The next day, the weather was perfect.
The sun shone brightly, and the sky was clear.
Kuro arrived at Training Ground 19 half an hour earlier than agreed.
This field was located in a dense forest, surrounded by tall trees and an open meadow in the center. Among the trees, the soft sound of a stream flowing in the distance could be heard.
When he first saw this place, he felt a strange sense of familiarity.
Isn't this the same place where Naruto had his second bell battle with Sakura and Kakashi after returning from his training with Jiraiya?
Such a spacious area full of possibilities… Perfect for testing real strength, he nodded as he crossed his arms and touched his chin, lost in thought.
Lian had stopped training with him a long time ago.
For a while now, Konoha's superiors had known his approximate level. However, only he knew precisely what he was capable of.
This survival exercise seemed like the ideal opportunity to reveal his true strength.
"Kuro!" Naruto's shrill voice echoed in the distance.
Kuro turned his head and saw Naruto and Sakura approaching quickly.
"Good morning, Naruto. Good morning, Sakura."
"Good morning, Kuro!"
"Good morning, Kuro."
After greeting each other, the three began chatting.
The main topic of conversation was the survival drill.
Naruto was excited, eager to start and prove himself in the exercise. Sakura, on the other hand, was a bit nervous, asking Kuro about strategies and how they could coordinate better.
Kuro noticed her unease and, with a calm tone, offered a few words of encouragement. His comments made Sakura relax a bit, letting out a sigh of relief.
Around eight o'clock, Yamato arrived punctually.
He observed the three chatting and, with a smile, commented, "It seems I'm the last to arrive."
"Last?" Kuro replied calmly, "I would say you arrived just on time."
Naruto and Sakura approached with Kuro, ready to listen to his instructions.
"Yamato-sensei! Please, let's start right away. I can't wait any longer!" Naruto clenched his fists with enthusiasm.
Yamato looked at him with a calm expression, then turned his gaze to Sakura and Kuro.
Sakura was clearly nervous, while Kuro maintained a serene smile. There was even a glimmer of amusement in his narrowed eyes.
After evaluating the three's expressions, he directed his attention to Sakura:
"This is just a survival exercise to test your level and improve cooperation in future missions. There's no need to be nervous."
Sakura nodded, releasing some of the accumulated tension.
"So, what should we do?" she asked.
"The format isn't different from the academy survival drill," Yamato replied, pausing before continuing, "But in essence, it's entirely different. You must attack me with all your strength, with the goal of killing me."
Naruto and Sakura looked at him in astonishment.
"If you fail..." Yamato let his smile turn unsettling as his tone grew cold, "you'll die."
!
Naruto and Sakura stepped back, their bodies trembling at the threat.
The effect was clear: Yamato had managed to scare them enough to take the drill seriously.
However, when his eyes landed on Kuro, he noticed something different.
Kuro still displayed the same relaxed smile as if nothing had happened. He even seemed to be enjoying the situation.
That look...
He recognized that expression. He had seen many ANBU with the same look during his years of service: absolute self-confidence, as if they already knew how everything would end.
It's like he's watching a play.
His heart tensed, and his expression grew more serious as he looked at Kuro.
This boy...
"Then, the survival drill begins... now."
As soon as he finished speaking, Sakura moved with surprising speed.
Her figure seemed to vanish, leaving barely a trace of her presence, and in the blink of an eye, she was already hidden among the grass not far away.
Hide your position, observe the enemy patiently, and wait for them to make a mistake...
Sakura was executing textbook instructions perfectly, something expected of someone who had tied with Kuro for first place in the written exam.
Yamato observed her performance with satisfaction, but then he noticed out of the corner of his eye that Naruto and Kuro were still standing motionless in the same spot.
Huh?
Yamato raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why aren't you hiding?"
"Because I'm going to face him head-on!" Naruto shouted, clenching his fists confidently.
This boy...
Yamato's eyes twitched slightly. Then he looked at Kuro.
"And you?"
Kuro smiled, crossing his arms.
"Hiding from a Jonin? That makes no sense. The difference in experience is too great."
He recalled the training sessions he'd had with Lian. At first, he'd followed textbook instructions, hiding his position and waiting for the opponent to make a mistake.
But in the end, Lian had easily detected him and defeated him even faster.
"Yeah, I think so too," Naruto nodded as well.
But the confused expression on his face gave him away. It was evident he didn't fully understand what Kuro meant.
Yamato sighed deeply.
An impulsive idiot and a strategist who can see beyond appearances... Though I can't tell if he's smart or just experienced.
This will be difficult!
"Alright, alright..." Yamato said patiently. "If you don't want to hide, we'll begin. As your teacher, I can't take the initiative."
"You said it! Don't regret it!" Naruto shouted as he pulled out a kunai and ran straight at Yamato.
It's not that you're stupid, you just lack common sense... Yamato thought as his body reacted automatically.
Although he appeared careless, the instant Naruto got close, Yamato lowered his center of gravity, dodged the kunai, grabbed him by the neck, and threw him back forcefully.
"Ahhh!"
Naruto screamed as he flew through the air, landing among the treetops.
From her hiding spot, Sakura watched in frustration.
"Naruto is a complete idiot. How can he face a Jonin head-on like that?" she murmured as her eyes landed on Kuro. "And you? Why are you still there? You should hide or look for an opportunity! Are you really going to challenge him directly after what just happened to Naruto?"
Even Yamato couldn't help but feel slightly annoyed at Kuro's lack of action.
"You didn't try to hide or attack secretly. It seems you have too much confidence in yourself," he said with a slight tone of reproach.
"It's not confidence," Kuro replied calmly, shaking his head. "It's that I understand the level of a Jonin. What you did with Naruto was too basic; you didn't even need to expose your weaknesses. If I tried a stealth attack now, it would be just as useless. You'd take me out easily."
Yamato's eyes gleamed with interest.
"Hokage-sama mentioned that you received training from a Jonin, but I didn't expect you to understand the power difference so well."
"Because his training was practical," Kuro replied with a faint smile.
Before Yamato could fully process those words, Kuro launched an attack. His speed was impressive, almost ghostly.
He's fast! Yamato thought, tensing his body to the maximum and preparing to respond at any moment.
Before Kuro reached his range, a group of concealed weapons flew out of his hands.
Six shurikens traveled in perfect arcs—three to the left and three to the right—advancing in two directions toward Yamato.
________
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