Ⅰ
As the sunlight poured into my room, I was in the middle of preparing my things head down to the training field. While getting ready for the Survival Exercise, our Jounin, Asuma Sarutobi, advised us to bring all our Ninja tools and weapons to be prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead.
Taking his words to heart, I donned my gear, gathered my tools, and strapped on my katana. Everything was in place, and I needed to be there by six-thirty a.m. sharp—very early in the morning.
But then, as I was about to leave my room, I glanced back at my closet. I hesitated, unsure if I should bring that one item since I had only used it once in practice. But Uncle Asuma's words echoed in my mind, particularly when he emphasized the importance of being "prepared." With that in mind, I decided to grab it as well: the Hidden Blade.
Ever since the fight against Mizuki, I had been secretly studying how to use the blade in combat. I didn't want any of the clan members to see me using it in public; they might question how I had obtained it, especially with Mizuki's words lingering in my mind: "The very one wielded by our enemies who lurked in the shadows…" So, I practiced in secret, honing my skills away from prying eyes.
Knowing that the blade was primarily designed for stabbing, I wanted to see if it could also be used for slicing. I attempted to slice through a rolled-up straw with the Hidden Blade, but it only made a scrape and failed to cut through completely. From this, I could only use it to slice if I wanted to make a cut on an enemy's neck, though I only hoped I would never find myself in such a gruesome situation.
Regarding the blade's thickness, it could be used to block, but I doubted it could withstand a heavy strike from an opponent's weapon; I feared it might break in half under such impact.
Having this unique weapon in my hand, I also did a bit of research on the weapon, particularly the symbol engraved at the end of the blade. I tried my best to uncover its meaning, suspecting it might be linked to a specific shinobi clan. However, despite my efforts, I couldn't find anything definitive. There were also no records of the Hidden Blade being used by Konoha Shinobi or others, which only deepened the mystery surrounding it.
I wished I could get to the bottom of this, as I tend to be a bit stubborn about things that puzzle me. I wanted to uncover the truth as soon as possible, but I knew this question would haunt me until I did. For now, I need to head to the field and focus on the Survival Exercise. I should not keep the others waiting for me.
Ⅱ
When I arrived at the training field, Shikamaru, Chouji, and Ino were already there, waiting for me. Chouji was the first to notice my arrival.
"Morning, Darren" he greeted.
"Morning." I replied.
"What took you so long?" Ino asked, her arms crossed.
"Oh, I was trying to decide which equipment to bring. I wasn't sure how tough it would be, so I ended up bringing everything I had," I explained, showing her all the tools I'd packed.
"You brought a katana?" She asked, raising her eyebrow.
"Yeah." I nodded. "I had been practicing it for a long time, and it has been a part of me."
"I see," she mused, but then her gaze dropped to my left hand. "What's that?"
I followed her line of sight and realized she was pointing at the Hidden Blade. "Oh, this? It's a hidden blade."
"A hidden blade?" Ino tilted. As I mentioned the name of the weapon, both Shikamaru and Chouji turned their attention toward me.
"Yeah, that's what I call it, though I'm not sure what it's really called," I admitted.
"Wait, you don't know?" Shikamaru asked, eyebrows raised in curiosity.
"Well, I found it in my closet and did some research, but strangely… I couldn't find much information about it. There were no details of the weapon."
"That's weird…" Ino frowned.
"It is…"
Shikamaru scratched the back of his head, deep in thought. "A weapon with no records? That doesn't add up. There should be something, especially if you found it in your own house."
"Maybe this thing is super rare," I suggested. "That could explain why there were no details of it."
"Could be."
"So, how does it work?"Chouji asked, leaning in.
"It's quite simple. With a flick of your wrist, the small muscle movement will activate the mechanism, and the blade comes out." I demonstrated the motion, flicking my wrist with a swift movement. The Hidden Blade shot out, gleaming in the sunlight.
"Whoa!" Ino exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Pretty cool, right?" I grinned, retracting the blade back into its hidden position.
Shikamaru crossed his arms, a thoughtful look on his face. "So, it's more of a stealth weapon, then?"
"Supposedly. With not much information about it, I can say it's quite deadly when used to surprise an enemy." I remembered the day I first used it against Mizuki; he hadn't expected a concealed weapon to be hidden under my wrist. I didn't mention this to my friends, though—some things were better left unsaid, along with the promise I made to my grandpa regarding Naruto's identity.
