I Want to Learn This

Senju Genma opened the neatly written letter in his hand. Sure enough, it was a heartfelt confession.

He turned around and spotted the little pepper standing behind him. Her beautiful scarlet hair floated in the air, buoyed by the chakra radiating from her.

With his perception, he'd sensed Kushina behind him long ago. He'd just chosen to ignore her.

After six months together, he already knew what Kushina liked.

Senju Genma ruffled Kushina's little head. She immediately lowered her head and fell quiet.

Lunch break ended soon, and Kato Taka led his students to the training ground.

Kato Taka's class had thirty students, divided into five rows on the field.

Holding the class roster, Kato Taka stood in front of the students and took attendance.

"Good. No one's late or absent, which means you took what I said to heart. I hope that even after you become ninja, you'll still follow orders without question."

"You can sit down now. I hope none of you have been spoiled rotten and can't even sit on the ground."

As soon as Kato Taka finished speaking, the students all sat down cross-legged.

Senju Genma didn't bother worrying about his image and sat right down on the ground.

He was a lazy person, and he'd always lived by the rule: if you can lie down, don't sit; if you can sit, don't stand.

Kushina sat to his right, while Namikaze Minato sat to his left.

Children's friendships were simple. Often, all it took was a little more contact than strangers would have, and they could easily become friends.

Kato Taka put away the roster and continued, "Good. Next, I'll explain how to extract chakra."

"First, let me explain what chakra is. Chakra is a form of energy produced when the body's various types of energy are brought together and perfectly combined. Generally speaking, it's an even mixture of mental and physical energy."

"The method of extracting chakra is also very simple. You just need to draw out the physical energy produced by the 130 trillion cells in your body, then accumulate mental energy through meditation and other methods. Finally..."

"That's the method. Now try it yourselves. If there's anything you don't understand, raise your hand and ask."

As soon as Kato Taka finished explaining chakra extraction, quite a few students began trying it.

Namikaze Minato was one of them. He seemed to be putting in a lot of effort, and before long, sweat was pouring down his face.

Senju Genma wasn't interested in Kato Taka's lesson at all. He'd learned chakra extraction in his third year in this world.

He looked around and spotted a familiar figure not far from the training ground: Uchiha Mikoto.

Mikoto had enrolled three years before Senju Genma, and her class had already started practicing throwing weapons.

"Looks like you're very interested in using ninja tools, Genma." At some point, Kato Taka had crouched beside him.

Senju Genma turned and asked, "I heard you're quite skilled at wielding ninja tools, Teacher Kato?"

Kato Taka held out both hands and said confidently, "I may only be a Chunin, but I'm one of the best in the village when it comes to using ninja tools. Just look at these hands of mine—agile and enduring. I trained them specifically for wielding ninja tools."

Senju Genma's eyes shifted as he thought about the technique's potential. He nodded firmly. "Teacher, I want to learn this."

Kato Taka was so moved he nearly cried.

He might have been good with ninja tools, but since he couldn't learn his clan's secret techniques, his clansmen had always looked down on him. Now a young master from a major clan had recognized his skill. He couldn't have been happier.

Although they were only an ordinary teacher and student, Kato Taka still taught Senju Genma his finger-training method.

Kato Taka had never considered taking Senju Genma as his disciple. He knew his place. Regardless of what Senju Genma thought, the people above them would never agree to it.

Senju Genma was amazed when he saw Kato Taka's training notes. He hadn't expected them to include illustrations as well as written instructions.

The afternoon's training ended quickly. Senju Genma had memorized Kato Taka's Hand training method by heart and planned to go home and practice it hard with Tsunade.

After all, practice was the only way to test the truth.

Kushina stretched, then hugged Senju Genma. "Genma, I'm so tired today!"

Senju Genma lightly tapped her forehead with his index and middle fingers. "Don't give me that. You already knew how to extract chakra."

Kushina pouted. "But sitting for so long is tiring too! Why don't we go eat ramen at Nakamura Ramen Shop?"

Genma and Kushina had found Nakamura Ramen Shop while out shopping. Ichiraku Ramen didn't exist yet, and Uncle Teuchi was an apprentice at the shop.

Teuchi was only twelve, but he was already showing a talent for making ramen. The ramen he made suited Kushina's taste perfectly.

"What about Minato? Do you want to come with us?"

Namikaze Minato looked into Senju Genma's eyes, soft as moonlight, and thought for a moment before answering, "Sure! I'm alone anyway."

"You won't be anymore!"

Senju Genma took hold of Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato and led them toward the street.

The three of them soon finished their meal and parted ways at the ramen shop.

By the time Senju Genma and Uzumaki Kushina got home, Tsunade had already been waiting for them for a while.

With her arms crossed, Tsunade asked, "Where have you two been, brats?"

"We went to eat ramen. We brought you some."

Senju Genma led Kushina over to Tsunade and raised the Tonkotsu Ramen in his hands.

Tsunade took it and snorted. "At least you two have a little conscience."

"Do you know I made you a big dinner today? You came back so late that the food got cold, so I had to give it all to Nawaki."

Senju Genma and Kushina couldn't help shivering.

"Is Nawaki okay?" Kushina asked worriedly.

Tsunade started eating the ramen. It was clear she hadn't eaten either.

"You really don't trust me at all? Don't worry. The doctor said he's fine. He just has to stay in the hospital for a week."

Senju Genma and Kushina exchanged a glance and felt sorry for Nawaki for two and a half seconds.

"Eat quickly. I've got something good to show you afterward." Senju Genma went over to Tsunade and whispered into her ear.

Seeing how mysterious he was acting, Tsunade grew curious and quickly finished the ramen.

After they coaxed Kushina into going to bed, the two of them returned to the room.

Senju Genma took out the training notes for Kato Taka's Hand.

Tsunade exclaimed in shock, "How can such a Divine Art exist in this world?"

"Don't get excited. I've only read the notes. I haven't started practicing yet!" Senju Genma hurriedly explained. "I'll start today. That's good enough, right?"