Gohan In Narutoverse: Sage Style

The next day, the group gathered in the same training ground exactly at 5 in the morning. But strangely, when Eio's eyes fell on Hinata, she looked paler than usual and she even wore her headband on her forehead, unlike yesterday when it loosely hung around her neck.

This change in wardrobe was also duly noted by Shino, who only nodded at Eio's presence. But before Kurenai-sensei arrived, he needed to complete one more important task.

Walking up to the duo, he waved his hand and smiled and greeted them politely, making Hinata stutter as fortunately, a rosy blush finally encroached up her face.

"I want to apologise to both of you."

To the sudden bow and admittance of a mistake, both Hinata and Shino showed a strange expression. Of course, the only evidence to Shino's expression was his right brow rising out of the area of his shades.

"W-wait, Eio-kun. You did not do anything wrong.

P-p-please get up!"

Not daring to touch him easily and then struggling to keep her consciousness, Hinata stayed at a healthy distance from her team member and immediately spoke out. But before she could say anything, Shino appeared to her side and placed his hand on her shoulder. At her questioning glance, he simply shook his head.

Of course, he noted how Hinata reacted so casually to his physical contact while she shied from Eio's.

"Eio is now a genin and the team member of Team Kurenai. If he is apologising for something, we should hear him out."

"Thank you, Shino. And once again, sorry. Yesterday, I failed to show my own trust in you two as you showed for me. While you both gave a list of your full capabilities, I hid most of my abilities.

While I wanted to keep my cards hidden, I failed to realise that what I was doing wasn't in the best interest of our team."

Finally straightening his back, Eio gazed at them seriously for a full moment. Shino matched his gaze, his expression unclear and strangely, Hinata also matched his gaze, albeit blushing.

"All I want to say is... from now on, you both can count on me when it matters the most."

Nodding, both of them broke into a smile, at least, this is what Eio thought as Shino remained mysterious... physically.

"It's alright... Eio-kun. I never doubted you."

"Uhem... If I may ask, what is the highest rank of ninjutsu that you can perform."

Shino spoke out from the side.

Taking a deep breath, Eio showed both of them a confident smile, but his words did manage to shake them.

"Rank A Lightning Style: Kirin Demolition Jutsu."

"Rank A..." Shino whispered under his breath. Though he didn't make his presence establish in the academy, he did observe each and every student in his own batch. To make this task a little fun for his own consciousness, he named this little project: Anbu Mission: Class Report.

Under this project, he slowly observed each and every student. Their personalities, their strengths and their weaknesses. From fun in the early years, this task became a necessity for himself.

Being an Aburame, who were well received for their nurturing skills, the most basic skill to attain was the skill of observation. Through observing his own classmates, Shino started to polish his own weaknesses. Though, it might take a lot of time before these weaknesses turn into his own strength, at least, he was on the right track.

From his observations, he found four particular students that did not conform with the abilities of other students.

Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru and Eio.

These four, in all their actions and answers, simply couldn't be characterized as 'normal'.

Sasuke and Naruto tool the spot of model students. Academic and Athletic, their Taijutsu and Ninjutsu skills unrivalled.

Meanwhile, Shikamaru, in Shino's observation looked completely lethargic. But one time, he answered a tactical question posed by their homeroom sensei and honestly, Shino is still impressed by his words.

Lastly, Eio. The most average student in the class. An early genius... the only genius that defeated both, Sasuke and Naruto in their early years. But slowly, his brilliance did get overshadowed by Naruto's and Sasuke's.

Until his observations were broken by his performance in the graduation exam and now, the proclamation of being able to use a Rank A Lightning Jutsu proficiently.

It is to be noted that out of all the elements, lightning style is quite hard to master due to its explosive nature.

"I see that you have already patched things up."

Kurenai walked towards them with a smile. Her eyes did blink when she saw the head protector tied onto Hinata's head, but she kept quiet about the matter altogether and finally clapped her hand before mentioning them to sit in front of her. She herself leaned back on one of the dummies and crossed her hand below her b.r.e.a.s.ts, her crimson eyes gazing at the trio with a serious note.

"From now till the next week, we will be training as teams to complement each other's strength. Since you all now know the basic estimate of your teammates' abilities, the future training will definitely get smoother."

As she said till here, the remaining trio looked at Eio briefly, much to his distress and Kurenai finally concluded.

"Alright, for the basics, I want you to follow the training regime I wrote down for you. With your physical capabilities, these exercises should prove to be quite useful as stretches.

I won't be accompanying you for these exercises and you three will keep an eye on each other to provide support when necessary."

Kurenai spoke softly before the trio nodded. Usually, she would have to stay back and get her students familiar with these stretches, but she did investigate their backgrounds and found that each of these stretches has been taught to at least, one of them.

