Naruto: Becoming a master taijutsu using martial arts.

Tatsumaki Dekai POV

Four years had passed since the Fox's attack. Although the village had rebuilt itself, there was something different in the air. It was that feeling—you can fix something broken, but it will never be the same as before. I felt Minato's absence on every street corner. When he died, the village didn't just lose its Hokage—I lost a friend.

Still, that pain had to stay buried. The mission must go on, and I need to keep moving forward, even when nostalgia crept up on me. Minato was always someone who balanced wisdom and compassion, something I never quite managed. For me, the path forward was always more direct, more… firm.

Jiraiya-sensei was away from the village and had only returned to check on Naruto's seal. The rest of the village? Well, it didn't seem to matter much to him. Not that I expected anything different. And of course, Gasai… I had no idea where she was, and perhaps it was better that way.

Naruto… Thinking about him was something I didn't want, couldn't, and didn't deserve to do. I shook my head slightly. As I walked through the academy's corridors, it finally sank in—I was really going through with this. The muffled voices of the students brought me back to the present.

I found the other jounin at the corner of the hallway. Kaori stood there, her sharp smile and playful gaze ever present. That air of mischief around her always unsettled me. I had known her since childhood, yet I never learned how to handle her. Gasai was always better at that than I was.

"Dekai!" She dragged out my name in a way that sent shivers down my spine. "So, you're finally taking on a genin team?"

I stare at her for a moment. I could almost feel the tension rising between us. What did she want? A challenge? To provoke me? I didn't know, but once again, the simple thought of dealing with Kaori in this mood annoyed me. After all these years, she hadn't stopped playing this game, and she never gave up.

"Yes." I answered tersely. "The Hokage informed me that before I can lead the barrier squad, I need to train a team of genin. So, let's see how this plays out."

She chuckled softly, amusement clear on her face. I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes and stood my ground. I knew she would enjoy any reaction I gave her, so I wouldn't give her the satisfaction.

"Interesting… Looks like little Dekai is finally taking on premium babysitting duty, huh? About time."

Before I could respond, Renji approached, his ever-present sake bottle in hand. He was clearly drunk—his slouched posture and goofy grin were obvious signs that he had no intention of treating this situation with any formality.

"Hey, Dekai… Hic… You're gonna be a sensei, huh? Hic… How about a drink for good luck…" He hiccupped, swaying slightly as he offered me the sake bottle.

I ignored him and raised an eyebrow at Kaori's sudden movement. She plucked the bottle from Renji's hand and pressed her body against him, leaning in close so that her chest brushed against his arm.

"Oh, Renji… Do you really think little Dekai will drink with you? He doesn't know how to have fun." She shot me a quick glance before lifting the bottle to her lips, taking a small sip. Then she ran her tongue across her lips before talking "Unlike you and me."

Even Renji seemed caught off guard by that move, his face turning an even deeper shade of red. As always, Kaori was enjoying herself at others' expense.

"Enough. This isn't the time for this." I cut in, breaking the tension. "It's time to begin."

Kaori pouted but handed the bottle back to Renji before stepping into the room.

The first thing that struck me was the sheer number of children. No… they weren't children anymore. They were soldiers—soldiers meant to protect and serve the village.

There was no more room for the innocent spark that once shone in the eyes of those setting foot on the shinobi path. And as their leader, I need to remember that. There was no place for weakness, no space for hesitation. War, in any form, would not wait.

I waited while Renji and Kaori called their teams before stepping forward. I had already studied the reports on my potential genin, but this would be my first time meeting them in person.

"Team Four! Follow me."

I turned and left the room. They took about two seconds to react—not a bad response time, but if they truly wished to be shinobi, they would need to learn to follow orders without hesitation.

As they followed me, I analyzed them briefly. The eldest, Hyuuga Natsu, didn't seem to know the other two very well. According to the reports, she was from the Hyuuga's branch family and bore that vile seal on her forehead. She had just graduated, and apparently, her clan wanted her to become a caretaker for the clan leader's daughters.

But to do that, she had to pass the genin exam. Most likely, the Hyuuga clan had manipulated team assignments, ensuring she was grouped with two orphans, expecting them to fail the test I would administer.

Clearly, they miscalculated. I wouldn't fail her just to please them if she passed my test. Besides, they placed her on a team with that boy.

Hoshino Kenshin. According to the academy instructor's report, he was a taijutsu prodigy. He didn't seem particularly tall or large, which puzzled me, but his posture was more mature than the others—it stood out. 

His gaze was focused, his shoulders relaxed, but I knew from the reports that he excelled in taijutsu despite struggling with written exams.

Beside him was Kuroda Jimei. The reports stated they were always together. Jimei looked nervous—he tried to hide it, but I could feel the weight of his anxious gaze on my back.

According to the reports, he was average in most areas but had a talent for genjutsu. I wasn't as skilled in genjutsu as Gasai, but I understood how terrifying a good genjutsu user could be.

Altogether, they had unique strengths that could be developed, but also weaknesses that could be fatal if not properly handled. If they passed my test, it would be my responsibility to prepare them for what lay ahead.

At the training ground, the air was thick, as if the trees themselves knew what was about to unfold. I turned to face them. For a moment, I wondered if we had looked like this to Jiraiya-sensei all those years ago—confused and anxious.

They stood at the starting line, ready to follow my orders. I positioned myself before them, watching them closely. They were waiting for the next step, and now it was my turn to set the stage.

I explained the test briefly. Of course, it wasn't as simple as it seemed. The Forest of Illusions was shrouded in mist infused with spiritual energy. Seals embedded in the trees spread genjutsu of varying intensities throughout the area.

This was the Kurama clan's favorite training ground, and rumors claimed its nature was due to a Kurama clan member taking their own life there.

Whether that story was true or not, I didn't know. But the Forest of Illusions was the perfect place to test these three.

I was curious to see if they had what it took to become shinobi. This test wouldn't just assess them physically—it would test their minds.

"Prepare yourselves." I signaled for the trial to begin.