Naruto: From Novice to Grave

Among the three members of the third squad, Higashino Makoto and Uzuki Yugao's parents have similar jobs.

Moonlight Gale's mother has passed away due to illness.

As for Gekko Unmi, even Hayate had previously said that he didn't know which department his father worked in Konoha.

Higashino Makoto estimated that it must be the Anbu, as only this department would have higher secrecy requirements than ordinary ninjas.

However, it should be an Anbu directly under the Hokage, not Root. Danzo wouldn't want a married ninja with children, or a hot-blooded young man who shouts about youth all day long, unless you have a charming hot pot inside you.

He guessed correctly. Gekko Kumomi had indeed recently left the Anbu. Due to the war, it was difficult to find suitable Jonin to lead a team, so the Third Hokage had him return to the normal ninja ranks and take charge of leading Team 3.

After all, all three students in this class are very talented, and their parents know each other well, so he is the most suitable person.

Seeing the ruthless style of the ANBU members in Higashino Makoto's demeanor, and knowing his abilities, Tsukikage, after a moment of surprise, asked directly, "To what extent have you mastered medical ninjutsu? How does it compare to Megumi's?"

Makoto Higashino: "He lacks experience, but he has surpassed his mother in his mastery of ninjutsu and the healing effects of chakra."

"Really? That's quite an impressive talent. And your sensory ninjutsu?"

"I can sense any chakra aura within a 3-kilometer radius."

In fact, Higashino's perception ability was an byproduct of the white natural energy's modification of his body. Even if he did not absorb natural energy during the day, his body would spontaneously integrate with the environment to a certain extent.

His perception range increases with the amount of chakra he possesses. Of course, he also has other amazing abilities, such as the ability to sense others, but ordinary sensory ninjas cannot detect him unless he uses Sage Mode.

One can talk about one's abilities, but not all of them need to be revealed. It is normal for ninjas to keep their methods secret, as Higashino Jiro warned him when he was four years old.

"You are almost a perfect all-around ninja." Gekko Unmi praised, and after thinking for a moment, said, "Due to your strengths, I originally defined Team 3 as a combat assault team, but I didn't expect you to be so versatile. It seems that I need to adjust my plans for your future missions."

Now, the inspection continues. You have one minute to formulate a battle plan, and then launch your attack.

As soon as Moonlight Cloud finished speaking, he leaped away in an instant, crossed his arms, closed his eyes slightly, and maintained a certain distance from the three of them.

Seeing this, Higashino Makoto immediately pulled the two behind a large tree and asked, "How much do you know about the teacher's strength?"

Uzuki Yugao thought for a moment: "She's very strong. I'm no match for her at all."

"That's obvious," Higashino Makoto said, looking at her speechlessly. "There are three of them here. Which one can you beat?"

Uzuki Yugao: "...", Brother Zhen, if you don't tell the truth, we're still good friends.

Hayate Gekko succinctly stated: "You know the Gekko family's fighting style; my father is just an enhanced version of me after I grew up."

"In other words, it's a close-quarters combat style that mainly uses swordsmanship. So, I'll have Hayate take the initiative and Yugao provide support from the side, while I'll stay hidden in the shadows and look for an opportunity."

"Okay!" The two of them had always followed Higashino Makoto's lead, and this time was no exception.

At the same time, their strength and tactical skills are far superior to those of the genin who graduate in six years during peacetime.

After the three made their decision, Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao quickly attacked from the left and right, moving to either side of Gekko Unmi in the center of the field.

A gust of wind rushed out from behind the big tree, raising its hand and shooting dozens of filial shuriken at its own father.

Actually, there weren't that many shuriken, and they weren't the A-grade shuriken shadow clone technique developed by the Third Hokage. They were just a simple illusion technique used to interfere with the target's judgment.

Moonlight Cloud saw that his feet were not moving, but a kunai had appeared in his right hand at some point. With a clanging sound, it knocked away all the real shuriken. Obviously, the low-level illusion interference had no effect on him.

During this process, Uzuki Yugao also rushed out from the other side, completing her hand seals.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough"

A simple C-rank Wind Release technique. In the hands of a powerful ninjutsu like Orochimaru, this technique could turn a forest into a typhoon, but Uzuki Yugao is clearly a long way from being a powerful ninjutsu user.

