Ayato looked down at the giant hawk with detached amusement. "Go back," he said casually. "You performed better than that toad."
Ever since Ayato had given that hawk a proper beating, it'd been far more obedient — even showing respect to Sasuke now. That was already more than the grumpy toad had done; Ayato made a mental note to have a "talk" with that frog after the exams. Preferably a violent one.
"Understood." The hawk sighed with relief, transformed into smoke, and vanished. It was quietly glad it had been the one spared from Ayato's wrath.
"Sasuke." Sasuke walked back up to the second-floor viewing stand, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable but edged with a small pride. Ayato read it at once: the boy wanted praise.
"Such a tsundere," Ayato said without heat. He ruffled Sasuke's hair until it stuck out. "You did well. You're truly my student."
Sasuke's lips twitched with the faintest of smiles before he turned away. "Hmph. It's your teaching. Of course I'd win with a power you gave me."
Sasuke liked respect. He'd always liked being strong in front of those he admired.
"I did fine too." Naruto pouted. He'd just won — why had Ayato praised Sasuke and not him? The injustice stung.
Below, Neji stood rigid on the battlefield, staring at the dark smear of blood on the ground. He seemed stunned — a lifetime of conviction rattled.
"I… lost." The admission left him cold. He clenched his fists so hard his fingernails bit into his palms; blood trickled between his knuckles. The idea that destiny had decided otherwise was a bitter pill.
The crowd was dumbfounded. Everyone had expected an epic clash between Byakugan and Sharingan, but Sasuke had demolished Neji with overwhelming control and cunning. Between the illusion of the fireball, the timing of the summoning, and that final, terrifying thrust of Chidori, Sasuke had exploited Neji's tiny blind spot and ended the match in seconds.
"It can't be." Murmurs ran through the stands. Sasuke's comprehensive skill — fire release, summoning, and the Chidori — placed him beyond ordinary Genin. How had Ayato done this in one month?
People whispered that if Ayato could raise a team this fast, jōnin would be climbing over one another to study under him. It was absurd — almost monstrous.
"Go get checked in the med bay." Moonlight Gales coughed, still weak, and nodded toward Neji. But Neji refused.
"No." He bowed his head and walked to the second floor. He needed time to swallow the loss — and to think.
Rock Lee watched in stunned silence. He'd expected Neji to be untouched, but Neji had been beaten. Lee had always trained like a man possessed; seeing the result shook him.
"Kakashi…" some nearby breathed. Kakashi's expression, normally bored and unreadable, was sharp now. He recognized the Chidori's use — he'd conceived the technique. Seeing Sasuke wield it so skillfully was noteworthy.
On the second-floor stand, Kurenai watched Ayato and then the duel below. She allowed herself a small, rueful smile. "Ayato really can teach." Even she, who'd led teams long before, felt a prick of jealousy at how quickly these kids had improved.
Ayato lounged, picking at a chip, and squeezed Kurenai's cheek. "Everyone has their strengths," he said lightly. "You have yours; I have mine."
"Stop teasing." Kurenai swatted him. Still, there was a softness in her eyes. Ayato had a way of provoking people into showing what they were afraid to show.
Hinata, sitting close to Ayato, tilted her head and asked about "collars" when Kurenai muttered something teasing. She really didn't understand grown-up jokes; the concept made her blush and then, overwhelmed, she fainted — small and embarrassing, and instantly the center of everyone's worried attention.
"Hinata!" Kurenai jumped up.
Moonlight Gales rasped, "Next match — Sakura Haruno versus Akadō Kai."
The crowd swiveled. If Naruto and Sasuke had shown such terrifying improvements, surely Sakura would have something to show too. Expectations pressed like a weight; Sakura felt it immediately. Her heart hammered so hard she could hardly breathe.
"N-Nani?" Sakura flinched under everyone's staring eyes. She was small, ordinary in many ways, and anxiety flooded her. What if she failed with everyone looking? What if she embarrassed Team 7? The pressure threatened to crush her.
"Step up." Moonlight Gales croaked.
Naruto blinked at Sakura's pale face, then frowned in confusion. Sasuke merely arched an eyebrow and looked away. Above them, Ayato did something only he could: he slapped Sakura hard across the bottom.
"Wha—Ayato!?" Sakura yelped, hand flying to her stinging cheek. Her face flamed crimson.
Ayato unfazed, leaned in and murmured in a tone meant for ears only, "Too nervous? Expectations get heavy. Don't try to meet everyone — just be yourself. If you really can't, crawl back under your covers and keep your hands busy there."
Sakura choked, face splitting bright red. "Y-you took a picture? You wouldn't—" Her voice squeaked; the mortification of the thought made heat crawl up her neck.
Ayato smirked and said nothing helpful, only that he might "display" the photo depending on his mood. Sakura, furious and horrified, stormed forward with clenched fists. Her embarrassment flipped into a white-hot anger — she'd show them all.
"You'll delete it, right?" she hissed through her teeth.
Ayato tossed her forward with an effortless motion. "Do well," he said. "And thanks for the entertainment."
Sakura hit the ground in a crouch and launched herself at Akadō Kai, furious. "Die, you—!" she screamed, swinging as if each punch could hassle Ayato instead of the stranger before her.
Akadō blinked, unimpressed. He didn't even know Team 7; Sakura's fury was confusing, but he was amused. He could absorb chakra through contact — he preferred his opponents to come close without relying on tricks. Perfect.
Sakura's blows landed with raw intent, but against Akadō Kai they felt featherlight. He smirked and reached out, about to touch the young woman's chakra when—
She hit him with everything she'd got. Not technique, not complex forms — just will and pure, fierce heart. Her punches, though not as refined as Sasuke's Chidori or Naruto's Rasengan, carried intent. They landed with more sting than anyone expected.
Ayato watched from above, expression unreadable. He liked the sight: not the polished art of a prodigy, but the stubborn, earnest force of someone determined to grow. That was training, too.
The arena hummed — people whispering about the strange speed of Team 7's progress, about Ayato's methods, about whether shouting matches and slaps were really the secret. Sakura's face was flushed; whether she won or lost by the end, everyone had seen that she wasn't the same girl who'd come into the village a month ago.
And Ayato, chewing his chip, allowed himself the tiniest smile. The show below was working exactly as he'd hoped.
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/MugiwaraTL