NARUTO: Ninja World Scientific Revolution

The evaluation for becoming a Jonin in Konoha is exceptionally rigorous. It can be said that no Jonin in the village has an obvious weakness. Whether it's reconnaissance, combat skills, or ninjutsu, Konoha's Jonin hold significant influence within the village. They form the backbone of Konoha, even having the authority to propose suggestions regarding village policies. 

Though Hyuga Mirai and his teammates quickly concealed themselves, none of the three possessed proficiency in ninjutsu. Thus, their probing could only rely on shuriken and explosive tags. However, Akimichi Fuu didn't give them any chance to set traps. Considering this, it seemed unlikely that the three of them, even at full strength, could force Fuu to take them seriously. 

"If we want to improve our evaluation score in Fuu's eyes, the key lies in Kurenai Yuhi's genjutsu," Hyuga Mirai thought, crouching in the shadows. He didn't believe Kiyo Hyuga's Gentle Fist technique could pose much threat to a Jonin. Instead, their best strategy was for Kiyo and himself to create an opportunity for Kurenai's genjutsu. If the illusion were successful, Kiyo might stand a slim chance of turning the tide. 

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! 

A volley of shuriken and kunai flew out from the forest, sealing off every escape route for Akimichi Fuu. 

"Not bad shuriken-throwing technique, though a bit rushed," Fuu commented to himself, quickly assessing the situation. Except for retreating, all other escape paths had been cut off. Considering their age, their shuriken skills had surpassed those of an average Genin. 

Still, such a level didn't pose much threat to a Jonin like him. After all, how could a Jonin's pride allow them to be driven back by mere shuriken from students? 

Swiftly, Fuu reached into his pouch and drew a kunai. With practiced ease, he deflected the incoming shuriken with a series of clangs and strikes. But then, his sharp eyes noticed something unusual about three particular kunai. 

The handles were emitting smoke. 

Boom! 

An explosion erupted as the concealed explosive tags detonated, enveloping Fuu's position in fire and smoke. 

Moments later, however, a figure leapt from the smoke, unharmed. Of course, three mere explosive tags weren't enough to defeat a Jonin. Despite Hyuga Mirai's clever tactic of wrapping the explosive tags around kunai and concealing them with black paper, the smoke emitted before detonation gave them away—an unavoidable flaw. 

"Behind me!" 

Having escaped the explosion, Fuu instantly sensed someone closing in from behind. A quick glance revealed it was Hyuga Mirai. 

"Take this!" 

Hyuga Mirai hurled shuriken mixed with a smoke bomb toward Fuu. The smoke bomb was meant to obscure his vision, while the shuriken ensured Fuu couldn't simply ignore the distraction. With two members of the Hyuga clan on the team, using a smoke bomb actually gave them an advantage. 

This Hyuga boy is a competent ninja! Fuu thought, silently impressed. 

Wasting no time, he formed a series of rapid hand seals. In the blink of an eye, he unleashed a ninjutsu. 

"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!" 

A surge of water shot from Fuu's mouth, instantly striking down the shuriken and smoke bomb while surging toward Hyuga Mirai. 

Bang! 

The area within dozens of meters was shrouded in a misty haze as Hyuga Mirai used a substitution jutsu to evade Fuu's attack. 

"Interesting. Despite being skilled in Fire and Earth Release, he chose to use Water Release," Hyuga Mirai muttered with a sly grin as he tossed a signal shuriken toward Kiyo Hyuga's hiding spot. 

Smoke bombs may obscure the vision of ordinary individuals, but for the Hyuga Clan, they serve as an invaluable advantage. Kiyo Hyuga's veins bulged around her eyes as she activated her Byakugan, charging swiftly into the smoke. Through her enhanced vision, Akimichi Fuu's figure was clear as day. 

However, her movements were far too conspicuous. Kiyo's direct charge completely undermined Hyuga Mirai's strategy. Even if Akimichi Fuu, as a Jonin, couldn't see her, he could certainly hear her approach. 

