Konoha: The thirty-year-old Uchiha is not motivated.

"Uh?"

Maruhoshi Kosuke, who was enjoying his hot pot, suddenly paused, a hint of surprise appearing on his honest and simple face.

So fast?
He thought his water clone could stay with Fugaku and the others a little longer, but he logged off before they even finished the first pot of food.

Are all kids these days so amazing?

Reaching out of the boiling hot pot, Maruhoshi Kosuke picked up a tempting piece of fatty lamb, shaking his head with a sigh.
Although that water clone wasn't strong, it still possessed about 30% of his skill level, more than enough to deal with ordinary Chunin.

This shows that Fugaku and others were far more capable than their peers.

"It's alright, they'll only get stronger from now on."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Gin, who was engrossed in eating across from him, looked up, wiped his greasy mouth with a tissue, and nodded with a determined look in his eyes.
What's so special about a ten-year-old defeating a Jonin's clone? From now on, it'll be fifteen or sixteen-year-old teenagers saving the world.

"Ugh, this is such a headache."

Maruhoshi Kosuke sighed as he chewed on a piece of fatty lamb smeared with sesame sauce.
"Why would the monkeys choose you as their instructor Jonin?"

Looking at Maruboshi Kosuke's pained expression, Uchiha Gin asked curiously,

"Who knows? Maybe they think I'm too free?"

Because of the mission subsidy program implemented by Sunagakure in recent years, ninjas from all over the world are more inclined to submit mission requests to the Land of Wind, which has affected the mission systems of other ninja villages to varying degrees.
S-rank and C/D-rank missions are fine; due to their difficulty and quantity, the price per mission doesn't fluctuate much.
The market for A-rank and B-rank missions has been severely impacted, with prices remaining low and the difficulty of securing orders increasing significantly. This has caused considerable distress for the steady Jonin Maru Hoshisuke, who has always only taken on A-rank and B-rank missions.

Forced by the need to make a living, he had no choice but to return to his village to live a simple life while on a mission. Unexpectedly, he was spotted by Hiruzen Sarutobi and assigned to be the caretaker of Fugaku and the others shortly after his return.

"Hey, wait for me a bit. I'll eat after I've dealt with those three little guys."

As the two were talking, Fugaku and the others had already begun searching for him. Maruhoshi Kosuke glanced longingly at the steaming hot pot, apologized, put down his chopsticks, and got up to leave.

"Okay, okay~"

Watching the other person's retreating figure disappear in an instant, Uchiha Gin nodded casually, while simultaneously tossing a large plate of expensive ingredients purchased by Maruboshi Kosuke into the pot.

In fact, Maruboshi Kosuke had arrived at the agreed training ground long before Fugaku and the others. Just as he was about to set up a wooden stake and go through the basic procedures of the genin squad assessment, he bumped into Uchiha Gin, who was there to collect his usual supplies.

The two, who hadn't seen each other for a long time, chatted for quite a while. Upon learning that Maruboshi Kosuke was actually the Jonin who had trained Fugaku and the others, Uchiha Gin, to celebrate, generously pulled out a large, golden pot and brought out his treasured hot pot broth.
It's that secret butter base that even Black Zetsu can't forget.

But as the saying goes, you can't cook without rice. What if you have a pot and a fire but no ingredients?
We can't just use what's available, like the grass and wild khaki rice in the training ground, can we?
Upon learning this, Maruhoshi Kosuke patted his chest and declared that he would take care of the ingredients. He was about to set off to purchase the finest ingredients when Uchiha Gin raised his hand to stop him, saying, "Can't you use a clone for something as small as this?"
Not only that, once the ingredients are bought, you can have your clone take the place of Fugaku and the other two to assess them. Wouldn't it be better for you, the main body, to sit back and relax?

This suggestion enlightened Kosuke Maruboshi, who immediately sent a water clone to purchase ingredients, saying that he could learn from Gintoki in a lifetime!

Before the ingredients arrived, Fugaku and the others got there first. Fortunately, the rest area of ​​the training ground was quite large, and Uchiha Gin, who was huddled in a corner, quietly set up a sealing barrier. This not only concealed the two of them but also reduced their presence.
And so, when Shui returned and delivered the ingredients, the two began to enjoy the steaming hot pot made with their secret-recipe beef tallow, eating with absolute gusto.
If it weren't for the fact that Kosuke Maruboshi's water clones were destroyed by Fugaku and the others, the two of them would probably have been eating until evening, and drinking two more cups of takeout sweet drinks before they would have stopped.

Inside the training ground,

One minute had passed since Maruhoshi Kosuke's water clone exploded. During that minute, Fugaku and his two companions were on high alert, fearing a terrifying retaliation from lurking enemies nearby.

"Where is it?"

Fugaku, his eyes bloodshot, searched the training ground again and again, meticulously examining every inch of it, but still found no trace of it.
"What if he's not even nearby?"

With a furrowed brow, Nawaki warily shielded Mikoto behind him, his blue-glowing fists raised in front of his chest, ready to respond to any sudden attack from Maruhoshi Kosuke.
"Impossible. That bastard who could come up with the idea of ​​using water clones to trick us is probably hiding around us right now, enjoying delicious food while watching us make a fool of ourselves."