"Interesting." Shikamaru rubbed his chin. "I don't know if we'll be allowed to use any weapons in this exercise. I kinda hope we don't." he stifled a yawn, covering his mouth. "Man, I'm so sleepy…"
As he yawned, the rest of us echoed his gesture.
We all nodded in agreement, feeling the sleepiness linger. We all nodded in agreement, feeling the sleepiness linger. We had asked why we had to come to the field so early, but he simply replied that it was necessary without providing any further explanation.
So far, we were the only ones at the field, and there was no sign of my uncle.
"Has… anyone seen my uncle arrive?" I asked.
They exchanged glances and shook their heads. "No."
"Okay," I said with a resigned sigh. We settled in to wait for his arrival, hoping he would show up soon.
Ⅲ
After three long hours of waiting under the blazing sun, my uncle has finally arrived.
"Good morning, everyone! Are you ready for the survival exercise?" he greeted us cheerfully.
We all glared at him as he sauntered to the center of the field. "YOU ARE VERY LATE!" we shouted in unison, frustration evident in our voices.
"Where have you been, Asuma-sensei?! We've been waiting for you!" Ino exclaimed, her tone a mixture of anger and bewilderment. My wonder was the same as Ino's. My uncle would never show up this late unless there was a reason for it.
"Well, I was still asleep. At home," he replied nonchalantly.
When we heard him say he was asleep, we all blinked in surprise.
"Asleep?" Ino asked.
Shikamaru groaned at the thought of our Jounin sleeping in while we had to get up early to be here at the training field. "Oh, come on…" he muttered.
"Aren't we supposed to be here at the field at 6:30 am?" Ino asked, her voice rising with incredulity.
"Yeah, but since I gave the orders, I don't have to follow them. A Jounin like me can do whatever I want," he said with a grin, clearly enjoying the moment.
Ino's face flushed with anger. The veins pulsing on her forehead clearly showed her growing rage. "That's so… unfair!"
"Unfair?" Uncle Asuma raised an eyebrow.
"There's no way a Jounin should treat his Genin like this! You should be ashamed of yourself!" Ino shot back, her tone fierce.
"Ashamed? Hmm…" he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Well, then. If I feel ashamed of mistreating you, then maybe… you are not ready to be a shinobi."
His tone turned cold, and Ino stared at him in disbelief, shocked by how quickly his demeanor had shifted.
"It isn't all fun and games when you become one, young lady. There's no fairness in this line of work, and whether you like it or not, we must do whatever it takes to get the job done—even if it means getting your hands dirty." He crossed his arms, looking so serious." So, if you think this is too much for you, I suggest you give up right now before you get yourself hurt. "
The weight of his words hung in the air, shifting the atmosphere dramatically. His blunt take on the harsh realities of being a shinobi made us all uneasy. We have learned back at the academy that being a shinobi isn't a joke; it can cost you your life if you're not prepared to face the hardships that come with it.
Understanding this, I glanced at Ino, wondering how she would respond. I watched as her expression shifted to one of fierce determination. Her hands clenched into fists, knuckles turning white as adrenaline coursed through her veins. Her fiery spirit flared as her eyes blazed with resolve. Pointing her finger at my uncle, she declared with confidence, "I'll show you that I am capable of being a shinobi, Asuma-sensei!" her voice was loud. "I will pass this exercise that will knock your sandals off!"
Her words resonated with us, and we all felt the same way. Calling this task a "Survival Exercise" was a way to make it sound easier than it was. In truth, it was the final exam to qualify as an official Genin. Among twenty-seven academy graduates, only nine would be accepted as Genin.
Knowing how high the failure rate is, I was determined to pass this exercise. The same could be said for Shikamaru and Chouji, who also displayed their resolve.
Neither of them was the type to willingly take on challenges, given their laid-back personalities. However, they understood that they had to step up when it came to proving themselves.
Seeing our collective determination to pass the survival exercise, Uncle Asuma smiled softly, amused by our resolve. "If you say so," he said. "But before we start, let me explain how this exercise works."
With that, he pulled out an alarm clock and placed it on a nearby tree trunk. "Okay, I've set the alarm for noon. You all have about two hours and thirty minutes to take this from me." He quickly pulled a small chain with a kanji symbol for fire (火) from his pouch and put it around his neck like a necklace.
