End of the Brutal Test !!

"…3…"

The instant Tobi finishes his countdown, Ju surges forward with a flurry of kicks and punches. His movements are quick and precise, but Tobi doesn't even seem to try as he effortlessly dodges every attack. A yawn escapes Tobi's lips, his body weaving lazily through Ju's strikes.

Ju grits his teeth, angered by the man's blatant disrespect, and picks up speed. A fierce roundhouse kick arcs toward Tobi's head, but he simply ducks under it with ease before leaping backward to create some distance.

Now separated, the two lock eyes in a tense standoff. Tobi tilts his head mockingly. "So… are you actually gonna hit me, or is this a warm-up?"

Ju growls in frustration before leaping high into the air, the sun glinting off him as he positions himself for a devastating flying kick. He descends at high speed, aiming directly for Tobi.

The kick connects—or so it seems.

A cloud of dust erupts upon impact, obscuring the battlefield from view. The others squint through the haze, unsure of what just happened.

When the dust settles, the sight is shocking: Ju is buried neck-deep in the ground, completely immobilized.

Tobi, standing casually nearby, digs a pinky in his ear as if nothing had happened. "Wow… who knew carrots could yell so loud?" he quips with a smirk, his eyes drifting lazily to Ju's furious expression.

Ju, his face red with anger, growls through gritted teeth. "When I get my hands on you—!"

"Uh-huh, yeah, sure," Tobi interrupts, waving him off as if Ju's threat is an afterthought. He then scans the rest of the group.

"So, who's next?"

Without hesitation, Chino melts into the shadows of the tree line, Padme following closely behind. The tension thickens as only Tenjin, Himeko, and Kintaro remain standing in Tobi's path.

Kintaro's mind races as he tries to piece together a plan for the impossible situation in front of him.

Okay, he's stronger than me. Definitely faster too. How am I supposed to land a hit on someone like that without him dodging or blocking? He clenches his fists, his frustration mounting. And I still don't know how to use my soul technique… damn it!

As he continues to stress internally, Tenjin's sudden burst of laughter breaks his train of thought.

"Oh man, you look just like a carrot with anger issues!" Tenjin says, barely containing his mirth as he wipes a tear from his eye.

Ju, still buried in the ground, glares daggers at Tenjin. "Laugh it up while you can…"

Ignoring the threat, Tenjin steps forward, the amusement fading from his face as he now locks eyes with Tobi. With only a few feet of space between them, the air grows tense.

That other guy relied on brute strength… this one might have a trick or two up his sleeve, Tobi muses, his sharp gaze narrowing as he studies Tenjin.

Suddenly, Tenjin thrusts a hand toward Tobi.

…But nothing happens.

Tobi blinks in confusion, his eyebrow arching. "Uh, was something supposed to happen?"

A smirk creeps across Tenjin's face. "So impatient…" He spreads his fingers wide and shouts, "Art Form: Tunnel Digger!"

The ground beneath Tobi collapses in an instant, and a massive circular maw snaps shut around him. Rising from the earth is a towering, grayish worm-like creature, its segmented body gleaming faintly in the sunlight.

The others stare up at the beast in awe, their jaws hanging open.

"Nice work, perv!" Himeko calls out begrudgingly, folding her arms.

"I'm not a perv—" Tenjin snaps back, shooting her a glare. But before he can finish, a muffled voice echoes from inside the worm.

"Wow, this is a creative technique," Tobi's voice rings out calmly, "but unfortunately for you… it's still not enough to do any damage to me."

Tenjin's smirk falters, and he takes a hesitant step back. Suddenly, three slashes tear through the worm's massive body, purple blood spraying from the wounds.

The creature writhes before crumbling into ash, leaving only Tobi standing in its place, completely unscathed.

"H-How?!" Tenjin stammers, a bead of sweat rolling down his face. "That was one of my most powerful arts!"

In the blink of an eye, Tobi appears beside him, his expression calm but mocking.

