She Might Be a Woman Who Could Become My Mother!

Not long after Reto left, Mito walked over to Uzumaki Gamu and asked, "Second Brother, why did you become sworn brothers with him?"

"Well, so Gaara would have to call me his ancestor... Just kidding~" Uzumaki Gamu waved a hand. "Well, he's very talented. I think he could accomplish the great feat of unifying the shinobi of the Land of Wind and establish a hidden village here!"

"A hidden village... Hashirama, Second Brother, and Madara Uchiha... That's what you're planning to do now, isn't it?" Mito asked curiously.

"That's those two's job. I'm only involved in name... Speaking of which, our Uzumaki Clan will probably establish a village of its own, right?" Uzumaki Gamu asked. The Uzumaki Clan was already in the southeastern corner of the Land of Fire. Just beyond it lay an unclaimed patch of land-the peninsula that would become the Land of Whirlpools, with terrain strikingly similar to the Shandong Peninsula. In other words, they only had to move a little farther out to found their own country!

Their steady approach to development over the past few years had caused the Uzumaki Clan's population to soar. Although the Clan Homeland had barely expanded, there were far more children now. They were still young and lived with their parents, but in a few years, they would grow up and leave to start families of their own. Expanding the Clan Homeland would become inevitable... Perhaps that was what would prompt the Uzumaki Clan to establish Uzushiogakure?

Of course, establishing a hidden village wasn't something that could be done in a few days. Choosing a site, building houses, setting up defenses, then relocating the entire clan... The whole process would take at least a year. Even renovations took a month or so these days, let alone building houses.

Things would be even more troublesome for Konoha. Hashirama and Madara first had to find a way to convince their respective clans to cooperate in founding a village. That alone would take some time!

Then came choosing a site and building houses. The site had already been chosen, but there was one problem: apparently, a tailed beast made its home nearby... Whose home could it be? (The Nine-Tails, watching Hashirama and Madara arrive to build houses: ...You bastards!! Both of you came to bully me together?)

Building houses wasn't particularly difficult, either... At least, not for Hashirama. (Hashirama: Wood Release: Three-Bedroom, Two-Living-Room Village-Building Technique!)

Then they had to attract other ninja clans to join Konoha, along with the most troublesome task of all... dividing up the benefits!

Once all that was done, it would be time to attract civilians to settle there. Although it was a hidden village, it was still a village, so ordinary villagers would inevitably be an important part of it!

Only when all of that was settled could the village be considered officially established. It looked as though it would take several years!

Well, Hashirama and the others can handle all the time and effort. I'll just snag a house at the end! Uzumaki Gamu wasn't even interested in a position. Getting a house to live in at the end would be enough!

Of course, that was all in the future. For now, he should focus on what was in front of him!

In response to Uzumaki Gamu's question, Mito said, "Mm... Father does want to leave the Land of Fire and establish our own country, but... for now, it's only an idea."

"...I see." Uzumaki Gamu said nothing more.

Just then, the mayor came over and expressed his gratitude to Uzumaki Gamu. He also offered to entertain him.

"No need to thank me. We'll be leaving tomorrow morning, so there's no need to entertain us, either. Well, Reto deserves most of the credit. If you want to thank someone, thank them!" Uzumaki Gamu was feeling tired, too, and was ready to head back and rest.

But just then, the girl Uzumaki Gamu had saved earlier walked up to him.

Is she here to thank me? Hmm, I should give her a little encouragement~ The little girl had shown more courage than an adult earlier, and Uzumaki Gamu thought he should encourage her. Of course, he also had to make sure she understood that charging out like that was wrong.

Yet while Uzumaki Gamu was considering how to phrase it, something he had never anticipated happened... The little girl dropped to her knees, wrapped her arms around his leg, and said, "Please, Master Ninja, will you take me as your disciple?"

"...Huh?" That was something Uzumaki Gamu had never considered. After all, he had never had the slightest intention of taking a disciple. I'm only fifteen! I'm not even fully grown myself. Why the hell would I take a disciple?!

So Uzumaki Gamu bent down and said to the little girl, "Um... little sister, I haven't finished my own training yet. I'm not qualified to take a disciple!"

"Please! As long as you take me as your disciple, I'll do anything." As she spoke, the little girl clung tightly to Uzumaki Gamu's leg, showing no intention of letting go.

Uzumaki Gamu scratched his head. He couldn't exactly wrench her off by force, could he?

So Uzumaki Gamu looked at the mayor and asked, "Who is this child?"