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at the single item. "There are four of us, Asuma. Why is there only one?"
My uncle explained, "Well, as I already told Ino, there's no fairness in the life of a shinobi. Each of you will have to come up with your own strategy to take this from me. If you don't, none of you will become Genin. Also, weapons are allowed for this exercise, so do whatever it takes to achieve it."
We all exchanged glances, feeling the tension in the air. With only one item up for grabs, the competition was intense. This meant we would have to compete against each other to prove ourselves worthy of becoming Genin. But knowing there was just one item, it seemed unlikely that Team 10 could have only one Genin and one Jounin. Historically, there was no precedent for a team consisting of just one Genin and one Jounin. Recalling this, I couldn't help but wonder if his intention was to…
"Alright! Begin!" My uncle's sudden announcement snapped me back to reality as I watched my friends scatter and hide. Seeing them go, I quickly followed suit, determined to catch up and share my concerns about my uncle's intentions before we ended up in conflict over the item.
Ⅳ
I darted into the woods, where all my friends had gone into hiding. I quickly called them to come out once I went deep inside the forest.
"Shikamaru! Chouji! Ino!" My voice echoed through the trees, causing the branches to rustle. But there was no response. It was as if the forest had swallowed my shouts, leaving me alone in the silence.
I quickly activated my eagle vision, hoping to spot where they might be hiding. The world around me shifted, and the familiar forest took on a faint blue glow. Every tree and bush blended into the same hue, but there was no sign of Shikamaru, Chouji, or Ino—neither in the trees nor on the ground.
I stayed alert, listening for the faintest sounds or movements. It felt like I was a hunter tracking prey, though in this case, I was searching for my friends, not hunting them. Still, the method of careful observation remained the same.
"Hmm…" Each footstep I took was slow and steady. Scanning around my surroundings, I focused my vision to locate my missing friends. The forest seemed to hold its breath as if waiting for something to happen. But apart from the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze, there was only silence.
Suddenly, a snap of a twig echoed behind me. I spun around, hand on my weapon, ready for anything. But the forest remained still, the only movement a few leaves fluttering down. My heart raced, but I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm.
Just as I was about to turn back, I caught a shadow moving swiftly in the corner of my eye. Instinctively, I dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding a kunai aimed straight at me. I quickly raised my guard, turning to face the attacker. To my surprise, it was Ino who had thrown the kunai.
"Ino?!" I exclaimed, seeing her ready for another kunai. I quickly deactivated my ability and immediately tried to talk her down. "W-wait! There's no need for us to fight each other! My Uncle had put us into a—"
But before I could finish, a large impact struck me from the left, sending me flying toward the woods.
"AHHH!" I screamed as the sudden force hurled me through the air. I slowly got up, wincing from the impact, and looked to my left to see who had attacked. There stood Chouji, who had just used the Akimichi Hidden Clan Technique, the Partial Multi-Size Technique（部分倍加の術）on his right fist.
"C-Chouji?!" I blinked in disbelief, realizing that my portly friend had just attacked me. I could see his face was full of regret, but there was something else there too—like he felt he had no other choice.
As Ino and Chouji closed in, ready for another strike, I raised my voice in a desperate plea. "Stand down, both of you! There's another way to—"
But Ino cut me off as she quickly ran towards me, bringing out her punches and kicks. She was fast, and I quickly brought my guard up to block them all at once.
I caught a glimpse of her face—it mirrored Chouji's, but there was more determination, as if she was fully prepared to take me down.
I shoved her back, creating some distance between us. But then I saw Chouji's enlarged hand coming straight for me, trying to grab me. I quickly used the Body Replacement Jutsu (変わり身の術) just before he could reach me.
Once he took a hold of my decoy, I landed right above the tree, taking the high ground.
Ino's eyes shot up, locking on me. "Come down and fight!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the trees.
"But, Inoー"
"No buts!" she snapped, cutting me off. "You think I'm going to waste time listening to you? After everything I've done to become a shinobi, I won't back down. Even if it means taking down my friend."
Though hesitant, Chouji nodded in agreement. "She is right, Darren. We don't want to hurt you. But… if there's only one item to take from Asuma sensei and be accepted as a Genin, we have to settle this." he reiterated, his voice trailing off as he glanced between Ino and me.
I understood they didn't want to fight me, and I knew how hard it was for them. Taking down friends—people you've known for a long time—wasn't something anyone did easily. It weighed on them just as it weighed on me.