"It's simple." Tobi grabs the front of Tenjin's shirt. "You're not strong enough."

Before Tenjin can react, Tobi spins him around effortlessly before launching him into the air. He crashes into the ground face-first with a loud thud, a plume of dust rising from the impact.

Himeko winces as she watches him groan in pain. "Yeah… that's about what I expected," she mutters, shaking her head.

********

In the tree line a person watches the situation of the others. That person is Chino he watches analyzing how Tobi moves and attacks. Suddenly a hand puts itself on his shoulder, he turns ready to attack on to see Padme looking at him a bead of sweat going down her cheek.

"H-Hey." She says a slight rose tint to her cheeks he looks at her for a bit confused then speaks. "Padme… What is it?" She removes her hand and takes a more serious expression. "I was wondering if you got a plan?"

He looks back at the field then nods. "I do." Both start watching again.

***********

Tenjin pulls himself to his feet, his face set with determination and frustration. He inter locks his fingers and pushes his index fingers together, he shouts, "Art Form: Heavenly Toad!"

A massive toad, roughly the size of a golden retriever, materializes beside him. Its most striking features are its angelic wings and glowing halo, which give it an almost comical divine appearance. The toad croaks loudly, flapping its wings as it takes to the sky.

Tobi raises an eyebrow, his lips curving into an amused smirk. "A flying toad? Is that supposed to hit me with its tongue or something?"

Tenjin's lips twitch into a sly grin. "Not you…"

The toad's long tongue lashes out—not at Tobi, but toward Ju, who is still stuck in the dirt nearby. The sticky appendage smacks Ju across the face, causing him to flinch in disgust before yanking him free from the ground. Ju flies through the air, landing unceremoniously next to Tenjin.

Ju groans, wiping the toad saliva from his face as he glares at Tenjin. "That was… disgusting."

Tenjin keeps his eyes locked on Tobi, his tone sharp and irritated as he replies, "Shut up and help me beat this guy!"

Ju's irritation simmers, but he relents, cracking his knuckles as he steps into position beside Tenjin. 

Tobi sighs, exhaling as though bored, and lazily waves his hand. In an instant, golden chains erupt from the ground, wrapping tightly around Tenjin and Ju's ankles. Before they can react, the chains pull them down, sinking them into the earth up to their waists.

"It'd be super annoying to fight the both of ya," Tobi says with a dismissive shrug, stuffing his hands back into his pockets.

Tenjin grits his teeth in frustration, glaring at the chains that bind him. 'I can't even use my soul technique without my hands! This is pointless…' His face twists into a scowl before he lets out a resigned sigh. "I give up," he mutters, looking thoroughly annoyed.

Meanwhile, Kintaro stands frozen in place, his thoughts racing. 'Why am I just standing here? The clock is ticking, and I still haven't figured out how to use this damned soul technique…' He slaps his cheeks, shaking himself out of his trance, but his inner turmoil remains unresolved.

Himeko's voice cuts sharply through his spiraling thoughts. "Are you just gonna stand there, or are you actually going to do something!?"

Kintaro looks down sheepishly, avoiding her piercing gaze. "Uh… I'm thinking of something…"

Himeko stares at him, disbelief and irritation evident on her face. She takes a step closer, her tone growing sharper. "What's your soul technique? Maybe we can come up with some sort of plan to—"

She pauses, her words trailing off as she notices the sweat beading on his face and the way his expression falters at the mention of a soul technique.

Her eyes narrow, and she speaks slowly, her voice laced with dread. "Do you… not have a soul technique?"

Kintaro stiffens, his silence answering her question before he finally stammers, "Well, I'm… working on it…"

Himeko stares at him, her disbelief deepening into frustration. She groans, running a hand through her hair before shooting him a glare. "You've got to be kidding me. How are we supposed to win if you don't even have a soul technique!?"

"I-I'll figure it out!" Kintaro protests weakly, though his voice lacks confidence. He glances at Tobi, who's watching them with a bemused smirk, as though they're the most entertaining thing he's seen all day.

