Satomi's envy

Kazemori Masaki murmured an acknowledgment and sat down at the dining table. Looking up at Satomi bustling about in the kitchen, he felt a gentle warmth fill his heart.

Perhaps because Kazemori Masaki had finally committed to marrying her, Satomi had been visiting more and more often lately, practically treating herself as a member of the Kazemori Family already. Hashirama was pleased to see it, too. Although he had arranged marriages for the women of his clan to unite the Ninja Clan, he also hoped they would marry outstanding young men. He had personally looked over every prospective husband before settling the engagements.

However, Hashirama had yet to decide when to hold the weddings, and the matter was still troubling him. Kazemori Masaki was in no hurry, and neither was Satomi. They had already waited so many years; what did it matter if choosing a date took a little longer?

Kazemori Masaki watched Satomi. They had grown up together and shared a deep bond, and he had long since decided to spend his life with her. He hoped to make her happy, but the approaching First Shinobi World War weighed heavily on him.

As the first all-out war between the Five Great Nations, the First Shinobi World War had been unprecedented in its brutality. Apart from the Fourth Shinobi World War involving the Allied Shinobi Forces, neither of the two intervening wars had been as fierce. Four of the Five Great Nations' Kage had died in the First Shinobi World War. In later years, only the Third Raikage had died in the Third Shinobi World War. The other Kage either survived or were killed by their own people; none of them had fallen in a Shinobi World War.

Kazemori Masaki did not know when his counterpart in that manga had died. It might have been during the First Shinobi World War, or perhaps later. Regardless, his first priority now was surviving the First Shinobi World War. If he could not make it through that, there was no point considering anything else.

When Satomi turned around, she saw Kazemori Masaki lost in thought at the table. She brought over the food, sat down as well, and asked with a smile, "What are you thinking about? What Lord Hashirama and Lord Tobirama taught you at the Academy today?"

Kazemori Masaki came back to his senses and followed her lead. "Yes. Lord Tobirama told us a few things about becoming outstanding ninja today."

"That sounds wonderful," Satomi said, a little envious. "I wish I could attend the Academy, too."

Kazemori Masaki understood how Satomi felt. At this point, Konoha Shinobi Village did not yet have the comprehensive education system it would develop in later years. Since female ninja generally had weaker physiques than male ninja, the clans preferred to devote their resources to the men rather than train the women.

In most Ninja Clans, female ninja generally lacked substantial combat ability. Their role was more often to gather intelligence using their natural beauty and cultivated charm. Only some of the larger clans could afford to train female ninja with considerable strength, such as the Senju Clan's Genjutsu expert, Senju Toka.

Satomi was strong-willed and naturally had no desire to become that sort of Intelligence Ninja. She admired women like Senju Toka. In an era dominated by men, especially within Ninja Clans, Senju Toka had climbed step by step into the Senju Clan's upper ranks through her own formidable strength. How could she not be held up as a model for female ninja?

After Konoha Shinobi Village was established, Hashirama naturally would not let the female ninja of his own clan do that sort of work, either. In peacetime, the clan's women did not even need to become ninja. After all, Konoha Shinobi Village was now so peaceful, and they no longer had to fight members of other clans to the death. With less demand for ninja, the clan no longer needed everyone to try to become one.

Yet, inspired by Senju Toka, some ambitious girls did not want to simply stay home tending to husbands and children. They wanted to prove that they, too, could become powerful ninja, and Satomi was one of them. To that end, she had personally asked Senju Toka to teach her. Senju Toka was fond of Satomi and, of course, had not refused.

Satomi was among the small number of female ninja in the Senju Clan who excelled in combat. She could even hold her own against some of the clan's male ninja of ordinary strength, a testament to how much hard work she had put in.

But regardless, she was still a girl. In the ninja clans of the time, unless she possessed strength like Senju Toka's, the clan would not place much importance on her, much less consider her as an heir. Naturally, she was not eligible to attend Konoha Academy.

"If you want, I can teach you what I learn at the Academy," Kazemori Masaki said. He pressed his palms together and bowed his head slightly toward the table in thanks, then picked up his bowl and chopsticks.

Satomi had also pressed her palms together and had just taken a bite of rice when she heard Kazemori Masaki's offer. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

"Really." Kazemori Masaki nodded.

At his confirmation, Satomi's eyes filled with delighted surprise. She knew the Academy was responsible for selecting disciples for Hashirama and Tobirama, so the knowledge taught there was naturally exceptional. Within a Ninja Clan, such knowledge would be considered a secret never shared with outsiders. Kazemori Masaki's willingness to teach her truly astonished her.

