Training the Trio! Starting with Introductions!

In the hospital room.

Rasa sighed weakly, speaking with resignation.

"I agreed to your suggestion of promoting Jinbi to jōnin earlier—that was my mistake."

He paused, glaring at his tightly wrapped bandages. "But even with that, who would've thought Jinbi's taijutsu skills were this lacking? And Qi Hai... what a monster."

Rasa grimaced. Getting beaten by Qi Hai didn't feel like a loss; the kid was practically a freak.

"Good thing we've pulled him into our ranks," Rasa muttered to himself. "If he had joined Konoha instead, we might as well disband Sunagakure entirely."

Suddenly, Rasa's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Konoha, just wait. I, Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, will send you a true demon soon! Wahahaha!"

Jinto, sitting nearby, dared not meet Rasa's gaze.

In Sunagakure, making eye contact with the Kazekage when he's scheming is considered disrespectful.

The Next Day

At 4 a.m., the cold winds howled through Sunagakure, biting into Kankurō's skin. Shivering as he carried his puppet Crow on his back, he muttered, "This has got to be the Sand Village South Branch Snack Shop."

Nearby, Temari, carrying a large bag, sniffed the air. "Wow, it smells so good!" She picked up her pace toward the shop.

Meanwhile, atop the shop's roof, Gaara sat cross-legged. He had stayed awake all night, as usual, unable to sleep due to Shukaku, the demon sealed within him.

Spotting his siblings, Gaara leapt down from the roof, landing softly. He adjusted the giant gourd on his back and followed them into the shop.

Inside, the enthusiastic shopkeeper, Aunt Misha, greeted them warmly. "What can I get for you this early in the morning?"

Temari hesitated, unsure of what to order. They hadn't come to eat; they were here to meet their new mentor.

Just then, a cheerful voice rang out from outside.

"One hundred Chinese-style meat buns, please!"

Qi Hai strode in confidently, brushing aside the curtain. Seeing the trio already there, he smiled. "Ah, you're all here already. Impressive punctuality!"

Waving a voucher in his hand, Qi Hai asked the shopkeeper, "Misha, are the buns ready?"

"Of course!" she replied, grinning. "Just a moment, I'll bring them out."

As she walked toward the kitchen, Misha glanced back. "By the way, are these kids your...?"

"Students," Qi Hai replied with a laugh.

Misha nodded knowingly.

Turning to the trio, Qi Hai grinned. "You know, buns are at their absolute best when they're fresh out of the steamer at 4 a.m. Nothing beats the flavor!"

Temari couldn't help rolling her eyes. "I gave up my beauty sleep for this?"

Kankurō, however, asked excitedly, "Sensei, does this mean we're heading out on a mission?"

"Nope," Qi Hai said, wagging a finger. "I'll eat ninety buns, and you three can share the remaining ten."

Soon after, Misha emerged from the kitchen, carrying a stack of steaming baskets filled with meat buns. The sheer volume seemed impossible for one person to eat.

As Qi Hai dug in enthusiastically, he declared, "Let the Battle of the Buns begin!"

"Hot, hot, hot—but so good!" Qi Hai exclaimed between bites, ignoring the trio's stunned expressions.

Temari sighed in resignation before joining him at the table. Taking a bite, her eyes widened in surprise. "This... is really good."

Kankurō followed suit, sitting directly across from Qi Hai. "Delicious!" he said, wolfing down his bun.

Gaara, maintaining his stoic demeanor, took just one bun and ate it slowly, as though sampling an exotic dish.

An Hour Later

The Battle of the Buns was over.

Of the ten steaming baskets, Qi Hai ate nine, leaving only one for the trio.

Gaara: One bun.

Temari: Two buns.

Kankurō: Four buns.

The rest? All devoured by Qi Hai.

Watching their mentor's monstrous appetite, Temari and Kankurō couldn't help but mutter, "What a monster..."

The Training Ground

Qi Hai led the trio to an open area, a sandy field marked with a 500-meter track, worn into the ground by countless laps.

Standing before Qi Hai, the trio looked like a mix of nervous and defiant.

Temari and Kankurō stood respectfully, but Gaara, as usual, had his arms crossed over his chest, an unconscious defensive posture.

