The next morning, the three genin cells had gathered early.
Usually, days off were meant to see family and spend time in the the village. However, none of them complained.
"I get that we had to get up early to make the most out of the day...", Sora, the suiton specialist of team 41, complained, "but still, did we have to come before the sun rose?"
"Enough", Goto said, "Everyone came here without complaining. Don't bring shame to us"
"Thank you for joining so early. Later in the day, Ameruyi wanted to have a team meeting, so I thought doing this in the morning was more optimal. Anyway, first drill," Ryugo announced, "Sparring. Pair off. Mix the teams."
Goto Haribako immediately stepped towards Ryugo, a confident gleam in his eye.
"With respect, Captain. I wanted to learn from you in the first place. You are strong in ninjutsu, but let's see how you fare in close combat"
Ryugo simply nodded, drawing his Storm-Sever katana. Goto flourished his senbon umbrella, the metal glinting.
"Haribako senbon umbrella, huh?", Ryugo asked, "It can launch senbons and act as a blunt weapon at the same time in close combat. This is interesting"
Goto smiled: "Do you want to buy one? I am afraid it is a bit expensive, even by the Tsuchigomo Foundry's standards. You'd need our hidden arts to use them to their full potential, so I would not recommend it"
Ryugo shrugged: "I am fine. My specialty is ninjutsu anyway"
As soon as the signal went off by Tetsu, they charged forward.
They clashed.
Goto was fast, his umbrella whirling, deflecting Ryugo's initial testing strikes while launching pinpoint senbon from hidden ports on his weapon.
Ryugo flowed around them, his footwork adapted from the Amegakure Kenjutsu Style basics engraved into him. His blocks were efficient, his counters precise. He was overwhelming.
It must be said that Ryugo had reached the C-rank in Kenjutsu. Except for Ameruyi who was a genius in her own right who had learned B-rank forms of the Silent Rain Kenjutsu style, there were few chunins who could contend him in close combat, not to mention genins like Goto.
Goto overextended. Ryugo capitalised on this opening. His sword suddenly swirled with static energy, the sound of eletrical current thundering in the training grounds. Ameruyi and Tetsu whistled, knowing fully that Goto was finished.
[Storm-Cage Blade (C)]
The blade went past Goto's guard at unbelievable speed, and stopped an inch away from his throat.
Goto went down on the ground with a loud thud
The fight had lasted twenty seconds.
"This...The storm-cage blade jutsu", Goto sighed, "The infamous raiton chakra blade enhancement...I heard only chunins could use it...I am impressed"
Ryugo nodded: "Likewise. I'd suggest you learn a trick or two in kenjutsu for your close combat weakness. It does not need to be a strong technique, merely the basics of the Amegakure Kenjutsu style could benefit you immensely"
"Amazing...I will keep the advice in mind"
Meanwhile, Ren and Ameruyi, the two kenjutsu specialists started their own duel.
Ren, a dual-sword user, was good—aggressive and strong.
Ameruyi didn't bother with fancy footwork.
She stood her ground, the Takeda Silent Rain Kenjutsustyle katata a blur of grey.
When Ren committed to a double overhead strike, she didn't parry. She performed a single, devastating thrust—Silent Rain Droplet Thrust (B). Her chakra focused to a needle-point on her blade tip.
It didn't hit Ren. It shot past his guard and struck a boulder the size of a man behind him.
CRACK-THOOM.
The boulder didn't just crack. A spiderweb of fractures erupted across it before the entire mass split apart, crumbling into gravel.
The entire training ground froze.
Ren lowered his swords, pale behind his mask.
Ryugo looked back at Goto. "Strong?" He nodded toward Ameruyi and the shattered rock. "That is strong. In comparison, my kenjutsu skills are barely passable"
Goto swallowed, his earlier confidence replaced by a sober understanding. The gap between team 11 and 41 was that wide. Two genin teams from two different organisations. Yet, Goto realised that team 11 was even more monstrous than what the rumours told.
From a distance, Yumi squinted: "My turn! We will not go down like those weaklings!"
However, she had said that half-heartedly.
Unexpectedly, she and her team went down even faster.
Under Tetsu's two-layered genjutsu, her weak mind defense caused her to be covered in senbon before she could break free.
Ryugo's thunder clap (D) jutsu put Kota to the ground in a flash
Lastly, Ameruyi did not even unsheathe her sword, using only taijutsu to take down Makura, the civilian kunoichi medical nin.
But it did not stop there. They continued. More spars. Team fights. Exchanging techniques...All in all, four hours later, they had all grown tremendously. More importantly, Goto had come to learn the weaknesses of his team composition. And Yumi, though she benefitted slightly less, understood just how wide the difference was.
[Mission - Exchanging Pointers (D) – COMPLETE]
[Rewards: 100 EXP, +30 Reputation with Team 41 & 42, +5 Reputation with Amegakure General Corps, 5,000 Ryô received.]
[Additional: Skill Proficiency gains detected across multiple participants, 200 EXP gained by Goto, Yumi. 150 EXP gained by Ren, Kota, Makura and Sora]
[Goto Haribako – Lv. 19 Genin]
[Sora – Lv. 13 Genin (↑1)]
[Ren – Lv. 14 Genin (↑1)]
[Yumi Hakkō – Lv. 16 Genin (↑1)]
[Kota - Lv. 13 Genin (↑1)]
[Makura - Lv. 11 Genin]
Most of them had gained a level. Those who did not level up still got stronger.
'The good part is that it is a repeatable quest', Ryugo analysed, 'How strong can they get if I train them on a weekly basis?'