This morning routine would also allow the students to bond together and get to know each other.

Turning her heels, she made her way to training ground near the Uchiha Compound, a devious plot slowly structuring inside her head.

***

"Ara... Is that the so-called geniuses?"

Shisui yawned and rubbed his eyes. His gaze fell on the beaten-down Naruto and Sasuke who sprawled on the ground with their c.h.e.s.ts huffing deeply. Mud and sweat adorned their faces and the lights of ferocity has been long extinguished from their eyes.

Meanwhile, to the side, a sweat-filled Sakura remained in a horse stance. Her expression couldn't be more determined as she saw Naruto and Sasuke getting up the moment they were beaten down.

But Shisui knew that there were still a few sparks deep inside their beings that needed to be utilised for them to finally have the most basic quality of a Shinobi.

Discipline.

Deep down, Shisui liked the duo's fiery personality. But confusing fiery with indiscipline is a terrible mistake that he didn't wish to commit.

" 'Yawn~' Man, did I really wake for you two so early. Instead of beating you two, it would have been better to simply beat Itachi and ask for a few rounds of spars with the Yondaime.

Of course, defeating Itachi would be just a little harder but Yondaime... man, he would be a worthy opponent."

'Sorry, Yondaime-sama. This is necessary and did take your permission beforehand.'

Almost immediately, the sprawled duo got up from their b.u.t.t. Their eyes blazing in an unseen intensity. Something far greater than their ego had just been poked.

Seeing their fierce expressions, Sakura bit her lower lip and endured the pain in her upper t.h.i.g.hs and calves. She has already been standing in such a position for almost one and a half hours.

"Damnit! I am going to make you taste dust before you even think that fighting dad is a better option!"

Naruto pointed, his blonde hair already smeared with dark brown mud as the strands of grass stuck out of his unruly hair.

Meanwhile, Sasuke immediately bit his lips, his single tomoe sharingan activated and his hands finally forming a complicated jutsu, albeit slowly.

Sneering, Shisui finally nailed the final comment.

"You know... Itachi was way faster when compared to you."

With that, Sasuke's inferiority complex slowly turned into blazing rage. And this was the only thing Shisui wanted to wait for.

Although, he may sound cruel, but extinguishing these two blazes at their peak point is the only way to discipline them. If he even let a single blaze remain, it wouldn't take long for indiscipline to transform into rebellion.

"Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu!"

Placing his hand in front of his mouth and creating a hollow bridge, Sasuke let his chakra gush out, slowly transforming his Chakra into a massive ball of inferno, wanting to turn everything in its way into ashes.

"Raaaaghhhhh! Wind Style: Wind Bullets!"

Naruto roared, his mouth letting out multiple, invisible wind bullets. But seeing their effort, Shisui smiled gently.

"You two... really are some geniuses!"

With that, he slammed his palm on the ground, almost immediately, the area between the fighters started to be filled with thick, ferocious earthen spikes as the momentum and the range of these spikes only grew.

The wind bullet was immediately blocked with only one of the spikes crashing while the fireball exploded and took two spikes down with it.

'Shit!'

They both cussed in their mouths as the speed of emerging spikes did not stop, only grew quicker. Their path unblocked, except for their two thin and frail bodies.

Only now did a sliver of fear emerged within their hearts.

***

"Huff... huff..."

"Good job, Sakura."

Shisui smiled warmly and ruffled Sakura's signature pink hair. Her face contained a healthy blush of excitement and embarrassment.

"Now, you should rest and meditate in the breathing pattern I taught you, alright?"

Sakura nodded without speaking. She still couldn't speak and calmly drank a small amount of water before regulating her breathing. She needed to rest her entire body and that included her dry throat.

Looking at the unconscious duo, sleeping peacefully, Shisui chuckled to himself as they both resembled the two people he happened to respect the most.

Yondaime-sama and his little bro— Emo Itachi.

After remembering the sights of the trio, he slowly walked near the edges of the training ground before he smiled and spread his hands.

"Kurenai-san, you know that such a level of disguise is actually an insult to my capabilities, right."

At his words, the nearby tree distorted, revealing herself to be the beautiful Kurenai.

Smiling at his words, she nodded calmly.

"Of course, I know that. After all, the person who only thinks the Yondaime as a worthy sparring partner would not hold me in his eyes."

Now, it was Shisui's turn to stammer.

"Aha..ha...ha... that... uhem, I just wanted to fully train those two geniuses. Now then, Kurenai-san, to what do I owe for the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e of your visit?"

Shisui immediately changed the subjects. Hearing her words, he reckoned that he would need to explain the full situation to Yondaime-sama for his words were absolutely rebellious.

"Hmm, seeing that your students need a source of motivation... I wanted to propose an opportunity."

Raising his brows, Shisui couldn't help but repeat her word.

"Opportunity?"