A gift before leaving

Konoha, Small Woods.

The three kids sat or lay on the grass, bored. Naruto, with a blade of grass in his mouth, crossed his legs and rested his head on his arm, staring at the sky in rare quiet.

Sasuke sat in the Tree Shadow, leaning against the trunk, staring expressionlessly at the swaying grass in front of him.

For the first time, Sakura didn't stare at Sasuke with infatuation; this mission outside the village had left the three of them with too many shocks.

Although the battle lasted only a few fleeting minutes, the three realized what a true ninja was.

In short, they are too weak!

The wind rustled the leaves, and the grass swayed like a wave of emerald green crashing in. A figure appeared on the wave.

"Teacher Tōka!" Sakura felt a dark shadow looming over her and, noticing Tōka's appearance, immediately shouted.

Naruto was lying down, and Sasuke, who was sitting in a daze, were also startled awake immediately. The two of them rolled over and stood up together.

Tōka slowly approached; he had come to say goodbye to the three little devils.

Although it was a farewell, Tōka didn't want the three of them to know that he was leaving.

"I called you out here today for only one purpose." Upon hearing this, the three of them straightened up and looked at Tōka with serious expressions.

After a pause, Tōka continued.

"Summarize the experience from the last mission outside the village."

Tōka's gaze swept across the three faces one by one. Although each person's expression was slightly different, they all had their heads down and eyes lowered, looking like defeated roosters.

Seeing this peaceful scene, Tōka couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Instantly, the three little devils' faces turned even uglier, their dark skin flushed with a hint of red, a mixture of anger, annoyance, and shame.

"Alright, it's just that you were trapped by Genjutsu." Tōka said nonchalantly.

"Easy for you to say, you're not the one under the Genjutsu!" Sakura muttered, but was surprised to find Naruto usually called out to her earlier...

Why is it unusually quiet today?!

Tōka and Sasuke seemed to notice Naruto's unusual behavior as well, and all three gazes turned to Naruto was looking down.

The shadow on his forehead obscured his eyes, making it difficult to discern his state of mind.

"Naruto, you're not blaming yourself for the Third Hokage's death, are you?" Tōka knew that Naruto might seem clumsy and silly, but he was more perceptive of people's hearts than anyone else.

Naruto, who grew up alone, is very sensitive to other people's expressions. Even just a glance is enough for Naruto to sense whether the other person has any ill intentions towards him.

He had seen that look in his eyes far too many times since he was a child.

Tōka could tell that Naruto must have known something, but the death of that old man, the Third Hokage, had nothing to do with Naruto.

"I've heard everything. The Third Hokage... died saving us!" Naruto pouted, his low, hoarse voice breaking into a tremor.

The warm sunshine was suddenly blocked by a drifting dark cloud, and the surrounding light dimmed considerably in an instant.

The wind howled across the grass, taking away a trace of warmth.

Sakura's gaze moved back and forth between the two faces, finally settling on Naruto's face.

Sasuke, however, kept his eyes fixed on Naruto. He pursed his lips, wanting to say something comforting, but he didn't know where to begin.

He thought he could understand that feeling.

Tōka stared coldly at Naruto, remaining silent for a long while before finally speaking slowly, "If you were to be depressed for months, or even years, after every death..."

"I think you should give up being a ninja and become a monk instead, chanting sutras for their departed souls and such."

The subtle mockery made Naruto's face stiffen, and he raised his head defiantly.

"Don't you think I'm heartless?" Tōka said to himself, ignoring Naruto's gaze. "As a ninja, you have to be prepared to kill and be killed."

"You don't think you're the only one who can kill others, and that others can't kill you, do you?"

"Besides being called the Third Hokage' Professor of Ninjutsu,' do you know what other ninjas from different countries call him?"

The three kids looked at Tōka blankly. Their understanding of the Third Hokage was still limited to the image of the kind old man who would occasionally visit them at school.

Tōka slightly curled the corners of his lips, "Killing one person is a crime, slaughtering ten thousand makes one a hero!"

The Third Hokage's other title was -- "The Shinobi Hero!"

Tens of millions of ninjas died at the hands of the Third Hokage. The day they became ninjas, they should have been prepared to be killed.

In this era of ninjas where the average lifespan was no more than thirty years, the Third Hokage had lived long enough.