Kazemori Masaki himself saw nothing wrong with it. Having gained knowledge of another world, he felt that monopolizing knowledge was incredibly foolish. If every ninja clan were willing to make its secret techniques public so that all future civilian ninja could learn them, it would surely strengthen the ninja village enormously. It would also encourage innovation and the development of ninjutsu. However he looked at it, the benefits outweighed the drawbacks.

Besides, Konoha Academy would eventually become the Ninja Academy, even if what it taught might not measure up to the current academy's lessons. He was merely putting the Ninja Academy's role into practice ahead of time. In that future, many girls would receive ninja training, and plenty of them would become powerful as well.

"If you want to know, I can tell you about it in a little while," Kazemori Masaki said. "But today was only theory. We'll have to wait for the practical lessons."

"So soon?" Satomi asked in surprise. "You've already spent quite a while studying. Don't you want to rest first?"

"It's fine. I still have plenty of energy." Kazemori Masaki smiled. In truth, he had far more than just plenty of energy; he was brimming with it. Ever since learning to control natural energy, he had been much more energetic than before. Although it did not reach the level of Sage Mode, where he grew more energized the longer he fought, it was still vastly better than his former condition.

Satomi studied Kazemori Masaki's face. Indeed, since recovering from that "illness," his complexion had looked much healthier than before. Even now, there was not a trace of fatigue on his face. Rather, his eyes shone so brightly that he looked as though he could run dozens of laps around Konoha Ninja Village without trouble.

"If you're sure you're up to it, then sorry for the trouble." Satomi bowed her head to Kazemori Masaki.

"There's no need for that. We'll be family soon. Your concerns are mine, too. Whatever you need, of course I'll help you," Kazemori Masaki said with a smile.

Satomi smiled and lowered her head to hide her shyness.

After dinner, Kazemori Masaki helped Satomi clear away the bowls and chopsticks, then drew her over to the table and began recounting everything Tobirama had said. Along the way, he added some interpretations of his own, drawn from his knowledge of the other world. He still hoped to spread new ideas, and influencing others began with those closest to him.

To Satomi, these interpretations were all wonderfully new. What surprised her was that Kazemori Masaki himself had come up with some excellent explanations.

"Masaki, when did you become such a thinker?" Satomi asked. The Kazemori Masaki she remembered had never been this clever.

Kazemori Masaki did not know how to explain it, so he could only use Konoha Academy as an excuse. He said he wanted to become a disciple of Lord Hashirama and Lord Tobirama. To stand out among the geniuses of the other clans, he needed to plan carefully, so he had thought long and hard until he came up with these ideas.

"Oh..." Satomi nodded gently. "Zhenghui, you seem much more dependable now than usual."

"What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying I wasn't dependable before?" Kazemori Masaki asked with a laugh.

"Of course! You always used to rush in with a hot head, and whenever you needed to calm down, you never could." Satomi spared him no mercy, puffing out her cheeks. "It drove me mad back then. But you really have changed now, Masaki. You're not so impulsive anymore, and you've started thinking things through. Honestly, I'm really glad. You'll definitely revive your family, Masaki. I believe in you."

"Let's hope you're right," Kazemori Masaki said.

The two continued reviewing Tobirama's lessons at home and made some conjectures of their own. To test them, Kazemori Masaki and Satomi even sparred a little, and both came away having learned something.

The next day, Kazemori Masaki returned to Konoha Academy, ready for the day's training. A little later, Kagami Uchiha arrived as well and greeted him with a smile. "Good morning, Masaki."

"Good morning," Kazemori Masaki replied.

"Zhenghui, we'll be training today. If you don't mind, why don't we practice together?" Kagami Uchiha asked.

Kazemori Masaki glanced at Kagami Uchiha. He was genuinely curious why the heir of such a major clan had specifically sought him out to talk. Surely the others were more suitable choices?

Still, since Kagami Uchiha had offered, Kazemori Masaki agreed. He wanted to befriend Kagami Uchiha as well, so there was no reason to turn down the olive branch he had extended.

Kagami Uchiha smiled and began discussing the previous day's lessons with Kazemori Masaki. He had some interpretations of his own that he was eager to share.

As their conversation continued, Kagami Uchiha's opinion of Kazemori Masaki rose. His insights earned Kagami Uchiha's admiration. Originally, Kagami Uchiha had wanted to help Kazemori Masaki and had never expected him to offer anything in return. Now, however, it seemed that training together might benefit him as well.

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(End of chapter)