But I wanted them to see that we didn't need to do this. My uncle had set us up, making us fight each other without knowing his real intentions. I was the only one who understood what he was up to and wanted them to realize it too.
However, seeing that words alone weren't enough to persuade them, I had no choice but to do it the hard way: by fighting them to make them understand.
I slowly came down from the tree and settled into my stance—a stance I had learned from my grandpa that didn't rely on weapons. The Shadow Leap Monkey (影風猿), the foundational fighting style for all Sarutobi members, created by Sasuke Sarutobi (猿飛佐助), my great-grandfather.
This stance was all about agility, keeping me light on my feet and always ready to move. My knees were slightly bent, allowing me to spring into action at any moment, hopping from side to side like a monkey in motion. My arms were loose but poised, ready to block or counter, while my balance shifted constantly, ensuring I could react to any sudden attack with speed and precision.
I stayed alert as I watched the two of them prepare for their next move. They charged toward me, getting ready to take me down. Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself for whatever was coming.
Ⅴ
Dodging attacks from both Ino and Chouji felt almost effortless. Their kunai sliced through the air with precision, but I moved with the fluid grace of the Shadow Leap Monkey, evading their strikes as if it were second nature.
Minutes passed as we remained locked in an intense battle. The two were relentless in putting me down, but I stayed focused as I continued to dodge their attacks.
As I kept my footing and dodged their strikes, I began to notice a pattern in their movements. Ino struck with long, sweeping kicks, her stance balanced yet just out of reach. Meanwhile, Chouji pushed forward, using his size to close in, reaching out with both hands to trap me.
In other words, Chouji was aiming to box me in, forcing me into a tight space, while Ino circled around him, controlling the distance and cutting off my escape. It was a coordinated effort—Chouji trying to pin me down, and Ino waiting to strike whenever I was forced to move.
Quickly picking up on this rhythm, I took a step back as I began to adapt my tactics to counter their approach.
"Stop running away already!" Ino called out, her voice sharp with impatience. "What's wrong, Darren? I thought a Sarutobi wouldn't back down so easily!"
"Well… I didn't want to hurt you two that badly, Ino. And also…" I trailed off with a grin.
Before she could respond, my body puffed into smoke, vanishing from their sight. Both of them blinked in confusion, looking around frantically to find me.
Suddenly, I appeared right behind them, moving like a shadow. With a swift, calculated push, I sent them both stumbling in opposite directions.
"I have already figured out your moves." With that, I turned my focus to Ino, ready to take her on first. She may be fast with her legs, but she tended to extend her kicks just a bit too far, making it harder for her to keep her balance. Each time she lunged, I sidestepped, letting her momentum carry her forward. Her frustration grew every time I dodged her attack, and gradually, she started to become a bit reckless with her strikes.
Her movements were getting sloppy with each attempt. As she overextended with a right kick, I quickly swept her left leg out from under her, bringing her into a hold. She struggled to break free, but I quickly pulled out a rope and tried to tie her up.
Just then, Chouji's powerful swing forced me to retreat, making me release my grip on Ino. As I jumped back, he charged at me like a raging bull the moment I landed on my feet. His hand closed around my arm, and I felt the force he put into trying to pin me down.
But I wasn't about to let him win that easily. I slipped free from his grip and delivered a light, precise jab to his jaw—not enough to hurt him, but enough to make him stagger. As he stumbled, I rolled over his shoulder, looping the rope I'd tried to use on Ino around his wrist, bringing him to the ground.
With him taken care of, I looked back to where I'd last seen Ino. But she was gone. Instinctively, I activated my Eagle Vision, scanning the trees, expecting to spot her somewhere close. But she was nowhere in sight.
Then, without warning, a blinding flash flooded my vision, forcing my eyes shut against the sudden brightness. The effect was instant, reducing my sight to a painful blur as I shielded my face. I hadn't realized was that Eagle Vision amplified the intensity, doubling the impact of the flash bomb. The brightness burned into my vision, leaving spots of white and blurring my surroundings far worse than I'd anticipated.
Disoriented, I struggled to make sense of the flashes still dancing in my sight, but it was like trying to see through a storm of light. My head spun, and my balance faltered as I attempted to steady myself.
And then, before I could even process what was happening, I felt the weight of someone pinning me down. As my vision finally began to clear, I saw Ino's face close, a victorious smirk on her lips. I tried to move, but she had me firmly pinned beneath her. She'd used the flash bomb to throw me off and taken me down effortlessly.