"Yeah, well, you'd better figure it out fast," Himeko snaps, stepping back into a fighting stance. "Because I'm not carrying your dead weight!"

Himeko reaches back with both hands, grasping the zippers on her jacket's shoulder blades. She unzips them in one swift motion, and with a sudden burst, two large eagle wings sprout from her back.

The wings are magnificent, shifting from a deep brown at the top to a fiery light red at the bottom. Tobi's typically bored expression flickers with genuine surprise as he takes in the sight.

Himeko glares at Kintaro, her irritation evident. "Hurry it up!" she snaps before launching herself into the air.

With a powerful flap of her wings, she closes the distance between herself and Tobi in an instant, her movements swift and precise. She swings the long duffle bag off her shoulder mid-flight, opening it to reveal a sleek spear with a golden ring just above the hilt.

Himeko dives at Tobi with the spear in hand, her attacks coming fast and relentless. She thrusts and slashes with impressive precision, the golden ring on her weapon chiming faintly with each strike. Tobi, however, dodges each attack effortlessly, weaving through her strikes with an almost lazy grace.

When Tobi moves to counter, Himeko beats her wings, shooting herself backward out of his reach. She keeps her distance, circling him from above like a bird of prey.

Again and again, she dives in, attacking with her spear only to retreat the moment he tries to retaliate. Her strategy is clear—wear him down with speed and unpredictability.

'This is annoying…' He sighs and continues with the cycle hoping to tire her out.

Across the field, Kintaro focuses intently on the task Himeko gave him. His eyes narrow, his thoughts swirling. What did I do last time? He recalls the sensation — that fleeting, impossible moment when he'd moved effortlessly, his feet not even touching the ground.

I wasn't even thinking of moving… I just… did it.

But now, the harder he tries to grasp the memory, the more it slips away. Frustration bubbles up as doubt creeps into his mind. How the hell did I do it the first time? Maybe I'm not ready…

His eyes drop, and he feels himself shrinking into the background, his confidence waning as he watches Himeko clash with Tobi. Her fierce determination only highlights his uncertainty.

Suddenly, a memory flashes through his mind — sharp and vivid — from before he left the shrine. 

*****

"Before we head out, one last thing…" Samunami says, turning to face Kintaro with a serious expression. Her gaze is steady, but there's a softness in her eyes.

"Don't get too stressed," she continues, her voice firm yet reassuring. "Soul techniques, as the name implies, come from the soul."

She steps closer, and with a deliberate motion, raises a finger right in front of his face. Kintaro blinks, slightly taken aback.

"So if your soul is focused on too many things," she explains, her finger unwavering, "it's going to stop you from using it effectively. Got it?"

Kintaro's brows furrow as he absorbs her words, a hint of confusion on his face, but he nods nonetheless. "Got it," he says, his voice steady.

Satisfied, Samunami's lips curl into a gentle smile. She lowers her hand and turns on her heel, walking toward the door. "Alright, let's get moving," she calls over her shoulder.

Kintaro takes a breath, squaring his shoulders, and quickly follows her out of the room, determination settling into his steps.

*****

He reflects on this memory, pushing aside his doubts to focus on one goal and one goal alone.

"I want to become a sorcerer… I want to become a sorcerer!"

In an instant, he vanishes from the field in a sudden flash of orange light.

Himeko stares at the spot where he once stood, her confusion quickly turning to anger—only to be caught off guard. Seizing the opportunity, Tobi grabs her leg and slams her to the ground near Ju and Tenjin, leaving her face-first in the dirt without ceremony.

She groans, struggling in the soil, while Ju's expression darkens. Irritated, he forces his arm free from the dirt and aims his hand at Tobi.

A beam on fire comes out Tobi eyes widen a bit but he jumps over it.

But someone in the forest was waiting for him to do this, 'Now! Soul technique: Scatic Dragon!!'

Tobi looks at his left to see the open maw of the a lightning dragon.

