Being a Teacher Wasn't So Easy

The blazing late-September sun still carried a trace of scorching heat.

Konoha Era 31. With the Second Shinobi World War on the verge of breaking out, Konoha's White Fang took on a disciple.

"Too slow, too slow! Move those legs, kid! If you go to the battlefield like this, you'll just be serving yourself up to the enemy! Speed is a ninja's life! As long as you're faster than others, you can seize the initiative! Fall one step behind, and you'll be the one who dies!"

Behind Konoha's Hokage Rock lay a barren rocky mountain. For some unknown reason, not a single blade of grass grew there. Massive boulders rose throughout the mountainside, while knife-like winds lashed against one's face. On the winding, uneven mountain path, a small figure staggered along in a run, his heavy panting resembling that of an exhausted old ox.

Katsuki was miserable right now. Not long after becoming Sakumo's disciple, he had begun regretting it. Sakumo, once he entered teacher mode, was practically a demon.

At first, Sakumo had given Katsuki an extremely comprehensive examination. Grip strength, wrist strength, jumping ability, explosive power, endurance, bodily recovery, and more had all been tested. After compiling detailed data and taking into account the Uzumaki Clan's training methods that Katsuki had provided, this top expert of the shinobi world tailored a training regimen specifically for him.

And since Sakumo had time recently, he personally supervised Katsuki's training. Whenever Katsuki slowed even a little, Sakumo would immediately start mocking him from the side. His tongue was so vicious that Katsuki nearly cried. He could not help wondering whether the White Fang before him was a fake. Where had that warm-smiling White Fang gone...

"Faster, faster! As long as you still have a breath left, crawl if you have to, but get to the top!" Sakumo stood atop an enormous slab of granite, watching his young disciple struggle below as he ran. Every so often, he barked a loud reprimand, making his dissatisfaction abundantly clear.

Yet Katsuki was destined not to see the upward curl of Sakumo's lips. His verbal reprimands were exceptionally harsh, but he was very pleased with this young disciple in his heart.

The shinobi world was not a place where one could climb to the top through so-called perseverance alone. Bloodline, talent, and hard work were the foundations of becoming strong. Hard work alone would, at best, make someone a chunin. Sakumo understood deeply just how important talent was to a ninja. Without talent, working hard a thousand times, ten thousand times, was nothing but wasted effort.

Sakumo himself was a fine example. The Hatake Clan was not some renowned great clan. In Konoha, it was merely a lower-middle-tier family. Before Sakumo, it had at most produced a few Special Jonin.

Sakumo's rise had depended on his peerless talent, combined with his own hard work, allowing him to become the famed White Fang. Therefore, his disciple also had to be someone with talent. Katsuki had entered his sight: the bloodline of a prestigious clan, talent in Dual Element Ninjutsu, and an unshakable will.

When Sakumo saw Katsuki training with such madness, his heart had been moved. A voice quietly echoed within him: if he missed this little fellow, he might never find a more suitable disciple again.

After successfully taking Katsuki in and completing the many tests, Sakumo became increasingly satisfied with him. His natural qualities were far superior even to Sakumo's own back then, while the resilience and intuition Katsuki displayed in training pleased Sakumo beyond measure.

Still, this was White Fang's first time teaching a disciple. He felt it was necessary to establish the image of a strict teacher, so no matter how satisfied he was, he kept it to himself and endlessly picked at Katsuki's flaws and mistakes.

Fortunately, Katsuki was mentally mature and understood that only those who endured the bitterest hardships could rise above others. That was why he had not been defeated by such cold words. Had he been a real six- or seven-year-old child, he would likely have already suffered a mental breakdown.

At the mountaintop, Sakumo stood with his hands behind his back amid the howling gale.

Katsuki dragged his exhausted body forward and collapsed at Sakumo's feet. The sheer force of his fall shattered the hard rock beneath him, sending fine stone chips flying. His arms, legs, waist, and back all bore weights—hard, heavy iron blocks that were even heavier and more durable than the lead blocks he had prepared for himself.

And running along this rugged, steep mountain path was several times harder than simply circling a training ground. Naturally, the training results were excellent as well.

"That's enough for today." Sakumo did not move to help Katsuki up.

"Yes, Teacher." Katsuki panted heavily as he struggled to his feet.

"If I remember correctly, you're going to the Ninja Academy tomorrow, aren't you?" Sakumo asked.

At the mention of that, Katsuki's mouth twitched. He was not particularly interested in it. Rather than sitting among a bunch of children and handing out fruit, he would rather train under his teacher. Konoha's White Fang would not remain in the village forever.

So he wanted to seize every minute. Fate was unpredictable. Only by becoming strong could he grasp fate by the throat and hold his future in his own hands.

"Yes. Starting tomorrow, I'll be reporting to the Ninja Academy." Katsuki spoke weakly.

He had not been given any room to refuse, because this was the will of the Third Hokage. Katsuki and Kushina had already settled down in Konoha. To cultivate their sense of belonging to the village, Hiruzen had thought it over and ultimately decided that the two children should attend school. They could make some friends there and gradually develop a sense of attachment to the village.

After consulting Mito-sama, the moment Hiruzen stepped out of the Senju Clan residence, it had been decided that Katsuki and Kushina would be going to the Ninja Academy to pass their days.

"You're reluctant?" Sakumo could tell that his disciple was resistant to the idea.

"A little."

Katsuki answered honestly.

"You think going to the Ninja Academy will be boring, don't you? You think that instead of wasting time at school, you'd be better off training by yourself?" Sakumo's gaze had always been sharp, and he immediately saw through Katsuki's thoughts.

"If that's what you think, then you're wrong. The Ninja Academy's courses may be somewhat dull, but they are far from useless. Remember this: the strong all grow step by step from weakness. Before you can sweep the world by your own strength, do not overlook the power you can borrow from others. On the battlefield, your classmates will become your most steadfast comrades. And don't underestimate the Ninja Academy. You might not necessarily be able to beat every student there."

Sakumo's expression was very serious.

"Furthermore, according to the plan I made for you, you can study at the Ninja Academy in the mornings and train on your own according to the plan in the afternoons. There's no need to spend an entire day training. Keeping your nerves wound too tight does no good. Proper relaxation is necessary."

Every trace of Katsuki's temper vanished. Sakumo's words made perfect sense, and Katsuki felt faintly ashamed. He had been a little too arrogant. With White Fang as his teacher, his mindset had unknowingly become unbalanced. He had started getting carried away, disdaining to play around with those little kids and feeling that they were not on the same level as him...

After being admonished like that, it was as though a bucket of icy water had been poured over his head. His overheated mind finally cleared up somewhat.

However, Sakumo's next words startled him. With a turn of thought, he immediately recalled the Second Shinobi World War that was about to erupt.

"Teacher, are you going on a mission?"

The corners of Sakumo's lips lifted slightly. What a clever little fellow. "That's right... I can't tell you the details, but this time, I'm afraid I'll be leaving for quite a while. Don't slack off just because I won't be watching over you. When I return, I'll be assessing your training progress..."