Kurenai Yuhi asked in confusion, "Teacher, can we choose for ourselves?"
Mikoto Uchiha replied, "Of course."
Asuma Sarutobi answered without hesitation, "Missions."
As he spoke, he glanced at Nebula Kotetsu. He felt that he hadn't performed well during Mikoto Uchiha's test today and hadn't managed to save face, which left him very unhappy. If they went on missions, he'd have more chances to show Teacher Mikoto and Kurenai Yuhi that Nebula Kotetsu was all show and no substance.
Kurenai Yuhi thought for a moment, then took the easy way out. "I'll go with Teacher Mikoto's suggestion."
Nebula Kotetsu said, "Training." As he spoke, Asuma Sarutobi shot him an displeased look, apparently unhappy with his answer.
Nebula Kotetsu didn't pay him any attention.
He could tell without even thinking that training with Mikoto Uchiha would be far more worthwhile than going on missions. Catching cats and walking dogs couldn't compare to instruction from an Uchiha jonin.
"Good," Mikoto Uchiha said. "In that case, meet at the entrance to the Uchiha Clan Compound at nine tomorrow morning. We'll train first."
"A week from now, after this rush of genin taking on missions has passed, I'll find some missions for you."
"All right, Teacher Mikoto."
After saying goodbye to Mikoto Uchiha, they each headed home.
With no missions to do, Nebula Kotetsu unexpectedly stayed home that afternoon instead of going out.
The afternoon sun was just right. Sitting in a chair in his courtyard, he held the Fire Release scroll Mikoto Uchiha had given him and studied it in silence.
A few other unrolled scrolls lay scattered beside him. They were family scrolls passed down through the Kotetsu Clan, including a C-rank Fireball Technique—the only inherited Fire Release Ninjutsu in the family.
Comparing them side by side, he could feel the differences between the two Fire Release techniques.
Both were C-rank Fire Release techniques, and their names were very similar: one was the Fireball Technique, the other the Great Fireball Technique. The only difference was the word "Great." Yet that single word hinted at the superior quality of the Uchiha's Fire Release.
Nebula Kotetsu compared them carefully and found clear differences in the chakra pathways, the amount of chakra they consumed, and the power they produced once formed.
In his memories, the Fireball Technique was practically known as the "kind-hearted Fireball Technique," since it had never killed anyone. But in reality, the Great Fireball Technique was a rare jutsu that packed a decent punch while still being well suited to lower- and mid-ranked ninja with limited chakra.
After realizing this, Nebula Kotetsu quickly decided: he would learn it.
The Kotetsu Clan's inherited techniques focused mainly on Water Release, while his chakra nature leaned more toward Fire Release.
The Great Fireball Technique was perfect for him at this stage.
So he put away the other scrolls and began carefully studying the Great Fireball Technique's chakra pathways and Hand Seals.
Several dozen minutes later, he got up from his chair and began forming Hand Seals.
"Snake—Ram—Monkey—Boar—Horse—Tiger."
As he formed the seals, the chakra in his body began to stir and flow.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
He silently recited the words, felt the chakra gather in his mouth, held his sealed hands before his chest, and blew hard.
"Whoosh~"
He blew out a breath.
Nothing else happened.
"..."
It was a little awkward. Fortunately, he was home alone, so no one knew.
"Maybe I wasn't ready."
"Again!"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
This time, he felt something.
He'd blown too hard and too fast. His brain was short on oxygen, and he felt dizzy.
Shaking his head, Nebula Kotetsu refused to give up and picked up the scroll to study it again.
After a while, he was sure he'd memorized everything correctly. He gathered his chakra and formed the Hand Seals again.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
This time, he shouted it aloud.
He wondered if adding a chant might improve the effect. After all, plenty of people shouted when performing ninjutsu.
Unfortunately, he still couldn't get it to work.
Nebula Kotetsu stood motionless in the courtyard.
He felt like he'd taken another blow.
It was just a C-rank Fire Release technique. How could this be?
He already had a powerful 0.31 cards of chakra. Why couldn't he learn even one C-rank jutsu?
Was his talent really that bad!?
It took quite a while for Nebula Kotetsu to calm down.
Unwilling to give up, he dug out every piece of ninjutsu material in the house and started studying.
"I refuse to believe it."
"I can't even learn one C-rank Fire Release technique!"
Just as the sun was about to set, Izumo Kotetsu came home from school.
As soon as he walked through the door, he smelled the savory aroma of chicken soup.
He sniffed the air. Mmm, that was rich.
He walked inside and saw Nebula Kotetsu coming out with an apron on.
"Did the sun rise in the west today?"
"You actually cooked."
Nebula Kotetsu said, "Cut the crap. Taste it and tell me how it is."
As he spoke, he handed him a spoon and half a bowl of chicken soup.
Izumo Kotetsu took it, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, then drank.
"Mmm~"
"Not bad, not bad. Just the right amount of salt."
"What's gotten into you today? In a good mood? That why you cooked?"
"No." Nebula Kotetsu shook his head.
In truth, he was in a bad mood. The entire afternoon had passed, and his progress with the Great Fireball Technique still amounted to blowing air.
So he'd accepted reality.
Train hard?
Not a chance.
He'd rather work hard at dating.
"As long as it tastes good." Nebula Kotetsu untied his apron, went into the kitchen, then came out a moment later with a thermos and headed outside.
Izumo Kotetsu stared at him, dumbfounded.
"Wait?"
"You didn't make it for me?"
"Obviously not." Nebula Kotetsu headed out without turning around. "I made it for my beloved girlfriend."
Izumo Kotetsu said, "..."
As expected, he was still the same old Nebula Kotetsu. He shouldn't have gotten his hopes up about his big brother.
Just as he was feeling dejected, Nebula Kotetsu's voice came from outside the courtyard.
"There's still some in the pot. Go get yourself a bowl."
Izumo Kotetsu, who had been feeling sorry for himself, froze. Then he grinned and ran toward the kitchen.
After talking with Rin Nohara and agreeing to get along as friends, Rin Nohara moved up the time they had arranged to meet.
They decided to meet before dark.
As for whether it was dark after their "study session" ended, that was another matter.
They met at the same little bamboo hut in the hills behind the village.
When Nebula Kotetsu arrived, Rin Nohara was already there.
"Starcloud, you're here."
"Oh, what have you got there?"
Nebula Kotetsu said, "My family made chicken soup."
"Izumo couldn't finish it by himself, so I brought you some. Give it a try."
As he spoke, he opened the thermos and held it out to Rin Nohara.
Rin Nohara had wanted to refuse. It was too much trouble. But the aroma of chicken soup wafted toward her, and she couldn't help swallowing a few times.
"Go ahead and drink," Nebula Kotetsu said with a smile.
Rin Nohara hesitated, then accepted it. She picked up the spoon and began sipping it in small mouthfuls.
"Starcloud, there's quite a lot. I might not be able to finish it," Rin Nohara said.
"That's okay." Nebula Kotetsu gazed gently at Rin Nohara. "If you can't finish it, I will."
"...Oh..."
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