Their formation collapsed almost immediately. Itachi triggered a smoke bomb that blinded him just long enough for Kosuke to land a clean hit. Tokuma narrowly avoided a pitfall with his Byakugan, only to be ambushed by Hayama moments later.
It was a sobering reminder that Shinobi battles were seldom fair or straightforward. Regardless of strong tactics or skill, unpredictability and deception could shift the balance of a shinobi battle in an instant. Tekuno's seemingly harmless presence concealed a highly strategic mind.
A week passed. Each day brought another attempt and another failure. Even with meticulous planning, Team 1 continued to lose. No matter how much progress they thought they had made, Hayama's team always found a way to outmanoeuvre them.
The defeats were disheartening. Each one chipped away at Enso's confidence, reinforcing the idea that intelligence alone was not enough.
Yet, amid the frustration, clarity began to emerge. Enso learned that Hayama did not control every move his team made. Instead, he gave them space to act, adapt, and trust their instincts. His leadership was subtle but effective.
In contrast, Enso had tried to manage every detail and outcome. That rigid approach, once a source of structure, now seemed to stifle their potential.
Realising this, Enso made a decision. From now on, they would not be bound to fixed roles or predictable strategies. Only through dynamic teamwork could they overcome the challenge ahead.
They needed to be more flexible, rely on each other's judgment, and embrace the uncertainty of battle.
The first round was a clear loss, with credit going to Kosuke Maruboshi. The second round fared no better, with Tekuno Kanden taking the win with equal finesse. Later on, they began using decoys and double traps, laying intricate plans that gradually tilted the battles in their favour.
Their strategy, coordination, and sheer unpredictability kept the younger team on the defensive, unable to adapt quickly enough.
"We can't win like this. Their teamwork is way better than ours," Tokuma muttered, frustration clearly building. "And they don't even play fair."
It had been five consecutive days of losses, and morale was beginning to dip.
Enso exhaled softly, then turned and bowed slightly towards both Itachi and Tokuma. "It's my fault. I'm still inexperienced when it comes to leading a team."
His words caught both Itachi and Tokuma off guard. They were surprised not because of the losses, but because Enso had so willingly taken responsibility. Had it been any of them in his position, they probably would not have admitted their fault so readily. That simple gesture, however, earned Enso a deeper level of respect from both of them.
"It's not like we haven't gained anything," Itachi said, speaking in his usual calm and composed tone. "Thanks to you, our coordination has got so much better. We just need the right strategy to earn our first win."
He was not offering empty comfort. His words were true and sincere.
Tokuma nodded in agreement. Despite the repeated defeats, their teamwork had improved significantly. The real issue was not their progress, but that their opponents were simply too familiar with their tactics.
"Thanks, guys," Enso said, visibly moved by their support. "Anyway, we've got two days off before our next sparring session. Try to come up with at least three new strategies each. Once we're ready, we'll meet up to discuss them over tea and dango. My treat."
He smiled warmly, genuinely appreciative of their understanding.
Their triangle formation had served them well so far, but Enso saw the potential for evolution. Rather than scrapping it for something new, he proposed creating two additional variations of the same formation.
The adaptability of the triangle setup meant that subtle shifts in roles and spacing could drastically change how it functioned in battle. With multiple variations, they could keep opponents guessing, adjusting in real time to gain the upper hand. The core concept was solid and needed only refinement, not reinvention.
Previously, their main limitation had been the noticeable gap in individual strength. That had now changed. All three Genin had reached a level where each could stand toe to toe with someone like Hayama, making the expanded formations viable.
With nine formation patterns in total, three base strategies with two variants each, they had built a dynamic system that could transition smoothly and confuse their enemies with even the subtlest of shifts.
When Enso's team faced Hayama and his Jonin allies again, the results were different. This time, victory belonged to the Genin.
Hayama and his team had clearly raised their game as well. They knew that the old tricks would not work on these sharpened Genin. In one match, Hayama teamed up with Kosuke to perform a powerful combination jutsu: the Typhoon Water Vortex Technique. It was devastating in power and precision.
But Enso countered it with his signature move, Dark Lightning, striking through the chaos and creating an opening. That opening was all Itachi needed to close in and cast a Genjutsu over their opponents. With their awareness dulled, Tokuma seized the chance, darting in and snatching the victory flag with ease.
That battle marked a turning point. From then on, Enso's team was never the same. The Jonin instructors found themselves struggling, their old strategies no longer enough to contain these fast-improving students. As each day passed, the Genin's victories became more frequent and more decisive.
The training was not just improving their tactics, it was also strengthen their connection. They had reached a level where they could communicate with nothing more than a glance. Words were becoming unnecessary between them.
