Being a Teacher Isn't So Easy

The late September sun still held a trace of scorching heat.

In Konoha year 31, just as the Second Shinobi World War was about to erupt, Konoha's White Fang took on an apprentice.

"Too slow, too slow! Pick up your legs, kid, you'll just be cannon fodder on the battlefield like this. Speed is a ninja's life. As long as you're faster than others, you'll control the initiative. One step behind, and you'll be the one to die!"

Behind the Hokage Rock in Konohagakure, there was a barren rocky mountain where, for some reason, nothing grew. Large rocks stood tall, and the knife-like mountain wind stung the face. On the winding, uneven mountain path, a small figure ran unsteadily, his heavy gasps like those of an exhausted old ox.

Katsuki felt bitter. Not long after becoming Sakumo's disciple, he already regretted it. Sakumo, in his teacher mode, was simply a devil.

To begin with, Sakumo conducted an extremely thorough examination of Katsuki, including grip strength, wrist strength, jumping ability, explosive power, stamina, and recovery rate. He compiled very detailed data, and then, combining it with the training methods provided by the Uzumaki Clan, this top ninja in the Ninja World tailored a training regimen for him.

And since he had time recently, he personally supervised Katsuki's training. The moment Katsuki's movements were even slightly slow, Sakumo would immediately start mocking him from the side, his words so venomous that Katsuki was on the verge of tears. He couldn't help but wonder if the White Fang before him was a fake, where had the White Fang with the warm smile gone...

"Faster, faster! As long as you have a breath left, crawl to the mountaintop if you have to." Sakumo stood on a large granite boulder, watching his young disciple struggle to run below, shouting reprimands from time to time, strongly expressing his dissatisfaction.

However, Katsuki was destined not to see Sakumo's slightly upturned lips. Although the reprimands were extremely harsh, he was very satisfied with his young disciple in his heart.

The ninja world wasn't a place where one could reach the pinnacle solely through willpower. Bloodline, talent, and effort were the cornerstones of becoming strong. Relying only on effort would at best make one a Chunin. Sakumo deeply understood how important talent was for a ninja; without talent, a thousand or ten thousand repetitions of effort were useless.

Sakumo himself was a prime example. The Hatake Clan wasn't a renowned great clan; in Konoha, it was merely a mid-tier family. Before Sakumo, they had at most a few Special Jonin.

Sakumo's rise was due to his unparalleled, extraordinary talent, combined with his own hard work, which allowed him to become the famous White Fang. Therefore, his disciple must also be talented. Katsuki had caught his eye: the bloodline of a noble family, the talent for Dual Element Ninjutsu, and a determined will.

When he saw Katsuki training frantically, his heart was moved. A voice echoed in his mind, thinking that if he missed this kid, he might never find a more suitable disciple.

After successfully taking Katsuki under his wing and completing various tests, he was even more satisfied with his disciple. Katsuki's aptitude and conditions were far better than his own had been back then. Furthermore, the resilience and spirit Katsuki displayed during training left him immeasurably pleased.

However, this was White Fang's first time teaching a disciple, and he felt it was necessary to establish the image of a strict teacher. Therefore, no matter how satisfied he was, he kept it to himself and constantly picked on Katsuki's mistakes and shortcomings.

Fortunately, Katsuki's mindset was mature. He clearly understood the principle that one must endure hardships to achieve success, so he wasn't defeated by the harsh words. If it were a real six or seven-year-old child, they would likely have already collapsed mentally.

At the mountaintop, Sakumo stood with his hands behind his back in the howling wind.

He watched Katsuki, dragging his exhausted body, collapse at his feet. The heavy weight directly shattered the hard rock on the ground, sending fine stone debris flying. His arms, legs, and back were all weighted down with heavy, hard Tekkai, which were more durable and demanding than the lead weights he had prepared himself.

Moreover, running on this rugged, steep mountain path was several times more difficult than circling a training ground. Of course, the training effect was also very gratifying.

"That's all for today," Sakumo said, not helping Katsuki up.

"Yes, Teacher," Katsuki said, climbing up from the ground with labored breaths, clearly exhausted.

"If I recall correctly, you're supposed to go to the Ninja Academy tomorrow, aren't you?" Sakumo asked.

Mentioning this made Katsuki's mouth twitch. He wasn't very interested in it. Compared to sitting with other children and sharing snacks, he'd rather train under his teacher. Konoha's White Fang wouldn't always be in the village.

Therefore, he wanted to seize every minute. Fate was unpredictable; only by becoming strong could he grasp the reins of destiny and control his own future.

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

This matter left him no room for refusal because it was the Third Hokage's will. Katsuki and Kushina had settled in Konoha. To foster their sense of belonging to the village, Hiruzen had thought it over and finally decided to send the two children to school so they could make friends and gradually develop a sense of belonging to the village.

After consulting Mito-sama, the moment Hiruzen stepped out of the Senju Clan residence, it was decided that Katsuki and Kushina would have to spend their days at the Ninja Academy.

"Are you unwilling?" Sakumo could see his disciple's resistance.

"A little bit."

Katsuki answered honestly.

"You think going to the Ninja Academy is boring, don't you? Do you believe it's better to train on your own than waste time at school?" Sakumo's insight was always sharp, hitting straight at Katsuki's thoughts.

"You're wrong if you think that. The curriculum at the Ninja Academy might be somewhat tedious, but it's by no means useless. Remember, strong individuals grow step by step from weakness. Until you can sweep the world single-handedly, don't underestimate the power of others. On the battlefield, your classmates will be your most steadfast comrades. Also, don't underestimate the Ninja Academy; you might not be able to defeat all the students there."

Sakumo's expression was very serious.

"Moreover, according to the plan I've set for you, you can study at the Ninja Academy in the morning, and in the afternoon, you can follow the plan for self-training. There's no need to spend the entire day cultivating. Keeping your nerves too taut isn't beneficial; appropriate relaxation is very necessary."

Katsuki's temper vanished at this point. What Sakumo said made a lot of sense. He felt a little guilty; he had become a bit arrogant. Having White Fang as his teacher had unconsciously thrown his mindset off balance, and he had started to get carried away, looking down on playing with those brats, feeling they weren't on the same level...

Being warned like this was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, clearing his smoking brain a little.

However, what Sakumo said next surprised him. His mind raced, and he immediately thought of the impending Second Shinobi World War.

"Teacher, are you going on a mission?"

Sakumo's lips curved slightly. Such a clever kid. "That's right... I can't tell you the specifics, but I'm afraid I'll be gone for quite some time. Don't slack off just because I'm not watching you. When I get back, I'll be assessing your training progress..."