"Uh"

Uchiha Gin, who was currently showing off his king crab from the Land of Waves, froze upon hearing this.
You little brat, how dare you openly cricket at me! Tomorrow I'll have Maruhoshi Kosuke give you a good beating!

"Damn it! Don't let me catch that bastard!"

Feeling like a monkey being played for, Rope Tree was so angry his nose almost twisted. His fists, clenched tightly with superhuman strength, were itching to smash the ground a couple of times to vent his anger.
"Calm down, Rope Tree."

Suddenly sensing a sense of crisis, Mikoto quickly spoke up to warn them.
"Shu~"

However, before she could finish speaking, a burly figure had already silently appeared behind them. With the arrival of this unfamiliar presence, Rope Tree's nerves instantly tensed.
"I heard you're looking for me?"

Maruhoshi Kosuke, wiping his mouth, raised an eyebrow with a mocking look in his eyes. Though his eyes were full of laughter, Nawaki felt an unusual chill.

Is this the oppressive aura of a Jonin?
"Suffer to death!"

But he hesitated for less than a second, and under immense psychological pressure, Nawaki, who had been preparing for this moment, launched his attack with unwavering resolve.

I am Senju Nawaki, the grandson of the famous First Hokage. If I can beat you once, I can beat you a second time!

Faced with Nawaki's aggressive attack, Maruhoshi Kosuke did not dodge. He raised his greasy right hand and gently slapped it.
"Crack~"

To everyone's astonishment, the reckless Nawaki instantly transformed into a spinning top, his entire body spun wildly under the strange force that had swayed him off course.

"Tsk! That idiot."

Seeing this, Fugaku's eyes widened in fury, the chilling aura emanating from them drawing attention. Maruhoshi Kosuke looked in the direction of the sound, and the nonchalant look in his eyes sent a shiver down his spine.
My instinct was to avoid it, but it was too late.
"hiss"

In the instant his eyes met Maruhoshi Kosuke's, Fugaku seemed to see a willow forest filled with mountains of corpses and seas of blood, the willow leaves swaying in the wind, stirring his soul.

One glance was enough to captivate him, leaving him unable to tear himself away.

"Ah~ah~ah~"

"I heard you say that."

Nawaki's screams continued. Standing beside him, Maruhoshi Kosuke hummed an unknown tune, slowly pulled a rope from behind him, and threw it at the opportune moment.

Under the influence of centrifugal force from its rotation, the spinning rope tree was instantly bound tightly by the hemp rope, lying straight on the ground, its eyes shaped like mosquito coils.

The good thing is, he's finally free from being whipped by the top anymore! Congratulations!
"Nawaki! Young Master Fugaku!?"

Seeing the fallen Nawaki and Fugaku standing frozen in place, clearly trapped in an illusion, Mikoto, as the sole survivor, became the last hope for the trio.

"One minute."

Maruhoshi Kosuke, having quickly finished cooking the two, glanced at his watch. A minute had passed since the last batch of ingredients was put into the pot; any further delay and they would be too late.

"Mikoto-chan, I remember you once said that our choices are mutual, and now I suddenly don't really want to teach this class anymore."

Shaking his head in disappointment, Maruhoshi Kosuke spoke to the last remaining figure in the arena, his serious expression suggesting he wasn't joking. "Huh?"

Upon hearing this, not only Mikoto but also the tense audience members were taken aback, especially Shikaku, who was well aware of the graduation regulations, and his brows furrowed.
"Lu Jiu, what did that old man mean by saying that?"

Sensing the unusual emotion in his friend's eyes, Haiyi frowned, mustered his courage, and timidly asked,

"This is going to be a big problem. If the Jonin instructors send them back, Nawaki and the others will lose their Genin qualifications and have to go back to the Ninja Academy to repeat their studies."

"Huh? What should we do then?"

Upon hearing this, Haiyi broke out in a cold sweat. Despite his usually introverted appearance, he is actually a very sensitive child who cares deeply about his friends.

However, compared to the anxious expressions of Shikaku and Inoichi, Choza, lost in thought, was focused on other matters.
"Whoosh~ Whoosh~ This smells like king crab!?"

After wrinkling his nose and taking a few deep sniffs, a look of deep envy appeared on his chubby face.

Who on earth is eating hot pot nearby, and why are the ingredients so high-end?!
"As long as I haven't fallen, Class 7 hasn't lost."

With her two teammates defeated one after another, Mikoto, the only remaining member, did not show the cowardice and fear that most girls would display. Instead, she calmly shook her head.

"Qiang!"

Under Maruhoshi Kosuke's curious gaze, he slowly drew a katana from behind him, a weapon that appeared more decorative than practical.

"remarkably brave."

Maruhoshi Kosuke nodded in approval at Mikoto's courage in drawing her sword, but he knew that a delicate young girl like her was no match for the current situation.

Class 7, defeat is inevitable.

"I trust my partner."

Mikoto, sword in hand, assumed a stance clearly not characteristic of the Uchiha style, her gaze fixed firmly on Maruboshi Kosuke.