"If you're not prepared to be killed, you might as well go home and farm!" Tōka looked down at the three kids with feigned disdain, his words full of contempt.

Although Tōka's words were harsh, all three agreed with Tōka.

"Teacher Tōka, aren't you very strong?" Sasuke suddenly raised his head, staring intently at Tōka.

The guy in front of me is definitely not as simple as he appears, since even that man is a target for him.

This is a man who keeps his abilities hidden. Sasuke couldn't verify it, but he trusted the man's judgment.

"What do you want to say?" Tōka raised an eyebrow, tilting his head and lazily looking at Sasuke.

"We need power!" Sasuke's voice trembled slightly, his words filled with an intense desire for power.

"Teach us, make us stronger!"

Teaching people? Tōka really isn't very good at that.

According to the process after Konoha's class division, the three of them should be climbing trees Water Walking during this stage, training in precise control of chakra.

Only after that can one train in B-rank and A-rank Ninjutsu to further enhance combat power.

However, Tōka clearly did not intend to proceed step by step in this way. Firstly, he did not have the time, and secondly, he did not have the patience and energy.

The thought flashed through Tōka's mind, her eyes flickered slightly, and she had already made up her mind.

Bang! Bang!

Two bursts of white mist exploded on either side of Tōka, revealing two identical figures— the Shadow Clone Technique!

"Sasuke, come with me!" The Shadow Clone on the left said, then turned and walked towards the nearby Small Woods.

"Sakura, come with me over there." The Shadow Clone on the right left the group and headed towards the stream.

As for the figure in the middle, he remained where he was. Naruto looked left at Sasuke, who had left, and right at Sakura, who was walking towards the stream.

With a blank, adorable expression, he seemed not to have figured out what Tōka was planning to do.

Tōka glanced at Naruto's silly expression and couldn't help but sigh helplessly. How could such a shrewd guy like the Fourth Hokage have such a naturally clueless son?

In the Forest, Tōka stood under a Big Tree.

A sudden gust of wind swept through the forest, sending leaves swirling and dancing in the air, carrying a mysterious aura.

Sasuke felt a sudden dizziness as the surrounding scenery abruptly changed, with the pitch-black night sky being splashed with ink.

Everything was shrouded in darkness; in this dim world, only the real Tōka and Sasuke remained.

Genjutsu?

Sasuke's eyelids twitched, and he quickly concentrated his chakra into his eyes, activating the Sharingan. Tiny Tomoe appeared in his scarlet eyes.

"Sasuke, do you know what Itachi's strongest skill is?" Tōka's voice suddenly rang out, the voice coming from the figure right in front of him seemed to come from different distances.

Sasuke stared intently at Tōka, afraid of missing even the slightest detail.

Even with his Sharingan's level, Sasuke couldn't see through this illusion. The only thing he could do was lock onto Tōka's aura.

What is it?

"It's Genjutsu!"

Tōka reached out and wiped his hand in front of him. A medicinal Green Light illuminated the night, dispelling the ink-like darkness. The glowing light quickly radiated outwards.

In the blink of an eye, the Small Woods from before reappeared in my field of vision, and the azure sky still held up fluffy white clouds.

The dark clouds parted their heavy bodies, and the warm sunshine shone down once more.

A mere Genjutsu he conjured up? I didn't even see how he Hand Seals! A look of seriousness appeared in Sasuke's eyes.

Even with the Sharingan, he couldn't see Tōka's movements?

"So? Want to learn?" Tōka grinned, his words dripping with temptation. "To kill Itachi, you'll never succeed without a comparable Genjutsu."

"At the very least, you have to see through his Genjutsu!"

"What should I do?" Sasuke impatiently, not even realizing whether the surrounding environment had truly returned to reality.

Tōka smiled mysteriously, "Let's leave here first!"

As the soft voice faded, Tōka's figure vanished from the spot without a trace, leaving not even a lingering scent.

Sasuke's expression changed slightly as he realized he was still in Tōka's illusion!

A dream world exactly like the real world!

Along the stream, the rushing water flows from west to east, and schools of lively fish can be vaguely seen swimming by in the clear water.

"Sakura, in terms of talent, you're far inferior to those two kids." Tōka's blunt words immediately made Sakura's face turn ugly.

Facts are facts; there's no need to hide anything.

In Team 7, Sakura is the one who truly drags the team down.

