Well, You're Really Kind...

"So, is that the reason you gave them for why you've never done a D-rank mission yourself, yet insist that doing more of them is for their own good?"

Kakashi struggled to smooth out the hair that Qi Luna had ruffled, looked up, and shot him a glare that lacked any real bite before turning his attention to Yahiko and the others, his tone returning to calm.

"However, this bastard senior isn't wrong about one thing."

"My father often tells me that the most important things for a ninja during a mission are rules and efficiency. The ultimate goal of doing things this way is to protect everyone in the village—to protect the people we cherish!"

"Therefore, these seemingly boring and tedious tasks are the vital foundation and soil, earned through the hard work of our predecessors, that allow the new generation of ninjas in the village to grow smoothly."

Yahiko recalled that "distinguished" tabby cat, Tiger, then looked at the silver-haired brat before him who spoke such shocking words and called Qi Luna a bastard, and finally glanced at Qi Luna, who was ruffling Kakashi's hair with a "nuclear-friendly" smile.

He felt his previous complaints being completely crushed, leaving only a sense of powerlessness at how "this world is too complicated."

He scratched his own messy orange hair and finally managed to mutter to Kakashi:

"...Got it, you smug little brat..."

Qi Luna watched with satisfaction as Kakashi stood there with a "bird's nest" for hair, looking like he "couldn't stand him but couldn't do anything about it," then looked at his three disciples, who now seemed to have a different perspective on the significance of low-level missions.

Hmm! Looks like this lesson was a success!

They should have made significant progress in understanding the value of missions and the importance of things like intelligence protection!

But seeing Yahiko still looking like he was out of the loop, Qi Luna silently added in his heart:

Probably...

Half an hour later, everyone at the Ninja Academy had finished school and left. After Qi Luna settled the mission with Yamada, he took Yahiko, Konan, Nagato, and Kakashi away.

On the way to the Hokage Building to complete the mission, they passed by Konoha Park again. Qi Luna found a bench, sat down, and gestured for the others to come over.

Once they were all seated beside him, Qi Luna spoke unhurriedly:

"After today's mission, I think you've all gained quite a bit. Perhaps it hasn't helped your current strength grow, but these will be precious experiences that will accompany you throughout your ninja careers."

"Furthermore, starting tomorrow, I won't be taking any more of those boring D-rank missions. At the very least, for the next year, be prepared to accept my 'hellish training'!"

Kakashi, that goes for you too. Starting today, I won't restrict your chakra refinement anymore, but you mustn't overexert yourself. You can only train for a maximum of one hour a day; the rest of the time should still be focused on taijutsu and sword skills. The title of 'White Fang of Konoha' for Sakumo-sensei still depends on you to inherit it in the future!

Hearing the words "hellish training," the faces of Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato turned deathly pale, though their eyes betrayed a hint of excitement.

Those four words couldn't help but remind them of the miserable state Qi Luna had put Kushina through during her special training. Although Kushina had fully awakened her Uzumaki bloodline abilities because of it, the process...

Her entire body had been wrapped, eroded, and destroyed by violent chakra! It was literally a case of being torn to shreds!

If it weren't for the fact that Kushina was Qi Luna's cousin and Tsunade, the "medical expert," was standing by to prevent accidents, they would have truly believed that Qi Luna wanted to kill her! And in an extremely cruel, torturous way at that!

Yahiko swallowed hard and asked cautiously:

"Teacher, this hellish training... what exactly is it like?"

Qi Luna once again flashed a "nuclear-friendly" smile:

"You'll know when the time comes. I guarantee it will be an unforgettable experience for the rest of your lives!"

Hearing Qi Luna say this, the trio's expressions worsened, yet there was no fear—only a sense of determination as if they were ready to face death!

Kakashi's reaction was somewhat inscrutable, but he shoved his hands into his pockets and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, as if he would have no more rivals from this day forward!

He thought to himself that he would finally no longer be confined to just taijutsu and sword training, but could now refine chakra and officially begin practicing ninjutsu.

"Little hedgehog Kakashi~ don't think I don't know what you're thinking. I'll be sending shadow clones to monitor you at random times! If you dare to exceed the limit I've set for your daily chakra refinement, you know the consequences!"

Just as Kakashi was wearing an expression of having finally been "liberated," Qi Luna issued a warning, causing Kakashi to instantly fall from "heaven" into "hell." He had even unconsciously mastered the true essence of the Chuanzi core mechanism!

"I really don't understand why Father trusts your 'slander' so much. He even said that refining chakra too early stunts your growth and that the Third Tsuchikage Onoki is the best example. You started refining chakra from a young age yourself, didn't you? Aren't you nearly 1.8 meters tall now?"

"Yabawomaisuozi geida!" (I knew you were a liar!)

Hearing that he still couldn't escape Qi Luna's clutches, the little face under Kakashi's mask twisted in anger, his tone filled with resentment.

"Don't say that. I'm a member of the Uzumaki Clan, so of course I can ignore some of the risks!"

"Besides, I'm your father's best student, the second-ranked genius in all of Konoha! A peerless genius who independently developed an entire set of Vortex Style ninjutsu and taijutsu! Isn't it only natural that Sakumo-sensei trusts me?"

"If Sakumo-sensei doesn't trust me, is he supposed to trust a little brat who was chirping about wanting to start refining chakra at three years old?"

Qi Luna leaned back against the bench with his legs crossed, his face full of pride in his own talent, his eyes revealing a hint of disdain for Kakashi's past overestimation of his own abilities.

Kakashi was unimpressed. He turned his head to the side, stopped looking at Qi Luna, closed his dead-fish eyes, and curled his lip, saying:

"Hmph! You're quite something, aren't you~"

"By the way, you always say your talent is second in Konoha, so who is first? Who could actually make you concede defeat?!"

Not only was Kakashi curious, but Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan were also intrigued, and all four of them cast their gazes toward Qi Luna, either openly or covertly.

Qi Luna rubbed his chin and looked up at the sky. Thinking of that genius who had learned a ninjutsu even he couldn't master, and had even developed new techniques based on it, Qi Luna couldn't help but shake his head in self-mockery, though he didn't answer them directly:

"Well~ don't worry about those details. I'm just a humble person by nature. If you really want to know who has more talent than me... then it's probably only that guy!"

"Who? That guy? Who is that guy?"

Seeing Qi Luna acting profound and only saying half of what he meant, Yahiko pressed him impatiently:

"As for that~ you'll know when Kakashi graduates and becomes a ninja."

Qi Luna smiled, not looking at them, and uttered a cryptic remark, playing the part of a riddle-maker that everyone detested.