Hanma's First Lesson in the Shinobi World (Part 1)

Nawaki fell under the Sharingan's Genjutsu, his body going stiff as he dropped straight toward the ground. Hanma flashed forward, caught him, and set him down.

Fugaku felt speechless. How had the Senju Clan's direct grandson turned out like this?

Hanma released a faint trace of Predatory Blood Qi, brushing it lightly over Nawaki and instantly dispelling the Genjutsu.

Nawaki slowly came to, his face already somewhat dejected as he lowered his head awkwardly.

Hanma rubbed his head, then commented on the battle from before:

"In the Shinobi World, the power of bloodlines is extremely important."

"Take the Uchiha, for example. Clan members who awaken their eyes gain greatly enhanced dynamic vision and can clearly see taijutsu movements at the Jonin level. That allows them to copy their opponents' hand seals and, in turn, copy their ninjutsu."

"Some gifted clan members gain stronger Genjutsu abilities, while others gain higher-quality Chakra."

"And the other ninja villages have many powerful abilities as well: the Kirigakure Ninja's Shikotsumyaku, the Iwagakure Ninja's Explosion Release, the Kumogakure Ninja's Storm Release, and the Sunagakure Ninja's Magnetic Release."

"These are all difficult for you to handle. So, you must maintain a sense of awe toward the Shinobi World and toward your opponents."

The students present all fell into silent thought. Nawaki was clearly frustrated, his little face full of worry.

"And taking a ninja's life doesn't require particularly profound techniques or an exceptional bloodline. It only requires the right methods."

Hanma looked at Nawaki, took out a box, and asked slowly:

"If you were behind enemy lines and an old man came to thank you, saying that your enemy had killed his child and that you had avenged him, then handed you this box containing a map of the surrounding area and hoped you would accept it."

"Would you take it?"

After two blows to his confidence, Nawaki visibly hesitated and answered uncertainly:

"I... probably would."

"But I'd analyze whether that old man was a bad person. I'd be very careful about it."

Nawaki hurriedly added.

Hanma nodded and took an enhanced Explosive Tag from inside.

They had all learned about this red Explosive Tag at the Ninja Academy. It was an absolutely rare and dangerous item.

"That is one possibility. It might contain a map, an Explosive Tag, or poisonous gas."

"Until you have my current level of strength, my requirement for you is to remember at all times that the box contains this Explosive Tag."

Hanma crushed the Explosive Tag in his bare hand. Firelight filled the entire training ground, and violent air currents swept across the students' faces.

Yet Hanma's hand was completely unaffected, as though it had not been an Explosive Tag, but merely a balloon.

Minato and Kushina, who had watched the commander selection, were unfazed. Both of them had seen Teacher Hanma chop through a Susanoo with his hand and withstand Majestic Destroyer Flame head-on. What was a tiny Explosive Tag compared to that?

Nawaki, on the other hand, stared wide-eyed in utter disbelief.

In the past, someone from the Senju Clan should have taught him the Shinobi World's secrets and knowledge.

But unfortunately, he had happened to be caught up in the major incident involving the Senju Branch Family.

To demonstrate the Senju Branch Family's sincerity, Nawaki had even been deliberately raised like an ordinary civilian ninja.

Although everyone took great care of him, no one thought of turning him into the First. Everyone only wanted him to be happy.

With his carefree life at the Ninja Academy, he had never seen the true strength of top-tier ninja or the cruelty of the Shinobi World.

Fugaku narrowed his eyes, and his Sharingan deepened slightly. This was the first time he had seen Hanma truly make a move; before this, he had only often heard those outrageous stories about him.

Fugaku knew Hanma was strong, but their friendship had begun with Hanma's exceptional cooking. When he was still a child, he had often gone to Hanma's home to freeload meals.

The Uchiha blood in him stirred with long-forgotten excitement. Fugaku began considering whether he could truly fight Brother Hanma.

Hanma continued explaining his requirements and experience:

"Only with strength do you have room to make mistakes. Otherwise, in war, you'll become cannon fodder."

"Nawaki, don't be upset. These people are a little stronger than you right now. Do you want to hear why?"

Nawaki did not argue again. He looked at the others around him and slowly nodded.

Hanma pointed at Kushina. "You know Kushina's situation. She grew up with Mito-sama and inherited the Uzumaki Clan's Fuinjutsu."

Then he looked at Minato. "Minato has been with me since he was five. I've guided his training for over seven years, and every day after coming back from the Ninja Academy, he does extra training."

He patted Fugaku. "He awakened his Sharingan after witnessing his clansmen die in battle, and he trains diligently every day as well."

Finally, he looked at Nawaki and said in a deep voice:

"They all paid a price to gain their strength. But Nawaki, you haven't done anything wrong either."

"Having a happy childhood is something many people can only long for. But when facing enemies and war, you must change the way you think."

Nawaki hung his head, seeming to grasp something as he wondered what to think.

"Don't worry. Study under your teacher, and you'll soon become an outstanding ninja too."

Light returned to Nawaki's eyes, and he answered enthusiastically, "Yes, Teacher Hanma!"

Fugaku walked over, looked at Hanma, and said seriously:

"Brother Hanma, may I spar with you? I've always hoped to receive your personal instruction!"

Minato and Kushina wore strange expressions. The two little ones had long since concluded that when facing a ninja like Teacher Hanma, the best approach was to keep quiet and run fast.

Little Pepper had already awakened Mind's Eye of the Kagura, but she had been focused on training Adamantine Sealing Chains and had never deeply developed her sensory abilities.

Ever since witnessing that Jonin battle, Minato had been training Flying Thunder God intensely, while Kushina had been training Mind's Eye of the Kagura just as hard, all for the sake of safety.

Who knew how many freaks like Teacher Hanma or Lord Orochimaru existed in the Shinobi World?

Or rather, most Jonin were opponents they currently had no hope of resisting.

Minato hesitated, just about to say something, when Nawaki regained his vigor and shouted:

"Teacher Hanma, please teach me too!"

Hanma looked at Fugaku with an odd expression. Fine, Nawaki was an idiot, but had Fugaku always been this brave? Hadn't he seen old Clan Head Setsuna still lying in bed?

Then he looked at Minato with ill intent. Minato repeatedly waved his hands, grabbed Little Pepper, and ran off, hiding behind Tsunade.

Hanma smiled and did not force the two clever little brats. Turning back, he asked, "Then, Nawaki, Fugaku, are you ready?"

Fugaku nodded, quietly calculating that with Brother Hanma's defense, he should not use ninjutsu.

But he did not know how resistant Brother Hanma was to Genjutsu. He had heard that taijutsu ninja generally were not very good at it.

Fugaku had asked similar questions before, but no one in the clan had responded, as though they had all gone deaf. As a junior, he could not pry too deeply.

He drew his blade, his Sharingan spinning rapidly. With a turn of his body, his Tachi swept elegantly toward Hanma.

"Uchiha Style Swordsmanship: Sun Halo Dance!"

Sword light intertwined with Chakra, and the sweeping Tachi was indeed as beautiful as a dancing sun halo.

Hanma chuckled. Regarding the Uchiha Clan's flamboyant taijutsu style, he had only one thing to say: Uchiha Madara had done great harm.

With his own strength, he could fight however recklessly he pleased. If he exposed an opening, he could simply activate Susanoo. But the rest of the clan could not.

The advantage of this swordsmanship was that it balanced beauty and lethality, while its flaw was that it was a little too flashy.

Chakra gathered around his fingers, growing denser and denser. Hanma flicked a finger, sending several clumps of Chakra flying at high speed. They carved white streaks through the air as they shot toward Fugaku's blind spots.