Becoming the Tsuchikage in the Naruto World

Chapter 221: Kittens (Bonus Chapter)

The lively disciple selection event orchestrated by Ishiro concluded in the afternoon when the twelve students left the school.

Ishiro didn't know how Han and Chiko Tomoe were getting along with their students; he was currently chatting with his six children at the training ground.

Ishiro looked at the six well-behaved kids sitting in a row a meter away from him, smiling so much his eyes narrowed. In the future, he wouldn't have to manage the affairs of the Medical Department anymore.

"Alright, let's start with the routine self-introductions. My name is Ishiro. In the future, you can call me Teacher or Teacher Ishiro."

"When Teacher was your age, my dream was still to become an outstanding ninja. Later, Teacher felt like I had already become an outstanding ninja, so Teacher's current goal is to become Tsuchikage."

"Teacher likes to eat grilled meat, and I like eating grilled meat with many people. As for things I dislike, it's probably processing documents. You have no idea, as an advisor to the village, the amount of documents I have to deal with every day nearly drives me crazy. Leading a team on missions is much more relaxing."

"Okay, it's your turn. Who wants to go first?" After speaking, Ishiro looked at the six children in front of him.

The six looked at each other, but no one rushed to speak first, which made Ishiro a bit awkward. Indeed, he was missing a student like Ogura Saki who could liven up the atmosphere.

However, they were all already Genin, not truly children in their thinking. Plus, none of them wanted to leave a bad impression on Ishiro, so someone quickly spoke up.

"Teacher Ishiro, my name is Takuhiro Uchiyama. My dream is to become an outstanding ninja like my father. I usually like climbing mountains and trees, and I dislike theory classes." Takuhiro Uchiyama was the strongest among them, so he spoke first.

Ishiro nodded, offering encouragement.

With the first one done, the rest went smoothly.

"Teacher Ishiro, my name is Kazumasa Yoshimura. My dream is," he paused here, seeming a bit hesitant, then took a deep breath and continued, "my dream is to become a ramen chef and make the most delicious ramen in the ninja world for my mom."

After speaking, Kazumasa Yoshimura blushed a little and didn't even continue with his likes and dislikes. This was normal. In this ninja world, a normal child's dream usually started with becoming the Kage of their village.

Only after realizing they weren't the most special one would their dreams gradually become more realistic, changing from becoming Kage to becoming an outstanding ninja.

But no matter how one faced reality, dreams were ultimately directed towards distant aspirations. It was rare to have a dream as practical and life-oriented as Kazumasa Yoshimura's.

Ishiro certainly wouldn't laugh, and encouraged, "That's great. Kazumasa is very good to your mom. In the future, I'll bring my new disciples to eat ramen at the ramen shop you open."

Hearing Ishiro's words, Kazumasa Yoshimura seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

The next person to speak was Himeki Suda. The little girl was considered the most cheerful of the six.

"My name is Himeki Suda. My dream is to sign a summoning contract with the Giant Panda."

As soon as these words came out, everyone, including Ishiro, was surprised. Ishiro, especially, hadn't expected this. It seemed the Giant Panda was reliable after all; the student it had chosen was indeed quite drawn to summoning jutsu.

Himeki Suda, however, ignored everyone else's thoughts and continued, "I like playing with my classmates and dislike staying home alone on holidays."

Ishiro nodded and then looked at the next disciple to speak.

"Teacher, my name is Katsumata. My dream is to become a ninja like you, Teacher, skilled at developing ninjutsu. I like the daytime because I can go out and play, and I dislike nighttime and sleeping."

Ishiro smiled. What an energetic little rascal.

"Teacher Ishiro, my name is Kanako. My dream is to make my origami come to life. My hobby is also origami." As she spoke, Kanako took out a carefully prepared origami creation from her sleeve and handed it to Ishiro. "Teacher Ishiro, this is for you."

Ishiro accepted Kanako's gift and said, "Thank you. This is the second origami gift I've received. I like it very much."

Hearing that Ishiro liked it, Kanako breathed a sigh of relief.

The last one to introduce herself was Yuran Kawazoe. The little girl was the most self-conscious one. Because under normal circumstances, the others would have no problem becoming Genin, but for her, it was completely impossible to pass the graduation exam.

"Teacher, my name is Yuran Kawazoe. My dream is to become a ninja like my older brother. I usually like to draw." Then the little girl also took out a small portrait from her sleeve.

Ishiro took the portrait, glanced at it, and was stunned. The drawing depicted Ishiro, Chiko Tomoe, and Han, who had been wandering around the Ninja Academy using the Transformation Jutsu.

Ishiro rubbed his nose, not expecting to have been exposed so long ago. It was just that the Ninja Academy often had guardian ninjas patrolling, and Ishiro and his companions had disguised themselves as patrolling ninjas. He didn't know where they had slipped up.

Truly worthy of being the top student in theoretical subjects, despite being lopsided.

Ishiro accepted the drawing and also thanked Yuran Kawazoe.

After the self-introductions were over, Ishiro, as usual, gave each of them a scroll of food ingredients to help improve their physical constitution. Then he took everyone out for a big meal.

Starting the next day, Ishiro began training with his six disciples.

The six had vastly different talents. Takuhiro Uchiyama, the strongest, was already quite good among Genin. Yuran Kawazoe, the weakest, was still far from becoming a qualified Genin.

Ishiro needed to thoroughly understand the training progress of all six.

The first thing Ishiro did was to create a training plan tailored to each of them.

