Outside the cave, Hiruzen led his three disciples to a high vantage point where the wind howled and the landscape stretched far into the distance.
Originally, the young generation had been sent to the Sand Village for an exchange program. However, due to the Shukaku's riot, both villages had been too preoccupied to arrange anything official. Still, the trip had not been in vain. Not only had the three of them become the Hokage's disciples, but they had also gained valuable insights into Shukaku's techniques.
Now, as they neared the rank of Jonin, Hiruzen knew that once they returned to Konoha, his responsibilities would likely to keep him busy to personally train them. He wanted to use this time to guide them while he still could.
Finding a large stone, Hiruzen sat down and addressed them, "You three represent the best of Konoha's new generation. Accepting you as my disciples is a proof of your talent. But as your sensei, I have the responsibility to guide you properly"
"You're all at a critical stage—on the path to becoming a Jonin. You're still young, just twelve or thirteen, but the decisions you make now will shape your futures. So tell me—what are your plans for your ninjutsu development? Shinku, you go first."
Shinku's expression turned serious, "Sensei, I have a unique perspective on genjutsu. I want to specialize in it completely. I believe that in a battle, a well-placed illusion can end a fight instantly."
"Regardless of whether an opponent is physically strong or weak, their mind remains a universal vulnerability. Genjutsu affects all types of ninja equally—whether they specialize in taijutsu or ninjutsu."
"Some experienced shinobi can break free quickly, but that's just a battle of skill and knowledge. Ultimately, I see the genjutsu as the most powerful tool in combat, and that's the path I intend to follow."
Hiruzen nodded thoughtfully.
"Alright," he said. "Show me. Cast an illusion on me."
Shinku formed a series of hand seals.
"Sensei, I apologize in advance," he said.
Then, he activated Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death.
In an instant, Hiruzen found himself bound to a massive tree, thick vines slithering around his body. As he looked up, he saw Shinku perched on a branch, staring down at him.
He didn't break free immediately. Instead, he calmly analyzed the illusion from within.
"This technique was originally developed by the First Hokage," Hiruzen remarked within the illusion. "Its purpose was to trick the enemies into believing they were fighting a Wood Release user.
"The idea is that, since the First Hokage was the only person in history capable of using Wood Release, the enemy would be momentarily paralyzed by fear. They'd wonder—'Am I actually facing the First Hokage? Or Does the enemy have a Wood Release user on their side?' This moment of hesitation is the illusion's true strength."
He paused, then continued critically, "But in your version, there are flaws."
"First, I can still feel the evening breeze against my skin."
"Second, the air carries the scent of dust and sweat from our long journey."
"Third, I can faintly hear the breathing of Sakumo and Naoto nearby."
"These inconsistencies make me question whether this is real and the moment a shinobi realizes they're under genjutsu, breaking free from it would becomes much easier."
With that, Hiruzen effortlessly dispelled the illusion and returned to reality.
"The goal of genjutsu isn't to trap your enemy in a grand illusion but it's to deceive them. It should create doubt, force them to do mistakes, and lead them to make the wrong decisions. A flashy illusion won't win you the fight if your opponent can immediately tell it's fake."
Shinku's face reddened with embarrassment, but he nodded, absorbing the lesson.
Hiruzen continued, "Your technique relies too much on visual deception. While sight is the primary way people perceive the world, the other senses are just as important. The more immersive your genjutsu is—touch, smell, hearing—the more effective it will be."
He then glanced at Sakumo, "Now, let's expose another weakness of genjutsu. Sakumo, spar with Shinku."
Sakumo stepped forward and bowed slightly. Hiruzen motioned for Naoto to step aside with him, leaving the two to face each other.
Shinku and Sakumo exchanged the seal of confrontation before the match began.
Shinku immediately began forming hand seals—but before he could complete them, Sakumo flash forward with incredible speed.
Forced to abandon his technique, Shinku activated the Body Flicker Technique to retreat. He landed a few meters away and quickly reached for his shuriken, launching them at Sakumo.
However, Sakumo blocked them effortlessly, closing the distance again.
Once more, he attempted to form seals, but again, Sakumo was too fast. He dodged and retreated, but he was about to realize the problem—he couldn't cast his genjutsu if his opponent kept pressuring him.
Seeing that there's no other choice, he pulled out more shuriken, this time attaching explosive tags to them. With a flick of his wrist, he sent them flying toward Sakumo.
This time, Sakumo's vision was obscured by the smoke from the exploding tags. He didn't have time to interrupt Shinku's hand seals.
Seizing the opportunity, Shinku swiftly completed his jutsu and cast an illusion on Sakumo. However, to his shock, Sakumo didn't stop his attack—his blade continued its downward arc, slashing straight toward him.
Hiruzen reacted instantly, using ninjutsu to pull Shinku out of danger.
Shinku, still shaken, turned to Sakumo. "You weren't affected by my illusion?"
Sakumo stood calmly, sheathing his sword, "I was under the illusion," he admitted. "But your position didn't change. For a swordsman, as long as I lock onto my target, I don't need my eyes to keep my course."
