Chapter 77: Chapter 78: Don't Underestimate the Students
What's it like to teach a class of over 300 students?
Being watched by more than 200 pairs of eyes simultaneously—some curious, some expectant, and others doubtful—can be intimidating.
Hayabusa Muyue had every reason to believe that if a more introverted person were in his position, they might struggle to even start speaking under such intense scrutiny.
However, Muyue wasn't just anyone. The more students in front of him, the happier and more energized he became.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Hayabusa Muyue, the teacher in charge of this summer training camp." Muyue smiled warmly as he introduced himself.
Although he was fairly well-known at the academy—and even some of the students here had attended his substitute classes—Muyue didn't assume that everyone recognized him. A self-introduction was essential.
"Muyue-sensei!" Several students who were familiar with him greeted him enthusiastically.
Muyue nodded back with a smile and continued:
"I understand that many of you have questions—questions like, why are we organizing a summer training camp after vacation has already started? What's the purpose of this training?"
"I'll make it clear right now: this training has only one purpose—to strengthen the participants and help them become more capable ninjas in the future!"
Muyue didn't mention the harsher reality, such as the potential crisis of war looming over them. After all, the Great Ninja War hadn't officially erupted yet. Even the most cautious ninja in Konoha wouldn't anticipate the village becoming the center of conflict, besieged by four other great ninja villages.
"How will the training be conducted? You're not going to make us train the same way as academy students, are you? There's a huge gap between the strength of full-fledged ninjas and students," questioned Mitarashi Raido.
He was one of Asuma's teammates, roped into the camp by Asuma.
Raido felt like he'd been duped. How could a chunin instructor possibly be as impressive as Asuma claimed?
"I have arrangements for that. But you shouldn't underestimate the academy students," Muyue said, not answering Raido's question directly. Instead, he called out Shisui.
"This is Uchiha Shisui, a student from my class. He's currently in his first year. You can spar with him to gauge the level of the academy students." Muyue smiled as he spoke.
Muyue had anticipated this scenario.
Because these genin had experienced the outside world and received training from jonin instructors, their attitude toward academy students and chunin teachers was bound to be different.
In the ninja world, strength dictated respect. Muyue's approach was simple and direct: if you doubt the academy students, then fight them and see if you can win.
As Shisui stepped out confidently, Asuma couldn't help but feel a twitch in his eye. Memories of his own defeat two months ago came rushing back.
The image of being bested by a first-year academy student was one that Asuma might never forget.
"Raido, if I were you, I wouldn't let this slide. It's just a first-year student," Asuma whispered, egging him on.
He was eager to see the look of disbelief on Raido's face after losing—it would be sweet revenge for his own humiliation.
"Isn't this a bit much? He's just a first-year," Kurenai murmured softly, feeling that this arrangement wasn't entirely fair.
"Well then, as a senior, I'll take a look at the academy students' level," Raido said, stepping forward.
Calling out a fourth-year student might have been fine, but picking a first-year? Raido felt like he was being underestimated. With Asuma's prodding, he couldn't hold back anymore.
The students stepped back, giving the two participants enough space to fight.
"Don't hold back. If you get hurt, don't blame me," Raido said, drawing a kunai.
"Thank you for the advice, senpai. I won't push myself too hard," Shisui replied politely.
Seeing how respectful and courteous Shisui was, Raido decided to ensure that the boy's defeat wouldn't be too humiliating.
Obito, however, covered his face, unable to watch the one-sided battle that was about to unfold.
He knew Raido and was familiar with his abilities.
Raido wouldn't even stand a chance against the current Obito, let alone Shisui.
This wasn't just a mismatch—it was a complete slaughter. Only the roles of the predator and prey had been reversed.
"Shisui, you can do it! Show him what academy students are made of!" Anko cheered from the front, rooting for Shisui.
Tetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki also joined her, shouting their support.
"Isn't that Uchiha Shisui, the first-year prodigy? I've heard he scores perfect marks in everything," said a fourth-year student who had heard of Shisui's reputation.
"No matter how talented he is, there's no way a first-year can beat a fully-fledged ninja, right?"
Although most students hoped Shisui would win, the idea of a first-year defeating a genin seemed too outrageous to believe.
"Begin!" Muyue declared once both were ready.
"Here I come!" Raido warned before charging at Shisui with his kunai.
Unfazed, Shisui calmly drew his own kunai and engaged Raido head-on.
The sound of clashing kunai echoed as Raido's relentless attacks were blocked effortlessly by Shisui.
Something felt off to Raido. This strength, speed, and reflex—was this really a first-year student?
Realizing he needed to change tactics, Raido jumped back, quickly forming hand seals to cast the Clone Jutsu, creating five clones to confuse Shisui.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" Shisui remained composed, forming his own seals and unleashing a massive three-meter-high fireball.
"Wait… who's the academy student here?" Raido thought, stunned as he looked at the enormous fireball headed his way. His own clones, mere illusions, were utterly ineffective.
Fortunately, the fireball wasn't too fast. With quick reflexes, Raido managed to escape its range.
Just as he was catching his breath, a kunai pressed against his neck from behind.
Feeling the cold steel against his skin, Raido froze. Shisui had appeared behind him without a sound.
"I lose. I shouldn't have underestimated the academy students," Raido admitted. If Shisui had been an enemy, he'd already be dead.
"Thank you for letting me learn from you, senpai," Shisui said humbly, sheathing his kunai.
He had the ability to end the fight in an instant, but Raido hadn't meant any harm. Shisui didn't want to embarrass him unnecessarily and had held back.
"He went easy on him. That fireball wasn't even close to the one he used against me," Asuma thought to himself.
"Are you on bad terms with him or something? You look way too happy about this," Tetsu asked, noticing someone laughing gleefully nearby.
"No, no, I just remembered something funny," Asuma replied, quickly denying it.
Author's Note:
In the manga, Raido isn't one of Asuma's teammates. However, in the anime's flashbacks during the chunin exams, Asuma, Kurenai, and Raido are shown taking the exam together. They're also present in the scene where Rin celebrates Kakashi's promotion to jonin.
Since it's unclear who Asuma's teammates actually were, I followed the anime's depiction.
Naruto has its fair share of plot inconsistencies. For instance, Kakashi, who graduated and became a chunin earlier than Obito and Rin, still ended up on the same team as them and participated in the chunin exams together.
I can't guarantee everything will be seamless, but I'll do my best to keep things logical.
plz support me if you can
patreon.com/AZOFFICIAL1
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AZofficial
This fanfiction is 30-chapter ahead and also this fanfic is 30 chapters ahead there