The sun was still low when Team 1 assembled at Training Ground 13 — a quiet forest-fringed area tucked away from the main paths. Dew clung to the grass, and the morning air was brisk, carrying the scent of damp bark and wildflowers.
Ren Uzumaki stood at the center, calm and composed as always. His hands moved through practiced seals before he exhaled sharply:
"Fire Style: Flame Bullet!"
A focused stream of fire surged forward, searing through the air and vanishing into the training post with a low roar. He kept it tight, controlled — refining the jutsu's output.
To his right, Kenji knelt in the dirt, fingers dancing across wire threads and trip tags. He worked in complete concentration, laying a web of chakra-sensitive traps between trees.
"Trap trigger recalibrated," Kenji muttered. "Two-second delay. Better for catching fast targets."
Nearby, Aika sat cross-legged, hands clasped in a focusing seal. Her brow furrowed in concentration.
"Two targets approaching from the west. Small animals... chakra signatures are low."
Their instructor, Arata, observed from a distance with arms crossed. His eyes didn't miss a thing.
"Refinement. Precision. Discipline. This is how a team sharpens."
After a few minutes, Arata stepped forward.
"Rotate roles," he called. "Kenji — sensory. Aika — switch to counter-seals. Ren, you're leading the next exercise."
Ren gave a small nod, already adapting to the shift. He walked toward his teammates, calmly issuing instructions.
"We'll simulate an infiltration. Kenji, use your tracking skills to identify possible breaches. Aika, you'll guide with sensory coverage. I'll handle suppression."
No questions were asked. The team moved smoothly, built on growing trust and Ren's natural command.
From a tree branch above, Arata watched silently, a faint smirk at the corner of his lips.
"That boy… he's already thinking like a chūnin."