Among the three members of Team Three, the parents of Higashino Shin and Yūgao Uzuki had similar types of work.
Gekkō Hayate's mother had already passed away from illness.
As for Gekko Yun Jian, even Hayate had said before that he didn't know which department in Konoha his father worked for.
Higashino Shin estimated it must be the Anbu; only that department would have higher secrecy requirements than ordinary Ninja.
However, it should be the Hokage's direct Anbu, it couldn't be Root. Danzo wouldn't want Ninja who are married with children, or those hot-blooded youths in green who shout about youth all day—unless you have a charming hand warmer in your belly.
He guessed correctly; Gekko Yun Jian had indeed left the Anbu not long ago. Because of the war, suitable Jonin team leaders were hard to find, so the Sandaime had him return to the normal Ninja ranks to take charge of Team Three.
After all, the three members of this class all had great talent, and their parents' generation were well-acquainted with each other; he was the most suitable person.
Gekko Yun Jian carried the distinct, sharp style of the Anbu. After learning of Higashino Shin's abilities, he asked directly after his initial surprise, "To what extent have you mastered Medical Ninjutsu? How do you compare to Megumi?"
Higashino Shin: "I'm somewhat lacking in experience, but in terms of mastery of Ninjutsu and the healing effects of Chakra, I have already surpassed my mother."
"Is that so? That's a remarkable talent. What about sensory ninjutsu?"
"Within a radius of 3 kilometers, as long as there is a Chakra signature, I can sense it."
In fact, Higashino Shin's sensory ability was a byproduct of the White Natural Energy's modification of his body. Even if he didn't absorb Natural Energy during the day, his body would spontaneously achieve a certain level of Fusion with the environment.
The sensory distance grew with the increase of Chakra. Of course, there were other miraculous functions; for example, he could sense others, but ordinary Sensory Ninja could not find him unless they used Sage Mode.
One can talk about their abilities, but it's not necessary to tell everything. A Ninja must have an awareness of keeping their own methods secret. This was a normal practice that Higashino Jiro had warned him about when he was four years old.
"You are almost a perfect all-rounder Ninja." Gekko Yun Jian praised, then said after a brief thought, "Due to your strength characteristics, I originally defined Team Three as a combat-focused assault squad. But I didn't expect Shin's abilities to be so comprehensive. It seems I'll have to adjust the plans for your future missions."
Now, the assessment continues. I'll give you one minute to formulate a battle plan, and then launch an attack on me."
After Gekko Yun Jian finished speaking, he used a Body Flicker to jump away. He crossed his arms and slightly closed his eyes, maintaining a certain distance from the three.
Seeing this, Higashino Shin immediately pulled the other two behind a large tree and asked, "How much do you know about Teacher's strength?"
Yūgao Uzuki thought for a moment: "He's very strong. I'm no match for him at all."
That was nonsense. Higashino Shin looked at her speechlessly: "Out of the three people here, which one can you beat?"
Yūgao Uzuki: "..." Brother Shin, we can still be friends if you don't tell the truth.
Gekkō Hayate was concise: "You know the Gekko family's fighting style. Father is just an adult, enhanced version of me."
"So it's a close-combat type based primarily on kenjutsu. In that case, Hayate will lead the attack, Yūgao will provide support from the side, and I will hide in the shadows to look for an opening."
"Okay!" The two had always followed Higashino Shin's lead, and this time was naturally no exception.
At the same time, their strength and tactical proficiency were much higher than the Genin who graduated after six years during the later peaceful era.
Once the three had decided, Gekkō Hayate and Yūgao Uzuki quickly struck from the left and right, moving to both sides of Gekko Yun Jian in the clearing.
Hayate rushed out from behind the large tree, raising his hand to fire dozens of 'filial' shuriken at his own father.
In reality, there weren't that many shuriken, nor was it the A-rank Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique developed by the Sandaime; it was just a simple genjutsu application used to interfere with the target's judgment.
Gekko Yun Jian's feet remained motionless, but a Kunai had appeared in his right hand at some point. With a series of clangs, he knocked away all the real shuriken. Clearly, low-level genjutsu interference had no effect on him.
During this process, Yūgao Uzuki also rushed out from the other side, having finished her hand seals.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!
