Chapter 26: Team Practice

The next day, Kurenai-sensei said something that caused frowns to occur on the trio's face.

"Congratulations, you all have effectively graduated and become full-fledged shinobis."

Her smile and the sincere look in her crimson eyes portrayed the seriousness of the situation. As expected, to quell the rising questions in the minds of the trio, she continued with a smile.

"You three should know that passing the graduation exam means nothing if you fail to impress your Jounin Senseis. Of course, you three were skilled enough to attract my attention, resulting in me giving the green signal to your graduation."

Observing their reactions, Kurenai couldn't help but smile. After all, even Shino's brows were raised enough to be seen from the top of his shades, implying that even the young and rational Aburame was caught off-guard.

"I see." Shino nodded after analysing the situation.

"This means that our test began the moment you asked ourselves to introduce to each other. Not only that, but you also wished to understand our general abilities and movement skills by the taijutsu spar.

Even though Eio Hozai managed to suppress both, me and Hinata Hyuuga, it is glaring enough that the amount of Taijutsu shown is not the true depths of his power.

Just like that, Hinata's Kekkei Genkai and my special abilities were also unable to become the focus of attention, showcasing our weak links in a single day."

He concluded calmly, widening Kurenai's smile. Honestly, seeing her honest smile, Eio, who was already aged enough, at least, mentally, was left a little stunned. Glancing sideways, Eio immediately looked towards the ground side to Kurenai, not wanting his sudden stupor to be known to the new gang. Unfortunately, his reactions were once again caught by the demure Hyuuga.

"Very good, Shino. Although, I would like to point out that since we are going to be a team, we all should call each other by our names.

Of course, if you feel comfortable, you can call me Sensei."

The trio nodded, although, Hinata was a little more meek than usual.

"Hehe, it would be quite a disaster if you showed your true 'strength' in front of your team, right?

Especially... what's her name? Kurenai Yuuhi, is it?

My, my, truly a wonderful woman. So? Want me to help you get her attention?"

Kefla's roguish words assaulted his consciousness. His thoughts drifted back to the... teasing he faced from Kefla the previous day. The blood in his body rushed towards certain parts as he recalled Kefla's smooth abdomen.

"HAH! TOO BAD!" Kefla's shout shook Eio out of his reverie, almost making him sweat. In some way, Kefla herself was way more dangerous than any other chakra beast Eio could have hoped to gain from his soul. His thoughts started to calm down and he immediately shouted inwardly, openly arguing with the spiky, black-haired beauty.

***

"What do you mean we failed?!"

Sasuke and Naruto shouted almost immediately while Shisui blinked innocently.

"What is there to not understand? You failed means you failed! Not willing to listen to your superior's words easily disqualifies you both as capable shinobis.

However, it is quite fortunate that Sakura does not have to deal with you. After all, you two would simply drag down an efficient shinobi in a real mission."

His words put the anxious Sakura into the spotlight. Her body tensed up when she felt Naruto and Sasuke staring at her with a deep frown. Suddenly, a soft chuckle escaped from Sasuke's lips, gaining attention from the remaining trio.

"Haha, Shisui-san, you must be joking, right? How can Sakura pass if both, me and Naruto failed?"

His condescending look drew a frown from Naruto and Shisui, meanwhile, Sakura felt extremely shocked by his words.

"Oi, Sasuke! Don't be mean!"

Naruto immediately tried to talk his egoistic rival out of hurting yet another classmate of theirs with his sharp words, unfortunately, the Hokage's son was a step too late. With a sneer, Sasuke narrowed his eyes and immediately waved his hands at her.

"Hah? Since when did Shisui-san start passing trashes."

His pitch-black eyes had already transformed into crimson pupils with a single rotating tomoe, as he gazed at Sakura's shuddering body calmly. Almost immediately, Sasuke passed out once again, much to Naruto's surprise while Shisui took a deep breath.

"I think, some changes are required."

He muttered while he regarded Sasuke calmly. Sasuke's arrogant demeanor failed to gain any form of negative emotions from Shisui as he was all too aware of the circumstances of his upbringing. In fact, it would be weird if Sasuke did not have any superior complex to curb and control his inner inferiority complex attained over the course of getting overshadowed by his own elder brother's and younger sister's brilliance.

After fifteen minutes of silence, Sasuke woke up once again with a groan. He immediately shot a glare at Shisui, hoping to vent some of his frustration, but to his surprise, a cold glare from Shisui was all it took to suppress his bubbling rage.

