Scene: Observation Room - Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Yuhi Kurenai's Father Watching
"Sir, it seems Jingyi isn't the one we should be worrying about," said Yuhi's father, frowning. "It's more about my daughter... and Asuma."
Yuhi Kurenai's father was visibly tense, his face flushed.
"Jingyi really is something else," he muttered.
Before the field test even began, Jingyi had prepared an array of psychological challenges, harsher in some ways than even the traditional bell test passed down from Kakashi and the Third Hokage himself.
"Pass the test?" he scoffed. "With that kind of pressure? They'll be lucky to make it out without crying."
If Shisui or Kurenai chose to give up now, the three-man cell would be dissolved, and they'd return to the Academy for retraining.
"Haha, don't worry so much," Hiruzen said cheerfully, puffing on his pipe. "You've got to have more faith in your child. Look at me Asuma's out there too. Do I look worried?"
Before them, the crystal ball showed an image of Jingyi facing off against the genin squad, including Uchiha Shisui.
"A dirty move," Yuhi's father muttered. "He's not just testing teamwork. He's dissecting their minds."
"This kind of psychological exam tests not just skill, but their values, how well they understand their comrades. If they can't pass this, they're not ready to be shinobi," Hiruzen said, calm but firm.
Scene: Genin Team in the Forest
"Yes... I'm worrying too much," Kurenai admitted, nodding. "I trust her. I believe she'll make the right choice."
His concern shifted toward Shisui, the Uchiha.
He wasn't so sure about that one.
The Uchiha were gifted but isolated. Detached from the rest of Konoha.
But just as that thought surfaced, something happened on the field that silenced all doubt.
"Test?" Shisui blinked.
"Of course," Jingyi said with a faint smile.
"Th-thank you!" Asuma bowed deeply. He didn't fully understand, but he knew one thing Shisui and Kurenai had agreed to take the test for his sake.
"All of you passed the preliminary questions, right?" Jingyi asked.
He let his smile fade and glared at them, releasing a subtle but suffocating pressure.
None of them flinched.
"Good. The rules are simple. This hourglass marks your time limit. If you fail to land a hit on me before it runs out, you all go back to the Academy. Shisui is exempt for now."
Flip.
The hourglass turned.
In an instant, the three genin disappeared into the trees.
Jingyi watched them go, then leisurely stretched and began walking through the forest in their direction.
"If they just charge in recklessly, they're not ready," he muttered. "Let's see what they've got."
Scene: Strategy
"Time's tight. Let's have Shisui act as captain for now," Kurenai suggested.
Asuma and Shisui blinked.
"I—I'm the youngest," Shisui stammered.
"Still, you're the calmest," Asuma admitted. "And smarter than me, that's for sure."
Shisui took a deep breath.
"All right. Here's the plan."
He outlined hand signals for stealth communication and a strategy that played to their strengths: Kurenai would use illusions and perception, Asuma would apply brute force when needed, and Shisui would assassinate or distract.
"No holding back. This is a combat test. If we hesitate, we lose."
---
Scene: Combat
Jingyi moved through the trees casually, but his presence alone compressed their space.
Asuma gripped his kunai, palms sweating. The pressure was crushing, even without physical engagement.
"Now?" Kurenai asked softly.
Shisui shook his head. "Not yet. Wait for the opening."
But Jingyi was getting closer too close.
"Now."
"Genjutsu: Tree Binding Illusion!" Kurenai's fingers flashed through hand seals.
Jingyi froze. Caught.
Shisui and Asuma leapt into action.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball!"
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
Their jutsu collided and fused flames roared toward Jingyi's position.
Boom!
Smoke and fire clouded the forest.
Kurenai focused.
"No—he's above!"
Jingyi had substituted out. Too fast!
Asuma's eyes widened he couldn't even react in time.
Wham!
Jingyi's kick sent him flying. Asuma barely managed a mid-air substitution to soften the blow.
Shisui threw a smoke bomb, and illusions scattered three Asumas fled in different directions.
"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!" Jingyi slammed his palms down.
A vast wall of water surged around them, separating Kurenai before she could escape.
From afar, her father gawked. "That Water Wall ut could encircle the Hokage building!"
As a support-type, Kurenai had moved too far ahead.
"You always protect your team but who's protecting you?" Jingyi asked coldly.
Slice.
A kunai appeared at her neck. She had substituted once already she was out of options.
"You're out," Jingyi said quietly.
Kurenai bit her lip, furious with herself.
The water dropped. Shisui and Asuma charged back, only to see her caught.
"Sword Style: Iaido Slash!"
Jingyi vanished.
Asuma barely raised his arms crack!
He collapsed, disarmed and knocked down by the flat of the blade.
"Now, for the illusion chapter."
A flash of light a genjutsu!
Shisui diverted his gaze, but dizziness hit him hard.
He broke it but too late.
A sword hovered near his neck.
"None of you landed a hit," Jingyi said. "That means you failed. Back to the Academy... unless—"
He looked at Shisui.
"Unless you choose to give up your position, and ask for a retest for the team."
The three stared in stunned silence.
This was the strength of a true jonin.
The gap was crushing.