Hyuga Mirai frowned slightly and shook his head. He had already done everything he could. From this point on, his role would be limited to observing the battle unfold. 

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

The sound of fists and kicks clashing echoed through the smoke. Observing through his Byakugan, Hyuga Mirai clearly saw the exchange between Kiyo and Fuu. Although Kiyo's Gentle Fist was formidable, her strikes producing gusts of wind with each movement, Akimichi Fuu's Taijutsu was no less impressive. Even with his vision obscured by the smoke, Kiyo failed to gain the upper hand in her ambush. 

When the smoke finally cleared, Kiyo was already at a disadvantage. Her Taijutsu, while skilled, fell short of matching a Jonin's capabilities, even one whose strength lay primarily in Ninjutsu. 

Hyuga Mirai joined the fray, easing some of the pressure on Kiyo. However, she quickly sensed something was amiss—the person beside her was not Mirai. 

*Swish! Swish!*

Two kunai flew toward them from a distance. Akimichi Fuu's sharp eyes caught the faint smoke trailing from the handles. Alarmed, he glanced at Kiyo and Mirai nearby. 'Are they planning to blow up their teammate? Or do they simply not care?' 

In a split second, Fuu made his decision, shifting his position to deflect the incoming kunai. 

But that left him vulnerable. 

"Genjutsu: Hell Viewing Technique!" 

A voice echoed in Fuu's ears. He immediately realized he was in trouble. As his surroundings morphed, he saw Kurenai Yuhi in the distance, waving at him with the same expression Hyuga Mirai had shown earlier during their introductions. 

--- 

After the test concluded, Akimichi Fuu seemed more at ease. The evaluation had surprised him, especially Hyuga Mirai's tactical awareness. Although it was the trio's first time working together, their cooperation was sufficient to challenge most Chunin-level opponents. 

"The test was satisfactory," Fuu remarked calmly. "For your first time working as a team, your coordination was impressive. You've already surpassed most Chunin. Moving forward, aside from completing village missions, I will provide specialized training tailored to each of your strengths." 

He then critiqued each participant's performance, including Hyuga Mirai's. While Mirai demonstrated solid tactical planning, his offensive capabilities were limited. Moreover, ceasing his actions after Kurenai's Genjutsu took effect was reckless; as their leader, Fuu had not called an end to the test. This lapse, Fuu emphasized, was a significant flaw. 

As for Kiyo and Kurenai, their issues stemmed purely from inexperience—a problem that missions and training could address. Satisfied with his assessment, Fuu concluded, "That's all for today. Assemble tomorrow at nine in front of the Hokage Hall." With that, he disappeared in a flash. 

After Fuu left, Hyuga Mirai finally spoke. "So, he really was a genuine Jonin. I thought it might have been a shadow clone. Our teamwork wasn't bad, though." 

Kurenai grinned. "Yeah, I managed to land a Genjutsu on a Jonin for the first time! Even if it only lasted two seconds." Her crescent-shaped eyes sparkled with joy, her excitement evident. 

"But we still didn't win," Kiyo remarked, her tone tinged with frustration. 

"Lady Kiyo," Mirai said, trying to comfort her, "he's a Jonin. Just being able to gain the upper hand for a moment is impressive." 

"Why don't we celebrate forming our team with a yakiniku dinner?" Kurenai suggested suddenly. 

"Yakiniku?" Mirai's mouth watered at the thought. He had often told himself to treat himself to something nice, but his rigorous training schedule left little time for indulgences. It had been over six months since he'd properly enjoyed a good meal. 

Kiyo, tempted by the idea, quickly agreed. "Alright, let's do it." Noticing Mirai's hesitation, she added, "I'll cover your share." 

"Thank you, Lady Kiyo!" 

"In the team, just call me Kiyo. Save the formalities for when we're back with the clan." 

(End of Chapter)