Worries and Hope (Please Bookmark and Follow)

Ninja Academy classroom.

Teacher Yamada stood at the podium, endlessly explaining the key points of chakra refinement, hoping that the few students who had yet to refine chakra would manage it as soon as possible.

More than half the students in their seats were busy with their own things. Yamada did not mind. Setting aside the children of ninja clans, even for those who had already refined chakra, the material being taught now was a waste of time. As long as they did not interfere with the other students' studies, Yamada would not bother them.

Taiichi was one of them. He no longer needed anyone to watch over him, and extracting chakra had gradually become a habit. Right now, he was practicing ninjutsu hand seals. After all, memorizing ninjutsu was not enough to use it; practice was essential.

Take hand seals, for example. Memorizing them was only the first step.

The second step was forming the hand seals skillfully and accurately with both hands.

The third step was being able to mobilize chakra while forming the seals. After all, seals existed to guide chakra and allow ninjutsu to be released more effectively.

Only after completing all three steps could one form seals and cast ninjutsu. As for the speed of hand seals, that entirely depended on long-term training to develop muscle memory.

At 11:30 in the morning, the morning classes ended.

The moment the teacher left, the classroom immediately became noisy.

Students who lived close to the school went home for lunch, while those who lived farther away could only stay at school and eat the lunchboxes they had prepared in the morning. Taiichi, Guy, and Kakashi were among them.

After yesterday's spar, the three had gradually become closer. Now, they gathered together and chatted while eating.

Just as the three were struggling with their lunchboxes, a voice interrupted them.

"Taiichi, I have some sushi here. Would you like to try some?"

The three raised their heads at the same time, six eyes turning directly toward the source of the voice.

Shizune became a little shy under their stares. Taiichi was slightly surprised, but when he thought of what had happened before, he simply smiled calmly and did not refuse. "Thanks, Shizune. Then I won't stand on ceremony."

Thus, the three-person eating group became four people. Of course, it was obvious that they were split into two groups: Guy and Kakashi sat closer together, while Shizune and Taiichi formed the other pair.

Shizune had treated Taiichi to her food, so naturally, he had to return the favor. "Shizune, I made this braised pork myself. You should try some too."

"Ah! That's amazing! Taiichi, did you really make this yourself?"

Shizune was stunned. She had not expected Taiichi to be so capable that he could even make such a complicated dish.

She reached out and picked up a piece. The flavor was incredible, a deliciousness she had never imagined.

"So, Shizune, isn't Taiichi's cooking heavenly?" Guy cut in.

Taiichi glanced at Guy. Seeing the eager look on his face, he pushed his lunchbox forward. "Here, you two should try some too!"

Guy and Kakashi exchanged a look, then unceremoniously each picked up a piece of meat. Guy had eaten food made by Taiichi before. It was Kakashi's first time, and he immediately wore the same expression Shizune had, staring at Taiichi with a face full of shock. After tasting Taiichi's food, the two also shared their own lunches with him.

The meal only lasted fifteen minutes, and Taiichi even finished Shizune's remaining sushi. The time until 1:30 was lunch break, but Taiichi was not that idle. He picked up Basic Theory of Ninjutsu from his desk and read it while continuing to practice hand seals with one hand.

Guy snored beside him, Kakashi had slipped off somewhere unknown, and Shizune watched Taiichi's movements as she slowly drifted off to sleep.

At 1:30 in the afternoon, classes resumed with theory lessons and Ninja Tool Throwing.

The theory class was the same as ever. Those who should sleep slept, those who should snack snacked, and those who should daydream daydreamed. There were also those who studied seriously, such as Taiichi Matsushita, Shizune, and Rin Nohara. Everyone arranged their time according to their own needs. After all, this was the Ninja World. Those who truly refused to study hard were gambling with their lives.

After the theory class came Ninja Tool Throwing. After several days of practice, everyone had clearly improved. At the very least, they could now hit the targets. As for people like Kakashi, Taiichi, and Asuma, they hit the bullseye every time.

[You practiced Ninja Tool Throwing. Related insights increased!]

[Your Ninja Tool Throwing skill improved. Experience +1]

[You focused on Ninja Tool Throwing practice. Genin profession experience +1]

...

[Congratulations, your Ninja Tool Throwing skill has increased to Lv3 (0/400)]

Along with the skill upgrade, the insights gained from long-term Ninja Tool Throwing practice fused into every inch of Taiichi's muscles.

After several days of practice, Ninja Tool Throwing had also reached Lv3. Taiichi picked up another kunai and flicked his hand, striking the bullseye. It felt even easier than before. He then picked up two kunai at once, holding each between his index, middle, and ring fingers before flinging them toward the target.

Two thuds rang out one after the other. Both kunai hit the target. Though they had not struck the bullseye, the difficulty had increased dramatically.

