A Few Minutes Later…
The sky had begun to dim. Thin clouds hung above the training field, and a soft breeze carried the scent of dry leaves. The three of them were still gathered beneath the tree. Kotetsu looked much more cheerful now, though still bound, while Izumo and Natsu sat cross-legged before him.
Silence fell.
Suddenly—WHOOSH!
A swirl of wind whipped through the trees, and in a red blur, Kushina Uzumaki appeared, landing before them with her arms crossed and a sharp gaze in her eyes.
"Heh… So you three broke the rule too."
Her voice was calm—but cold. Her eyes scanned each of them, one by one. Kotetsu immediately straightened his posture (as best as he could while tied up), while Izumo and Natsu jumped to their feet, cold sweat forming at their temples.
"S-Sensei! We... we can explain—" Izumo began.
But Kushina raised a hand. Silence.
"I told you," she said slowly, "don't feed him."
The atmosphere froze. The wind stopped blowing. Even the falling leaves seemed to hold their breath.
Natsu stared sharply back at her. She didn't speak—but she also didn't bow her head. No apology.
Izumo bit his lip, guilt on his face. "We just... couldn't bear to see him starving."
Kotetsu lowered his head. "If anyone should be punished... let it be me. Don't blame them, Sensei."
Kushina was quiet for a long moment. Her eyes narrowed. Her breathing steady.
Then…
...a soft smile appeared on her lips.
"You're idiots," she said, lowering her hand.
The three of them glanced at one another—confused.
"But... idiots in the right way."
She stepped forward and with a quick flick, undid the rope binding Kotetsu. He nearly stumbled forward, but Kushina caught him gently.
"The real purpose of this test," she said quietly, looking each of them in the eyes, "...was to test your teamwork. And…"
She paused, glancing up at the now-darkening sky.
"...this lunch was the final trial."
Izumo's eyes widened. Natsu blinked in surprise, while Kotetsu held his breath.
"And you…" Kushina continued, her gaze softening with pride, "...chose to protect each other. That's the true value of a team."
She turned and began to walk away.
"Congratulations. All three of you... pass."
They were silent. It took a few seconds for the word to fully sink in.
"...P-PASS?!"
Kotetsu leapt up—nearly tripping over himself.
"We passed?!" Izumo repeated in disbelief.
Natsu smiled slightly. For the first time that day, the normally calm expression on her face brightened a little.
Kushina turned briefly, grinning with amusement. "Yup. But if you ever fail to share properly on an actual mission… I'll beat you myself."
"YES MA'AM!" the three of them shouted in unison, though Kotetsu's voice cracked from excitement.
Kushina let out a long breath, leaning against a nearby tree.
'This team is going to be a pain... but a fun one.'
While her three new genin laughed, cheered, and playfully patted each other's backs, Kushina smiled quietly, eyes drifting toward the sky.
The Next Day – Their First D-Rank Mission
That morning, the Hokage's office was packed with freshly assigned genin. Teams gathered to receive their first missions—D-rank. Most students called them "the most boring jobs in the shinobi world."
In one corner, Kushina leaned against the wall with a lazy smile. Before her stood her three official students: Natsu, Izumo, and Kotetsu. None of them looked thrilled.
"Sooo…" muttered Izumo, reading the mission scroll with a tired face. "Our first mission is… helping an old lady sort radishes at her vegetable shop?"
Kotetsu immediately covered his face with both hands. "N-No… this… this is not the ninja life I dreamed of!"
"Worse than hell," Izumo added dramatically.
Meanwhile, Natsu stared straight ahead, expression flat. "As long as the pay is fair… I don't mind."
Kushina chuckled. "Relax, this is just the beginning. D-rank missions build character."
Kotetsu looked at her like she had just betrayed him. "Build character? This is soul-crushing, Sensei…"
Mission 1: Sorting Radishes
Granny Kinu's Vegetable Shop
The three genin sat cross-legged amidst a pile of radishes, looking utterly defeated. Each had a pair of cotton gloves and sorting boxes labeled Healthy, Rotten, and Shy.
"Why is there a 'Shy' category?" muttered Natsu, holding up a slightly bent radish.
"Because it looks like it was too shy to grow properly," Izumo replied seriously. "Look at it… hiding like that."
Kotetsu examined his own radish. "This one looks like it has trauma... I'm putting it in 'Shy' too."
From a distance, Kushina sat at the edge of the shop, watching them with a mischievous smile. She had to stifle her laughter when Kotetsu whispered to his radish, "It's okay. We accept you as you are…"
Mission 2: Chasing the Lost Cat
Afternoon – Narrow alleyways in the residential district
"Target spotted! White cat with a red ribbon!" Izumo pointed toward the rooftops.
"That thing knows teleportation, I swear!" Kotetsu yelled, running like mad.
Natsu emerged from behind a wall, her robe covered in dust and cat fur. "I almost caught it earlier. But it used a claw technique… Chunin level."
The cat leapt from roof to roof with mocking elegance.
Kotetsu swung the capture net—only to snag Izumo.
"WAAH! THAT'S ME, YOU IDIOT!"
"SORRY, I PANICKED!!"
Kushina stood atop a nearby building, arms on her hips, struggling not to laugh. "That cat definitely has assassin blood... Good luck, kids."
Mission 3: Cleaning the Village Fish Pond
The water was green, slimy, and... unspeakably foul.
Izumo stood in the muck, eyes hollow, boots half-submerged.
"If I die today, bury me with honor."
Kotetsu was waist-deep, only his eyes visible above the surface. "I've lost all dignity… Only hope remains."
Meanwhile, Natsu stood at the edge of the pond, hands behind her back.
"I've devised a rotation system. We divide the pond into three zones. Izumo, left. Kotetsu, center. I'll... oversee logistics."
Izumo looked at her with betrayal. "Y-You just want to be the manager?!"
"Efficiency."
Kushina sat under a tree nearby, fanning herself with a large leaf.
'They're hopeless… but honestly hilarious.'
That Night
The three genin dragged their feet as they walked. Their faces were grimy, hair a mess, and their scent… indescribable.
"Please… never assign us pond missions again…" groaned Kotetsu.
"I'd rather be stabbed by an enemy than by that smell," Izumo added.
Natsu nodded. "Agreed. That was not a spiritual experience."
Kushina, walking behind them with a faint smile, gently patted each of their heads.
"Good work today."
They turned to her, a bit surprised.
"Seriously, Sensei?" Izumo asked.
Kushina's smile softened. "You didn't run. You didn't complain to the clients. You didn't abandon each other. That… is real progress."
Kotetsu blinked. "I think I'm gonna cry…"
Izumo grinned slightly. "If we keep this up… maybe we really can be a team."
Natsu looked up at the starry sky.
"Not 'maybe'. We already are one."
And behind them, Kushina looked at the same sky—eyes sparkling with a quiet warmth words couldn't express.