On the way back, Inuzuka Kiba was teasing his battle pet Akamaru as usual, the shy Hyuga Hinata was still silent, and Aburame Shino still had that poker face that couldn't tell his mood.

Just when Mizuki was thinking about something, Aburame Shino walked up quickly and asked, "Teacher Mizuki, did we do something wrong?"

The sudden question also attracted the attention of Inuzuka Kiba and Hyuga Hinata, and they pricked up their ears, waiting for Mizuki's answer.

"How should I put it? It's not that you did anything wrong, but I originally thought you could do better..."

"So, did we disappoint you?"

"It's a little subtle, but if you have to say it, that's it."

Mizuki answered truthfully that it was still important to let students understand his thoughts.

"If we go by the standards of a normal Genin, you are considered quite good, but you are still a long way from the level of a Chunin."

"Chunnin?" Hearing Mizuki's comment, Inuzuka Kiba's face turned a little unhappy, "Shikamaru is already a Chunin!"

"I'll let you in on some secrets. Of course, this isn't considered cheating! Shikamaru will also take part in the next Chunin Exam, but he'll be the teacher in charge of the exam..."

"Teacher? Is the gap between us and Shikamaru already so big?"

The usually peaceful Aburame Shino also found it a little unbelievable. The friend she usually played with had now left her far behind. This feeling was really bad.

Mizuki patiently explained, "If we only look at your combat abilities, you two won't be too far apart, but in terms of overall strength, to be honest, only Hyuga Neji might be a little stronger than Nara Shikamaru."

Inuzuka Kiba asked unwillingly: "Then Mr. Mizuki, which of the several Genin classes do you think is the weakest?"

"Do you want to hear the truth or something nice to hear?" Shuimu asked with a smile.

"We understand. Thank you, Mr. Mizuki..."

Aburame Shino rushed to answer.

Inuzuka Kiba was stunned at first, then he suddenly realized, and his face became even uglier.

"Are we the weakest? Damn it, even Naruto has walked ahead of us..."

"Don't underestimate yourselves." Shuimu comforted him, "It doesn't matter if you fall behind for a while. If you seize the time, you can catch up. You know how powerful your family's secret skills are. At the same time, you must have confidence in me..."

Putting aside the difference in strength and prestige, the experience of being a teacher, whether it is Might Guy, Asuma Sarutobi, or Kakashi Hatake, cannot compare to himself. In terms of potential, except for the two cheating existences of Naruto and Sasuke, Team 8 is really not inferior to anyone else.

"After completing several tasks in a row, you will take a rest for two days and think about your problems. In two days, you will do a high-level task..."

"Great, finally there's an important mission!" Inuzuka Kiba couldn't stand hearing other teams bragging after completing high-level missions. "Mizuki-sensei, is it going to be like the big scene we had when we went to the Land of Water a few days ago?"

"What are you thinking about?" Mizuki replied, "That kind of mission is something that Genin rarely encounters once a year. You just happened to be there! Try doing a simple one first to test your level!"

After saying goodbye to the three students who finally got motivated, Mizuki came to the task delivery hall alone. The person in charge today turned out to be Iruka, whom he hadn't seen for a long time.

"Mizuki, you are becoming more and more like a teacher!" Iruka said after stamping the task report submitted by Mizuki.

"Iruka, you're still not very good at speaking. Could it be that I wasn't a teacher before? It makes me sound like I've failed in my duty."

"Sorry, I lost my temper." Iruka said awkwardly. "I just didn't expect you to become the leading jonin so soon!"

"It's a coincidence! How about you, how are you doing lately?"

After returning from the Land of Water, my duties as a teacher at the Mizuki Ninja School came to an end, and I haven't visited Iruka for some time.

"It's fine, everything is the same as before. It's just that the people coming from the Hidden Mist Village need someone to pick them up, so there are more things to do than before."

"You are in charge again? You are such a good person. Can't you ask others to share the work?"

“Everyone is busy…”

"Forget what I said. Just work hard!"

Taking the documents handed over by Iruka, Mizuki turned and left, going straight to the Hokage's office.

"Mission completed?" Tsunade stopped writing and looked at the report that Mizuki had stamped and confirmed. "After these two days of observation, what do you think of Team 8?"

Shuimu commented truthfully: "All I can say is, there's still time!"

"That is to say, the current strength does not satisfy you? What is the specific situation?"

"Aburame Shino is in the best condition. Inuzuka Kiba and Hyuga Hinata will have a hard time advancing in the Chunin Exam this time."

"The situation is similar to the assessment of other jonin." Tsunade nodded, "Which of the other genin classes do you think can be the focus of the examination for promotion to chunin?"

"Hyuga Neji shouldn't be a problem; Uchiha Sasuke won't be bad if everything goes well, too."

"Uchiha Sasuke, you are still worried about the reorganization of Team 7. Uzumaki Naruto will leave the village soon. Team 10 also needs reinforcements."

Tsunade complained with a headache.

"Okay, that's all for today. As for the B-rank mission you requested, I'll notify you when there's one that meets the requirements. I have no objection to improving your Genin strength through actual combat missions, but I still hope you won't be careless!"

"clear."

…

At the Four Seasons Flower Shop, Shuimu looked at the uneasy Haruno Sakura in front of him and said, "It's good that you have this idea. I support you. I originally thought that you would choose water escape first, but since you have made the choice, then follow this path for the time being."

"Thank you, Master!"

"Open your chakra shield again and then punch me!"

"Yes!" A light blue light appeared in Haruno Sakura's right fist, which gradually turned into a yellow-brown light film that wrapped around the fist. Then she punched Mizuki's chest heavily, but was repelled by the chakra shield opened by Mizuki!

"It's powerful, but not well controlled. Its body's ability to withstand blows is a little weak, and it can't withstand the force of the recoil." As he spoke, Shuimu took out the Yin Healing and Destroying Ninjutsu scroll and handed it over, "This should be able to make up for some of the weaknesses."

"The freely controlled chakra shield plus the earth attribute chakra changes the nature? The external version of earth escape - earth spear! In the end, will you still be obsessed with the path of a violent boxer? "