A refreshing scent filled the air, and a gentle breeze rustled through the treetops with a soft sha-sha-sha sound.
Then—
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! !"
Four swift shadows darted past in succession, shattering the stillness of the forest.
The next instant, the four figures came to a sudden stop, perching atop a massive tree trunk.
"Let's rest here, " Naruto said, turning toward the others—Hinata, Kiba, and Shino. "And figure out our next move. "
Hinata and the others nodded in agreement.
Since the start of the exercise, they had moved quickly into this sector, avoiding the perimeter where other teams might sneak in to ambush them at the start. Even though such an attack was unlikely, Naruto preferred to stay cautious and minimize risks.
Once they caught their breath, Aburame Shino asked quietly, "So, what's our next step? " His gaze naturally fell on Naruto—the strongest among them.
Though all three of them—Hinata, Kiba, and Shino—came from established ninja clans and possessed their own secret techniques, Shino's careful observation along the way had made something clear: Naruto's stamina and raw strength outclassed all of them combined.
No one could tell how much power Naruto truly hid within him.
Hearing Shino's question, Kiba frowned slightly. He didn't like how everyone was looking to Naruto for guidance—but even he had to admit, Naruto's two consecutive years as top of the class were no coincidence.
Even that arrogant Uchiha Sasuke had lost to him more than once.
That said it all.
Hinata blushed faintly and nodded as well, echoing Kiba's words.
Seeing his teammates unified, Naruto didn't decline the leadership. When you're strong, you take responsibility—that was how it should be.
And for Naruto, this exercise was almost laughably easy for their team.
To win in such a vast forest, the key lay in detection and intelligence. And their team happened to be the perfect composition for it.
Hinata possessed the Byakugan, granting her a 360-degree field of vision and unparalleled insight. When she used chakra to enhance her eyes, she could even see several kilometers ahead— though she hadn't quite reached that level yet, her ability was already more than enough for this task.
Kiba and his companion Akamaru had incredibly keen senses of smell, able to pick up scents from far away and determine the location of any opponent. Their tracking and sensory abilities were top-notch.
And Shino, as a member of the Aburame Clan, had a symbiotic contract with the kikaichū insects that lived within his body. In exchange for being their host, he could command their overwhelming power.
In this insect-rich forest, Shino could easily exert tremendous combat potential. His insects could range far ahead, gathering information and detecting enemies long before they drew close.
With all this in mind, Naruto had already formed their strategy:
Use their combined sensory abilities to gather intelligence, avoid unnecessary battles, and survive until the end. Victory didn't require defeating everyone—only outlasting them.
Hearing this plan, Shino and Kiba both nodded thoughtfully. It made perfect sense.
While they each had combat ability, their greatest advantage lay in their perception and reconnaissance skills. A good ninja plays to their strengths—and this was the surest path to an easy victory.
"Alright! Let's do this! " Kiba cheered, striking a double-biceps pose. Akamaru barked enthusiastically beside him.
The thought of easily taking first place made the pair visibly excited. Shino nodded quietly in agreement, while Hinata gazed at Naruto with admiration.
The way he could calmly analyze the situation and devise a strategy so quickly— it was… so cool.
Her pale eyes sparkled like stars.
Naruto smiled, satisfied to see everyone aligned with his plan.
Of course, if he really wanted to, he could end this entire exercise on his own— but that would be boring.
This was the perfect opportunity to test and hone his sensory techniques in real conditions.
Over the next week, Naruto's team put the plan into action.
Using their combined perception, they successfully avoided two or three near encounters with other squads, sidestepping battles that would have otherwise been inevitable.
In doing so, they also gathered valuable intel on the other teams' capabilities.
In the ninja world, combat was as much a battle of information as a clash of strength. Knowing your enemy in advance allowed you to tailor strategies for any scenario.
Outside the forest, in the monitoring station, Iruka and the observing academy instructors watched their screens in awe.
Naruto's team's performance was remarkably stable— so precise and measured that it didn't seem like something a bunch of academy kids could come up with.
Their behavior mirrored that of real shinobi.
The month-long duration of the drill wasn't arbitrary, either. It was designed to test each student's patience and survival capability— to see whether they could endure life in the field without being discovered, sometimes for weeks on end.
For a regular person, that was nearly impossible. But for a ninja, it was essential.
Meanwhile, compared to Naruto's disciplined group, most other teams were frantically hunting down opponents, spending twenty-four hours a day—if they could, even twenty-five—looking for fights.
And none were more aggressive than Uchiha Sasuke's team.
It was as if he bore a grudge against everyone else, cutting through other teams like a storm.
"You're not my opponents, " he said coldly to one trembling group. "Hand over your tags. "
By now, Sasuke had completely abandoned his own team, choosing instead to hunt alone.
The opposing students, seeing him stand there by himself, scoffed. Sure, Sasuke was strong—but there were three of them! Did he really think he could take them all on?
"Hah! Dream on, Uchiha Sasuke! " "Yeah! You should be the one handing over your tag! "
Sasuke's expression didn't change.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In an instant, he closed the distance, his taijutsu strikes landing with flawless precision.
Before his opponents could even react, they were all down.
Efficient. Ruthless. Cold.
While Sasuke rampaged across the forest like a lone wolf on a killing spree, Naruto's group—armed with their "full-map radar"— made the entire drill feel more like a leisurely outing.
Each day, they avoided upcoming encounters in advance, gathered new intelligence, and spent their remaining time in relaxed training.
As for Naruto— he had even started experimenting with a new power during these peaceful days in the forest.
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