Aomizu's words immediately made the atmosphere grow solemn.
Everyone present understood his personality well. If Aomizu said someone would be eliminated, then that person truly would be eliminated. There would be no leniency, no special treatment.
Back during the early theoretical lessons, those who lacked confidence or resolve had already withdrawn of their own accord. The ones who remained and successfully passed the first stage were determined to continue. Naturally, none of them wanted to be removed from the class now.
"Is there anything you still don't understand?" Aomizu asked calmly.
Almost immediately, a student raised a hand.
After carefully answering the questions and resolving everyone's doubts, Aomizu officially began the day's practical training.
"Now, each of you choose a tree and begin."
The students scattered at once.
They gathered Chakra at the soles of their feet and pressed themselves against the trunks.
Bang!
A loud cracking sound echoed as one student infused too much Chakra at once and shattered the bark beneath his foot.
Others, unable to control their output precisely, used too little Chakra and failed to generate enough adhesion. They slipped and fell back to the ground.
Thud after thud sounded as students crashed down.
"Ah! I thought this would be easy!"
"Damn it, I refuse to believe I can't do this!"
"I don't want to be eliminated! If I can't master it during class, I'll practice after school until I succeed!"
Despite repeated failures, no one chose to give up. They stood up again and again, teeth clenched, determined to improve.
Watching their efforts, Aomizu nodded slightly.
Talent was important, but effort mattered more. What he feared most was not lack of talent, but lack of determination. A student who was both untalented and unwilling to work hard truly had no future.
With persistent practice, visible progress gradually appeared.
Those who initially could not even take a single step up the trunk began managing two or three steps. Those who had reached only three or four steps at the start now climbed halfway up.
As for the truly gifted—
They mastered the technique almost instantly.
"It's actually pretty simple," Kurenai Yuhi said proudly after reaching the top of her tree on her first attempt.
She was still a child, and naturally enjoyed showing off a little.
Her success immediately drew attention.
"So cool! She reached the top already!"
"Shizune and Rin did too!"
"Damn it, I can't fall too far behind!"
Inspired by the three girls, the rest redoubled their efforts. Even when their palms were scraped and their legs bruised, they refused to stop.
Aomizu walked over to Kurenai, Rin Nohara, and Shizune.
He wasn't surprised. All three possessed exceptional Chakra control and sharp perception.
"Very good," he said with approval. "Since you've mastered Tree Climbing, you may begin advanced training ahead of schedule."
"Is it Water Walking?" Kurenai asked eagerly.
Aomizu smiled and gently patted her head.
"Not yet. First, you'll train Hindered Tree Climbing."
"Hindered?" Shizune repeated curiously.
"You will continue climbing—but under my interference."
To avoid disturbing the rest of the class, Aomizu led them further into the forest.
"Begin climbing," he instructed. "But be prepared to dodge."
He formed hand seals and used Earth Release, launching small clumps of hardened soil toward them.
The three girls were forced to dodge mid-climb. The moment their attention wavered, their Chakra control faltered.
They fell.
"Ouch!" Kurenai yelped as she landed.
Aomizu crossed his arms. "Giving up already?"
"How could I!" she shot back immediately. "Let's continue, Aomizu-sensei!"
Rin and Shizune nodded firmly as well.
The training continued until the end of the class period. By then, the three had succeeded in maintaining stable Chakra flow even while dodging attacks.
However, the cost was evident. Scratches covered their arms and legs.
The rest of the class wasn't much better. Nearly everyone had suffered minor injuries from falling.
Fortunately, Aomizu was a Medical Ninja. One by one, he treated them efficiently, restoring their condition while subtly refining his own Chakra reserves in the process.
"I've seen everyone's effort today," he said at last. "Those who haven't mastered it must continue practicing after school. Chakra control is fundamental for a Ninja."
Another week passed quickly.
At the next lesson, Aomizu arranged Hindered Tree Climbing for the remaining students while Kurenai, Rin, and Shizune began Water Walking training.
Thanks to the Shadow Clone Jutsu, he could supervise both groups simultaneously.
After giving instructions to the main class, Aomizu's original body gathered the three girls by a nearby water source.
"Water Walking is more difficult than Tree Climbing," he explained. "The surface of water is unstable. You must continuously adjust your Chakra output."
