Preventing Trouble Before It Starts

The atmosphere was a bit awkward.

Mitokado Satoru sat obediently in front of his old man Homura, his little face full of innocence.

"Old man, you're the one who told me to use the jutsu I developed~"

"Besides, I gave it my all just to get this little result—you're barely even hurt, old man!"

"Nonsense!"

The Advisor gritted his teeth, seriously considering whether to use the Transformation Technique to go to work tomorrow looking like himself...

"If I hadn't wanted to thoroughly experience that rebellious Deformation Technique of yours, I would've burst out of it with Chakra long ago—how long does that jutsu last?"

"About ten-odd seconds. It'll last longer as my strength grows, but being deformed rapidly restores stamina. It only works on one target, and getting hit reverts it."

This was one point Satoru always wanted to complain about—there was no friendly-fire recognition here. If a teammate found out, one kick and the Deformation Technique would fail...

Though it could be used to restore stamina for allies... just not heal injuries.

For example, Homura had taken a Pyroblast straight to the face, unable to resist as the explosive flames singed off his eyebrows, beard, and hair...

That couldn't be fixed by the Deformation Technique.

Originally a fairly handsome, steady-looking guy, he was now an egghead.

If Satoru hadn't adjusted the Pyroblast to be all show—big in appearance but weak in power—the Advisor's old face might've had nowhere to hide.

On the way home just now, he'd kept the Transformation Technique active the whole time...

Tch, turning into myself, what an experience.

"Well, it's got plenty of flaws, but as a control method, it's already astonishing!"

Homura paused here, his expression turning serious.

"Satoru, these jutsu of yours, and any similar modifications you make in the future, compile them and hand them over to me."

"Don't tell anyone outside that you improved them yourself—say your old man taught you. Remember that, got it?"

Satoru was briefly stunned, then caught on.

His old man was probably... protecting him.

"Understood?"

"Old man, you're not talking about that gloomy old geezer Danzō, are you?"

Satoru decided to lay it out plainly—his old man wouldn't harm him, and that was why Satoru had shown him things like "developing new jutsu" in the first place.

Unlike the Sexy Technique, after all... the jutsu Satoru developed had uses even in less special situations.

As a Konoha high-ranking advisor, Mitokado Homura's caution led him to set up a solid safety net for Satoru here.

In Konoha, there were only three people on the surface who could contend with—or even subtly suppress—the leader of Root, Assistant Hokage Shimura Danzō.

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The Konoha high-ranking advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.

Or rather, if the Third Hokage didn't voice an opinion, only when both advisors agreed could they suppress Danzō, the Assistant Hokage.

Only these three truly understood Konoha's shadow.

Danzō's existence wasn't strange to most people in Konoha.

But to Satoru, it was a thunderous name—

This guy was one of the "keywords"!

Satoru's understanding of Lord Pot-Lid had always stayed at the level of "I don't get it, but it sounds impressive." He knew he was underhanded, ruthless, and had pulled a few "good deeds."

But these days, in front of his old man, he just acted like an ordinary strict uncle—very good at hiding it.

"Is he already that... I mean, would he really target me?"

"Heh... worthy of being my son!"

Homura chuckled lightly, nodding in satisfaction:

"Exactly. As one of the few who knows Danzō best, I can say very responsibly that even if you're my son, if Danzō discovers you have extraordinary talent, he'll find a way to make you serve Root."

"And as one of Konoha's high-ranking officials, his whole 'everything for the village' spiel, even if it doesn't work on you and me, will still leave cracks between us."

Homura pushed up his glasses, reflecting a flash of white light.

Seeing Satoru across from him grow serious too, he shook his head lightly:

"Satoru, you're still young. You don't understand how the higher-ups operate or what needs to be considered. But as your old man, I don't want you to catch Danzō's eye because of your extraordinary talent."

"There are many complicated relationships wrapped up in this. You don't need to know them now. The only thing you need to do is grow up and get stronger!"

"And in that process, I don't want you to have any connection with Root—as long as Danzō is still its leader!"

Homura's eyes flickered. Satoru could see clearly through the glasses the faint ambition in his old man's gaze—

"You should have a broader stage and a brighter future!"

"Though I agree with him on many points regarding village governance, he acts with too little restraint."

"If you get tangled up with him, it'll hurt your future prospects."

"..."

Damn it, the old man was getting carried away!

Was he cooking up some scheme to bring glory to the family?

I hadn't even squeezed out any results yet—wasn't he jumping the gun a bit? Shouldn't he at least ask for my opinion on something like this?

"Well... let's cross that bridge when we get to it. My only wish is to rot at home until I die."

Satoru quickly blurted out a rebellious remark that left Homura torn between laughter and tears:

"To achieve that goal, I've already developed jutsu to create food and water—I don't even have to leave the house!"

"Next on the list is jutsu for automatic cleaning and tidying, plus improving the taste of the food and water..."

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Homura had to cut off Satoru's endless rambling:

"What did you just say? Jutsu to create food and water? And automatic cleaning and tidying? You do realize food and water still need to be eaten and drunk, right?"

"Why don't you just conjure them straight into your stomach!"

Seeing Satoru's look of sudden realization, Homura let out a strained cough:

"Don't keep going down that path! If you're too lazy to even eat, then get the hell out and build your own house!"

"Tch, laziness is the driving force of human progress!"

Satoru shot a disdainful glance at his father's noticeably balder head and said lightly:

"Hmm, maybe I should look into a jutsu for hair growth too..."

Mitokado Homura's mouth twitched:

"Enough! What can you do with that pitiful amount of Chakra? A ninja isn't just about having a sharp mind!"

"You're starting at the Ninja Academy next month. Go there and study the basics properly. You can research this stuff once you're a full-fledged ninja!"

"And for the love of—practice your taijutsu. Learn from Choza. The Akimichi clan's taijutsu training is famous all over Konoha!"

"If work weren't so busy, I'd be training you myself!"

Thinking about the Ninja Academy gave Satoru a headache.

He knew his childhood friend Akimichi Choza was one of the Konoha Twelve and the father of Akimichi Choji, but the others...

He barely knew any of them!

The only ones he'd met a few times through Choza were this generation's Ino-Shika-Cho: Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi.

Unless you were a hardcore info buff, who bothered studying background characters like that? Even his own father, Mitokado Homura, he only remembered as the guy Tsunade once grabbed by the collar and spat on...

"Hey! Satoru, are you thinking something disrespectful?"

"No, no... Of course I'll train hard in taijutsu, but I'm still mainly focusing on ninjutsu..."

When it came to taijutsu, Satoru couldn't help but think of one key figure—

The last bastion of taijutsu in the Naruto Mage world: Eight Gates Might Guy!