Ashamed Hayate (Seeking Recommendation Votes)

During the afternoon combat training, Kashima Isamu continued to teach the Transformation Technique.

Although the Transformation Technique was one of the most basic ninjutsu for a ninja, for a group of bronze-level students, mastering it proficiently was not a matter of a day or two; otherwise, they wouldn't have been stuck in the academy for six full years.

Kashima Isamu paced around them, explaining it over and over again until sweat beaded on his forehead, but the results were truly mediocre.

Hanfu, Iruka, Izumo Kamizuki, and Kotetsu Hagane stood in the crowd, whispering to each other while keeping an eye out for Kashima Isamu.

"No new ninjutsu today, so it looks like there won't be any homework tonight," Kotetsu Hagane said with a hint of excitement. "Izumo, Hanfu, Iruka, want to go play at Senju Park after school?"

"Sure."

Izumo Kamizuki nodded. He and Kotetsu Hagane were inseparable; wherever one went, the other followed.

"But we have an exam tomorrow," Iruka said, sounding hesitant.

"What does that matter? We can just play until six and then head home," Kotetsu Hagane said nonchalantly.

"Alright then." Iruka was at an age where he loved to play, and he couldn't resist the temptation from his friends.

"Hanfu, what about you?" Kotetsu Hagane looked at Hanfu.

"This..."

Hanfu hesitated. He did want to go. If he could run into that old woman who might be Tsunade again, he might be able to uncover her identity, but...

"Sorry, I have something to do tonight, I can't make it."

Hanfu had no choice. After school, he had to take his little brother home and soothe his temper. After dinner, he had to go to the hospital with Keiko to see that legendary doctor, Shennong. Besides, compared to the elusive Tsunade, the accessible Shennong seemed more reliable to Hanfu.

"No worries," Kotetsu Hagane laughed. "The three of us will go then."

"Should we invite Anko and Inuzuka Sa?" Iruka asked.

"Let's skip it this time," Kotetsu Hagane said, glancing at Anko and Inuzuka Sa, who were whispering to each other in the distance. "Us guys need some private space once in a while."

As they chatted, the time quickly reached 3:30.

The bell rang for the end of the school day. Kashima Isamu felt liberated, and the bronze-level students couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Alright, that's it for today. Class dismissed. Oh, and remember to review when you get home! There's a theory exam tomorrow morning! Everyone, do your best!"

"Yes."

"Got it."

"Thank you for your hard work, teacher."

After the group dispersed, Hanfu said goodbye to Iruka and the others and headed straight to the usual spot to wait for his little brother.

When Hayate came out, he was followed by a few little friends, presumably the new ones he had mentioned earlier.

"Brother."

Seeing Hanfu, Hayate immediately scurried over. However, halfway there, he remembered the experience from last night. His little face instantly took on a fierce expression, and he let out a haughty huff, deliberately walking past Hanfu and heading home first.

"My foolish little brother~"

Hanfu took a few quick steps to follow behind his little brother, coaxing him, "Do you want to learn the Clone Technique?"

Hayate's footsteps faltered, then he said loudly, "No, I want to practice kenjutsu."

Hanfu chuckled, "Little brother, you won't be able to graduate from the Ninja Academy without mastering the Three Body Technique."

"If I can't graduate, then I can't graduate. I'm going to practice kenjutsu anyway!" Hayate said, pouting.

"If you can't graduate, you won't be able to become a ninja," Hanfu continued to steer the conversation.

"Really?"

Hayate turned around, looking back at Hanfu, "Brother, don't lie to me."

"Of course, how could I lie to you about something like this? You can just ask anyone else and you'll find out."

Hanfu said with a solemn expression.

Of course, Hanfu omitted the fact that the Ninja Academy graduation exam was randomized. This year they might test the Three Body Technique, next year it might be taijutsu, and the year after that, Ninja Tool Throwing. But these things were too complicated, so Hanfu decided to wait until his little brother learned the Three Body Technique before telling him.

"I see..."

Hayate lowered his head, struggling with the decision.

Hanfu said earnestly, "Hayate, I understand your desire to inherit the Konoha-Style Kenjutsu, but Konoha-Style Kenjutsu is a very high-level sword art. To inherit it, you must first become an excellent Genin, or even a Chunin! But if you can't even graduate from the academy, how can you inherit the Konoha-Style Kenjutsu?"

Hayate blinked twice, then lowered his head in shame, "Brother, I was wrong."

Hanfu smiled with satisfaction, "When we get back, I'll teach you the Clone Technique, and then you'll write a five-hundred-word reflection."

Although there was no homework today, Hanfu knew that Kashima Isamu would definitely teach the Clone Technique in a few days, and by then, this five-hundred-word reflection would come in handy.

As a transmigrator, being prepared for a rainy day was just basic procedure!

"Oh..." Hayate replied listlessly.

"Also, keep this a secret, you hear?" Hanfu remembered something and hurriedly instructed, "You must not tell your teachers or classmates at school, or Mom!"

"Why?" Hayate asked, puzzled.

"Because what I'm teaching you is part of the second-year curriculum!" Hanfu whispered, "If others find out, they'll say you're being overly ambitious."

"What does 'aiming too high' mean?" Hayate asked.

"Let me give you an example. Imagine a brat who hasn't even graduated from the academy yet, hasn't even become a ninja, but spends all day shouting about wanting to train in kenjutsu and inherit the Konoha-Style Kenjutsu. That is what we call aiming too high."

Hayate lowered his head in shame once again.

Returning home, Keiko was already up and tidying the house.

"Mom, don't forget to take me to the hospital tonight." Hanfu was afraid Keiko might change her mind.

"I won't, but once we're at the hospital, Feng-chan, you must stay with me at all times. No running off, understand?" Keiko said.

Hanfu nodded immediately to promise.

Afterward, Hanfu dragged his little brother to the backyard and began teaching him the Clone Technique.

Over half an hour later, Hayate had memorized all the key points of the Clone Technique, but given that he didn't have enough Chakra in his body, he was still at the stage of "talking on paper."

"Now, next is a five-hundred-word reflection on the Clone Technique." Hanfu spoke with an air of righteousness: I'm doing this for Hayate's own good, yep!

"Got it."

Hayate glanced at the wooden stake and the Wooden Sword stuck in the grass nearby, his eyes filled with longing and reluctance. Finally, he lowered his head and returned to the living room, took out his notebook, and lay on the table to start writing.

Hanfu sat cross-legged on the ground and began to refine his Chakra.

"Feng-chan, Hayate, dinner is ready!"

Over an hour later, Keiko finished making dinner and interrupted the two brothers' efforts.

"Hayate, you've only just started school, do you already have this much homework?" Keiko asked, curious to see Hayate lying on the table writing again.

She remembered that when Feng-chan was in the first grade, he didn't have any homework for months; as soon as he got home, his father would drag him to the backyard to practice kenjutsu.

Hayate wanted to speak but hesitated. Remembering the secrecy his brother had demanded, he said it was just a reflection on what he had learned at school to help deepen his impression.

Upon hearing this, Keiko smiled with gratification, then looked at Hanfu with a hint of disdain.

"I..."

This... can even affect me?

Hanfu lost his appetite.

Thanks to book friend jason3393 for the tip and support!

Beautifully asking for recommendation votes (ω)