Two-Year-Old Blondie

Training Ground No. 45.

Clang! Clang!

Whoosh!

Teksen Shiso used his kunai to knock aside Kamano Hitoshi's sickle, then held the kunai at his throat.

"Hehe, you lost."

Kamano Hitoshi gave him a long look before lowering the ninja tool in his hand.

"What happened to you? How did you get so strong?"

That fight had been far too frustrating.

It was as if Teksen Shiso had predicted every move he might make.

And countered accordingly.

Every strike hit him right where it hurt most.

Teksen Shiso smiled. "Hehe, because our captain is amazing!

He makes us fight him continuously in real combat every day.

And he uses all sorts of different methods, so against pure Taijutsu like yours,

I've already gotten very used to it."

He was immensely proud of that. Captain Tonbo was truly incredible.

When he had fought the captain, he had already realized that this captain was incredibly strong.

But only when he used what the captain had taught him against Kamano Hitoshi did he truly feel the captain's strength.

He was probably one of the strongest people in all of Konoha.

Elsewhere.

Mibu Shinobu easily defeated his classmate using the most basic Genjutsu, the Tobitake Tonbo Version: Modified Hell Viewing Technique.

He thought the same way as Teksen Shiso. Once he returned to the village, he wanted his acquaintances to see the results of his training.

But the captain had taught them that ninja could not casually reveal intelligence.

So he kept Tobitake Tonbo's abilities tightly under wraps. When his classmates questioned him, he only said that the captain's teaching ability deserved a thumbs-up.

"I don't want to get hit by the captain's Modified Hell Viewing Technique."

The three of them had suffered enough from it. It had been miserable as hell.

The captain seemed to enjoy using that torturous method to motivate them.

Just thinking about it gave him a shiver.

Beside a deserted little river in Konoha.

Iruka was practicing Water Release.

A water dragon swayed from side to side in the river, twisting and wriggling as though it were dancing.

Its long body had only a dragon's horns and torso for a head, making it clear that this was the Water Dragon Bullet Technique. Its overall appearance was rather cartoonish.

"Damn it, why is shape transformation in ninjutsu so hard to learn?"

He practiced so diligently because he wanted to master the shape transformation techniques the captain had taught him as soon as possible.

According to the captain's explanation, if he wanted to speed up the casting and formation of the Water Dragon Bullet Technique,

he needed a deeper understanding of shape transformation.

Other than hand seals, this was something he absolutely had to master.

Rat—Horse—Tiger—

Smack!

He had failed again.

As he practiced earnestly, Hiruzen Sarutobi quietly watched from behind him.

Seeing that he could already use such a difficult ninjutsu, Hiruzen smiled.

Tobitake Tonbo's abilities earned even more points in his estimation.

Then, noticing Iruka's poor expression, he stepped out.

"What's wrong? Is the ninjutsu too difficult? Are you discouraged?"

Iruka was catching his breath. When he heard the Third's voice, he immediately turned around with a smile.

"Third Hokage-sama."

Only then did he answer, "Ah, not really. The captain also said that ninjutsu training isn't something that can be accomplished overnight.

It requires practice day after day. But even though I can form the hand seals and cast it,

the formation speed and power are still nowhere near the captain's."

As he spoke, he recalled the first time Tobitake Tonbo had shown them a water dragon.

That mighty giant dragon had stood thirty meters tall. Even its swaying whiskers were more powerful than the water dragon he could make now.

And its form was incomparably majestic.

Not only could it cause enormous destruction with a single strike, it could also carry them through the sky.

That was a true Water Dragon Bullet.

According to the captain, he could achieve that too.

As long as he learned the fundamentals the captain taught him well, it would be easy.

Now, seeing the Third Hokage and then looking at the water dragon he had created, he suddenly felt ashamed.

"Third Hokage-sama, is my talent really that bad?

Teksen Shiso can already add Wind Nature Transformation to ninja tools with what the captain taught us!"

Iruka asked.

He had actually doubted himself before. Compared with his teammate Teksen Shiso, he felt far behind.

Tobitake Tonbo had said their talents were about the same, which was why he had kept at it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi froze when he heard that. "Iruka, mastering shape transformation and Nature Transformation is something Jōnin are required to learn.

For someone at your current level, it's still too early.

That's why you have these doubts."

Iruka's eyes lit up.

"At your current level, you just need to practice more, and you'll gradually master shape transformation.

Every Jōnin learned from the ninjutsu of those who came before them.

Directly mastering shape transformation or Nature Transformation isn't something an ordinary person can do."

Iruka nodded. The captain thought far too highly of them, teaching Genin things that Jōnin needed to learn.

"Everyone has something they are good at.

You're a thoughtful child, and you have a calm temperament.

You're more suited to studying the fundamentals, then expressing them."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke slowly.

"I was the same way back then.

And I'm the Professor of Ninjutsu. I'll guide you."

"Really?"

"A Hokage's word is as good as gold."

Ichiraku Ramen in Konoha.

After bidding farewell to the Third Hokage, Tobitake Tonbo came to Ichiraku.

As for the children showing off, he knew nothing about that.

Right now, he only wanted to see Ayame, whom he had not seen in a long time.

Slurp!

"Ayame's ramen is still the best. The food outside doesn't even come close!"

Tobitake Tonbo praised Ayame.

It was still that familiar taste.

Ayame's face flushed slightly, and her eyes turned dreamy.

Honestly, that was so embarrassing.

Teuchi shot him a glance. "Brat, I learned my craft in the Land of Fire Capital before developing it further.

Don't think I don't know you're just sweet-talking her."

"I've been wronged, Father-in-law. You surpassed your master—how could anyone else compare?" Tobitake Tonbo said with a slurp.

Ayame said, "You must have had a hard time on this mission, working outside for so long."

Tobitake Tonbo said, "Not at all. Whenever I think about Ayame waiting for me back in the village, I don't feel tired in the slightest."

"Mhm, mhm. You didn't get hurt, did you?"

"Who am I? The finest sensory ninja of the Konoha Analysis Team.

How could I let anyone hurt me? Impossible. Absolutely impossible."

Tobitake Tonbo patted his chest to reassure her.

Her sense of security was completely filled.

When one was away from home, it was important for family to feel secure. That was why he always emphasized before Ayame that he was strong.

He was not afraid of others making wild guesses about his strength. Anyone could brag.

"I believe you."

Those words made Tobitake Tonbo blossom with joy.

As expected of his beloved.

Even the ramen in his mouth tasted better.

After flirting with Ayame for a while, Teuchi drove them out to stroll around hand in hand.

Teuchi was clearly a good father-in-law. He knew what he was doing.

The two walked hand in hand through Konoha's streets, leaning against each other.

They chatted and laughed together as Tobitake Tonbo told Ayame about many interesting things in the Land of Fire.

The Land of Fire's prosperity, its various technologies, movie theaters, and so on.

Konoha did not have movie theaters yet. It would probably take a few more years before they were gradually introduced.

Meanwhile, Ayame told Tobitake Tonbo about many amusing things that had happened at the ramen shop.

For instance, there was recently a blond-haired child around two years old in Konoha who was often called the reincarnation of the Demon Fox by the villagers.

The rumors spread from person to person, leaving everyone who saw a blond-haired child uneasy.