Aoshi's words instantly made everyone's expressions turn serious.
They all understood one thing very clearly—if Aoshi said someone would be eliminated, then that person truly would be eliminated.
Back during the theoretical phase, those who couldn't endure it had already withdrawn on their own.
Naturally, the students who had made it through the first stage and remained until now had no intention of being cut here.
"Do any of you still have questions?" As soon as Aoshi asked, someone immediately raised their hand.
After patiently answering everyone's doubts, the training officially began.
"Now, each of you choose a tree and begin your training." Once Aoshi finished speaking, everyone sprang into action.
First, they gathered chakra in their feet, then attempted to adhere themselves to the tree trunk.
Bang! Some gathered too much chakra and directly shattered the tree bark.
Others failed to gather enough chakra, unable to generate sufficient adhesion to stabilize themselves.
One by one, they fell from the trees.
"Ah, I thought it would be simple, but it's so difficult!"
"Damn it, I refuse to believe I can't do it!"
"I don't want to be eliminated. If I can't learn it in class, I'll practice until I do after school!"
Watching everyone fail repeatedly, then grit their teeth and try again, Aoshi nodded quietly.
It wasn't a problem if someone lacked talent. The real problem was when someone lacked talent and refused to work hard.
That was truly hopeless.
After continuous, diligent practice, progress gradually began to show.
Those who couldn't climb even a single step at first slowly managed two or three steps. Those who initially reached three or four steps began climbing halfway up the tree.
As for the geniuses, they mastered it effortlessly, reaching the treetops on their very first attempt.
"It's actually quite simple, isn't it?" Kurenai said with a proud expression.
They were children, after all, and loved showing off. Her words immediately drew everyone's attention.
"Wow, she reached the top so fast!"
"Shizune and Rin too!"
"Damn it, I can't let myself fall too far behind them!"
Stimulated by Kurenai and the other two, the rest grew even more determined, practicing relentlessly—even while nursing injuries.
Meanwhile, Aoshi walked over to the three of them. He wasn't surprised that they had mastered tree climbing so quickly.
"Very good. Since the three of you have already mastered tree climbing, you can move on to the next stage of training ahead of schedule."
"Is it water walking?" Kurenai asked eagerly.
Smiling faintly, Aoshi gently patted her head and shook it.
"Not water walking. Obstructed tree climbing. Next, you'll continue climbing trees while I actively interfere."
To avoid disrupting the others, Aoshi led them a short distance away before beginning the obstructed training.
"Alright. Start climbing—but be careful to dodge my attacks."
As he spoke, Aoshi formed hand seals and used Earth Style, condensing small chunks of earth and firing them out.
Forced to dodge while maintaining chakra control, the three quickly lost balance. The chakra in their feet destabilized, and they fell straight to the ground.
"Ouch." Kurenai instinctively cried out after hitting the ground.
Seeing this, Aoshi smiled faintly. "What? Giving up already?"
"How could I give up!" Kurenai shot back immediately.
"Teacher Aoshi, let's continue!" Rin and Shizune also spoke up without hesitation.
Before they realized it, the class had come to an end. By then, Kurenai and the other two had successfully completed obstructed tree climbing.
The price, however, was numerous falls and bodies covered in minor injuries.
The rest of the students were no different—every single one of them was injured from falling during training.
Fortunately, Aoshi was a medical ninja. He treated them promptly, restoring their condition while quietly harvesting chakra gains.
"Very good. I've seen all of your efforts today. For those who aren't yet proficient, don't forget to continue practicing after school."
"For a ninja, improving chakra control is extremely important."
---
Another week passed.
It was time for Aoshi's class again.
This time, he had everyone continue obstructed tree climbing, while Kurenai and the other two officially began water-walking training.
Thanks to Shadow Clone Jutsu, he wasn't stretched thin at all.
After arranging the others, Aoshi's main body began explaining the principles of water walking to Kurenai and the other two.
Compared to tree climbing, water walking was undeniably more difficult.
After all, the surface of water is constantly shifting and unstable. This required the ninja to adjust their chakra output continuously, adapting in real time.
"Do any of you have questions?" All three shook their heads, indicating they understood.
Aoshi then formed hand seals and used Water Style, creating a pond large enough for training.
"You may begin your water-walking practice now. Remember—don't rush, and don't lose focus."
"Yes." The three responded in unison and stepped forward.
But reality quickly proved that water walking was far more difficult than tree climbing. The moment they stepped off solid ground, all three plunged straight into the pond.
Complete failure.
Shaking his head, Aoshi quickly pulled them back out.
"Why is water walking so much harder than tree climbing?" Kurenai complained as she shook water from her clothes.
Rin did the same, nodding in agreement.
