Jonin instructor

The more Qianye Lan practiced the Flying Thunder God Technique, the more he admired the Second Hokage.

How had one person managed to develop so many difficult forbidden techniques in such a limited amount of time?

Even learning them all would probably take someone more than a lifetime.

Besides, Tobirama Senju had developed Ninjutsu himself.

Developing a Ninjutsu was far harder than learning one.

He truly deserved to be called a master of forbidden techniques.

Listening to their conversation nearby, Mito Uzumaki was even more astonished by Qianye Lan's talent.

He had mastered the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu in a week and successfully used Flying Thunder God in three months.

Although he had only managed to use it, that alone was enough to prove his terrifying talent.

Kushina changed the subject. "Lan, do you think we'll have the same instructor tomorrow?"

Ever since the Third Hokage took office, the Hokage had adopted a system where one Jonin led three newly graduated Genin.

Kushina was also worried about whether she would be on the same team as Qianye Lan.

She did not know anyone else very well.

Seeing Kushina's worried expression, Qianye Lan was not sure either, but he still reassured her. "Don't worry. We'll definitely be assigned to the same team."

Kushina knew he was comforting her, but she still said, "Oh," and fell silent.

Seeing how glum she looked, Qianye Lan deliberately leaned over and poked her cheek.

With his other hand, he played with her hair.

At first, Kushina was not in the mood to bother with him, but Qianye Lan kept pushing it.

Finally losing her patience, Kushina swung her little fist at Qianye Lan, who was asking for it.

Qianye Lan nimbly dodged. He had no desire to experience Kushina's punches.

The last time she punched him, he probably would have needed two days to recover if his Uzumaki Constitution had not helped him heal quickly.

Kushina's fists were small, but they really hurt.

He had not noticed how much his personality had changed since he met Kushina.

Mito Uzumaki watched the heartwarming scene with relief and nodded in satisfaction.

Early the next morning, Kushina woke Qianye Lan as usual.

He opened his eyes to see Kushina sitting beside his bed, smiling as she said, "Wake up."

Qianye Lan blearily opened his eyes and nodded.

Then, still half asleep, Qianye Lan began changing his clothes right in front of Kushina.

Kushina let out an "Ah!" and covered her eyes, but secretly left gaps between her fingers to watch Qianye Lan.

Thanks to years of training, Qianye Lan had a fairly good physique.

For a moment, Kushina actually stared in a daze.

Only after Qianye Lan finished dressing did Kushina come to her senses.

Her pretty face flushed red, and she gave a soft, reproachful sound before leaving the room.

Outside the room, Kushina raised her little hands to fan her burning face.

Recalling what she had just seen, she lowered her head and muttered, "Pervert."

Only after Kushina left with a flushed face did Qianye Lan realize what he had just done.

With a somewhat awkward smile, he finished dressing and came out as though nothing had happened.

The atmosphere between them was very quiet over breakfast.

Mito Uzumaki and Tsunade were long accustomed to this.

They were children, after all. A little squabble would blow over by tomorrow.

The two went to the classroom together like that and waited for their instructor, bored.

As their classmates were called away one by one, only Qianye Lan and Kushina remained in the classroom.

Only then did Kushina break the awkward atmosphere between them. "Lan, looks like we're going to be on the same team."

Qianye Lan teased her. "Finally willing to talk to me?"

Kushina rolled her eyes at him in annoyance and did not reply again.

Just as Qianye Lan was about to keep talking.

A white-haired man walked over and spoke gently to them. "Qianye Lan, Kushina, starting today, I'll be your instructor."

Qianye Lan spoke with pleasant surprise. "Uncle Sakumo, how come it's..."

After Hatake Sakumo agreed to teach Qianye Lan swordsmanship, he had indeed instructed him for a while, also giving him pointers in Taijutsu and the Body Flicker Technique.

However, because of Qianye Lan's outstanding talent, Hatake Sakumo had nothing left to teach him after a month.

Hatake Sakumo had told Qianye Lan more than once, "Your talent far surpasses mine."

Inside the classroom.

Kushina said delightedly, "That's great, Lan! We're in the same group."

Qianye Lan nodded happily as well, then asked in some confusion, "Uncle Sakumo, according to Konoha's rules, a team should have three members, right? How come..."

Hatake Sakumo explained gently, "That's right. You have another teammate whom you'll meet tomorrow. She's also your senior."

Qianye Lan nodded, and Hatake Sakumo continued, "Meet beneath Konoha's Hokage Rock at nine tomorrow morning."

Both nodded to show they understood.

"Then you're dismissed."

On the way home, Kushina asked, "Lan, what kind of person do you think our teammate will be?"

Qianye Lan lowered his head in thought for a moment. "She might be hard to get along with."

Kushina looked puzzled. "Why?"

Qianye Lan smiled and continued, "Because, think about it. Someone who graduated from the Ninja Academy should already have been assigned teammates, right?"

Kushina nodded her little head.

Qianye Lan continued, "Then why would this person be teaming up with us?"

He held up one finger. "First, something unexpected happened to her team, forcing her to join ours."

"Second, she's not particularly easy to get along with."

After hearing him out, Kushina said in realization, "I see. I understand, Lan."

Then she asked, "Does that mean we're hard to get along with too?"

Qianye Lan paused and asked in confusion, "Why do you say that?"

Kushina turned around, clasping her little hands behind her back, and faced him with a bright smile. "Think about it. Did you have any friends before I came?"

Qianye Lan looked at her and answered honestly, "No."

Kushina continued, "I've been here for months. Do I have any friends besides you?"

"No."

Kushina tilted her head as she looked at him. "Then do you think I'm hard to get along with?"

Qianye Lan answered without hesitation, "I think you're very easy to get along with."

"Then why do you think our teammate will be hard to get along with?"

Qianye Lan froze. He had been too quick to jump to conclusions.

Kushina laughed at Qianye Lan's stunned expression, the evening breeze brushing through her red hair.

The setting sun stretched their shadows until they intertwined.