As the light in the sky shifted to yellow and long shadows stretched across the stadium, the two of them were left holding nothing but bare wooden sticks.
Roshi leaned back, the chair giving a soft creak. "For this season, a bowl of cold noodles would be very refreshing, Samui."
"No matter the season, cold things are suitable to eat, Roshi," she replied, steering the conversation back. "So—have you decided how we should begin?"
"Which matter?" Roshi sounded indifferent. "If you mean the core issue that concerns Kumogakure, the answer has already been decided. It needs no more thought."
Samui straightened slightly. "Before deciding the dinner menu, please clarify this matter first, Roshi."
"Konoha will abide by the agreement with Kumogakure."
"Provided that Kumogakure still wishes to execute that old covenant limited only to our two parties." Her tone betrayed no comfort as she rubbed her shoulder. "Is this Konoha's final decision?"
"Regarding that specific agreement, yes—Konoha will honor the contract."
"Roshi, that kind of rhetoric is not being honest at all," she said, calm but sharp. "Right now, this is a matter between five villages."
Roshi turned to her with a small smile. "Yes, it's no longer just a Konoha–Kumogakure matter. But if Kumogakure frames its questions only within the old bilateral agreements—asking about issues that will arise under a future Five-Village structure—then naturally, we cannot give answers that exceed that narrow framework."
He paused, looking out across the empty stands. "This Joint Combat Exercise involves all five villages. If Kumogakure and Konoha insist on keeping the lion's share for ourselves and refuse to yield on critical interests... Iwagakure, the Hidden Mist, and Sunagakure will inevitably find more common ground and form some kind of alliance."
"We don't fear that, given the strength of Konoha and Kumogakure," he added, "but the relatively stable situation we currently lead would no longer exist."
"Therefore," he concluded, eyes returning to the distance, "if our discussion stays confined to the old agreements between our two sides, then the issue of five villages becomes irrelevant—because it would stop being a 'Five-Village Alliance' and revert to the original form."
Samui fell silent for a long moment.
Had he just handed the most crucial choice back to them? Kumogakure could push for a broader, more influential "Ninja World" training exercise that included all five villages—even if it meant sacrificing some interests—or cling to the exchange model dominated by the two of them, preserving short-term control at the cost of declining influence and a stronger alliance among potential rivals.
"Roshi," she asked finally, "do you believe cooperation among the five villages will ultimately yield greater benefits than the bilateral cooperation between Konoha and Kumogakure?"
"Konoha is confident that, together with Kumogakure, we can secure benefits greater than what we now enjoy within a more inclusive 'Ninja World'-level training exercise and examination system," Roshi replied clearly. "However, that also requires Kumogakure to share Konoha's mindset—and its boldness."
—
Sniff.
Sniff, sniff... "What are you doing now?"
"There's no strange smell." Tsunade circled him, even tugging at his collar to peer closer. "Looks like not too much was sacrificed."
"Are you back in puberty? Is your mind full of these things again?" Roshi raised a hand and gently pushed the Hokage away when she leaned in too close.
"At least I'm much better than some guy who looks wilted and indifferent." Tsunade didn't take offense at being pushed; she seized the chance to leave her desk, flop into the soft sofa nearby, kick off her shoes, and curl her legs up. "Youth, Roshi, where did all your youth and vigor go?"
She didn't ask him about his meeting with the Kumogakure kunoichi.
There was no need. The way he returned—calm, not even a brow raised—said everything: things were proceeding as expected, or at least nothing had fallen apart. During the formal talks, Kumogakure's cautious attitude would keep them from giving away too much room for negotiation.
"The one asking that question should start with a little self-awareness," Roshi said, straightening his crooked collar as he walked to his desk. "I won't be attending the formal talks with Kumogakure tomorrow."
"Oh," Tsunade replied lazily.
"The preliminary list for this year's Special Jonin has been drafted. I'm going to the Ninja Academy to take a look."
"Should I notify Ebisu?"
"Yes. Even if it's a promotion based on educational expertise, some assessment is still necessary."
"Also, there's an observation class for senior students on the practical application of Ninjutsu."
—
"Naruto!"
A piece of chalk hit his forehead, and Naruto snapped awake. Under the muffled snickers, he sheepishly stood and, out of habit, took his place in the hallway outside the classroom.
Before long two more were dispatched: Shikamaru, yawning, and Choji, half-asleep. Cultural classes had a way of doing that.
They stood in a row, staring blankly down the corridor. A teacher appeared at the far end, glanced at them, then opened the classroom door and silently pointed for them to remain outside.
Iruka let his students work on their own for a moment, then stepped out. He looked over the three waiting boys and sighed. "Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji, come in and stand at the back of the classroom."
