Chapter 41: Shouhara's Frustration
The following day, Ishiro did not visit the Barrier Unit. Instead, he rejoined Team Five. Gathering again in the Mission Hall, Ishiro noticed right away that Tanaka's entire vibe had changed.
Tanaka came from a shinobi clan with a strict training regimen: they supplied nutritious meals to nurture the younger generation, but not unlimited jutsu. To learn jutsu, each child had to use their own merits or mission credits for exchange. Once they obtained it, the clan elders would impart targeted instruction and relevant combat experience.
Thus, after her recent break, Tanaka had completed her learning of Body Flicker Technique and had practiced it enough to apply it in live combat, boosting her self-confidence significantly.
Ishiro, for his part, had spent 20 days focusing on advanced ninjutsu development. Shouhara, however, was the one feeling overshadowed. For the entire first year on Team Five, Shouhara had been the team's primary damage dealer, always in the front line. Whether in 1v1 or group combat, he was the anchor. But returning from this break, he saw the "aura" around Ishiro and Tanaka – both had apparently leapt forward.
During the next couple days on a C-rank mission, they finished smoothly. Sensing the group's changed dynamic, Kitsuchi decided to gather them at a training field for a quick reevaluation.
Standing before them in the training grounds, Kitsuchi said, "We took that C-rank mission easily, but in the meantime, Ishiro has become a chūnin and studied intensively, while Tanaka completed Body Flicker. Everyone's abilities have shifted. We need to keep tabs on each other's progress. Let's do some tests."
Glancing at the three: Ishiro and Tanaka seemed eager, while Shouhara looked a bit tense. Kitsuchi continued, "First round: Ishiro vs. Shouhara."
Upon hearing that, Shouhara's spirit flared. "I absolutely can't lose here," he thought. "I'm the team's front-liner. If a close-combat ninja like me is surpassed by Ishiro already, I'll keep falling behind. I'd be a burden."
Ishiro, on the other hand, felt quite relaxed. Before the chūnin exam, Kitsuchi had taught Ishiro while Shouhara stood by, so Shouhara witnessed all of Ishiro's new tactics. In those practice duels, Ishiro never once beat Shouhara. But after these last 20 days, Ishiro was confident he'd improved enough to turn the tables.
They exchanged the "seal of confrontation" and began. Ishiro pulled back while using the older, simpler version of Water Thread. He was just trying to open some distance. But ironically, Shouhara didn't give him that space at all. Knowing Ishiro's style well, plus recalling Ishiro's exam fight with Kenmoto, Shouhara went all-out right away.
He simply charged – ignoring the watery rope to close in fast, with his kunai blocking the water's central flow. Though Water Thread dented his kunai slightly and made Shouhara's movement hitch for a moment, that was it. Then Shouhara accelerated again.
Ishiro was caught off guard. Shouhara was nearly upon him, and Ishiro had just started casting Earth Spear Gun – ironically, his slowest offensive ninjutsu. Ishiro's plan, shaped by his recent victory over Kenmoto, had left him too complacent. He hoped to cycle among his earth ninjutsu, forgetting that Shouhara might abruptly break his momentum.
The result was exactly what he'd done to Kenmoto. Shouhara's relentless aggression derailed Ishiro's plan, forcing him to abandon Earth Spear Gun halfway. Next, Ishiro tried a Substitution Jutsu, but Shouhara easily saw through it. Attempts at taijutsu were similarly nullified. Ishiro ended up losing more decisively – and faster – than Kenmoto had.
With that decided, Kitsuchi called for the next matchup. "Second round: Tanaka vs. Shouhara."
Having just seen Ishiro's quick loss, Tanaka swallowed nervously. She'd felt a huge surge in strength from mastering Body Flicker, but Shouhara's raw power looked formidable.
Once the fight started, Shouhara repeated the same direct approach, while Tanaka pivoted on speed, flitting around him with advanced footwork and her newly acquired flicker. She tried multiple times to zip in for a decisive strike. Yet Shouhara, who knew her style even better than she did, preempted her each time. Once or twice, he nearly reversed the ambush.
Eventually, as in their Academy days, the result was a stalemate.
Seeing no decisive outcome, Kitsuchi halted them. He'd expected as much. Ishiro's unexpected and humiliating defeat showed him not to get cocky after becoming chūnin or beating Kenmoto. Tanaka's stalling match with Shouhara told her not to imagine that one new jutsu solved everything.
But Shouhara's mood soared – the short exercises had reaffirmed his role. Kitsuchi's goal was met.
Three days later, once everyone's spirits were back in a healthy spot, Team Five convened at the mission hall for a B-rank assignment.
Their new target was hunting down a mid-level renegade named Aoyan, a shinobi who'd deserted in the final months of the war. He'd once been squad leader, but he shirked a high-risk mission out of fear, causing a mission's failure. Then terrified of punishment, Aoyan fled, becoming a missing-nin.
A lot of renegades like him had surfaced post-war. Many were under immense pressure. A good number were jōnin, but most were chūnin. Now the conflict was done, some resurged in the "shadows" for mercenary work, hoping to survive. Iwagakure maintained a network to track them, quietly posting B-rank missions to eliminate them.
Aoyan was apparently in the Land of Sound's black market. Possibly he'd left by now, so it might be a lengthy chase – possibly fruitless. If the mission failed, the village wouldn't penalize them. That's standard for hunts like this.
After reading the intel, Kitsuchi gave the three a half-hour to prepare. Then, at the village gate, they regrouped.
Completing their departure forms, Team Five set out. They had to traverse complex geography to reach the Land of Sound from the Land of Earth – ironically near the Land of Fire. The Land of Sound was allied with neither side, making it a place for missing-nin to hide.
If a missing-nin felt cornered, they might slip near an enemy nin force, expecting that enemy to grant them sanctuary or at least hamper the hunter's pursuit. Politics aside, no one wanted to see a rival village easily kill off a potential renegade who could sow chaos in the future.
Thus began Team Five's next mission – a manhunt, unsure whether they'd find their prey or come home empty-handed.