"Master Ninja, she's my daughter, Lala!" the mayor hurriedly introduced her.

"Lala? That name..." Uzumaki Gamu scratched his head in even greater confusion. The name seemed ordinary enough, but it carried quite a few associations. Just in anime terms... To Love-Ru? Or... Lala is a woman who could become my mother!

He had a feeling that if he got involved with her, she would turn into a female ghost and haunt him someday.

Beside him, Mito covered her mouth and laughed. It had been ages since she'd seen her second brother at a loss, and it put her in a wonderful mood!

Uzumaki Gamu turned to glance at Mito and thought speechlessly, Why is this girl laughing over there instead of helping me? Hmm... My little sister's entered her rebellious phase. She's not cute anymore~ She was already eighteen. In this era, she would normally be old enough to be a mother. What rebellious phase?

Since his little sister was unreliable, Uzumaki Gamu turned to the mayor. To his surprise, the mayor immediately knelt as well and said, "Please, Master Ninja, take my daughter as your disciple!"

"...Hmm, let me think this over... No, answer one question first. Why do you want to become my disciple?" Uzumaki Gamu asked, growing serious.

"I want the strength to protect everyone!" Lala answered earnestly.

"...Then go find a teacher. Wouldn't Reto be a good choice? Let me make this clear first: I'm not a shinobi from the Land of Wind. Tomorrow, I'll leave the Land of Wind for somewhere else. Having me as your teacher isn't realistic," Uzumaki Gamu reasoned.

Lala said firmly, "I can leave here with you, Master!"

Uzumaki Gamu exclaimed in surprise, "Sweetie, we've only known each other for a few hours, and you already want to leave with me? You don't even know my name, do you?"

The mayor added, "Please, sir, take my daughter with you!"

Uzumaki Gamu was even more shocked. "Seriously, man? We've only exchanged a few words, and you're already comfortable letting your daughter leave with me? What if I'm a human trafficker?" Was that how a human mind was supposed to work?

The mayor said firmly, "I do have that concern, but I trust Lord Reto's judgment! If he was willing to become your sworn brother, that means you must be trustworthy!"

Damn, becoming sworn brothers actually backfired? Uzumaki Gamu felt as though he had been hit by a boomerang he'd thrown himself!

Of course, the mayor was taking a gamble by saying that, but there wasn't much else he could do. The town had been harassed constantly lately, and it was struggling to endure it. Even with outside protection, their allies couldn't always arrive immediately. They might still fail to make it in time. If they truly wanted their town to be safe, they needed strength of their own.

Quite a few young people had left town to learn useful skills. Now his daughter had a chance to study under someone extraordinarily powerful. That truly was a blessing from heaven!

At that moment, Mito chimed in, "Second Brother... Why don't you take her as your disciple?"

"...Why are you saying that, too?" Uzumaki Gamu was dumbfounded. It was one thing for the others to say it, but what was his own sister doing joining in?

"...She's pretty cute. I like her~" Mito said casually. Of course, that wasn't the real reason. Mainly... Mito had always worried that her second brother might disappear forever one day. Uzumaki Gamu rarely formed deep connections with others, and after obtaining the Six Eyes, his sense of isolation had become even stronger. Not wanting him to end up all alone, Mito intended to take the initiative and help him form more bonds. Taking a disciple was an excellent way to do that!

After hearing Mito's words, Uzumaki Gamu really wanted to retort, If you like her, why don't you take her yourself?!

But... since it was his little sister's request, Uzumaki Gamu could only scratch his head and agree. He really did dote on his sister!

Uzumaki Gamu told Lala, "Uh... fine. Since even my little sister says so, I'll take you as my disciple. But let me make this clear first: being my disciple means coming back to the Land of Fire with me. Until you finish your training, you might not be able to return here... Can you accept that? Of course, if you want to quit along the way, I'll bring you back!"

"I accept, and I'll definitely finish my training!" Lala said firmly.

"...All right!" The little girl's gaze was so resolute that Uzumaki Gamu didn't know what else to say. So, just like that, he had a disciple now?

Yes, just like that, he had a disciple!

It was already quite late that day, so they did nothing else and returned to their respective lodgings to sleep!

The next day, the town began its work as usual.

Uzumaki Gamu also began teaching. Since he now had a disciple, there was no need to rush off. After all... she knew absolutely nothing. Taking her along like this would only make more trouble for him. He should teach her some basics before setting out... At the very least, she needed something she could practice on the road.