Hiruzen stepped in, "Shinku, do you see your weakness now? Genjutsu is powerful, but it has its own limits. Against a high-speed opponents, you may not have time to cast it. And even if you succeed, they can still attack if their muscle memory carries them forward."
Shinku lowered him head, processing the lesson.
"You can specialize in genjutsu, but you can't rely on it alone," Hiruzen continued. "Ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu—they're all just tools. The best ninja know how to use them together to win the battles."
Sakumo furrowed his brows, "But sensei, at the Academy, we were taught to focus on what we're best at. If we spread ourselves too thin, wouldn't we just become average at everything? I believe in my sword because think I can defeat any kind of ninja with it."
Hiruzen sighed, "Sakumo, you're a special Jonin now. You should understand what it truly means to be a Jonin."
"A Jonin isn't just a skilled fighter—they are the elite of their village, the backbone of their nation's military. Intelligence, adaptability, leadership—these qualities matter just as much as your skills in the battlefield"
"In Konoha, we emphasize balance. Have you ever met a Jonin who only knew kenjutsu? Or one who relied solely on genjutsu? True strength isn't about specializing in one thing—it's about knowing how to counter whatever comes on your way."
Looking at Sakumo's unshakable confidence, Hiruzen knew it was time to humble him. He had to teach him this lesson now—before his unwavering belief in his own strength led him to tragedy.
"Sakumo," Hiruzen said, his voice unreadable, "attack me. I'll show you how a Jonin truly fights."
Sakumo's heart pounded with excitement. It wasn't often that he had the chance to spar with a Kage-level shinobi. He stepped forward, stopping ten meters away from Hiruzen.
After exchanging the seal of confrontation, Sakumo dashed forward with blinding speed, his sword gleaming.
As Sakumo's blade neared him, Hiruzen simply reached out, caught his wrist, and effortlessly flung him aside.
"Again," Hiruzen commanded.
Sakumo got up and attacked once more, but no matter how fast or sharp his strikes were, he never came close. Hiruzen countered his every move with seemingly effortless precision, throwing him back time and time again.
Growing frustrated, Sakumo's grip tightened on his sword. A faint blue aura began to flicker around him—the essence of Wind Release that he had learned from the Sand Village.
With this enhancement, his speed doubled as he lunged again. Still, it was useless.
Before he could land a single blow, Hiruzen read his movements and knocked him away like a child.
This continued for several rounds until, finally, Hiruzen lost patience. With a burst of strength, he slammed Sakumo hard onto the ground.
"Enough," he said firmly.
Sakumo staggered to his feet, dazed, staring at his sensei in disbelief.
Hiruzen studied him for a moment, then sighed. Am I being too harsh? He wondered. Perhaps I'm too affected by what I know of his future…
But no—this lesson was necessary. Sakumo was still just a 15-year-old boy. If he didn't learn now, his unwavering belief in his sword would one day become his own downfall.
Hiruzen thought for a moment, then came up with a way to make them all understand.
He walked a few steps away and used his foot to draw a long, winding path in the dirt—about 200 meters long. Along the path, he scattered obstacles: rocks, logs, uneven terrain, and puddles.
Then, he called his three disciples forward.
"This path represents your journey as shinobi," Hiruzen explained. "Each of you will take a different approach to reach the end."
"Shinku, you may only move forward on one leg."
"Sakumo, you may only run forward—no jumping, no dodging."
"Naoto, you may move however you like, as long as you stay on the path."
"Now, go."
Naoto Mitarashi was the fastest. He jumped over the puddles, maneuvered around the rocks, climbed over obstacles, and reached the finish line with ease.
Shinku, hopping on one leg, struggled but made progress. However, when he reached the puddle, he couldn't leap over it with just one foot. The logs and rocks also proved difficult to cross, slowing him down.
Sakumo, bound by his restriction, ran straight ahead. He tripped in the puddle, fell, crashed through the logs, and had to physically move the stones out of the way. By the time he reached the end, he was bruised, soaked, and covered in dirt.
The three of them looked at each other, confused about the purpose of the exercise.
That's when Hiruzen spoke.
"If this path represents your ninja way, then the obstacles represent the challenges you'll face in life. If you rely on only one method, like running or hopping on one leg, you'll struggle against anything unexpected. You'll either fall behind or fail entirely."
He paused, making sure his words sank in.
"You can become strong by specializing in one area. But you cannot become an excellent ninja that way."
"A shinobi who dabbles in everything but masters nothing will be well-rounded, but not exceptional."
"But a shinobi who specializes in one path while also being proficient in others?" Hiruzen smiled. "That shinobi can not only become excellent—but even greater"
He looked at his students, his voice steady and wise. "The path of a ninja is endless. True strength isn't about clinging to one skill—it's about being prepared for anything. No matter what obstacles appear in front of you, you should never let it stops you from moving forward."
His words struck deep, settling in their hearts like seeds that would one day grow into guiding principles.
It was a lesson that they would carry with them for the rest of their lives and in time, it would spread beyond them, shaping the philosophy of countless future shinobi.