"However, you also have your advantages." Tōka's gaze fell on the stream, and he slowly raised his right hand, flipping his palm to reveal a sharp Kunai.

Call out!

A sharp gust of wind cut through the air, whoosh!

A glaring crimson color surfaced, and One-Tail carp that had been Kunai and energetic just moments before was now pinned to the bottom of the water by a kunai, unable to move.

"Go and bring it up to me, alive."

Tōka's words startled Sakura slightly. She then tried to appear calm and walked towards the river, but her slow, deliberate steps betrayed her.

"If you don't want to hold us back forever, you'd better hurry up!"

The words of encouragement rang in her ears, and Sakura, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, darted into the stream.

Despite feeling intense nausea, I reached out and scooped up the half-dead carp.

Sakura turned around and climbed ashore, then threw the bloodied and mangled carp in her hand at Tōka's feet.

"Today's lesson is very simple..." A Green Light flashed in Tōka's palm as he half-squatted down and placed his palm over the carp's wound.

With his other hand, he hooked the ring on the handle of the Kunai and Kunai it out with his fingertip.

The life-giving Yang Release Chakra was injected into the carp's body, and the wounds on the carp, which was originally on the verge of death, visibly healed.

In just a few seconds, the nearly dead carp came back to life, jumping and leaping about.

"Teacher Tōka? This..." is this the miraculous Medical Ninjutsu?

Sakura stared at this scene in shock! At the same time, she looked at Tōka expectantly, hoping that he would teach her this mysterious power.

Tōka gave a strange smile, a smile that didn't show his teeth, but it made Sakura's heart skip a beat, and a chill ran up her back, making her shiver all over.

Teacher Tōka, could you please stop laughing like that...?

That's terrifying...

"Want to learn Medical Ninjutsu?" Tōka asked with a faint smile.

"Mmm!" Sakura nodded hurriedly, clasping her hands together in a pleading gesture.

"If you want to save people, you must first learn how to kill!" Tōka flipped his palm, and with a hum, chakra condensed on his hand.

The Chakra Scalpel concentrates chakra in the hand to sever the opponent's muscles and meridians, possessing immense power.

Ninjutsu is a powerful weapon in close-combat Taijutsu.

As a medical practice, it can also save lives and heal the wounded.

Today, Tōka is going to teach Sakura a technique using Chakra Scalpel: "Making sashimi!"

"Make sashimi?" Sakura's face stiffened, puzzled.

"Use Chakra Scalpel to make sashimi, and don't let it die!" As Tōka finished speaking, he gathered Yang Release Chakra in one hand and used the Mystical Palm Technique Healing Technique to press it onto the carp's body.

The Chakra Scalpel in his other hand immediately made a cut.

Cutting the flesh to stop the bleeding without damaging the internal organs is torture for the fish, and also torture for the person making sashimi.

Tōka knew Sakura's talent; she was able to complete the tree-climbing Water Walking training on her first try. Therefore, Tōka decided to skip those "simple" steps.

"How was that? Once you complete this training, you'll learn any skill incredibly quickly!"

A short while later, Tōka placed a neatly arranged plate of sashimi in front of Sakura, while the sliced carp remained alive...

With a thud!

Sakura stared in disbelief at everything, her entire body frozen in place. She didn't know how she had managed to get through it all.

But seeing the sashimi in front of me at this moment, I had absolutely no appetite.

"Vomit..."

Sakura suddenly turned her back, knelt down by the stream, and began to dry heave, her face pale. It seemed she wouldn't eat this dish for a long time to come.

Tōka stared coldly at Sakura's retreating figure as she retched; it was intentional, yet not entirely unintentional.

A dead body is more disgusting than this, and a festering wound is even more disgusting.

It's just a fish with bones and internal organs still breathing...

Tsk... we still have a long way to go!

On the grass where the wind was blowing gently, Tōka and Naruto stood facing each other, five steps apart.

"Naruto, you know the training method for the final stage of the Rasengan; whether you succeed or not depends on yourself."

The Rasengan was originally the Fourth Hokage's technique, but it was passed on to Naruto through Tōka.

As the instructor for the three, Tōka did not show favoritism, teaching Sasuke the basics of Genjutsu and Sakura the basics of medical skills.

Then he will also teach Naruto a technique!

After much thought, Tōka realized that one of his techniques was quite suitable for Naruto.