silence could settle.
— Me! — Guy responded immediately.
— Might Guy, ninja of the Leaf Village. I love training! My goal is to become the strongest ninja! My dream is to prove that even with just taijutsu, you can reach the top!
— Genma Shiranui, genin of the Leaf Village. Favorite food — pumpkin soup. Goal — surpass my father. No dislikes. No dreams, — Genma stated calmly.
Now it was my turn.
— Kotetsu Hagane, genin of the Leaf Village. Favorite food — curry. Goal — to become a strong ninja. Same as the dream. Dislike — caramelized nuts, — I said, trying to speak clearly and confidently.
Choza nodded thoughtfully.
— Not bad. At least now I know a little more about who I'm working with. Now, let's get down to business.
— You've got 15 minutes to get to Training Ground 8. That's where we'll hold your first combat skills test.
And with that, he vanished.
— Shadow clone? — Genma muttered.
— Everyone knows where Ground 8 is? — I asked.
— West side of Konoha, — Guy and Genma answered in unison.
— Perfect. Then we better hurry, — I said, grabbing my bag.
— Last one there pays for lunch! — Genma proposed.
— Deal! — Guy and I echoed.
And the race began.
They shot ahead almost instantly. To my surprise, I couldn't catch up to Genma — and Guy was way out in front, like the wind had taken him.
"Need to speed up... but the fight is ahead. Don't waste chakra, don't be an idiot," I thought, holding back and trying to control my breathing.
I arrived last. But I wasn't upset — this fight wasn't about speed. Fine, I lost this round, but I'll win another…
— Quick thinking — a point in your favor, — came a voice behind us.
We turned. Choza was already standing there, pulling a coin from his pocket.
"Let's not waste time — your objective is to land a hit on me."
— As soon as it hits the ground — you begin.
He tossed it into the air.
No time to wait. We had to scatter.
I made a sharp leap to the side and vanished into the nearest bushes.
— Hey, Guy, Genma, are you here? — I whispered from my hiding spot.
— I'm here, — came Guy's voice from the right.
— And I'm on the other side, — Genma responded.
Perfect. We had a shot.
— Listen, in a straight-up fight, us genin can't beat a jonin, — I whispered, glancing toward Choza, who stood calmly awaiting the start. — He's stronger, faster, and way more experienced. If we go in head-on, he'll take us apart in seconds. We need to act as a team. It's our only chance to even touch him.
— Hey, hey, — Genma scoffed, narrowing his eyes. — And who made you the leader?
I looked at him calmly.
— Do you already have a strategy?
— Well… no! — he grumbled, arms crossing. — But I'll think of one. Maybe it'll be better than yours.
— Fair enough, — I nodded. — But let's be honest: we try mine first. If it doesn't work — we go with yours. Time is short.
— Fine, — he agreed, not too annoyed.
— Your call, — I smirked.
Alright then…
Guy burst from the bushes like a drawn bowstring. Bright, fast, loud. His attacks came in a cascade — fists, elbows, knees, spinning jumps. He fought like a storm. But sensei didn't retaliate. He simply... watched. Caught the rhythm. Studied.
I watched from the other side, everything inside tightening. Guy was drawing the attention — just as planned. So far, so good.
Silence in the shadows.
I glanced left. Somewhere out there was Genma. Gone. No sound, no trace — like he'd evaporated. I knew he was supposed to use henge and then... well, didn't matter. He knew what to do.
As for me — I had my role.
Wind roared.
I formed hand seals. My heart pounded in my temples. Don't mess up. Focus.
— Wind Style: Great Gust!
A powerful stream of wind burst from my hands. I didn't aim it at Choza — but just in front of him. A burst of dust, torn-up grass, a blinding whirlwind. Guy jumped back — and vanished into the haze.
Sensei remained. Calm. He shielded his face slightly with one hand. Only his eyes — calm, analytical — flickered behind the dust.
I created two illusionary clones. Sent them running wide. I changed position myself. Now only I knew where the real me was.
Stillness.
A second. Two. We waited. Choza stepped — fast — toward one of the clones. Struck — and his hand passed right through.
Then — the ground behind him bulged.
From underground, a shadow shot up. Swift, precise. A hand with a kunai.
Genma.
But — unexpected.
I didn't even see when he got there. In a flash, Choza's massive hand caught Genma's wrist. Like a claw closing on air. Sensei turned. His eyes remained calm. No anger. No emotion. Just cold, calculated certainty.
— Good plan, — he said quietly. — But you forgot I can sense chakra.
Damn. How were we supposed to know that?
Genma tried to break free — but sensei—
Time for my move.
I was already in motion.
While he was distracted with Genma — I had my window.
My feet slid across the ground. Everything inside surged — this was my one shot. I didn't attack directly this time. I threw shuriken — in an arc, crossing trajectories. A distraction. He turned his head slightly — and I jumped.
In mid-air — hand seals.
— Wind Style: Gale Burst!
Not at him — at the ground beneath me.
A blast of wind — and I shot forward like a bullet. Propelled straight into Choza's blind spot. Almost...
Then — his hand grabbed the back of my collar.
Like a steel hook. Locked.
I froze. My heart pounded like a drum.
— That was close, but... — he began.
— Kai! — I shouted, forming a seal.
It worked.
Flash. Explosion. About five meters away, the seal detonated. The ground trembled, dust rose in a column, and in that split second, his head instinctively turned toward the blast.
— Leaf Hurricane! — Guy's voice rang out.
And he was already there.
From the grass, low and fast, Guy sprang — foot in a sweeping arc, spinning sideways at wild speed. Sensei couldn't fully turn back in time — just managed to raise his arm for a block.
A dull thud.
Feeling his grip loosen, I tore free and rolled aside. At the same moment, Genma burst from the ground behind him.
We all froze.
Sensei straightened, glanced at the impact spot, brushed off his sleeve—
And smiled.
— So, you can think. And act. Not alone — together. You even fooled me... almost.
— That means you passed.
"We did it!" we shouted in unison.
Genma climbed out of the ground, brushing dirt from his clothes, clearly puzzled.
— Sensei, can I ask a question? — he said, standing up.
— Go ahead, — Choza nodded, squinting slightly.
— How did you stop me from moving when you let me go underground?
Sensei chuckled softly, clearly pleased.
— Earth manipulation, — he answered briefly.
— Well, you surprised me today. A fight like that deserves... nourishment.
— What do you mean? — Guy asked, confused.
— I mean, we eat. My treat. I know a great spot — Chioki's. Their meat noodles and dumplings are incredible. After all that technique and effort, your legs will be cramping from hunger soon.
We froze for a second, then all shouted:
— Yeah!
— Awesome!
— Sensei, you're a legend, — muttered Genma, rubbing his belly.
Choza laughed — loud and full-hearted.
— Enough chatter. Move out, Team Four. Today — noodles. Tomorrow — missions. And after that... who knows?