Everyone is shocked when a explosion covers the man.

'Did he hit him..?' Was on everyone minds.

"That was a close one…" A look of disappointment and shock is painted on everyone's face.

Chino jumps down a bead of sweat running down as his face as electricity covers his hands. 'That didn't work so I'll just have to get close maybe I can land a hit then?'

**********

Somewhere in a park, Kintaro suddenly blips into existence. His eyes snap open as he surveys his new surroundings, a grin spreading across his face.

"It worked!" he exclaims triumphantly.

Then, a sinking realization dawns on him. "Wait... where's the ground?!"

Before he can react, gravity takes hold, and he starts free-falling.

*********

For hours, Tobi relentlessly handed out beatings, sparing no one except Kintaro, who had mysteriously vanished. The group was battered, bruised, and utterly exhausted.

Padme, gasping for air, mustered the energy for a roundhouse kick. But her movements were sluggish, her exhaustion evident. Tobi easily sidestepped her attack and sighed, gently pushing her to the ground.

He surveyed the group, his disappointment clear. "Tsk… Weren't there six of you? Where'd that orange-haired brat run off to?"

The others exchanged tired glances and shrugged, offering no answers. Tobi clicked his tongue in irritation and let out a loud sigh.

"Fine," he muttered, turning on his heel. "Take a break. I'm getting something to eat."

Without another word, he walked away, leaving the group sprawled on the ground in their defeated silence.

...

They all sat catching their breath, the weight of failure pressing heavily on their shoulders. The reality of returning to the academy loomed over them like a storm cloud.

"This sucks," Tenjin muttered, leaning back on his hands, dirt smudging his cheeks. "Of course we get stuck with the worst teacher…"

A few affirmative hums followed his remark. As he stared at the sky, something caught his eye. "Wait… is that Kintaro?"

Before anyone could react, the orange-haired boy came hurtling down from above, crashing directly onto Tenjin.

Kintaro scrambled upright, panting and disheveled. "I'm back!"

"Get. Off. Me. Please…" came Tenjin's muffled voice from beneath him.

Kintaro hopped to his feet and surveyed the group, noticing their dejected expressions. "So, uh… I'm guessing you guys didn't finish the test?"

The glares he received were answer enough. Nervously, he laughed and scratched the back of his head. "Okay, fair. But how much time do we have left?"

Chino, absently tearing bits off a leaf, replied flatly, "Not enough."

Kintaro glanced around at his scattered, defeated teammates and suddenly had an idea. "How about we work together?"

Everyone froze, blinking at him in confusion. The unspoken thought was clear: Only three can pass.

"What's the point of that?" Himeko asked, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow. "If only three can pass, working together doesn't make sense."

Kintaro frowned slightly but pressed on. "If we can show that we work better as a team, maybe we can all pass."

The logic hung in the air, tempting but uncertain. Despite their doubt, his words planted a seed of hope.

"More importantly," Tenjin interjected, pointing an accusatory finger at him, "where the hell did you come from?"

Kintaro grinned smugly. "Let's just say… I'm a new man."

Tenjin rolled his eyes. "Great, he's still weird."

"Even if we worked together, we'd need a plan," Padme said, turning her gaze toward Chino expectantly.

Chino caught her look and nodded reluctantly. "Alright. Let's do it."

Before he could elaborate, Himeko stepped forward, shaking her head. "Nope. I'm making the plan this time."

Chino squinted at her, his confusion clear. "Why?"

She jabbed a finger at him. "Because your last plan was awful. You were definitely planning to sacrifice us to save your own skin, weren't you?"

His silence was all the confirmation she needed.

"Hmph." She turned to the rest of the group with a haughty expression. Yet inwardly, she smirked at her own scheming. Not like I care. If it comes down to it, I'll sacrifice someone to land a hit and secure my spot.

As the group debated strategies, they failed to notice Tobi leaning casually against a tree nearby, listening in with an amused expression. Pulling a cigarette from his pocket, he lit it and smiled to himself.

