The atmosphere was a little awkward.
Mitokado Satoru sat obediently in front of his old man, Homura, his little face full of innocence.
"But you told me to use the technique I developed, old man~"
"Besides, I gave it everything I had just to achieve this much—old man, you can't even call that an injury!"
"Bullshit!"
Advisor gritted his teeth and seriously considered using the Transformation Technique tomorrow to turn into himself and go to work...
"If I hadn't wanted to properly experience your rebellious Deformation Technique, I would've burst out my Chakra and broken free long ago—how long does this technique last?"
"About ten seconds or so. It'll last longer when I get stronger in the future, but being deformed rapidly restores stamina. It can only be used on one target, and they'll change back if they get hit."
There was one thing Satoru had always wanted to complain about. There was no friend-or-foe recognition here. If his teammates knew about it, one kick would cancel the Deformation Technique...
Still, it could be used to restore his teammates' stamina... though it couldn't heal injuries.
For example, when Homura took a Pyroblast to the face, the explosive flames had singed off his eyebrows, beard, and hair without meeting any resistance...
That couldn't be fixed with the Deformation Technique.
He had originally been a calm, handsome man with fairly high looks. Now, he was an egghead.
If Satoru's modified Pyroblast hadn't been all show and no substance—big in appearance but weak in actual power—advisor's old face would probably have had nowhere to go.
He had kept the Transformation Technique active all the way home just now...
Tch, turning into myself... what an experience.
"Well, it has plenty of flaws, but it's already astonishing as a control method!"
As Homura said this, he paused slightly, his expression turning serious.
"Satoru, organize these techniques of yours, as well as any similar modifications you make in the future, and hand them over to me."
"Don't tell anyone else that you improved them yourself—say your father taught them to you. Remember that!"
Satoru froze for a moment, then understood.
His old man was... protecting him.
"Understood?"
"Old man, are you talking about that gloomy old bastard Danzo?"
Satoru simply laid it out in the open. His father would not harm him, and that was why Satoru had shown him something like "developing new techniques."
After all, unlike something like the Sexy Technique... the techniques Satoru developed were useful even when they were not so unusual.
As a Konoha senior advisor, Mitokado Homura's cautious nature allowed him to set up a reliable safeguard for Satoru at this time.
In Konoha, there were only three people who could openly contend with—and even faintly suppress—Shimura Danzō, the Assistant Hokage and leader of Root.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Konoha's senior advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
Or rather, if the Third Hokage did not voice an opinion, only when the two advisors agreed could they suppress Danzo, the Assistant Hokage.
Only those three truly understood Konoha's shadow.
For many people in Konoha, Danzo's existence was nothing strange.
But to Satoru, that name was thunderous—
This guy was one of the "keywords"!
Satoru's understanding of the infamous pot king had always remained at the level of "sounds impressive even though I don't understand it." He knew the man was sinister, unscrupulous, and had done several "good deeds."
Yet over the past few years, Danzo had seemed like an ordinary, stern middle-aged man in front of his father. His disguise was quite convincing.
"Was he already this... I mean, would he really be detrimental to me?"
"Heh... as expected of my son!"
Homura chuckled softly and nodded in satisfaction.
"That's right. As one of the people who understands Danzo best, I can say responsibly that even though you are my son, if Danzo discovers that you possess exceptional talent, he will find every possible way to make you serve Root."
"And as one of Konoha's higher-ups, his rhetoric of 'everything for Konoha' may not work on you or me, but it will inevitably leave a rift among the few of us."
Homura pushed up his glasses, which flashed white.
Seeing that Satoru across from him had also become serious, he shook his head lightly.
"Satoru, you are still young. You do not yet understand how the higher-ups operate or the matters that must be considered. But as your father, I do not want Danzo to take an interest in you because of your exceptional talent."
"There are many complicated relationships involved. You do not need to know them yet. The only thing you need to do is grow up and become stronger!"
"And during that process, I do not want you to have anything to do with Root—as long as Danzo remains Root's leader!"
Homura's gaze flickered. Through his glasses, Satoru could clearly see the faint ambition in his father's eyes—
"You should have a broader stage and a brighter future!"
"Although he and I share many opinions regarding the village's governance, he acts with far too little restraint."
"If you become involved with him, it will be detrimental to your future development."
"..."
Oh no, the old man was getting carried away!
Was he thinking something dangerous about having me bring glory to the family?
I hadn't even achieved anything yet. Wasn't the old man being a little too impatient? Shouldn't he ask for my opinion first?
"Well... we can talk about the future later. Anyway, my wish is to stay home until I die."
Satoru quickly said something rebellious enough to leave Homura both amused and exasperated.
"To achieve that goal, I've developed techniques that create food and drinking water. I won't even need to leave the house!"
"Next, I need to research techniques for automatic cleaning and organizing, as well as improving the taste of the food and water..."
"Stop, stop, stop!"
Homura had no choice but to interrupt Satoru's endless stream of words.
"What did you just say? Techniques that create food and drinking water? And automatic cleaning and organizing? You do know food and water have to be eaten and drunk, right?!"
"Why not just create them directly inside your stomach?!"
Seeing Satoru's look of sudden realization, Homura coughed dryly with difficulty.
"Don't keep thinking along those lines! If you're too lazy even to eat, then get out and build your own house!"
"Tch, laziness is the driving force behind human progress."
Satoru disdainfully glanced at his father's much cleaner head and said lightly.
"Hmm, maybe I should research a technique that promotes hair growth too..."
Mitokado Homura's mouth twitched.
"Stop that! What can you do with that pitiful amount of Chakra? A ninja cannot rely on a quick mind alone!"
"You'll be attending the Ninja Academy next month. Study your basics properly there. It won't be too late to research these things after you become an official ninja!"
"And practice your taijutsu properly—learn more from Choza. The Akimichi clan's taijutsu training is famous throughout Konoha!"
"If I weren't so busy with work, I should have personally guided your training!"
The thought of the Ninja Academy gave Satoru a headache.
His childhood friend, Akimichi Choza, was the father of Akimichi Choji, one of Konoha's Twelve Strong. He knew that much, but as for the others...
He barely knew any of them!
He had only met this generation's Ino-Shika-Cho, Shikaku Nara and Inoichi Yamanaka, a few times because of Choza.
Who but a veteran intelligence enthusiast would research background characters like them? Even his father, Mitokado Homura, was only remembered for being grabbed by the collar and sprayed with spit by Tsunade...
"Hey! Satoru, are you thinking something rude?"
"No, no... of course I'll train my taijutsu properly, but I'll definitely focus on ninjutsu..."
At the mention of taijutsu, Satoru could not help thinking of one of the keywords—
In Naruto Mage, taijutsu's final stubborn stand—Eight Gates Might Guy!
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