A Taijutsu Tutor~

Somewhere in an underground palace in Konoha. 👊😂  ☹🍭

"Lord Danzo, the mission failed. I couldn't land the Heart-Loss Curse on Uzumaki Kuming."

In front of a stone chair, a figure knelt on one knee, reporting the mission to the person seated upon it.

"You failed to take down a five-year-old child by surprise? You've disappointed me."

"Tell me, why did you fail?"

Shimura Danzō's deep voice rang out. Along with his dissatisfaction, he felt a strong sense of curiosity. His subordinates were all battle-hardened shinobi, and every member of Root was a carefully selected specialist in their field. The young man before him was an assassin he had trained for over a decade. He hadn't expected him to fail on his very first mission.

"The target's reaction was incredibly fast. My surprise attack failed."

The man who had been reporting with his head bowed now looked up, revealing a youthful face. He was only fifteen or sixteen, and his expression was full of remorse.

"Your surprise attack failed? You're saying that boy managed to evade an ambush from an elite Chunin?"

"How is that possible?"

"If you're just making excuses for failing the mission, that's laughable."

Danzō raised an eyebrow. His subordinate's answer displeased him. He had already gone easy on the shinobi for failing the mission, and now the man was treating him like a fool.

"Lord Danzō, I'm telling the truth. I really did attack by surprise, but I never expected Uzumaki Kuming to dodge my very first punch."

"His reaction speed was incredibly fast. He was nothing like an ordinary child."

The young man lowered his head slightly as he explained.

"Is that so? Could the rumors be true? Did Uzumaki Kuming really escape an Iwagakure Jonin during the Ninja Academy entrance exam?"

"If the rumors are accurate, then it makes sense that your ambush failed."

Shimura Danzō narrowed his eyes and spoke in a low voice.

"Fine. Go receive your punishment. This matter ends here." After thinking it over briefly, Danzō let the matter drop. He had invested a great deal in training the young man and didn't want to punish him too harshly. Besides, the failed ambush had taken place at the Ninja Academy, so it would certainly draw the Third Hokage's attention.

For Danzō, it was time to lie low and wait for a better opportunity.

"Uzumaki Kuming, only by getting my hands on you will I have a chance to lay claim to the Nine-Tails!"

After Danzō's whispered words, the underground palace fell silent once more.

The Hokage Building.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was sitting at his desk. Before him, a Ninja Academy teacher was reporting what had just happened at the school.

"I see. I know about this. Notify the Barrier Team and have them set up a sensory barrier around the Ninja Academy."

"Make sure this never happens again."

"I'll have someone investigate the incident. You should calm the students down."

As the teacher reported, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't even look up. He continued reading the intelligence from the border as he spoke.

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

After receiving a clear response from the Third Hokage, the Ninja Academy teacher left the office. Once he was gone, the Third Hokage looked up and picked up the pipe beside his desk, taking a long puff.

"Danzō, have I given you too much freedom?"

A complicated look flashed across Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes. After a long silence, he turned his attention back to the border intelligence that had just arrived.

"The urgent matter is dealing with Iwagakure."

At dusk, the setting sun spilled across the streets of Konoha. Parents had already gathered outside the Ninja Academy to pick up their children.

Although Uzumaki Kuming had been attacked by an unknown shinobi at school, he had gone on with his classes as usual afterward. The Barrier Team had set up a new barrier around the Ninja Academy by noon. Feeling how effective it was had lifted Kuming's spirits considerably.

The barrier couldn't guarantee his complete safety, of course, but it would certainly offer some protection.

When Uzumaki Kuming walked out of the Ninja Academy after school, Kushina was already waiting for him at the gate. A blond boy stood beside her, waiting with her.

"Kuming!" Seeing him come out of the school, Kushina happily waved both hands to catch his attention. But Kuming had his head down, lost in thought, and didn't hear her.

"He doesn't seem to have heard you. Let's go over and call him," Minato Namikaze suggested from beside Kushina.

"Come on, let's go."

Kushina nodded, then quickly took Minato's hand and pushed through the crowd to Kuming's side. After Kushina and Minato reached him, they didn't say a word. They simply walked alongside him, waiting to see when he would notice them.

"They actually dared to launch an attack at the Ninja Academy. Whoever it was must have been from Konoha. Outsiders would have picked a time when fewer people were around. That's common sense."

"Once I narrow it down to people from Konoha, the list of those who'd do something like this is very short."

"I have to build up my Yin Seal over the next two years, so I can't use Chakra. I'll need to work harder on Taijutsu and Shurikenjutsu."

"Hm?"

Uzumaki Kuming was deep in thought when he suddenly sensed someone following him. He looked up in surprise and saw Kushina and Minato right behind him.

"Big Sis? Minato?" Kuming glanced at the hands Kushina and Minato were holding, then smiled after a moment of surprise.

"Here's my chance to improve my Taijutsu!"

"The man who made the Flying Thunder God famous is no slouch at Shurikenjutsu either."

Kuming thought to himself, looking at Minato with a gleam in his eyes.

"What's got you so lost in thought?"

"Kuming, are you enjoying your first day at school?"

Kushina didn't notice the strange look on her little brother's face, but she had caught him glancing at her and Minato holding hands. Blushing, she immediately let go of Minato's hand before asking.

Hearing Kushina's question, Kuming composed himself and said, "Not really. My Taijutsu and Shurikenjutsu aren't very good, so my classmates made fun of me."

"I was just thinking about how to improve my Taijutsu and Shurikenjutsu. Grandma Mito hasn't been feeling well lately, so I don't want to trouble her."

Although Kuming was answering Kushina, he kept his eyes on Minato as he spoke.

"They made fun of you? How dare those little brats?"

Hearing Kuming's words, Kushina immediately thought of her own time at the Ninja Academy. Because of her hair color and being a transfer student from outside the village, she had endured bullying for a while. Fortunately, she was cheerful and had a strong punch, so she soon adjusted to life at the academy.

Those days hadn't been pleasant, though. Hearing that Kuming had been picked on made her angry at once. Beside her, Minato wore an awkward smile.

"Bullied? With Uzumaki Kuming's abilities, is there really anyone at the Ninja Academy who could bully him?"

Minato Namikaze had once sparred briefly with Kuming, so he knew how strong Kuming was. He didn't believe there was anyone at the Ninja Academy these days powerful enough to bully him.

While Minato was quietly grumbling to himself, Kushina had already sold him out. "Getting you a Taijutsu tutor is easy. If Grandma Mito is busy, you can ask Minato to come over and train you."

"He was the best at Taijutsu in the whole school back then! And at Shurikenjutsu too. Even Lord Hokage praised Minato's Shurikenjutsu."

"Really? Would Minato really have time to teach me?" Kuming put on an innocent expression and gazed earnestly at Minato.

"Well, of course I can."

"But..."

Although Minato had said he could, he was about to come up with an excuse. But before he could get the words out, Kuming cut in.

"That's great! If you don't have a mission, Minato, please come to my house and teach me Taijutsu and Shurikenjutsu."

"Please!"

Kuming didn't let Minato finish. He quickly cut in, then gave a slight bow to show his sincerity.

"Al... all right..." Minato had been reluctant, but when he thought about how teaching Kuming would give him more chances to spend time with Kushina, he found himself less inclined to refuse.

"Then I'll be counting on you!" When Minato agreed, Kuming smiled brightly. But to Minato, that smile looked a little unsettling.

"Free tutor, acquired!"