"Seems they're finally getting the gist of it," he muttered.

*********

Tobi stepped back onto the field, a bright red slurpie in his hand. He glanced at the clock and smirked. "Looks like we've got, what, ten minutes left?"

The group stood, determination hardening their features. They formed a loose circle around him, ready to strike.

Tobi casually tossed his slurpie over his shoulder, the cup landing with a splash. "Let's get this over with."

They charged all at once.

Padme and Ju closed the distance first, their martial arts skills forcing him to stagger backward. Tobi leaped away but had to twist midair as several frog-like tongues lashed toward him, barely missing their mark.

He landed in a crouch, scanning his surroundings to ensure no one had snuck up on him. I just have to hold out for ten minutes. Then this whole—

A movement in his peripheral vision caught his attention. He turned, just in time to see Kintaro appear out of thin air, a fist aimed straight for his jaw.

"What the—?" Tobi caught Kintaro's wrist mid-strike and hurled him over his shoulder.

Kintaro hit the ground with a gasp, staring up at the sky. Why am I so tired? I've only used my technique five times… maybe I can manage one more. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand.

Tobi glanced down at him, his brow furrowed. Did he just teleport? I swear he was in front of me a second ago.

His instincts kicked in, and he ducked just as Himeko barreled at him from behind. She zipped past, wings outstretched, but instead of frustration, her face lit up with a triumphant smile.

"What's she so happy about?" Tobi muttered.

Then he saw it. Behind her, an electric dragon spiraled toward him, crackling with power.

"Damn it!" Tobi leaped aside, the dragon's energy grazing the tips of his hair. He slid across the ground, his boots digging into the dirt as he came to a stop.

"This is getting annoying," he growled.

Golden chains erupted from his hands, lashing out like snakes. They wrapped around Padme, Himeko, and the others, binding them tightly.

Only Ju, Chino, and Kintaro remained.

The three exchanged nervous glances, their reduced numbers making the situation feel more dire.

"Go to Plan B!" Himeko's shout broke their hesitation.

Ju and Chino nodded, pooling their respective energies into their hands. With a synchronized motion, they launched twin blasts at Tobi.

He jumped back, landing behind a wall of fire that crackled with electricity. The flames rose high, shielding him briefly.

Then the chains came again. Twin pairs of golden links burst through the fire, racing toward Ju and Chino. They tried to dodge, but the chains were relentless, snaring them both.

They fell to their knees, struggling futilely against their bindings.

Tobi sighed, letting his shoulders relax as he surveyed the scene. "Well, guess that's it."

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a lighter and a pack of cigarettes. Placing one between his lips, he flicked the lighter open and brought the flame to the tip—but paused.

Wait… where's the orange one?!

Tobi's eyes shot up, wide with realization. "YOU MISSED ONE, DUMBASS!"

Out of nowhere, Kintaro descended from above, his fist already drawn back. Golden chains shot up to intercept him, but he twisted in midair, spinning around the bindings with practiced precision.

Now face-to-face with Tobi, Kintaro's eyes burned with determination. Take this!

The punch seemed to move in slow motion, cutting through the air with a force that felt almost palpable. It connected squarely with Tobi's cheek, the impact knocking the unlit cigarette from his mouth and sending it tumbling to the ground.

Kintaro crashed to the dirt a moment later, panting and spent. The sound of the clock ringing echoed across the field, signaling the end of the test.

For a moment, there was silence. Everyone stared at the scene in stunned disbelief.

Tobi straightened, rubbing his cheek with a slow, deliberate motion. His gaze shifted between the group and Kintaro, who lay at his feet.

"So… Kintaro, right?" Tobi's voice was calm, almost amused. "It seems you're the only one to pass. Congrats."

Kintaro blinked up at him, sweat dripping down his face. "What…?"

Tobi ignored him, turning to address the others. "The rest of you failed. I expect you back at the academy by tomorrow morning." He began walking away, but a hand gripped his ankle, halting him mid-step.