Ishiro was now a renowned teacher, and in the eyes of the six students, his words were almost like truth. Therefore, the six of them implemented the plan Ishiro formulated without any deviation.

Their training progress varied, and Ishiro's requirements were also different. Kanako, Himeki Suda, Katsumata, and Yuran Kawazoe focused mainly on basic training. Ishiro's goal was to improve their physical constitution and willpower as quickly as possible.

Only after their physique and willpower improved, and their chakra amount increased, would they be qualified for other training.

As for Kazumasa Yoshimura, besides basic training, he also had to practice chakra control. Ishiro was an expert in this area; he was proficient in methods for practicing chakra control like tree climbing, water walking, and practicing drawing seals.

Finally, there was Takuhiro Uchiyama. His foundation was already very good. Originally, he didn't need to focus on basic training like the others, but Ishiro, to help him integrate into this small group of six, also required him to conduct basic training for a period each day.

However, Takuhiro Uchiyama still spent most of his time practicing ninjutsu.

A month later, Ishiro looked at his disciples who were training and began to worry about one thing: grouping. Ishiro had taken six disciples at once, so they definitely had to be divided into two groups.

But when it came to grouping, Ishiro realized he had made a mistake. The six disciples he had chosen this time all had their respective specialties, but Ishiro found that there wasn't even one true close-combat ninja among them.

No matter how Ishiro grouped them, their combat style would have serious flaws.

This wouldn't do. A ninja team was best with a mix of long-range and close-combat specialists, so they would have many tactical options for both offense and defense.

A team composed entirely of ninjutsu-type ninjas had too obvious weaknesses, especially in the early stages. When the entire team's members had slow hand seal speeds and insufficient chakra to cast many ninjutsu, they could easily be closed in on by opponents.

After much deliberation, Ishiro decided to first have Takuhiro Uchiyama act as the close-combat ninja for one group. As for the other group, Ishiro set his sights on Himeki Suda.

It wasn't that Himeki Suda was particularly strong in taijutsu, but Ishiro considered that the ninja cat he was preparing for her was about to be born. At that time, Himeki Suda and the ninja cat could cooperate, barely filling the gap of a close-combat team member.

When training ended that day, Ishiro asked Himeki Suda to stay behind. Then he took her to the natural energy seal area.

Recently, because Dango was pregnant, White Cat had withdrawn from Shiden's squad. In fact, with White Cat's current strength, she could already form her own team.

Previously, Ōnoki had kept White Cat, whose overall strength had reached Special Jonin level, in the team because Shiden, an Elite Jonin, was there and could protect Dango's safety.

This time, with Dango's pregnancy, White Cat conveniently withdrew from Shiden's squad. If White Cat remained in the Anbu in the future, she would definitely re-form a squad as a squad leader.

And Dango's strength surpassed that of her owner, White Cat; Dango's strength was outstanding even among Special Jonin.

This was Himeki Suda's first time in the natural energy seal area. She was somewhat curious about it. She had heard about the natural energy seal from her father but had never seen it before.

"Teacher Ishiro, can living in here improve one's strength?" Himeki Suda asked with a hint of envy.

Ishiro shook his head and said, "Currently, no such effect has been discovered. In fact, apart from the ninja cat Dango, whom we are about to see, no other ninja or ninja animal has been found to benefit in terms of strength improvement."

"Uh, that's not right. I also benefited. I learned an S-rank ninjutsu precisely because of this natural energy seal."

"Teacher Ishiro, did you master Sage Jutsu by absorbing the natural energy here?" Himeki Suda asked, her eyes shining.

Apart from using his original appearance on the first day they met, Ishiro's face had been covered with Sage Markings every day since. So his six disciples all knew about Sage Jutsu and knew that Ishiro was currently training in it.

Ishiro nodded and said, "That's right. Sage Jutsu is an energy similar to chakra but superior to it, formed by the combination of natural energy, physical energy, and spiritual energy. Currently, in the village, only I, your teacher, have learned Sage Jutsu."

After a pause, Ishiro added, "Actually, Dango also has the talent to train in Sage Jutsu, but she was pregnant a while ago, so she hasn't been practicing Sage Jutsu."

Hearing Ishiro mention Dango's pregnancy again, Himeki Suda said a little nervously, "Teacher Ishiro, can I really get a ninja cat?"

Himeki Suda still found it somewhat hard to believe; she hadn't expected to get a ninja animal so easily.

Ishiro walked while ruffling Himeki Suda's head, then said, "Of course. Dango, Dango's owner White Cat, and I are all very good teammates. White Cat has already promised me. I've requested a ninja cat each for you and Shinya Matsutani."

Himeki Suda's eyes lit up, then as if thinking of something, she asked, "Teacher Ishiro, then will my ninja cat also be able to train in Sage Jutsu in the future?"

Ishiro thought for a moment and said, "That's hard to say. Theoretically, Dango's current strength is very high, so her children's talent definitely won't be bad. Plus, Dango has absorbed a lot of natural energy over the years, so it's somewhat possible that the kittens can train in Sage Jutsu."

"But the kittens' father is, after all, just an ordinary cat, so no one can say for sure to what extent the kittens can grow."

Seeing Himeki Suda a little disappointed, Ishiro said, "Precisely because of this, Little Himeki needs to accompany the kitten as it grows. Little Himeki needs to train together with the kitten, so that the kitten can become an outstanding ninja cat."

"Yes." Himeki Suda nodded vigorously.

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We've hit 200 Power Stones goal As promised This week, here's the bonus chapter. Thank you for your support—please keep it coming!