At the edge of town, Uzumaki Gamu sat cross-legged on the ground and told Lala, "Today is your first lesson. We'll start with the cultivation verses!"

"...Cultivation verses?" Mito was bewildered. What were cultivation verses? Did shinobi need to memorize things like that?

Lala, a complete novice, nodded without understanding, then listened with her full attention, afraid of mishearing even a single word.

Uzumaki Gamu began reciting, swaying his head. "The way of Heaven takes from what has excess and supplies what is lacking. The way of man is otherwise: it takes from those who lack to serve those who have excess. Who can offer their surplus to all under Heaven? Only those who possess the Way. Thus the sage acts without presuming upon it, achieves without dwelling upon his achievements. Does he not refrain from displaying his worth?"

Lala swayed her head along with him as she recited!

"Stop, stop, stop!" Mito hurriedly interrupted. "Wait, Second Brother, what on earth are you saying?!"

"...The Tao Te Ching!" Uzumaki Gamu answered calmly.

Mito asked in surprise, "...I've never heard of it! Did you just make it up?"

"Come on~ The Tao Te Ching was written by Laozi. It's a philosophical classic discussing self-cultivation, governing a country, warfare, and nurturing life, with politics as its primary concern. It's the study of what is called 'sageliness within and kingliness without.' Its meaning is profound and its scope vast. It's hailed as the king of all classics." Uzumaki Gamu began expounding on the greatness of the Tao Te Ching!

"I've still never heard of it. Where did you learn it?" Mito asked. "And what does it have to do with shinobi training?"

"Well... I learned it at the Legacy Grounds. And... although it doesn't have much to do with shinobi training, moral education and things like that are still very important." Uzumaki Gamu dodged the issue. Throughout Konoha's history, disciples killing their teachers happened frequently. Particular offenders included Orochimaru, Nagato, Obito, and Sasuke. Such things absolutely had to be the result of inadequate moral education!

So, to avoid his disciple baring her fangs at him someday, Uzumaki Gamu felt he should begin her moral education while she was still young, preventing any nonsense about killing one's master to prove oneself!

Mito stared at Uzumaki Gamu. "Then... why are you looking everywhere but at me, Second Brother?" From his behavior, she could tell he wasn't telling the truth.

Uzumaki Gamu hesitated, then said, "I've never taught a disciple before! I don't know what I'm supposed to say at the start!!" Getting started was always the hardest part. This was his first time teaching a disciple, and he had absolutely no idea what to say.

"...Second Brother, I never thought this would be what tripped you up." Mito didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She really hadn't expected Uzumaki Gamu to struggle with something like this!

Just then, Uzumaki Gamu patted Mito on the shoulder and said, "Um... You've taught some of the clan's children the basics of chakra, haven't you? I'll leave the basic chakra lessons to you."

"...You're just dumping the responsibility on me?" Mito said speechlessly.

"...You're the one who asked me to take this disciple! You have to take some responsibility, too!" Uzumaki Gamu said, equally speechless. "At least give me an example so I can learn how to teach someone!"

"...Fine!" Mito was helpless, too. After all, she really had encouraged him, so she ought to shoulder some of the responsibility.

And so, Mito began instructing Lala in Uzumaki Gamu's place.

Uzumaki Gamu also began observing... Of course, he wasn't observing the lesson. He was assessing Lala's potential.

His inability to teach was just an excuse. What was so difficult about teaching the basics? Uzumaki Gamu simply couldn't be bothered and had dumped the most talk-intensive part of the instruction on Mito! (Uzumaki Gamu: In traditional cultivation stories, isn't the protagonist's basic instruction always handed off to someone like the eldest senior sister? So there's absolutely nothing wrong with what I'm doing!)

Uzumaki Gamu began examining Lala's potential. Staring at the little girl with black hair and pale skin before him, he thought, Honestly... Starting with the basics at nine is already a little late compared with other shinobi, but it's better than starting in her teens. How far she gets will depend entirely on her talent. From a rough look right now... her talent is surprisingly good. Her mental energy and vitality are both abundant. With normal instruction, she could become an excellent Jōnin, but going beyond that would probably be difficult~ Well, becoming an excellent Jōnin is already pretty good~

Even in Naruto's era, there weren't more than a hundred elite fighters whose strength surpassed Jōnin. Becoming an excellent Jōnin was already an impressive achievement by the standards of the entire world! That was plenty good enough. What more could he ask for?