"W-Wait!" Kintaro's voice was hoarse but desperate. "We all worked together on this plan!"

Tobi glanced down, his expression unreadable. "And? What does that change?" His tone was sharp, cutting through Kintaro's plea like a blade.

Kintaro gritted his teeth, summoning every last ounce of courage. "I wouldn't have landed that punch if Himeko hadn't made the plan! If Tenjin hadn't distracted you! Even Chino helped!" His voice cracked, raw with emotion. "I barely did anything… so if you want to fail anyone, fail me!"

The group watched in stunned silence, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten as Kintaro's words hung in the air.

A heavy silence falls over the field as Tobi steps back, pulling his leg free from Kintaro's grip. The chains binding them dissolve into nothingness.

"Fail you, huh?" Tobi's voice cuts through the tension, sharp and mocking. "Fine. How about this: you decide. Let only him fail and the rest of you pass, or let him pass."

The group exchanges uncertain glances, weighing the cruel choices laid before them.

Padme is the first to speak, raising her hand slightly. "Sorry, sir, but I don't like the options you gave us."

Himeko sits up, her wings fluttering as she crosses her arms. "Yeah, they kinda suck. I'm not picking either one."

Tenjin stretches, letting out a long sigh as he rubs the back of his neck. "Gotta say, I'm with the chick over there."

Ju nods silently in agreement, while Chino remains seated, his expression unreadable.

Tobi's glare darkens, his fists clenching at their defiance. "Are you disobeying my instructions?" His voice drops, dripping with menace. "I could fail all of you right now and be done with it. Is that what you want?"

His words are sharp as bile, making some flinch in fear. Yet, those same people nod in reluctant agreement. They all seem to accept the punishment he's threatened them with.

Then, unexpectedly, he bursts into laughter, nearly doubling over. "Oh man, you should've seen the looks on your faces!" Tobi wipes a tear of mirth from his eye, leaving everyone baffled.

"Congrats, all of you pass."

A collective sigh fills the air, quickly followed by outraged complaints.

"Those who can't work together to build a campfire," he said, his tone deliberate and weighty, "can't hope to survive in battle."

His voice carried the air of someone quoting another, a lesson passed down rather than his own words.

"What the hell? Don't act all melodramatic!" Kintaro shouted, wobbling to his feet.

"Yeah, seriously, what the hell!?" Tenjin chimed in, dusting off his pants with an annoyed huff.

Still laughing, Tobi raised his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, relax! I get it. You're all mad. Tell you what—I'll make it up to you."

He grinned, his earlier seriousness dissolving in an instant. "How about I take everyone to dinner?"

The group exchanged looks, disbelief etched on their faces.

"You mean, you'll actually pay?" Padme asked, one eyebrow raised.

"Of course!" Tobi replied, feigning offense. "What do you take me for?"

"A cheapskate," Himeko muttered under her breath, earning a round of muffled snickers

"Oi, Kintaro," Tenjin calls, slinging an arm around his neck. "Didn't you mention getting food yesterday? What was it you had in mind?"

"Oh, uh, barbecue," Kintaro replies, a bit thrown off by the sudden camaraderie.

At the mention of barbecue, Himeko perks up, a dreamy look crossing her face. "I haven't had BBQ in forever. I hope it's good here in the capital."

Tenjin winks at her. "I like a woman with an appetite."

Himeko's expression immediately twists in disgust. "Never mind—I just lost my appetite," she mutters, turning away.

Padme giggles, walking alongside the group. "I'm not paying for all of you, just so we're clear." She glances over her shoulder. "Oh, Chino, you coming?"

Chino, still sitting on the floor, glances up briefly before looking away.

Tobi chuckles. "Closed mouths don't get fed, man!"

With that, the group starts moving. Chino sits for a moment longer, his stubbornness warring with the growl of his stomach. Finally, he gets up and speed-walks to catch up.

*to be continued———->*