"Phew."
Nara Shiomizu, Inuzuka Midori, and Aburame Naoya were all gasping heavily.
"Shisui, you're too strong, we can't beat you, not at all." Inuzuka Midori conceded after being overpowered.
The one most proficient in Taijutsu, she was brutally beaten up close by Shisui, Nara Shiomizu's Shadow Possession Jutsu couldn't hit the agile Shisui at all, and Aburame Naoya's insects were burned away by Shisui before they could get close.
"He truly lives up to his reputation," Nara Shiomizu thought with admiration.
Each of the three is considered an outstanding Chunin individually, and due to their complementary abilities, the three together might defeat a regular Jonin.
But in front of Shisui, they were like dough at Shisui's mercy, unable to see any chance of victory.
Aburame Naoya nodded silently in agreement.
"Train diligently, and you might achieve my current strength in the future," Shisui encouraged.
"Isn't the usual saying 'train diligently and you'll surpass me'?" complained Inuzuka Midori.
Shisui only smiled without speaking.
He liked comforting others, but wouldn't say anything absurd against his conscience.
Not looking down on Inuzuka Midori and the others, but the gap between them is too vast.
"Take a break, we'll have Teacher Mokgetsu... Captain Mokgetsu's class in the afternoon," Shisui said.
In the afternoon, not only Inuzuka Midori and others need to attend the class, but Shisui as the leader is also a student, receiving Mokgetsu's guidance together with them.
"Captain Mokgetsu? Is the leader of this training team Teacher Mokgetsu?" Inuzuka Midori asked with wide eyes.
She had once participated in a special training hosted by Mokgetsu, leaving a deep impression on her.
Shisui nodded, though Mokgetsu isn't a particularly uncommon name, adding "teacher" to it definitely referred to the Mokgetsu he knew.
"Great, we can have Teacher Mokgetsu's class again." Inuzuka Midori was very happy.
Nara Shiomizu was also a bit expectant; the content of Mokgetsu's class in a special institute like the training team should be different?
At noon, the four went to the training team's cafeteria to eat together.
After lunch, they had free time when they could take a nap or chat with friends.
Shisui chose a quiet place to review his morning's actions.
"During combat, I should restrain myself more, give them more opportunities to perform, and slow down when explaining..." Shisui recalled things he didn't do well.
"But overall, today should be considered a pass?"
Internally, Shisui wasn't as calm as he seemed.
Previously, he was always the one being taught, and suddenly he had to instruct others as a leader, which wasn't something he felt confident about. He believed mastering skills and teaching others are two different things.
However, judging from Inuzuka Midori and the others' reactions, his performance seemed alright; they didn't dislike him.
...
Land of Rice Fields' border.
"Team Eleven has all arrived without any incidents!" reported the dark-skinned Hidden Cloud Jonin to Fourth Raikage, A.
Fourth Raikage nodded and commanded, "Let the troops rest immediately; tonight we will act."
Marching at night is not only more secretive but also a time when people tend to relax, making it the perfect opportunity for an attack.
The Hidden Cloud Jonin nodded and swiftly relayed Fourth Raikage's orders to his squad.
"I wonder if we'll encounter Namikaze Minato this time. If we see him again, he must learn our prowess!" Killer Bee said with indignation.
After the clash with Namikaze Minato, the AB Combo became truly renowned in the Ninja World. Therefore, Killer Bee believed Namikaze Minato gained fame at their expense and wanted to help his brother regain face.
"Bee, don't underestimate that guy. During this period, it's unlikely he's made no progress," Fourth Raikage said gravely.
He was a very confident person, but Namikaze Minato's performance made him take the man seriously.
Since leaving the Hidden Cloud, Fourth Raikage had defeated many so-called predecessors. He had only suffered two setbacks: once by an unknown mysterious Hidden Mist, and the other by Namikaze Minato.
Having investigated the mysterious Hidden Mist for a long time without turning up any information, he let it go for now. Namikaze Minato's abilities and combat prowess truly made Fourth Raikage wary.
"It's not underestimation; it's confidence from the heart. No fear, no retreat, because we are the Hidden Cloud's AB Combo!" Killer Bee answered with a rapping tone.
Fourth Raikage looked at Killer Bee with a hint of embarrassment; everything about his brother was good except for his mouth.
"Rest well; the upcoming war will be life or death!" Fourth Raikage mercilessly smacked Killer Bee's head with a karate chop.
Although logically, Konoha shouldn't deploy Ninja Squads here, at most some patrol Ninja Squads, which the Hidden Cloud troops could easily crush.
However, war requires caution, never assuming the best-case scenario when devising strategies.
"Yes, brother." Killer Bee nodded seriously, then leaped onto a tree and lay atop a branch, quickly falling asleep.
"Who knows when he'll truly grow up," Fourth Raikage shook his head looking at Killer Bee.
Killer Bee, now seventeen years old, wasn't too young, but he still had a child's personality.
Then Fourth Raikage began inspecting the troops.
As the commander, not even rest came early for him.
The troops hadn't yet fully arrived, and should an emergency arise, it would require his handling.
Time ticks by, and finally, the last squad arrived at three in the afternoon, having encountered no incidents just like the others.
Fourth Raikage issued orders to the final team, a smile slipping onto his face.
The situation was developing in the best direction, and once they launched their attack, they would become the second Ninja Village to invade the Land of Fire.
Unlike the Hidden Mist's opportunistic strike, they were breaching from the border, although employing some strategies.
At five in the afternoon, Fourth Raikage finished dinner early and rested.
By then, most of the Hidden Cloud had already rested, with only a small portion remaining vigilant.
At half-past ten, Fourth Raikage awoke and ordered the troops to make final preparations.
Midnight.
Wearing Hidden Cloud battle attire, Fourth Raikage stood before twelve hundred Hidden Cloud Ninja, ordered with a serious expression, "Invade the Land of Fire!"
No more words were needed; the well-trained Hidden Cloud Ninja immediately rushed toward the Land of Fire's border according to the planned formation.
In this dark night, the Hidden Cloud's skin became a natural disguise, making it hard for those with poor eyesight to spot them.
However, most Ninja didn't fall into the category of poor vision.
"A large number of Ninja are attacking from the Land of Rice Fields!" shouted a border patrol Ninja upon witnessing the terrifying scene as he grabbed a signal bullet from the Ninja Pouch to fire.