"Minato?" Tsunade was stunned for a moment, then reacted, "You are the Jōnin Instructor for this batch of students?"
"Yes, Senior." Minato Namikaze smiled and nodded, "I am the instructor for Team Seven this year. Senior, are you...?"
"Coincidentally, so am I," Tsunade said frankly.
"Oh?" A hint of surprise flashed across Minato Namikaze's face, but his smile remained unchanged: "I didn't expect Senior to personally lead a team. This is truly..."
He seemed unable to find the right words for a moment, but the surprise in his eyes was evident. For this legendary female Ninja, Princess Tsunade, who had been living in seclusion in recent years, to come out and serve as a Jōnin Instructor again, there must be a very special existence among this batch of students.
"Stop talking, it's annoying." Tsunade waved her hand, cutting off his likely pleasantries, and glanced around the empty training ground: "You chose this spot. Are you planning to test your students here later?"
"Yes, Senior." Minato nodded, "I just didn't expect Senior to choose this place as well. Since Senior arrived first, I will take my students somewhere else later."
Normally, the team assignments for Jōnin Instructors and the location arrangements for the initial tests would be coordinated in advance during the regular meetings at the Hokage Office to avoid conflicts.
But Tsunade's situation was special. She hadn't attended any Jonin meetings. Even the matter of her becoming a Jōnin Instructor was something she had forcefully demanded directly from the Third Hokage a week prior, after hearing that the Ninja Academy was holding graduation exams.
Consequently, she was completely unaware of the test arrangements made by the other Jonin, and by coincidence, she and Minato Namikaze chose the exact same location.
"No need for the trouble," Tsunade said indifferently. "The place is big enough. You run your test, and I'll run mine."
Minato Namikaze pondered briefly, then smiled brightly and readily agreed: "Since Senior doesn't mind, then it would be better to respectfully comply."
Tsunade nodded. As if remembering something, she casually asked, "Right, what method are you planning to use to test those newly graduated brats?"
Minato took out two bells tied with red string from his Ninja tool pouch and replied, "I plan to use this, the traditional Bell Test. Within a set time limit, they must cooperate as a trio to take the bells from me. This can not only initially assess individual strength and tactical thinking, but more importantly, test whether they can quickly form effective teamwork under pressure."
"The Bell Test, huh..." Tsunade looked at the familiar iron bells, her eyes momentarily unfocused, as if she had traveled through time and seen the mischievous smile of a certain Old Man many years ago.
She quickly snapped back to reality, curled her lip, and spoke with unconcealed disdain: "This routine again. The same old trick passed down from the Old Man. It hasn't changed in decades. Boring."
Instead of being offended, Minato Namikaze laughed heartily upon hearing this: "Senior is right. This test is certainly not novel, but classics become classics precisely because, under simple rules, they often expose the most fundamental issues—teamwork, trust, and sacrifice. For newcomers who have just formed a team and still retain Ninja Academy thinking, it might be just the right fit."
"Suit yourself." She waved her hand, her tone still casual.
"Then what method are you planning to use for your test, Senior?" Minato asked curiously.
Tsunade pondered for a moment, glancing across the empty training ground, seeming to genuinely consider it: "I haven't completely decided yet. I'll take a look at the quality of those brats later."
Meanwhile, on another road leading to Training Ground Nine.
Higashino Shinichi walked unhurriedly. The streets were sparsely populated in the early morning.
"Classmate Shinichi?"
Shinichi turned his head and saw Kurenai Yuhi approaching from another fork in the road.
Today, she wore a dark training outfit suitable for movement, and a standard straight sword was neatly fastened at her waist. Her deep black long hair was tied into a neat ponytail, revealing a smooth forehead and a pair of calm, red eyes.
"Classmate Kurenai, good morning." Shinichi nodded in greeting, slowing his pace to walk alongside her.
"Morning." Kurenai Yuhi approached, her steps light.
Looking at the sword at Kurenai Yuhi's waist, Shinichi casually asked, "When did Classmate Kurenai start practicing Swordsmanship?"
In his impression, this future Genjutsu Jonin did not seem to have a deep connection with Sword Techniques.
Kurenai Yuhi tilted her head slightly, a faint smile appearing on her face: "It started about three years ago."
She paused, as if recalling something amusing, and her smile deepened slightly: "Classmate Shinichi, you might not have realized it yourself, but when you were at school, practicing Swordsmanship on the field every noon, rain or shine, you actually sparked interest in Swordsmanship among many classmates. Quite a few people later enrolled in some of the Village's Kenjutsu Dojos or started practicing on their own privately."
What she said was true, but it wasn't the whole truth.
More than three years ago, it was Shinichi who used his clean, powerful Swordsmanship to directly defeat the recognized Genius, Kakashi, during the end-of-term practical assessment.
That scene brought immense shock to Kurenai Yuhi, who was observing at the time and was also a first-year student.
Since then, she unconsciously paid more attention to that classmate named Higashino Shinichi.
Watching him sweat profusely every morning and noon with single-minded devotion, watching him interact with others—gentle and polite yet unassuming—and watching his figure continuously grow stronger through assessments and rumors, a subtle influence quietly took effect.
She began to Cultivate more diligently, not only practicing her inherited Genjutsu but also starting to try holding a sword, something she wasn't familiar with, to feel the focus of condensing spirit and strength into a single point.
Imitation might be the initial form of admiration. She appreciated that diligence and self-discipline, and yearned for that clear sense of purpose.
This attention and quiet learning made her calmer and more hardworking. Even her father, Shinku Yuhi, was surprised by his daughter's sudden surge of enthusiasm for basic physical training and Swordsmanship practice.
Naturally, Kurenai Yuhi would not easily speak to others about these deeper, more subtle psychological changes.
She simply attributed it to a natural change influenced positively by an excellent classmate.
Shinichi felt a slight realization upon hearing this. He truly hadn't considered that his routine Cultivation would have such an impact on others.
"So that's what happened."
He nodded and said, "Swordsmanship practice can indeed temper one's resolve and body control, which helps with a Ninja's overall quality. It's good that Classmate Kurenai is interested."
Kurenai Yuhi hummed in acknowledgement, then suddenly said, "Classmate Shinichi, since we are now teammates in the same class." She paused, seemingly choosing her words carefully: "From now on... you can just call me Kurenai."
Hearing this, Shinichi tilted his head to look at her, and readily nodded: "Alright, then you can just call me Shinichi."