"Gotcha," she whispered, her hands pressing my shoulders firmly into the ground, her smirk only growing as I struggled to move. "Not so quick now, are you?"
I tried to shift, but her hold was steady. Slowly, she raised her fist, clearly ready to deliver a finishing blow. But then, her expression faltered. Her smirk faded, and she froze in place.
I was confused when I noticed her stiffening as if something unseen had restrained her. She looked down at her hands in surprise, trying to move, but it was as if her body simply wouldn't respond. The tables had turned—but neither of us understood how or why.
Then, from a distance, a familiar lazy voice broke the silence, catching our attention. "Perfect timing to hold you down, Ino," the voice drawled. We both turned toward the sound, spotting Shikamaru with his hands forming the rat seal.
"Shikamaru?!" we exclaimed in unison, surprise clear in our voices.
"Where have you been?!" I soon asked.
"Hiding and waiting," he replied calmly. "I've been watching the whole time."
"Watching?! You could have stepped in if you were going to stop the fight!"
"I could," he admitted, "but my shadow possession jutsu can only hold one person at a time. I had to wait until either Chouji or Ino was out of the way."
"That… makes sense."
Ino looked frustrated as she struggled against his jutsu. As he continued to struggle, he slowly shook his head and sighed.
"Would you stop it, Ino?" he said firmly. "The more you fight it, the tighter my shadows will hold you."
"But Shikamaru!" Ino protested loudly. "You heard what Asuma-sensei said! Only one of us can be accepted as a Genin!"
"I know," Shikamaru replied, crossing his arms. "But think about it—there's no way Asuma would only let one of us become one. It defeats the whole purpose of this exercise."
Ino paused, her brow furrowing as she considered Shikamaru's words. "What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying we have been set up. Asuma-sensei wants to see if we can figure out what he really wants us to do."
"And what's that?" Ino asked.
"Teamwork," I replied. She then looked back at me as I continued. "Remember what he said? 'Each of you will have to come up with your own strategy to take this from me.' It might sound like he was telling us to act solo, but I think he was actually trying to mislead us on purpose, hoping we'd figure out the real goal."
Shikamaru nodded in agreement. "Exactly. From the start, you and Chouji fell right into Asuma's trap. If he really only wanted one of us to pass, why would Iruka even bother putting us on a team?"
Ino's expression softened, the frustration fading as she absorbed Shikamaru's words. With her tension easing, Shikamaru released his jutsu, letting her move freely. She got off me and offered a hand to help me up, giving me a small, apologetic smile.
"Guess I should've listened to you," she said, a touch of embarrassment in her voice.
"It's alright," I replied, brushing myself off. Ino smiled gently at me as I accepted her apology.
Shikamaru then walked over to Chouji, carefully untying the ropes and gently nudging him awake. Chouji blinked, looking a bit dazed at first, but after a quick shake of his head, he was back to himself. Shikamaru quickly explained what had just happened, and Chouji soon understood the real purpose behind my uncle's survival test.
"So... how are we going to do it?" Ino inquired.
"We need a plan," Shikamaru replied.
"Alright, but how do we make one?" Chouji added. "We don't even know how strong Asuma sensei is…"
"Relax, Chouji. We already have someone who could tell us about it."
"We do?"
"Yep." Shikamaru replied, then pointed in my direction.
"Me?"
"Yes, you." Shikamaru nodded. "Since Asuma is your uncle, I'm sure he had trained you. You probably know how strong he is and what he is good at."
"Hmm…" Now that he mentioned it, I did have a rough idea of how my uncle fights. Remembering the days I had sparred with him, I tried to piece together his fighting techniques and strategies. I could almost see his movements in my mind: the light footwork, the swift one-two jabs, and his clever use of misdirection. I had felt it first-hand during our sparring sessions—the way he'd keep me constantly on edge, never letting me find my footing.
As for his strength, being a close-combat fighter, he would easily overwhelm us if we tried to face him up close. But at mid-to-long range… we might stand a chance.
I looked back at Shikamaru and nodded as I organized my thoughts.
Shikamaru grinned softly and motioned for us to crouch down. Once I shared what I knew about my uncle's strength, we began discussing our strategy. As we focused on forming a plan, I started to feel like we were truly becoming a team.