At dinner, the atmosphere on both sides of the table was clearly divided.
"I'm so pissed off! That Yukino, who does she think she is? Damn it, I actually have to be teammates with her—"
Airi hadn't stopped complaining since she got home. Her little mouth was rattling on, all curses directed at Yukino.
"Alright, alright, Airi. At least we successfully grabbed the bell."
Yui was playing the role of a soothing robot on the side, speaking while putting food into Airi's bowl.
The cause of the incident was simple—
During today's bell-grabbing exercise, Airi, as the team's main strength, had already learned basic Water Release and Lightning Release Ninjutsu. She was mainly responsible for fighting against the Instructor Jonin, Mitarashi Anko.
Finally, after a really, really hard fight, she had managed to force a slight opening in Anko's defense—
But then Haruno, who had been hiding in the shadows all along, seized the opportunity and snatched the bell away in one go.
What made it even more infuriating was that Anko decided to be mischievous. She deliberately only brought out two bells and asked Yukino with a smile: "You only have two bells. Who are you planning to give them to?"
Yukino thought for a moment, and in the end—
She kept one for herself.
And gave one to Yui.
Although her relationship with Yui wasn't particularly close, when forced to choose between Airi and Yui, she didn't hesitate to pick the latter.
After all, she didn't want to be teammates with Makoto's woman.
This made Airi so angry she almost lost it on the spot.
Fortunately, in the end, Anko laughed out loud and said, "I was just joking with you~"… thus avoiding an internal fight.
Makoto listened, raising an eyebrow.
Given Yukino's self-styled personality as a champion of justice, he had thought she would give up on her own and give both bells to Airi and Yui.
That girl had a foul mouth, but deep down she was pretty upright.
What he didn't know was that Yukino now also 'wanted to make progress'.
Go back to the Ninja Academy for a repeat year?
That would waste so much time!
During this time, she would be left further and further behind by Makoto.
So after some hesitation, she still chose to keep one for herself.
"Yui, the person you should be comforting is Hina, don't you think?"
Yumiko suddenly spoke.
The table fell silent instantly, and everyone's eyes turned to Ebina Hina.
She had been eliminated.
During the morning's team assignments, she had been placed in a group with two cannon-fodder NPCs.
After the bell-grabbing practical exercise ended, the Jonin Instructor judged: All three were unqualified.
They either had to go back to the Academy for a repeat year or drop out directly.
Yui opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Hina had already smiled:
"It's okay. I was always the weakest among us anyway."
The atmosphere at the table suddenly became heavy.
But Makoto, completely ignoring the mood, asked directly: "What are you planning to do? Repeat the year?"
Hina was silent for a few seconds.
"I don't want to be a Ninja anymore."
The Jonin Instructor had said it today too… her talent was simply too limited. There was no point in repeating the year.
"How can that be? Hina, you just didn't perform well!"
Yumiko quickly comforted her, frantically signaling the others with her eyes as she spoke.
Normally she was arrogant toward outsiders, but she was truly protective of her own people.
Yui received the signal and was about to chime in.
"I don't have any talent, do I, Nishikawa-kun?"
Hina asked first.
"Yeah, you don't."
Makoto said calmly, taking a bite of food.
Yumiko nearly choked… if it weren't for the fact that those words came from Makoto, she would have already started cursing.
"Then... can I make it back to the real world alive?"
Hina asked with a wry smile.
"If you're in danger and I happen to be there, I can lend a hand."
Makoto took another bite of food.
Translation: He might help if he sees it, but he won't go out of his way to save her.
Yumiko looked indignant, 'Wasn't that too heartless?'
'This girl had brought you your foot bath water for four years, working like a slave.'
Just as she was about to speak, she felt a pinch on her waist.
She turned her head and saw Chizuru frantically signaling her with her eyes.
Yumiko quickly swallowed the words that were about to come out and restrained her indignation.
Only then did Chizuru breathe a sigh of relief.
'This teammate really wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed.'
'Who do you think you are? Daring to tell Makoto what to do?'
As a woman who had been intimate with Makoto, she knew this man's personality all too well—
Whatever he says, goes.
When you haven't offended him and he's in a good mood, there's a good chance he might help you.
But if you offend him...
Just wait to get killed.
The topic of Hina was temporarily set aside.
Airi started cursing Yukino again.
"Makoto~ I don't want to be teammates with her. Please go talk to that old Hokage for me!"
As she cursed, she leaned on Makoto's shoulder, then curled up entirely into his arms, acting spoiled.
Nearby, Marina quietly thought: 'If team changes were possible, I'd like to change too.'
Acting together with Hachiman and Saika, she always felt like she was a third wheel.
Watching Airi acting so unrestrained in Makoto's arms, Chizuru couldn't help feeling an itch.
That morning, when she passed by the Aizono sisters' room on the way to the bathroom, she had heard the sounds inside.
As a woman who had tasted the flavor of 'that little brother', she was much more stimulated than Yui.
'Makoto... don't just look at those two...'
'Look at me too...'
'I want it... I want it so much...'
Lost in thought, her legs under the table unconsciously crossed and gently rubbed together.
…
Two months later.
Makoto led his [Makoto Team] and had only completed seven D-rank missions.
The remaining time was all spent on training.
After all, the Chunin Exams, or more accurately, the Konoha Crush Plan, would be coming up soon.
He needed to strengthen them.
Regarding the training directions for his three students, Makoto also made differentiated arrangements.
Megumi and Ran… their characteristics were distinct, so no need to elaborate.
One was developing toward a stealth assassin, the other charging head-on as a close-quarters warrior.
Utaha—
After sparring with her for a few days, Makoto discovered she had some talent with shuriken.
First, let her develop in the direction of 'Tenten-style', but she also couldn't neglect her Ninjutsu training.
Her Chakra Natures were Wind and Fire. He would try to see if she could, like Danzo, attach Wind Attribute Chakra to her kunai to enhance their power.
Come to think of it, the Wind-Fire combination suited Utaha quite well.
This woman was indeed quite crazy when it came to snatching men.
Plus, she had the black-stockinged senpai trait, which was fiery and hot enough.
From this perspective, his team was somewhat similar in composition to [Team Guy]:
Ran was the Lee template, Utaha was the Tenten template.
The only difference was Megumi and Neji… they were completely different types.