Fortunately, she wasn't using it against enemies. Her ninjutsu swept across the ground, kicking up a thick cloud of dirt and dust that covered the area where Moonlight Cloud was located.

The instant his view was blocked, Hayate and Yugao, one drawing his sword and the other using a kunai, charged forward together.

As a seasoned Jonin, Gekko Unmi was not stumped by such a petty trick. He didn't even draw his sword, but instead used a kunai to precisely parry the blade that Gale was slashing down in the dust, and then used his arm to forcefully push it away.

While resisting the gale, he raised his left leg and positioned it in a suitable spot, allowing Uzuki Yugao to crash into it herself.

With a slight effort, the little girl also flew out.

The two players coordinated their attacks skillfully, but the difference in their abilities was too great, and the attack was ineffective.

But at the same time, Higashino Makoto suddenly appeared above his head, wielding a kunai and thrusting it downwards.

"Ding!"

With a metallic clang, the kunai that had blocked the wind appeared above his head in a flash, once again blocking Higashino Makoto's surprise attack.

Seeing that Tsukikage Yunjian frowned slightly, he wondered why Higashino Makoto would resort to such a suicidal attack. After all, a person cannot move freely in the air, and if the attack fails, there will be no means of follow-up response, and he will become a sitting duck.

While he was puzzled, he didn't stop moving. He slightly adjusted the angle of his right hand's kunai, forcefully deflecting the attacking kunai, and incidentally causing Higashino Makoto to lose his balance.

At the same time, he raised his left hand and grabbed Higashino Makoto's neck with lightning speed.

Once the strongest, Higashino Makoto, is captured, the remaining two will be easy to deal with. With the strength of his own son and his old friend's daughter, they won't even last three seconds.

Unexpectedly, the situation suddenly changed. Higashino Makoto, who was falling and about to hit his palm, suddenly moved behind him and slashed at the back of his head with a kunai.

Moonlight Cloud couldn't understand how Higashino's body had switched positions without any leverage, but he didn't have time to think about it. His body's fighting instincts made him turn around to defend.

Another "ding" sounded, blocking the attack, but at the same time another kunai appeared from his blind spot on the side and rested on his neck.

The feint attack from behind by Higashino Makoto turned into white smoke; it was merely a shadow clone.

"Teacher, it seems I've won."

Moonlight Cloud turned to look at the ground; the soil there hadn't changed much.

"So there was a shadow clone hiding there, using earth-escape techniques to sneak up under my feet during the battle, ready to deliver a fatal blow at the crucial moment?"

"Good tactics, but what's even more impressive is your mastery of Earth Release: Nature Transformation. When you emerged, the ground was completely undisturbed."

Ninjas move through the earth using properties like containment; even the simplest Earth Release: Heart Decapitation Technique incorporates this property transformation.

Further, there is Earth Release: Earth Fish Reflection Technique/Earth Submersion Technique, the principle of which is to temporarily transform soil and sand into fluid using chakra, allowing ninjas to hide or move.

The earth nurtures all living beings, and at the end of life, the earth embraces and decomposes them, ultimately returning them to dust and ashes.

"So, teacher, have we passed your ability test?"

"You've passed, but at the cost of two teammates. So, faced with this situation, what will you choose? Will you ignore them and kill me? Or will you accept my terms?"

Just as Hayate and Uzuki were pushed aside, Moonlight Cloud stood behind each of them, with a kunai at their necks.

Ninja battles are usually very fast. By the time the two attackers were repelled and Higashino took over, they were already under control. Everything was done in the blink of an eye.

The two were somewhat embarrassed. If this were a battlefield, they would have become the enemy's leverage to blackmail their teammates, the legendary ones who dragged the team down.

If the mission is the priority, then Higashino should really eliminate the enemy, but his teammates might also be doomed. Kakashi gave this a thumbs up.

If you prioritize your comrades, you'll fall into the enemy's rhythm, and the consequence could be the annihilation of your entire squad. Obito pushed away the boulder pressing down on him and gave a thumbs-up.