Guy stared in astonishment from the side, while Kakashi also looked at Taiichi in surprise. Even Kakashi had needed a long time to reach Taiichi's current level, yet Taiichi had only taken a few days.

"Taiichi, do you have some kind of trick?" Shizune could not help asking.

"What trick could there be? I just kept practicing, and suddenly it felt like I could do it. I gave it a try, and it actually worked." Taiichi spoke with no small amount of pride.

The others all rolled their eyes.

At 5:00 in the afternoon, the day's classes ended.

Taiichi said goodbye to Guy and the others, then hurried toward the Orphanage. He wanted to ask whether Nonō had received any news from Tsunade today.

When he arrived at the Orphanage, he saw everyone preparing dinner, so he stepped forward to help. This delighted the little children, who cheered that they could finally eat Big Brother Taiichi's cooking again. Each of them worked even more enthusiastically.

Taiichi suppressed the impatience in his heart and cooked with everyone.

After everyone had finished eating and cleaned up, Taiichi pulled Nonō into the office.

"Sister Nonō, did you receive any news from Lady Tsunade today?" Taiichi asked directly.

"Not yet." Nonō was not anxious. After all, she had lived like this for so long, and she was more composed than Taiichi.

"That shouldn't be the case. This verification should be quick, so why hasn't there been any news?" Taiichi said, confused. However, when he considered Tsunade's personality and her recent state, he became uncertain again.

"Do you think Lady Tsunade might have forgotten?"

"Taiichi, don't be so anxious. Maybe Lady Tsunade was delayed by something else," Nonō comforted him.

"You're right. I was too impatient. This isn't something we can control. All we can do now is wait for Lady Tsunade's reply." Taiichi adjusted his mindset.

Afterward, Taiichi chatted with Nonō about his daily life at school before leaving the Orphanage. Before he left, Nonō repeatedly comforted him and told him not to worry.

After returning home, Taiichi picked up a scroll as usual. Today, he was going to practice the Three Body Technique. With so many days of groundwork behind him, Taiichi had reached a certain level in both chakra and basic knowledge. It was time to begin formal ninjutsu training, even if it was only the most basic Three Body Technique.

First was the Clone Technique.

Taiichi stood still and sensed chakra flowing through his body. Then, he slowly formed the Clone Technique seals—Ram, Snake, Tiger—carefully feeling how each seal guided the chakra within him.

He repeated the process seven or eight times. Once it felt about right, Taiichi suddenly accelerated his hand seals. The three seals formed in an instant, and he softly called out, "Clone Technique!" He felt the chakra in his body rapidly flow along a specific path, then a portion of it vanished. A cloud of white smoke appeared, and another "Taiichi" emerged beside him.

"Yes, success on the first try." Taiichi was thrilled. The panel immediately gave him a notification.

[Congratulations, you have learned Clone Technique Lv1 (0/100)]

Taiichi carefully examined the clone before him and discovered many flaws. The most obvious was that it was noticeably shorter than his real body, which was a major weakness. Of course, he had only just begun learning it. With continued practice, making it indistinguishable from the original would be inevitable.

Feeling the chakra in his body, he found that the Clone Technique consumed very little, so he began testing the Transformation Technique.

It was the same process: familiarize himself, test it, then Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Snake. A cloud of white smoke rose, and Might Guy appeared in the room.

Likewise, Ram, Boar, Ox, Dog, Tiger. The prepared substitution log turned into Taiichi's likeness, while Taiichi himself could use the opportunity to escape. That was the Substitution Technique.

Sure enough, I do have talent for ninjutsu. Taiichi thought to himself. I learned all three techniques the moment I tried them. As long as I slowly increase the number of times I practice later, it won't be a problem. He sensed the chakra in his body again and found that he had not consumed much, and it was slowly recovering. So, he practiced even more.

Name: Taiichi Matsushita

Profession: Genin Lv2 (184/200)

Talent: Diligence Makes Up for Mediocrity, Academic Overachiever

Age: 6

Constitution: 10

Strength: 11

Agility: 10

Spirit: 18

Chakra: 785 (4200)

Attribute Points: 5

Skill Points: 5

Skills: Basic Taijutsu Lv6 (465/1000), Basic Meditation Lv6 (895/1000), Chakra Refinement Technique Lv2 (145/200), Ninja Tool Throwing Lv3 (35/400), Transformation Technique Lv1 (15/100), Clone Technique Lv1 (12/100), Substitution Technique Lv1 (16/100)

Evaluation: Having learned the Three Body Technique, you are now standard battlefield cannon fodder

Looking at the somewhat plain panel, Taiichi felt as if he could see himself gradually growing stronger. Excitement surged in his heart, and more strength unconsciously welled up throughout his body, supporting him as he continued training.