What stood out most, however, was how much Enso had grown. He was no longer the unsure leader from a few weeks ago. His presence, judgement and awareness had all matured.
Who would have thought a group of children could defeat seasoned Jonin in team battles for an entire week?
Eventually, Hayama ended their group training and instructed them to begin individual preparation. He proudly reported Team 1's progress to the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, especially noting their improved teamwork and Enso's leadership.
Minato was pleased with Enso's growth and, as both a reward and a challenge, offered Team 1 a special opportunity: a one-on-one sparring session with him. Each member would face the Hokage in direct combat.
Due to Minato's demanding schedule, the sparring sessions were postponed until the following week. When the day arrived, the match took place at their usual training ground.
Enso was the first to step forward.
He moved without hesitation, calm and focused, fully aware of the significance of the encounter. As he took his position, a heavy silence settled over the area. The others watched in anticipation. Then, without any formal announcement, the match began.
What followed took everyone by surprise. Minato held nothing back.
The Hokage moved with the same precision and intensity that had earned him his legendary status. In that moment, it became clear that Minato no longer saw Enso as a student to be gently guided but as a shinobi worthy of facing his full strength.
Enso met him head-on, and it quickly became apparent just how much he had changed since returning from Spider Lane.
His movements carried purpose, and his decisions held the confidence of someone who had faced true danger.
Yet as the battle unfolded, Enso was struck by a humbling truth. Despite all the techniques he had amassed through soul devouring, despite the countless jutsu at his command, something was missing.
Each ability, while powerful, lacked harmony with him. They were borrowed tools, mimicked from those he had absorbed but not yet shaped into something uniquely his own.
This was nothing like the controlled training sessions of the past, where mistakes were safe and lessons came without consequence.
Now, facing Minato at full strength, Enso realised there was a vast difference between wielding a technique and truly mastering it.
His proficiency in Extrasensory Perception and Void Step allowed him to keep pace with Minato's Flying Raijin, something few could claim. Even so, he was unable to land a clean blow. The gap between them remained undeniable.
Minato's combat prowess was terrifying. Every move was efficient, refined, and precise. Facing him, Enso understood that the jutsu he had acquired were not truly his own power. They were borrowed, and his use of them was imitation rather than mastery.
It did not matter if Migeiko allowed him to use them without drawback. The real issue was suitability.
His recent fight with Tengen had begun to shift this perspective. Two brutal weeks of defeat forced him to refine his movements, abandon imitation, and embrace authenticity. His style was no longer bloated with borrowed power. It was starting to feel like his own.
The difference between technique and true combat skill had never been clearer. Though he had access to a vast collection of jutsu, his earlier application resembled a bot in one of those old arena-style video games he used to play on Earth — powerful moves without finesse or mastery.
That was no longer the case.
Enso forced Minato to go all out, even provoking the use of the legendary Rasengan.
His fighting style had changed dramatically. Kenjutsu was now his primary method of attack, with taijutsu as a vital supplement, and ninjutsu reserved as a backup or for ranged strikes when needed.
He preferred close combat above all else, thriving on the thrill of danger and the rush of adrenaline that came from putting himself at risk.
Hayama, watching from the sidelines, could not help but smile foolishly each time Enso used a ninjutsu technique he had personally taught him.
The B-rank ninjutsu Enso deployed with precise timing forced Minato to react quickly, often resorting to his Flying Thunder God technique just to evade the attacks.
Despite managing to keep up and exchange blows with Minato, Enso's skills had not yet reached Kage level. He knew Minato's tactics too well, adding a layer of predictability to the fight.
Ultimately, Enso lost because Minato employed one of Jiraiya's techniques, the Crushing Toad Stomach, which immobilised him and ended the fight.
Tokuma and Itachi also had their chance to spar against Minato. While they did not put on a show quite like Enso, their skill levels were unquestionably high, more than a match for any Jonin.
The key difference was that Minato approached these fights differently. Unlike the intense and full-power assault he had unleashed against Enso, he held back here.
Minato refrained from using advanced techniques such as the Rasengan, instead focusing on Taijutsu and fundamental shinobi skills. This restraint made the battles more measured, a test of pure technique and strategy rather than overwhelming power.
From these encounters, Minato gained a deeper understanding of why Team 1 was able to complete missions with such remarkable speed and efficiency.
Itachi's strength was well known, especially after he clashed with Anbu ninja, proving he was exceptionally powerful. However, Tokuma proved to be equally formidable and a far greater challenge than Minato had anticipated.
Tokuma's use of the Byakugan, combined with innovative applications of the Gentle Fist style, kept Minato on the defensive. His new techniques forced Minato to retreat multiple times, something rarely seen in the Leaf's legendary Hokage.
Throughout the battle, Minato could not help but glance at Enso, who was watching with a confident smile.