A simple C-rank Wind Release to start. In the hands of a powerhouse like Orochimaru, this Ninjutsu could turn a forest into a typhoon zone, but Yūgao was clearly a hundred thousand miles away from that level of power.
Fortunately, she wasn't using it against the enemy. The Ninjutsu scraped harshly across the ground, kicking up a thick cloud of dirt and dust that covered Gekko Yun Jian's position.
The moment his vision was blocked, Hayate drew his sword and Yūgao used a Kunai, both rushing forward together.
As a mature Jonin, Gekko Yun Jian was not to be stumped by such small tricks. He didn't even draw his sidearm, still using the Kunai to accurately parry the sword Hayate swung down in the dust, then used his arm to push him back.
While fending off Hayate, he raised his left leg, placing it in the perfect position so that Yūgao Uzuki ran right into it.
With a slight push, the young girl was also sent flying back.
The two's coordinated attack was practiced, but the difference in their respective strengths was too great, so it had no effect.
But at the same time, Higashino Shin suddenly appeared directly above his head, stabbing down fiercely with a Kunai.
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing rang out. The Kunai that had blocked Hayate moved to his head like a flash, once again blocking Higashino Shin's surprise attack.
Gekko Yun Jian's brow furrowed slightly. He didn't know why Higashino Shin would adopt such a suicidal attack. After all, when a person is in the air, they cannot move freely. Once the attack fails, they lose any follow-up means of adaptation and become a sitting duck.
While he was puzzled, his movements did not stop. He adjusted the angle of the Kunai in his right hand, forcefully parrying the attacking Kunai to throw Higashino Shin's body off balance.
At the same time, he raised his left hand, grabbing for Higashino Shin's neck with lightning speed.
As long as the strongest, Higashino Shin, was captured, the remaining two would be simple. With the strength of his own son and his old friend's daughter, they couldn't even last three seconds.
To his surprise, the situation changed abruptly. The Higashino Shin who was falling toward his palm shifted behind him out of thin air, his Kunai slashing toward the back of his head.
Gekko Yun Jian completely failed to understand how Higashino Shin's body could change positions without any leverage, but he had no time to think. His battle instincts made him turn to block.
With another "clang," he blocked it, but at the same time, another Kunai appeared from a blind spot on the side and rested against his neck.
The Higashino Shin who had feinted from behind turned into white smoke; it was just a Shadow Clone.
"Teacher, it looks like I've won."
Gekko Yun Jian turned his head to look at the ground; the soil there hadn't changed at all.
"So you were hiding another Shadow Clone, using Earth Release to hide under my feet during the battle and deliver a fatal blow at the critical moment?
A good tactic. What's even more impressive is your cultivation of Earth Release nature transformation; there wasn't even a ripple in the dirt when you came out."
When a Ninja moves through the earth, they use properties such as inclusion. The simplest Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique contains this kind of nature transformation.
Deeper applications include the Earth Release: Underground Projection Fish Technique and the Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique. The principle is to temporarily transform mud, sand, and stone into fluid using Chakra, allowing the Ninja to hide or move.
The earth nurtures all living things, and when life ends, the earth embraces and decomposes them. Ultimately, it is dust to dust and earth to earth.
"So, Teacher, did we pass your strength assessment?"
"You passed, but at the cost of sacrificing your two teammates. So, in this situation, how will you choose? Will you ignore them and kill me? Or accept the conditions I am about to propose?"
Behind Hayate and Yūgao, who had just been pushed away, stood another Gekko Yun Jian, each with a Kunai held to their necks.
Ninja battles are generally very fast. While the two were being pushed back and Higashino Shin was taking over, they had been neutralized. Everything was completed in an instant.
The two were a bit embarrassed. If this were a battlefield, they would have become leverage for the enemy to threaten their teammate—the legendary dead weight.
If the mission is the priority, then Higashino Shin should kill the enemy, even if his teammates might be finished. Kakashi gives a thumbs up to this.
If comrades are the priority, then he would fall into the enemy's rhythm, and the consequence could be the annihilation of the squad. Obito, pushing away the giant boulder crushing him, reaches out and gives a thumbs up to this.