"Do you understand?"
They nodded.
With a sequence of hand seals, Aomizu used Water Release to create a wide, calm pool.
"You may begin. Don't rush. Focus on balance."
"Yes!"
They stepped forward—
Splash!
All three fell into the water immediately.
Aomizu shook his head and pulled them out.
"Why is this so much harder?" Kurenai complained while wringing water from her clothes.
"It's definitely trickier," Rin agreed thoughtfully. "But I think I've figured out part of it."
"Tell us!" Shizune urged.
Rin explained her observation about continuously adjusting Chakra flow rather than maintaining a fixed output.
The three discussed and experimented together.
Their cooperation paid off. Before the class ended, they could stand steadily on the water's surface.
"Very impressive," Aomizu praised honestly. "At your age, I had only just mastered Tree Climbing."
"We're geniuses, after all!" Kurenai beamed.
"If you had a tail, it would be wagging," Aomizu teased.
She puffed her cheeks but didn't deny it.
"Continue practicing. Next lesson, we'll begin Hindered Water Walking."
Leaving a Shadow Clone behind, Aomizu returned to check on the other students, healing fresh injuries.
Two weeks passed in the blink of an eye.
The semester neared its end.
"The second stage of training concludes here," Aomizu announced. "Only Kurenai, Rin, and Shizune have completed all requirements. The rest of you must continue practicing during the break."
The Academy's holidays were short—only half a month to a month. Being a Ninja was no leisurely occupation.
"I expect all of you to pass the assessment at the beginning of next semester."
After dismissing class, Aomizu headed to the Senju Clan compound.
Since the Nine-Tailed's last rampage, Kushina had been far more cautious. Fortunately, no further incidents had occurred.
He sat beside her on the sofa, casually draping an arm around her shoulders while she fed him snacks.
"How is it going with the Nine-Tailed?" he asked.
Kushina sighed.
"It still refuses to acknowledge me."
Initially, whenever she tried communicating, the Nine-Tailed roared threats of violence. But when it realized she offered no openings, it simply retreated behind the seal and slept.
It ignored her entirely.
After thinking for a moment, Aomizu suggested an idea.
"Project movies into the Sealing Space," he said. "But don't show them all at once."
Kushina blinked. "Movies?"
"Everything inside the Sealing Space is shaped by your will. Create a theater. Play only portions at a time."
"…Will that work?"
"The Nine-Tailed is bored. If you stimulate its curiosity, it will respond eventually. Also, strengthen the seal so it can't observe the outside world through your senses."
Kushina decided to try.
She entered the Sealing Space.
Under her control, the dark, damp chamber transformed into a small cinema. A large screen appeared before the towering gate.
The first film produced by Pingchuan Film and Television Company began playing.
Even now, Kushina found it captivating.
After a while, she glanced at the Nine-Tailed.
It appeared asleep.
She turned off the movie and exited.
But the moment she left, the Nine-Tailed opened one crimson eye.
Did she really think such a trick would fool the Nine-Tails?
Still… the story had been interesting.
Over the next half month, Kushina continued the routine. Each day, she played a short segment before stopping abruptly.
When the film finally reached its climax—
She turned it off again.
"Wait!"
The Nine-Tailed's deep voice echoed suddenly.
"Where's the rest? You can't stop there!"
Kushina froze in shock.
So it had been watching.
Realizing its mistake, the Nine-Tailed immediately shut its eyes and turned away.
It refused to let her see its expression.
After exiting, Kushina excitedly told Aomizu what happened.
He smiled knowingly.
"Even the mighty Nine-Tails cannot escape the Law of 'True Fragrance,'" he said.
"In other words, once something proves enjoyable, pride doesn't matter."
Kushina laughed brightly.
"What should I do next?"
"Begin discussing the plot with it," Aomizu advised. "Treat it like a viewer, not a prisoner."
Kushina's eyes sparkled.
For the first time, she could imagine becoming true partners with the Nine-Tailed—mastering its power, earning its cooperation, and eventually leaving the compound freely.
Perhaps the strongest Tailed Beast in existence wasn't immune to storytelling after all.
And perhaps, step by step, even a being born of hatred could learn something new.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)