"You two... Naruto and Sasuke. I will give you one final chance. Prepare yourself tomorrow. If you fail my test, you can say goodbye to your shinobi career... forever."

Not even giving the duo's family's any face, he continued.

"Believe me... when I say this, I mean it. Even both of your parents will take my suggestions extremely... seriously, Mr Uzaumaki and Mr Uchiha. Am I clear?" Not waiting for the stunned duo to reply back, he walked towards Sakura and touched her shoulder before disappearing away.

Smack!

Unable to contain his own frustrations, Naruto finally smacked Sasuke on the shoulders and grabbed him by his collars.

"What the hell? Man! Control yourself or we won't ever become a shinobi! No thanks to you!"

"Leave me!"

Sasuke shouted with equal, if not, more frustration. He couldn't bear the fact that Shisui Uchiha, his own brethren would pass someone like Sakura and fail him... an UCHIHA!!

Much of his reaction was contributed to the fear of disappointing his father and part of it belonged to the fact that the glory of his own siblings would be shoved in his face, making him feel even more embarrassed.

"Sasuke... you screwed up idiot! Wake up! We were knocked unconscious without even his Sharingan!

We are goddamn weak so at least, until we get stronger, don't act so stupid!

Do you really wish to get disqualified?!"

Naruto's scream did make a little sense. Biting his lips, Sasuke looked sideways, not wanting to gaze into the idiot's face that only has the thoughts of roaming the entire shinobi world with his Godfather! Honestly, Sasuke did envy Naruto. Not because of his talents, but because of his upbringing.

Sasuke himself knew that his parents went terribly wrong with him when his father forbade his own mother to train with him and yet, here we are, with Mikoto taking up Sarada's training and Fugaku focusing on Itachi. He understood that in front of his father, he was merely a failed 'product'. He held no love for his mother, Mikoto, who he married to fulfill the clan's obligation.

Meanwhile, towards Sasuke, Itachi and Sarada, he looked at them with varied expression. Itachi expressed his ambitions, Sasuke expressed his failures and Sarada expressed a tool to gain an advantage over other factions in the Uchiha Clan. Just like he did when he married Mikoto.

"I'll go an and... apologize... if that's what it takes!"

Sasuke's clenched jaws barely let the words escape his mouth while Naruto finally let go of his collars.

***

"Eio, you have shown your Taijutsu capabilities far greater than Hinata herself. Which is quite surprising and gratifying to know.

Hinata, even though you lost in yesterday's spar, the fact remains that your full capabilities weren't shown due to various limitations.

Shino, taijutsu not being your forte, it isn't surprising that you lost to both, Hinata and Eio. But your true capabilities lies in your ninjutsu and reconnaissance ability. I have cooperated with members pf your clans oftentimes and the special abilities of your clans are more suited towards reconnaissance missions."

Kurenai Yuuhi spoke, still standing on the previous training ground filled with dummies and then took a moment to conclude herself.

"But your individual strength isn't enough. As a team, from now on, you need to practice as one. You need to train each other with your own specialities before we can go a step further.

For that, I have made a training schedule. But before that, I need a detailed report on your full capabilities that is allowed by your clans to be exposed. Even you, Eio. All three of you will be given three hours to complete your report.

In three hour's time, we will meet here once again, any questions?"

Asked Kurenai, her eyes gazing at the silent trio gently. Since these three are supposed to be her own team, her own apprentices, she did not wish to create a bad, domineering impression from the start.

***

She didn't like it one bit when Eio's expression turned a little flustered. Yes, Kurenai-sensei was extremely beautiful, even when compared to other beautiful Kunoichis. Hinata knew that she couldn't control how others felt about someone. But today, deep down, she did wish for having the ability to control someone's thoughts... She did not wish to control Eio to heed to all her commands.

No, she liked the Eio who talked to her with a smile. Who wasn't afraid to trick her in spars. To someone who has always been training brutally, to the point of abuse, falling for Eio's tricks was somewhat refreshing. But she did wish that Eio would at least get a little flustered when she smiled.

Thinking till here, Hinata shook her head.

How can Eio even get flustered?

Has she ever smiled for him? Can she actually smile genuinely like Kurenai-sensei?

To someone like Hinata, a smile was simply a mask to cover her emotions and pain. Why would Eio even get flustered by her fake smile?

