A week of non-stop D-rank missions and near-daily training had passed. In that time, our team managed to complete thirteen assignments — not bad for a bunch of rookies. The work wasn't exactly prestigious, but it was steady: we hauled cargo, cleaned parks, looked after pets, helped out in archives... And even though it sometimes felt like endless routine, there was a sense that we were growing stronger, learning to function as a unit.
Most importantly — I had managed to save a bit over forty thousand ryō. Not bad at all for a genin without family or connections in the HQ. It wasn't enough to live lavishly, but finally, I could start thinking about some serious gear.
"Sensei should be back by now," Genma said, adjusting his headband. "Maybe we'll finally get a higher-ranked mission?"
"I doubt it," I shook my head. "He'll probably want to rest after the mission, not drag us around the mountains."
"We should ask him to train us," Gai suggested. "Better than cleaning sewers again."
"You want training?" a familiar voice said behind us.
We spun around — Chōza-sensei stood in the shadow of the wall, wearing his usual calm half-smile.
"How long have you been eavesdropping?" Genma asked, a hint of awkwardness in his voice.
"Couple of seconds," he shrugged. "But if you're that eager — let's go. Training Field Four. I'll put you through some paces. I've been on a mission all week and won't always be around, but right now, I've got some time."
We started moving. As we walked, Chōza added with a slightly more serious tone:
"I spoke with another sensei who gave me a solid piece of advice. Before we work on team coordination, we need to look at each of you individually. Understand your strengths and weaknesses. So today — sparring. One-on-one."
"With each other?" Gai asked, clearly excited.
"No. With someone who'll show you your limits. Who better than an opponent who outclasses you?" Chōza grinned.
Just then, we arrived at the training field. Silence, dust underfoot, and clearly marked combat zones — all in place.
"We'll start with you, Kotetsu," sensei said calmly, pointing at me. "The rest of you — watch and learn. We'll discuss afterward."
Why me first? I thought, but decided to ask.
"Fewer questions," he waved off my look. "Get into position."
I stood opposite him. He hadn't changed — calm as ever, like a motionless mountain. He didn't even draw a weapon.
"Kotetsu, ready?" his voice rang out.
"Yes!" I replied, chakra surging through my limbs.
"Begin," came the short command.
Without hesitation, I launched the first move — shuriken hidden in my sleeves flew toward the target in a clean, synchronized volley.
Poof!
A rock dropped to the ground with a dull thud — a substitution technique. I was already expecting a trick and immediately scanned the perimeter — right… left… above?
Then — a voice:
"Earth Style: Mud Wave!"
My eyes shot toward the sound. Chōza was standing off to the side, hands on the ground. The earth trembled — and in the next second, he formed more hand signs:
"Earth Style: Swamp!"
The ground turned treacherous beneath me, softening instantly and pulling at my legs. I tried to leap away — but I was already losing balance. Mid-air, I quickly formed hand signs — substitution jutsu!
Poof!
The moment my feet hit solid ground, I knew it wasn't over. And I was right — the earth beneath me began to cave again.
"Underground Decapitation Technique…"
Another substitution — just in time. The ground where I had stood caved in, and Chōza emerged from it, dusting himself off and smirking ten meters away.
I was breathing hard, my face tight with strain. He… wasn't even sweating.
"Well done, Kotetsu," his voice was calm. "But let's see how you handle close combat."
He moved — instantly. I knew I wouldn't last in close range. I had to stop him.
Hand signs:
"Wind Style: Great Gust!"
A blast of air surged from my mouth, tearing through everything in its path. But Chōza, as if anticipating it, raised an earth shield. The wind hit it and scattered. A second later, he was already within reach. He pierced through the air barrier. A strike — sharp and powerful — I couldn't dodge in time. I was thrown back.
I tried to rise — but he was already above me, fist poised.
"If this were real, you'd be dead twenty times over," he said calmly and withdrew his hand.
I forced myself to sit up, clutching my side and gasping for air. My whole body throbbed — especially my ribs. He wasn't joking, even if he wasn't going all-out.
"Go rest," he said shortly, casting a quick but attentive look at me. "You held your ground well."
I nodded and slowly moved aside so I wouldn't get in the way of the next match.
"Hey, Genma." Sensei turned to him with a squint. "You're up. Don't zone out."
