The next day, the weather was clear and the sun was bright.
Jokichi arrived at Training Ground 19 half an hour early.
This was a training site built in a dense forest. There were many thick trees and many open grassy areas. The sound of running water came faintly from the forest, likely from a river or similar place.
Jokichi felt the place looked familiar at first glance.
Thinking carefully, wasn't this the place where Naruto, after returning from training with Jiraiya, had his second bell-snatching battle with Sakura and Kakashi in the anime?
Such a large field...
Does he want to fight me for real to test my specific strength?
Jokichi folded his arms, resting his chin in his hand as he fell into deep thought.
Ryohei had long since stopped accompanying him in training. The Konoha higher-ups knew his general level, but only he himself knew the specifics.
If someone wanted to know his specific level, this opportunity was undoubtedly the best.
"Jokichi—"
Suddenly, Naruto's voice rang out from a distance.
Jokichi looked over and saw Naruto and Sakura arriving just in time.
"Good morning, Naruto, Sakura."
"Good morning, Jokichi."
After the three of them greeted each other, they started chatting.
They were mostly talking about this survival exercise.
Naruto was highly enthusiastic and eager to try, while Sakura asked about things to watch out for and how to cooperate later. From her expression and tone, it was clear she was worried and nervous.
Seeing this, Jokichi said some comforting words, which made Sakura feel much more secure.
After a while, around eight o'clock, Yamato arrived on time.
He looked at the group chatting and smiled, "It seems I am the last one to arrive."
"Not at all, the timing is just right."
Jokichi smiled and stood before Yamato, with Naruto and Sakura following suit.
"Yamato-sensei, let's start the survival exercise quickly. I can't wait," Naruto clenched his fists, eager to go.
Yamato looked at him, then at Sakura and Jokichi.
One was a bit nervous, while the other was calm with a faint smile.
Having registered their expressions, Yamato gained a general understanding of their mindsets and said to Sakura, "This is just a survival exercise to test your level and facilitate team cooperation in future missions. So, there is no need to be so nervous."
Sakura breathed a sigh of relief, then looked up at Yamato. "So, what do we need to do?"
"In terms of form, it is no different from the survival exercises in school, but..." Yamato paused and smiled. "In substance, there is a fundamental difference. You need to aim to kill me and attack with all your might. If you fail..." His smile seemed to become eerie and terrifying, and his voice turned chilly, "You will die."
Naruto and Sakura were startled, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
The effect of the intimidation seemed very good.
Yamato nodded with satisfaction, then his gaze landed on Jokichi.
Jokichi still maintained a calm smile, and there was even a trace of playfulness in his squinted eyes.
Yamato was very familiar with this look. In his years of executing missions in the Anbu, he had seen it many times. It was the mindset of someone with absolute confidence in themselves, certain that they were in control of the situation, like a spectator watching a play.
This guy...
Yamato's heart tightened, and his gaze became a bit more serious.
"Then, the survival exercise begins now."
As the words fell, Sakura vanished with a "whoosh," moving so fast she left only an afterimage, disappearing into the nearby bushes in an instant.
Hiding her presence, observing the enemy slowly, waiting for the enemy to show a flaw... She was indeed a top student who tied for first place in the written exam with Jokichi, perfectly executing the textbook instructions.
Yamato nodded with satisfaction, then his peripheral vision caught Naruto and Jokichi still standing in place.
Hmm?
Yamato froze and asked, "Why haven't you hidden yourselves?"
"Let's settle this in a head-on confrontation!" Naruto clenched his fists with full confidence.
This guy... Yamato's eyes seemed to twitch violently as he turned to Jokichi. "And you?"
"A newly graduated Genin trying to hide their tracks from a Jonin..." Jokichi chuckled. "That's not realistic. The experience gap is too large."
Jokichi remembered his actual combat training with Ryohei. At that time, he had hidden his tracks as the textbook instructed, but he was countered because of it, causing a battle that could have lasted longer to end instantly.
"Mhm, I was thinking the same thing," Naruto nodded in agreement from the side.
But looking at his blank expression, one could tell it was a lie; he probably didn't even understand what Jokichi meant.
Yamato had a bit of a headache.
A hot-blooded idiot, and a number one student who could see deeper into things but was unclear if he was just smart or had experience.
They are really hard to lead!
"Phew!"
Taking a deep breath, Yamato sighed, "Since none of you are hiding, let's begin. As your teacher, I won't take the first move."
"That's what you said! Don't regret it!"
Naruto shouted and charged forward with a kunai.
This guy isn't just stupid; he lacks common sense!
Yamato complained internally, but his body was not slow. He seemed nonchalant on the surface, but the moment Naruto got close, he immediately lowered his body, dodged the kunai, grabbed Naruto's collar, and threw him behind him.
"Ahhh..."
Naruto screamed as his body spun and fell into the thick tree canopies far away.
"Actually challenging a Jonin head-on, Naruto is such an idiot."
Sakura, observing from the nearby bushes, complained to herself. Then her gaze landed on Jokichi, who was still standing in place, and she couldn't help but feel anxious. "Why aren't you taking the chance to hide? After seeing Naruto's situation, are you still planning to challenge a Jonin head-on?"
Not just Sakura, even Yamato felt surprised.
He smiled and said, "You didn't take the chance to hide, nor did you take the chance to sneak attack. It seems you are very confident in yourself!"
"It's not confidence," Jokichi shook his head slightly. "I just understand the level of a Jonin. Dealing with an attack like Naruto's, which is full of redundant movements, is not enough to make you show a flaw. If I tried a sneak attack, I would only be dealt with as easily as Naruto."
"Although I heard from the Hokage that you received guidance from a Jonin, I didn't expect you to understand a Jonin's strength to this extent."
"Because his teaching was through actual combat."
As the words fell, Jokichi charged out, his speed so fast he looked like a phantom.
"So fast!"
Yamato's gaze sharpened, his body leaning forward slightly, muscles tensed, ready to erupt with full power in the shortest time.
"Whoosh, whoosh..."
Before the person arrived, the hidden weapons arrived first.
Six shuriken flew from Jokichi's hand—three on the left and three on the right—curving through the air from two directions towards Yamato.