Qi Hai noticed this but said nothing—he didn't know Gaara well enough to understand the deeper reasons behind it.

"Alright, everyone's here!" Qi Hai announced. "Let's start with introductions!"

Temari immediately stepped forward. "I'm Tem—"

"Stop!" Qi Hai interrupted, waving her off.

Instead, he began his own introduction:

"I come from Haiye Hill, 50 miles outside Sunagakure. I am the Lord of a Million Waters, Ruler of the Four Seas, and Master of the Dragon Kings. My hobbies are giving gifts and making brothers, and I hate people who try to kill me."

His words left the trio utterly baffled.

Gaara, Temari, and Kankurō: "What... was any of that?"

While they couldn't fully comprehend Qi Hai's introduction, one thing was clear: It sounded impressive.

Feeling their awe, Qi Hai smiled smugly. "So this is what it feels like to command respect as a teacher... no wonder principals love giving long speeches."

Qi Hai pointed at Gaara. "You, black-eye boy! Your turn."

Gaara blinked in surprise. He had planned to let the others go first and avoid drawing attention, but now he had no choice.

"Sand Waterfall Gaara," he said quietly. "I like killing people. I hate meat buns."

"Speak up!" Qi Hai bellowed, unleashing a weak burst of Conqueror's Haki.

Even at this low intensity, the trio felt as though their souls had been shaken.

Startled into compliance, Gaara shouted, "SAND WATERFALL GAARA! I LIKE KILLING PEOPLE! I HATE MEAT BUNS!"

Qi Hai clapped, clearly pleased. "Good! Next, flower-face boy!"

Kankurō, caught off guard by the nickname, hesitated before stepping forward. His painted face, a symbol of his status as a puppet master, burned with embarrassment.

"Kankurō," he said. "Future puppet master extraordinaire. I like collecting and crafting the strongest puppets. I hate people shorter than me!"

Finally, it was Temari's turn.

Standing tall, she declared, "Temari. I'm Gaara and Kankurō's older sister. My dream is to uphold the ninja way of the Wind, and my hope is for our family to someday share a meal together."

Her voice was steady, filled with determination.Chapter 11: Training the Trio! Starting with Introductions!New4 days agoShow less

In the hospital room.

Rasa sighed weakly, speaking with resignation.

"I agreed to your suggestion of promoting Jinbi to jōnin earlier—that was my mistake."

He paused, glaring at his tightly wrapped bandages. "But even with that, who would've thought Jinbi's taijutsu skills were this lacking? And Qi Hai... what a monster."

Rasa grimaced. Getting beaten by Qi Hai didn't feel like a loss; the kid was practically a freak.

"Good thing we've pulled him into our ranks," Rasa muttered to himself. "If he had joined Konoha instead, we might as well disband Sunagakure entirely."

Suddenly, Rasa's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Konoha, just wait. I, Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, will send you a true demon soon! Wahahaha!"

Jinto, sitting nearby, dared not meet Rasa's gaze.

In Sunagakure, making eye contact with the Kazekage when he's scheming is considered disrespectful.

The Next Day

At 4 a.m., the cold winds howled through Sunagakure, biting into Kankurō's skin. Shivering as he carried his puppet Crow on his back, he muttered, "This has got to be the Sand Village South Branch Snack Shop."

Nearby, Temari, carrying a large bag, sniffed the air. "Wow, it smells so good!" She picked up her pace toward the shop.

Meanwhile, atop the shop's roof, Gaara sat cross-legged. He had stayed awake all night, as usual, unable to sleep due to Shukaku, the demon sealed within him.

Spotting his siblings, Gaara leapt down from the roof, landing softly. He adjusted the giant gourd on his back and followed them into the shop.

Inside, the enthusiastic shopkeeper, Aunt Misha, greeted them warmly. "What can I get for you this early in the morning?"

Temari hesitated, unsure of what to order. They hadn't come to eat; they were here to meet their new mentor.

Just then, a cheerful voice rang out from outside.

"One hundred Chinese-style meat buns, please!"

Qi Hai strode in confidently, brushing aside the curtain. Seeing the trio already there, he smiled. "Ah, you're all here already. Impressive punctuality!"

Waving a voucher in his hand, Qi Hai asked the shopkeeper, "Misha, are the buns ready?"