One of the most surprising elements of Tokuma's style was his incorporation of wrestling and submission holds. At one point, he managed to catch Minato off guard with a precise arm bar. Had Minato not used his Flying Thunder God technique to escape, the match might have ended then and there.
It was surprising to see a Hyuga clan member blend their traditional Gentle Fist style with such unconventional techniques. Tokuma's use of takedowns and submission holds at such a high level caught everyone off guard.
The Anbu and Jonin who had gathered in secret to watch the match were visibly impressed and taken aback by this unexpected fusion of styles.
Minato's expression shifted several times as he observed Tokuma's moves. He was certain that these unorthodox techniques were a direct result of Enso's influence, a byproduct of the unconventional training methods Enso had introduced.
The entire sparring session was kept strictly confidential to avoid demoralising other Chunin exam candidates. Minato was so impressed with the entire team's performance that he promised them a special reward: if all of them passed the upcoming Chunin exam, they would be officially invited to join the elite Leaf Anbu.
After the intense sparring session, the team decided to celebrate with a barbecue. First, everyone rushed home to change into fresh clothes. Itachi asked if he could invite Shisui to join them, and Hayama immediately gave his approval.
Enso had no objections. He considered Shisui a good friend, and besides, he believed the more people, the merrier.
Before heading out, Enso informed Kushina that he wouldn't be joining her for dinner that evening, leaving Chino to assist her instead. With that settled, he set off to meet his team and Shisui.
Hayama made a quick stop at the black market. He planned to use the bounty rewards to fund their party, and luckily, the market was not far from where he lived.
Itachi went home excitedly to tell Shisui about the barbecue and his desire to introduce him to the entire team. Seeing Itachi's enthusiasm, Shisui happily agreed and prepared himself for the evening.
Tokuma, living alone since his parents had passed away during the Third Shinobi War, didn't have much to do. After a refreshing shower, he headed to the barbecue spot, since he was the one who had made the reservation.
Joining Team 1 had transformed Tokuma's life significantly. Once a loner struggling to keep up with Ko, another gifted member of the Hyuga clan, Tokuma's skills had greatly improved through the guidance of Hayama and Enso. His growth earned him praise from both the main and branch families.
Unlike Ko, who harboured a slight disdain for the branch family, Tokuma held no such feelings. He was close to the branch family, having been cared for personally by Hizashi.
This connection also marked the beginning of his rivalry with Ko. After losing a foolish argument, Ko had used the Hyuga curse seal to bully the branch family.
Although Ko had once beaten him, Tokuma was now confident enough that even five of Ko would be no match for him, thanks to his exceptional strength in Taijutsu.
Over time, Tokuma's rivalry shifted from being with Ko to focusing on Itachi, whose strength was formidable and rooted in the famed Uchiha clan. For Tokuma, Itachi was both a rival and a friend. Enso was his benefactor, seemingly impossible to defeat, while Hayama was the respected sensei guiding him.
Tokuma knew that without surpassing Itachi, he could forget about defeating Enso, the man skilled enough to see through the flaws of Hyuga Taijutsu and correct them effortlessly.
That evening, Team 1 and Shisui enjoyed a happy dinner together. Hayama drank more than he could handle, prompting Enso to offer to take him home. It was just the usual routine, with Enso and Tokuma carrying their passed-out team leader back.
Along the way, Enso and Tokuma shared a light-hearted conversation about forming their own squad once they joined the Anbu, joking about all sorts of funny names for their future team.
Enso had come to accept his new life after his mother's passing. He treasured the true friends he had found in this harsh ninja world, where bloodshed and hardship were commonplace. While the other Genin trained intensely for the upcoming Chunin Exam, Team 1 relaxed, hanging out together as they waited for the decisive day.
...
The day before the Chunin Exam, Shinobi from various villages began arriving at the Hidden Leaf.
Enso noticed the absence of Hidden Sound representatives but soon recalled that Orochimaru was still within the village. He also learned that the Third Kazekage was still alive and that the infamous Rasa was now the Fourth Kazekage.
Rumour said that they would come to Konoha for the final stage of the Chunin Exam.
A sense of unease settled over Enso. The anime had never specified exactly when the Third Kazekage died, only mentioning he was murdered nine years before the series started.
Despite these troubling signs, Enso felt there was no need to worry excessively. After all, with Minato and Hiruzen present, the village could handle any threat.
It was one of the busiest days Konoha had seen, with nearly 200 Genin flooding the village. The influx was good for the local economy. Clothing shops and food vendors were filled with customers.
The famous Ichiraku Ramen had even brought out extra chairs and tables to accommodate the crowd eager to sample Konoha's best soul food.
Most local Shinobi chose to eat at home to avoid the crowds. It was simply too busy for their liking.
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