This is too easy.
Although the opponent is a Jonin, there's this peculiar feeling lingering around him.
Next, no matter what kind of attack or how he bursts out with strength and speed beyond limits, he can't even touch the corner of Ruri's clothes.
"Ruri-sensei, you're really too cruel."
Sitting on the ground, Genma and Ebisu watched as Guy attacked frantically, sighing at the person sitting on the stone pipe behind them.
"I'm just trying to verify if this guy is as the intel suggests, a complete nincompoop when it comes to Illusion Techniques. Seems like the intel was correct. But that gate-opening... Eight Inner Gates, huh? Really an interesting kid."
Sitting on the stone pipe behind Genma and Ebisu was none other than Ruri.
Apart from throwing a Shuriken at the very beginning, she had been sitting there all along, watching Guy flaunt his skills in the arena.
"Damn it! Why can't I ever hit?"
Ten minutes later, Guy stared at Ruri in front of him, unwilling to give in, panting heavily, drenched in sweat, feeling as if his limbs were cramping up.
Even though the opponent hadn't attacked, he ended up like this.
"I can't do it anymore, I give up, I'm not fighting."
Guy couldn't hold on any longer, so he simply collapsed to the ground, surrendering to Ruri.
"You've really been through a lot, but Ruri-sensei left two minutes ago."
Genma and Ebisu came over and helped Guy up from the ground.
"What?"
Guy was shocked.
Left two minutes ago? Then who was he fighting with?
Looking ahead, there was now nothing but emptiness.
What's going on?
"This is an Illusion Technique."
Genma explained.
"Illusion Technique? Don't fool me, Ruri-sensei didn't use her Sharingan."
Guy looked unconvinced.
"No, it was indeed an Illusion Technique. At the moment you blocked Ruri-sensei's Shuriken with your Kunai, you were already caught in the Illusion. It's a special technique triggered through the touch of a tool. We've suffered a lot in this area too, hitting the air for a long time like fools."
Ebisu adjusted his glasses as he spoke.
"..."
Guy recalled Ruri's self-introduction from before.
"But, I remember Ruri-sensei said her weakest skill was the Illusion Technique..."
"If a Jonin's weakest skill is Taijutsu, can you defeat her with your Taijutsu?"
Genma rolled his eyes.
Guy still looked confused.
"What she meant by 'weakest' is that compared to Taijutsu and the Fire Style, her Illusion Techniques are just 'ordinary'. You'll understand when you see Ruri-sensei's Fire Style in action during a mission, and realize why she says her weakest is Illusion. Never take a Jonin's 'weakest' too seriously."
And even if you take it seriously, don't judge it with the perspective of a Genin.
Failing to understand this could be very dangerous.
"Alright, stop overthinking it. Here's the sponsorship Ruri-sensei left us. Let's go have some grilled meat together."
Genma comforted Guy, then, as if performing a magic trick, revealed a thick wad of cash that Ruri left for them to have some grilled meat.
At the mention of the meat, Guy almost drooled.
"Don't be fooled by Ruri-sensei's cold demeanor, she's actually very considerate of us subordinates. And you need to be full of energy to do missions."
Genma led the way decisively.
Guy and Ebisu quickly followed behind.
Grilled meat! Grilled meat!
Grilled meat! Grilled meat!
—— Uchiha Clan Land.
In the underground laboratory, Hakushi, who was experimenting with a Bunsen burner and test tubes, noticed some noise behind him and turned around.
"Weren't you meeting the new members today? Why are you back so soon?"
The woman appearing there, with her long black hair, was Ruri.
"I came to grab some medical supplies."
Ruri expertly opened a cabinet, searching for medical tools inside.
Hakushi put down what he was working on, turned his head to look at Ruri's back and asked her, "By the way, Ruri, do you want to try it yourself?"
"Try? Try what?"
Not quite understanding what was being said, Ruri paused her actions, feeling puzzled.
"Immortal Technique."
Hakushi grinned, his words were concise.