"Of course!" she replied, grinning. "Just a moment, I'll bring them out."

As she walked toward the kitchen, Misha glanced back. "By the way, are these kids your...?"

"Students," Qi Hai replied with a laugh.

Misha nodded knowingly.

Turning to the trio, Qi Hai grinned. "You know, buns are at their absolute best when they're fresh out of the steamer at 4 a.m. Nothing beats the flavor!"

Temari couldn't help rolling her eyes. "I gave up my beauty sleep for this?"

Kankurō, however, asked excitedly, "Sensei, does this mean we're heading out on a mission?"

"Nope," Qi Hai said, wagging a finger. "I'll eat ninety buns, and you three can share the remaining ten."

Soon after, Misha emerged from the kitchen, carrying a stack of steaming baskets filled with meat buns. The sheer volume seemed impossible for one person to eat.

As Qi Hai dug in enthusiastically, he declared, "Let the Battle of the Buns begin!"

"Hot, hot, hot—but so good!" Qi Hai exclaimed between bites, ignoring the trio's stunned expressions.

Temari sighed in resignation before joining him at the table. Taking a bite, her eyes widened in surprise. "This... is really good."

Kankurō followed suit, sitting directly across from Qi Hai. "Delicious!" he said, wolfing down his bun.

Gaara, maintaining his stoic demeanor, took just one bun and ate it slowly, as though sampling an exotic dish.

An Hour Later

The Battle of the Buns was over.

Of the ten steaming baskets, Qi Hai ate nine, leaving only one for the trio.

Gaara: One bun.

Temari: Two buns.

Kankurō: Four buns.

The rest? All devoured by Qi Hai.

Watching their mentor's monstrous appetite, Temari and Kankurō couldn't help but mutter, "What a monster..."

The Training Ground

Qi Hai led the trio to an open area, a sandy field marked with a 500-meter track, worn into the ground by countless laps.

Standing before Qi Hai, the trio looked like a mix of nervous and defiant.

Temari and Kankurō stood respectfully, but Gaara, as usual, had his arms crossed over his chest, an unconscious defensive posture.

Qi Hai noticed this but said nothing—he didn't know Gaara well enough to understand the deeper reasons behind it.

"Alright, everyone's here!" Qi Hai announced. "Let's start with introductions!"

Temari immediately stepped forward. "I'm Tem—"

"Stop!" Qi Hai interrupted, waving her off.

Instead, he began his own introduction:

"I come from Haiye Hill, 50 miles outside Sunagakure. I am the Lord of a Million Waters, Ruler of the Four Seas, and Master of the Dragon Kings. My hobbies are giving gifts and making brothers, and I hate people who try to kill me."

His words left the trio utterly baffled.

Gaara, Temari, and Kankurō: "What... was any of that?"

While they couldn't fully comprehend Qi Hai's introduction, one thing was clear: It sounded impressive.

Feeling their awe, Qi Hai smiled smugly. "So this is what it feels like to command respect as a teacher... no wonder principals love giving long speeches."

Qi Hai pointed at Gaara. "You, black-eye boy! Your turn."

Gaara blinked in surprise. He had planned to let the others go first and avoid drawing attention, but now he had no choice.

"Sand Waterfall Gaara," he said quietly. "I like killing people. I hate meat buns."

"Speak up!" Qi Hai bellowed, unleashing a weak burst of Conqueror's Haki.

Even at this low intensity, the trio felt as though their souls had been shaken.

Startled into compliance, Gaara shouted, "SAND WATERFALL GAARA! I LIKE KILLING PEOPLE! I HATE MEAT BUNS!"

Qi Hai clapped, clearly pleased. "Good! Next, flower-face boy!"

Kankurō, caught off guard by the nickname, hesitated before stepping forward. His painted face, a symbol of his status as a puppet master, burned with embarrassment.

"Kankurō," he said. "Future puppet master extraordinaire. I like collecting and crafting the strongest puppets. I hate people shorter than me!"

Finally, it was Temari's turn.

Standing tall, she declared, "Temari. I'm Gaara and Kankurō's older sister. My dream is to uphold the ninja way of the Wind, and my hope is for our family to someday share a meal together."

Her voice was steady, filled with determination.

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