"Yes—"
Three weak, drawn-out replies. The boys shuffled in, hung their heads, and planted themselves against the rear wall for a standing reflection.
After a short time Iruka clapped to get everyone's attention. "Temporary announcement: The observation class originally scheduled for the training ground this afternoon will be held at the Village's Seventh Training Ground instead."
A ripple of surprise ran through the room.
"The village will have an experienced ninja provide on-site guidance to the graduating senior students on tactical choices in Ninjutsu combat."
Iruka's voice hardened. "This afternoon, all of you absolutely must observe discipline!"
He wasn't about to be criticized again.
Seventh Training Ground.
The session had started as an ordinary guidance class for seniors. After Roshi told Ebisu about the upcoming special Jonin assessment, Ebisu mentioned that, over the past year, junior students had regularly watched senior practical matches with good results. Since Roshi already had a Ninjutsu guidance class scheduled that day, he wondered if students from other grades could observe and learn as well.
He considered it briefly and agreed.
So when Iruka's class arrived at the Seventh Training Ground, they found Roshi and a black-haired girl already standing in the center of the field.
"Ah! It's Roshi-nii—"
Naruto was about to shout when Iruka's face loomed in front of him, dark, with a vein pulsing at his temple.
"Na-ru-to, do you remember what I said?"
"Yes... yes! Iruka-sensei!" Naruto curled his neck in, instantly shrinking back.
Naruto took a step back and felt a prickling malice behind him. The red-haired girl was staring straight at him.
"Ka... Karin... so scary!"
By then Roshi's lesson had already begun across the field.
"Normally, the choice of Ninjutsu in battle requires optimal judgment based on the jutsu you've mastered and consideration of elemental strengths and weaknesses," his voice explained. "But real combat is often more complicated."
"Izumi, Fire Release!"
The girl nodded and quickly formed the seals. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Roshi didn't try to dodge; he simply raised a hand and made a few simple signs. "Water Release: Water Formation Wall."
A thin, fragile wall of water sprang up and met the fireball. Steam erupted with a violent hiss, and a thick white fog rolled through the area, choking sightlines.
"Water and fire create a lot of steam." Roshi's voice cut through the mist. "Obscured vision gives the enemy cover—to throw kunai, set traps, or use clones for follow-up attacks."
"The same applies to squad coordination. Without sufficient drills, blindly using Water Release against Fire Release can cause teammates to lose contact—worse than just dodging."
"Therefore, Ninjutsu must be used with matching tactics..."
Naruto scratched his head as he listened. He could follow the tactical theory, but Iruka-sensei had once said Roshi was the village's hero, and few could match the power of his techniques. Sasuke glanced away, briefly meeting Naruto's eyes; he snorted and turned his head back.
"Any questions about Ninjutsu tactical cooperation?" Roshi's voice rang again as the mist began to thin.
One by one, students asked questions. Impatient, Naruto suddenly shot his hand up and jumped before being called on. "Hey! Hey! Is Roshi-nii's Ninjutsu only that effective?"
"Naruto!" Iruka's face tightened; he lunged to stop him, but Naruto's words were already out. He stepped forward, intending to drag the outspoken boy back, when Roshi raised a hand to halt him.
After a moment's thought, Roshi said, "Perfect. As a final supplement to this lesson, one more thing."
"When you face a ninja on the battlefield that far exceeds your capacity to counter directly, the first and most important tactical choice is..." He paused. "Prepare yourselves."
"What I'm about to demonstrate is not advanced Ninjutsu."
"Earth Release: Earth Wave."
His hand seals were simple and exact.
Then the Seventh Training Ground itself seemed to wake. The earth underfoot began to undulate violently, turning hard ground and stone into rolling waves. Stable footing vanished; the whole field pitched and lurched like a ship in a storm.
"Whoa!" voices rose. "Can't... can't stand steady!" "Is it an earthquake?!"
Naruto was immediately thrown off balance, tumbling as the ground convulsed. Even the usually composed Sasuke, who leaped up trying to find a steady place, slid and fell the instant he landed. Everyone at the Seventh Training Ground felt as if the world beneath them had flipped.
Amid the chaos, Roshi stood unshaken in the center, his voice calm and clear above the turmoil. "Run."
"Run with all your might, without looking back. This is the first and wisest choice when facing any jutsu you cannot directly contend with."
Naruto dug his fingers into the living soil, nails almost scraping the earth as it rolled. He looked up at Roshi's unmoving figure, a jumble of confusion in his small head.
A technique like this, and he tells them to run... but with the ground like this, how are they supposed to run?!
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