CHAPTER 9

The rustling in the trees grew louder, breaking the eerie stillness of the woods. Aiko's pulse quickened as her system flickered to life.

Warning: Hostile Presence Detected. Prepare for Engagement.

Her teammates instinctively drew their weapons—Minato's kunai glinted in the filtered sunlight, Kushina's fists clenched, and Mikoto stood ready with her kunai, her dark eyes scanning their surroundings. They weren't alone.

"There's more than one," Mikoto whispered, her voice low but steady. "I count three—no, four. They're encircling us."

"Stay close," Minato instructed firmly, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "We work together as a team."

Four figures stepped into view, their presence exuding confidence. These rogue ninja moved like seasoned veterans. Each radiated a distinct threat—one with a katana, another with explosive tags strapped to his waist, a third who carried himself like a predator with unmatched agility, and the fourth, their leader, observing with sharp, calculating eyes.

As the leader's gaze landed on Aiko, her chest tightened. Something about his presence felt… off. His movements were deliberate but restrained, almost like he wasn't fully intent on harming them.

"You're the strategist, aren't you?" he said, smirking. "Let's see if you're as clever as you seem."

Aiko's system flickered faintly, her Combat Analysis: Level 2 painting a basic picture of the enemies' movements, but it wasn't enough. Her analysis felt slow, incomplete, and the gaps in her predictions left her vulnerable.

Far above the battlefield, Sarutobi Hiruzen—the Third Hokage—watched the events unfold through a crystal ball, his pipe resting between his fingers.

"They're doing well to maintain the illusion," he remarked quietly, his voice tinged with both curiosity and caution.

"You're sure this test is necessary?" asked Kurosawa, the Jonin evaluator who had observed Aiko earlier. He stood to the side, arms crossed, his expression faintly disapproving.

Hiruzen didn't take his eyes off the crystal ball. "After Kushina's kidnapping, I need to be certain of their capabilities—especially Nakamura Aiko. Her growth is… unusual. And unusual tends to draw attention."

"They're still academy students," Kurosawa countered cautiously.

The Hokage exhaled slowly, the smoke curling in the air. "Exactly. Better they face a controlled test now than be thrown into chaos unprepared."

The first rogue ninja charged at Kushina, his katana slicing through the air with precision. Kushina dodged, countering with a chakra-fueled punch that forced him to retreat. But the second rogue moved swiftly to flank her, flinging explosive tags in her direction.

"Kushina, watch out!" Minato shouted, hurling a kunai to intercept the incoming attack. The explosion sent a burst of dirt into the air, but Kushina emerged unharmed, her fiery determination burning brighter than ever.

Mikoto clashed with the third rogue, their movements blurring together as kunai met kunai. Mikoto's strikes were calculated, aiming for openings in her opponent's defenses, but his agility made him an unpredictable adversary.

It was the fourth rogue, the leader, who made Aiko's stomach drop. He hadn't attacked yet, but his presence loomed as he advanced toward her, his steps deliberate.

"You're the one holding the team together," he observed, smirking slightly. "Let's see what you're really made of."

Aiko swallowed hard, her heart pounding as her system flickered again:

Combat Analysis: Level 2. Incomplete Predictions. Risk: High.

"This isn't working," she muttered, frustration bubbling to the surface. Her teammates were holding their own, but the lack of coordination was evident. Each of them fought in isolation, and the rogue ninja were exploiting the cracks in their teamwork.

Her system pinged, offering a solution:

Skill Upgrade Available: Combat Analysis. Teamwork Awareness. Proceed to Max Level?

Her hesitation lasted only a moment. With a deep breath, she confirmed the upgrade.

Combat Analysis: Level 5 (MAX)

Teamwork Awareness: Level 5 (MAX)

The change was immediate. The chaos of the battlefield sharpened into clarity, every movement and intent illuminated in her mind like a well-lit stage.

"Kushina, flank left—his stance is vulnerable!" Aiko called out, her voice steady despite the chaos. "Minato, provide cover—throw a kunai to block his escape route!"

Without hesitation, Kushina surged forward, her chakra roaring as she aimed a decisive strike at her opponent's weak point. Minato moved in perfect sync, his kunai pinning the first rogue's cloak to a tree, immobilizing him.

"Mikoto, push him into the open. His balance is weak on the right!" Aiko continued, her confidence growing.

Mikoto adjusted her movements, exploiting the third rogue's imbalance to disarm him with a swift strike, forcing him to retreat. Meanwhile, Aiko focused on the fourth rogue, using her enhanced analysis to predict his attacks and outmaneuver him. With a well-timed feint, she led him into Mikoto's range, where he was swiftly neutralized.

The battle ended abruptly as the remaining rogues retreated into the shadows. Aiko watched their movements closely, her upgraded skills keeping her on edge until the last of them vanished.

"What just happened?" Kushina asked, her tone a mix of exhaustion and awe.

Minato smiled, his warmth returning. "Aiko turned the whole fight around. That was… incredible."

Mikoto nodded, her gaze lingering on Aiko. "Whatever you did, it worked. You read them perfectly."

Aiko felt the weight of their words but said nothing. Her system's upgrades had saved them, but the responsibility of wielding such power lingered heavily in her chest.

As they regrouped and made their way back to the academy, her system flickered again, offering a new notification:

Team Efficiency Increased. Leadership Path Unlocked.

She stared at the text, determination sparking in her grey eyes. The test may have been staged, but the consequences of her choices—and her power—were very real.