"Oh? You think those two kids can still fight?"

He bound the rope tree into a pretzel shape. The rope looked ordinary, but it was actually a specially made rope that even an elephant couldn't break free from.

As for Fugaku, let alone a recent graduate, even a Jonin would have to expend a great deal of effort to break free from his unique Ryuu-ryu genjutsu.
"They will not fall easily."

"Hehe, interesting. Let's wait and see, but before that, I hope you can hold on a little longer."

With a light chuckle and a nod, Maruhoshi Kosuke shuddered. The oppressive aura unique to elite Jonin emanated from his body, a terrifying presence that made Mikoto gasp for breath.
"Wow, he's so strong! Is this what a serious Jonin is like?"

Off the field, Nara Shikaku, affected by Maruhoshi Kosuke's oppressive aura, showed a lingering fear on his face.

He had often encountered Jonin within his clan, but this was the first time he had ever witnessed such a terrifying aura.
"No, they are elite Jonin."

Suddenly, a cold voice cut in from behind. Shikaku turned around in surprise and saw the Hyuga brothers, who had arrived late, both with their Byakugan activated and their pale faces full of seriousness.
Through their Insightful Eyes, they could confirm with absolute certainty that the seemingly honest, black-haired youth in the center of the arena was definitely a highly skilled elite Jonin.

A ninja of this caliber would be a renowned figure anywhere.

But
"Who is he?"

The two who arrived late did not recognize the Jonin who was in charge of guiding Fugaku and the other two.
"Maruhoshi Kosuke."

"Maruboshi Kosuke?"

The Hyuga brothers frowned upon hearing this. Their grandfather seemed to have mentioned that name when telling stories.
However, due to the passage of time, the two of them could only remember fragments of the story, such as the bathhouse, peeping, the blue flash, the filth of the upper class, and Gintoki's chivalry; they had forgotten everything else.

"Ah! Look, everyone, look at Misaka's eyes!"

Just as the Hyuga brothers were frowning and recalling Hyuga Tenko's dark history of being tricked by Uchiha Gin years ago, Yamanaka Inoichi, who was closely watching the situation, suddenly shouted in alarm.
Upon hearing this, everyone's attention immediately shifted to that, their expressions of confusion instantly replaced by great surprise.

"Holy crap! Is it open yet?"
"It's truly unexpected that you possess this as well, and even more so."

A moment of stunned silence flashed in Kosuke Maruhoshi's eyes as he stood before Mikoto, his black pupils reflecting a pair of large, watery eyes brimming with crimson.

Three mysterious tomoe slowly rotated within, emanating the chilling power unique to the Sharingan, its oppressive aura no weaker than that of Fugaku just now.

"After all, they also share the surname Uchiha."

Mikoto, having awakened her three-tomoe Sharingan, blinked and explained earnestly.
She knew very well that if she didn't use her Sharingan, she might be instantly killed by the Jonin in front of her.

"Judging from their expressions, it seems they don't know that you've opened your eyes."

Maruhoshi Kosuke, showing some interest, nodded slightly. A glint of amusement flashed in his eyes as he glanced at the astonished audience outside the arena.
"Grandpa Yin once said that a good girl should always protect her privacy and not show off all her good qualities."

Faced with Kosuke Maruhoshi's divisive remarks, Mikoto's response was remarkably calm, her innocent expression revealing no trace of scheming or manipulative intent.

"Besides, aren't women with more secrets more attractive?"

Slightly bending down, Mikoto smiled and locked her eyes on Maruhoshi Kosuke. The blade in her hand trembled slightly with her voice, as if yearning for a thrilling battle.

Looking at Mikoto, who was fully engaged in the battle, Maruhoshi Kosuke smirked. It seemed he wouldn't make it to the next pot.

Are girls these days so precocious?

Shaking his head with a sigh, Maruhoshi Kosuke's gaze gradually turned serious. He never expected that he would misjudge someone so well.
The strongest member of this team is not Nawaki, known as the "Little First Hokage," nor Fugaku, who bears the title of "Little Second Hokage," but rather the seemingly harmless yet incredibly powerful Uchiha Mikoto.
"Then let me see just how many secrets you still have."

With that, Maruboshi Kosuke assumed a defensive stance, awaiting Mikoto's arrival.
"Please take it."

Mikoto held a sword in one hand and placed the other in front of her chest, forming a hand seal for a shadow clone technique. Maruboshi Kosuke frowned at her strange actions.

He had dealt with the Uchiha clan before, but this strange swordsmanship technique was something he had never seen before.
Sure enough, you can't guess a girl's secrets.

Next second,
"Dance of the Three Suns and Moons!"

With a sharp shout, Mikoto leaped into the air, her petite figure splitting into three in mid-air.
Aside from the main body wielding a blade and ascending, the other two clones unleashed two completely different techniques, causing the already shocked crowd outside to drop their jaws in astonishment.

"Whoosh~ Whoosh~ Whoosh!!!" (Taking kidneys and livers!)

"Chirp~ Chirp~ Chirp!!!" (Sidoli!) (End of Chapter)