Suddenly, a tap on her shoulder shook her heart in surprise and she yelped with a short jump away. Her face immediately burnt in embarrassment when she heard the sound escaping from her lips.

"That was... uhhhum."

Eio's lips twitched as his hands remained extended.

"I-im sorry! Eio... kun!"

Immediately bowing her head, Hinata replied with her cheeks burning up.

His violet eyes showing a strange colour, Eio shook his head and then spoke while pointing at Shino, who seemed to be observing the duo with his expression hidden by his shades and jacket.

"Shino wanted to analyse all of our abilities before Kurenai-sensei came back. Have you written your report?"

"Yes, let's go."

She immediately shot towards Shino with her head hung low, finally failing to notice the expression in Eio's eyes, expressing his sadness. Following Hinata, Eio reached Shino, who looked towards him for a moment longer and then finally unfurled his scroll.

"I think that this situation might be another test set-up by Sensei." Shino spoke lightly and sat on the ground, continuing after the duo sat in front of him.

"In the academy, we are taught to be cautious again and again. If Sensei decided to analyse our independent thinking skills, then there won't be a better chance than now.

So I propose that we compare our techniques and jutsus to create a team practice regime on our own."

Hearing his words Hinata couldn't help but focus on the important task in front of her and frown.

"I... don't think that it is a test? Haven't we already cleared the test?"

To her query, Eio shook his head with a reply. After hearing Shino's words, even Eio was startled at his own lax nature and him growing less vary of his own surroundings.

"Kurenai-Sensei's exact words were that she had already created a practice schedule for us. And even then, she asked us to create a report on our own abilities.

Not to mention the fact that such a report might not even take more than fifteen minutes, if one included the time to go to one of the shops and purchase it. Even then, a jounin like Sensei gave us three hours.

If she doesn't have any hidden intentions, then there was no need to create such an obvious loophole."

Shino nodded and added his own thoughts to Eio's theory.

"My thoughts align with Eio. And what's there to stop sensei from not testing us every day?

We also need to consider the fact that our actions may be under the observation of Sensei as we speak."

Hinata nodded before Shino looked at her directly and asked out.

"Can you... check if we are getting observed?"

While Shino could use his partners to find any hidden shinobi, it would require a long time to find a single person in such a large area. Listening to Shino's request, Hinata nodded as the veins around her eyes popped out while a darker ring formed inside her pale-white eyes.

Byakugan

Hinata's vision turned erratic, only accepting the chakra of every living organism as a feed for her vision while her eyes failed to see past 10 metres, much to her dismay. Finally deactivating her Byakugan to save the chakra expenditure, she lowered her face and shook her head.

"I am sorry... I cannot see past 10 metres..."

"For real?"

Eio finally frowned and asked out of impulse. Only 10 metres? Wasn't that the beginning range when a person activates his Byakugan? He didn't ask this question from Asuka for he felt that such a range was extremely ordinary. Mocking him on the point, Kefla's derisive words stunned Eio.

"Way to be insensitive!"

"Wait... I didn't mean!"

Alas, before he could finish, Hinata had already taken a step back, evidently, his words did manage to hurt the already insecure heart of the young hyuuga while Shino looked at the debacle calmly.

"Hinata... it is imperative to know that Eio does not know even the basics of Byakugan. Instead of... suppressing your thoughts, it would benefit both of your relationships if you become more open in your thoughts."

While Eio could easily refute Shino's statement as he himself wielded Byakugan, it was true that he never got the truly basic information on Byakugan.

"I-I see..." Shino's words of 'hers and Eio's future relationship' caused a blush to seek up her face while she wished that the bangs on her forehead would cover the entirety of her embarrassed face. In her meek voice, Hinata finally replied to Eio's doubts.

"Um... Eio-kun... Byakugan takes a lot of time to practice. While some of the... more talented hyuugas can train this dojutsu more efficiently... I cannot."

Eio took a moment before replying. If he chose to be unreasonable and speak that Hinata can easily best other talents then it may strike her as an open mocking. Meanwhile, he could choose to console her that she wasn't all that bad, but it may have a negative effect.

With a deep breath and actively ignoring Kefla's boisterous laughs, he looked at Hinata and smiled, making her immediately lose her composure.

"Don't worry, Hinata. That's why are planning the team practice.

We will become each other's strength!"