"It really is much harder," Shizune said seriously, "but I think I've already figured out a small trick. I should be able to master it today."
"Quick, teach me!" Kurenai and Rin said eagerly at the same time.
Shizune naturally held nothing back, sharing her method without the slightest reservation.
As the three exchanged insights and corrected one another, their progress accelerated rapidly.
Before the class had even ended, they were already able to stand steadily on the surface of the water without falling again.
"Excellent. All three of you are outstanding—far more impressive than I was at your age."
This wasn't empty praise. When Aoshi had been Kurenai's age, he had only just managed to master tree climbing.
"We're geniuses!" Aoshi's words instantly delighted Kurenai. If she had a tail, it would have been wagging straight up into the sky.
"Keep practicing. In the next class, we'll begin obstructed water-walking training."
After saying this, Aoshi left behind a shadow clone while his main body went to assist the others.
Obstructed tree climbing inevitably led to injuries, and he needed to provide medical treatment.
In the blink of an eye, two weeks passed.
This semester at the Ninja Academy was also drawing to a close.
"The second stage of instruction ends here. Only Kurenai, Rin, and Shizune have completed all the training. The rest of you must continue practicing during the break."
The academy's semester breaks were never long—only half a month to a month at most.
After all, being a ninja was not a leisurely profession.
"I hope everyone passes the assessment test at the start of the next semester."
After leaving the Ninja Academy, Aoshi headed straight to the Senju clan compound.
Since the last Nine-Tails rampage, Kushina had become much more cautious, and no further incidents had occurred.
"Kushina, how's your relationship with the Nine-Tails now?"
Sitting on the sofa, holding Kushina in his arms while eating the food she fed him, Aoshi asked casually.
Kushina sighed, her expression dejected. "It's still the same. The Nine-Tails completely ignores me."
She had tried every method she could think of to communicate with it.
At first, the Nine-Tails would still roar angrily once or twice, shouting about killing her or destroying everything—just to assert its presence.
But after realizing Kushina wasn't giving it any opportunities, it simply lay down behind the sealing gate and fell asleep.
Eventually, it stopped reacting altogether.
After thinking for a moment, Aoshi offered a suggestion.
"How about this, Kushina? Project the movies you used to watch into the sealing space—but don't let the Nine-Tails watch them all at once."
Nothing inside the sealing space was truly real. Naturally, Kushina, as its master, could reshape it at will.
Projecting movies inside the sealed space would be effortless.
"Will that really work?" Kushina looked doubtful.
"The Nine-Tails is sealed inside you and can only sleep all day. If you play movies in the sealing space, a bored Nine-Tails will slowly become interested."
"To be safe, reinforce the seal so it can't directly perceive the outside world through your senses."
Following Aoshi's advice, Kushina decided to give it a try. After all, there were no better options at the moment.
She acted immediately. With a single thought, Kushina entered the sealing space.
Under her control, the originally dark and oppressive space transformed into a movie theater.
On the large screen, the very first movie released by Hirakawa Film Company began to play.
Watching it again, Kushina found herself completely absorbed. It only proved how much effort Aoshi had put into it back then.
After a while, she glanced toward the Nine-Tails. But it remained motionless, still asleep.
Disappointed, Kushina turned off the movie and exited the sealing space.
What she didn't know was that the moment she left, the Nine-Tails slowly opened its mocking eyes.
'This old man is the Nine-Tails. You think such a cheap trick would work on me?' After leaving the sealing space, Kushina told Aoshi everything that had happened.
"Don't rush. Take it slowly. It'll work eventually."
So, following Aoshi's suggestion, Kushina entered the sealing space every day to play movies—only a little each time.
In this manner, more than half a month passed.
Just as the movie was reaching its climax, Kushina stopped it again and prepared to leave.
Suddenly, the Nine-Tails' voice rang out. "What happens next? How can you stop at such a crucial moment?"
Kushina froze in shock. So the Nine-Tails had been watching all along.
The moment the words left its mouth, the Nine-Tails regretted it. Didn't this mean it had given in first?
Especially when it sensed Kushina's reaction, the embarrassment became unbearable.
It immediately shut its eyes again, pretending to sleep, even turning its back so Kushina couldn't see its face.
After leaving the sealing space, Kushina excitedly told Aoshi what had happened.
After listening, Aoshi merely smiled calmly. Even in the ninja world—even for the strongest Tailed Beast—the Nine-Tails couldn't escape the law of waiting.
"This is a good sign. From now on, when you play movies, Kushina, try discussing the plot with the Nine-Tails." Aoshi's words made Kushina burst with excitement.
She could already picture it—mastering the Nine-Tails' power, becoming its companion, and finally no longer being confined to the Senju clan compound.