"Heh, guess it's time to see what a Chōza-style lesson feels like…" Genma muttered, rising and spinning a kunai loosely in his fingers.
"Gai, don't relax. You're next," Chōza added, already shifting into a battle stance.
I sat down nearby, wiping sweat from my forehead, replaying the fight over and over in my mind.
Genma stepped into the field, twirling his kunai lazily, but the focus in his eyes betrayed his true readiness. Chōza-sensei stood calmly, showing no intent to strike first.
"Begin," the sensei said again, short and firm.
Genma didn't waste a moment — he hurled kunai from both hands and sprinted to flank him. But Chōza didn't move. One kunai bounced off an invisible barrier — Earth Style: Reinforced Plate. The other… disappeared? No — Chōza deflected it without even glancing.
Genma was already behind him, leaping in for a blind spot strike — but Chōza leaned just slightly, and Genma missed. Instantly — a grab, a twist — and Genma hit the ground hard.
"Crude, but it would've worked on a regular opponent," sensei noted, releasing him and stepping back.
Genma rolled and sprang up. "You won't catch me that easily…"
He formed hand signs and slammed his fist into the ground — Earth Style: Stone Shards! Sharp spikes burst from the earth toward Chōza.
He smiled faintly and made one seal — Earth Style: Four-Sided Wall.
"Try getting closer if you want to break the defense," Chōza's voice echoed.
Genma scowled. He knew time was short — sensei was prepping a counter. He charged in.
An explosion knocked Genma several meters back. He barely stayed on his feet, coughing from the dust, but still standing.
"That's enough," Chōza said, walking closer. "You use techniques well and think fast, but you lack restraint. Sometimes it's better to wait than rush in blindly."
"Yeah, yeah…" Genma muttered, catching his breath. "Earth versus Earth — not the smartest matchup."
"Gai, ready?" sensei turned.
Genma limped over to me and sat down heavily.
"Does he ever get tired?" he whispered, clutching his side.
Gai stepped onto the field, eyes blazing with excitement. He rolled his shoulders, bounced on his feet, and took a fighting stance.
"I'm ready, sensei!" he declared confidently.
"Begin."
In a flash, Gai dashed forward. His speed was impressive — a twisting strike, rapid punches, then a powerful kick to the midsection. He attacked relentlessly.
But Chōza didn't budge. His eyes calmly tracked Gai's every move. He leaned away from a punch, caught the second, blocked the kick with his forearm, and sidestepped the whole combo.
"You swing too wide," he said evenly, deflecting another hit.
Gai growled, jumped in for a knee strike. But Chōza stepped into it — and suddenly flipped behind him, using a perfect hip throw.
"What?!" Gai didn't even realize what happened before hitting the ground.
He landed hard, but jumped up instantly, biting his lip. Without giving up, he charged again — faster, more aggressive — trying to confuse the sensei with feints and fake-outs.
But it was no use. Step by step, Chōza disrupted his rhythm, blocked key strikes, and then, seizing an opening, landed a precise combo — shoulder, solar plexus, then a sweep. Gai crashed to the ground again, pinned by a firm elbow.
"You're strong, Gai," Chōza said, holding him. "You've got speed, power, determination. But you rely too much on brute force. Without precision, it's just a storm without direction."
Gai panted heavily but nodded, still pinned.
"Understood… Sensei…"
Chōza let him go, helped him up, and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Well, I think it's time to summarize," he said, glancing over us with a calm, assessing look. "Kotetsu, we'll start with you."
He crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly:
"Your problem is that you rely too heavily on technique. Your chakra control is solid, your reflexes are sharp, and you use jutsu wisely — that's a big strength. But when things don't go as planned or your opponent acts unpredictably, you lose momentum.
You plan in steps, but sometimes, you have to feel the flow of the fight. Not every battle goes according to plan. You need to learn to improvise."
He turned to Genma:
"Genma, you've got a good set of techniques and know when to use them. But you're too used to fighting 'by the book' — clean, precise, textbook style. The problem is, in real combat, things rarely go that way.
You lack adaptability. Sometimes you need to be rougher, simpler, faster."
"Gai. You were the best in close combat. You've got speed, strength, and decisiveness. But… you charge in without calculating..."