Guidance

Dan Katō and Tsunade had specifically paid him a visit before, hoping that if their disciples encountered danger on the battlefield later, this powerful "Eternal Genin" would lend a hand and watch over them.

After learning of the talents of Dan Katō's three disciples, Maruboshi Kosuke patted his chest and agreed without hesitation. He believed that protecting the village's future was only right, something he had inherited from the Second Hokage.

When he was young, he had rashly issued orders that led to his comrades' deaths. He had then pleaded guilty before the Second Hokage and vowed to remain a genin for the rest of his life as atonement.

Yet in truth, his strength was enough to rank among the very best of all Konoha's jonin. Especially now, when he had not yet lost his leg, had only lost one eye, and was not yet so old that he had passed his prime, he still possessed formidable combat power.

In terms of Water Style, having received the Second Hokage's guidance, he was practically Konoha's strongest Water Style ninja at present. He was the only Water Style ninja who, like the Second Hokage, could use Water Wall Jutsu with just two hand seals and Water Dragon Jutsu with four.

Even the Third Hokage, the Second Hokage's disciple and the man known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, could not accomplish that.

With his powerful Water Style and swordsmanship, his strength unquestionably ranked near the very top among all of Konoha's jonin. He could be considered one of the finest figures beneath Kage level.

Otherwise, the Second Hokage would not have thought so highly of him back then, much less taught him Water Style.

He was also one of the Reserve Force's hidden trump cards. If the Reserve Force ever needed to take the field, his strength would absolutely make him the one to anchor the unit.

"Heh heh, this old man knew it. You little brats really are kindred spirits."

Maruboshi Kosuke lifted the tent flap and strode in as though he were perfectly at home, smiling as he looked at the small pot in the middle that was boiling canned vegetable soup.

"Come, come, replace it with this old man's bigger pot. Make more at once, and spare some for this old man while you're at it."

Maruboshi Kosuke plopped down beside Meikyō and cheerfully examined the three genin in the tent.

"Huh? Grandpa, you are...?"

Inuzuka Ryo stared at the old man before him in surprise.

After all, both he and Aburame Nami were rather outstanding Sensor Ninja, yet when this old man entered the tent, they had not noticed him in the slightest.

At the very least, he was a jonin-level expert.

Inuzuka Ryo and Aburame Nami reached that conclusion at once.

"This old man is Maruboshi Kosuke, merely an ordinary genin of the village. I happened to catch the scent of you cooking and wanted to come share some. You wouldn't refuse, would you?"

Maruboshi Kosuke said as he stroked his beard.

"Huh? A genin? How is that possible? When you came in, neither Maru nor I noticed you at all!"

Inuzuka Ryo asked with an incredulous expression.

"Nothing much, nothing much. Eat first, eat first."

Maruboshi Kosuke waved a hand unconcernedly, while secretly observing the three genin.

He rather liked the personality Inuzuka Ryo displayed. Of the other two, Aburame Nami had a cold, blank look about her, which fit his impression of the Aburame Clan perfectly.

As for Meikyō...

The moment this Uchiha brat noticed someone entering, he had grabbed the wakizashi on his back. His sense of danger was strong, and he had been studying this old man all along. Had he sensed the threat posed by a powerful ninja and been trying to judge this old man's strength? Not a bad little brat.

Maruboshi Kosuke paid a little more attention to Meikyō.

He had received the Second Hokage's guidance, but unlike several of the Second Hokage's disciples, who had been influenced by him over the years and regarded the Uchiha Clan as a threat, he still recognized the Uchiha Clan as companions of the village.

"Senior Kosuke? The elders of my family have mentioned you to me before."

Short in stature, with an iron pot, a long-handled ladle, and a sword on his back, and blind in one eye.

Aside from his hair not being completely white yet and his left foot not having been replaced with a prosthetic, he was exactly like the Maruboshi Kosuke in Meikyō's memories.

"Oh? Elders? May I ask who...?"

"Grandpa Yu once told me that Senior Kosuke was the village's most legendary genin. Despite possessing strength beyond most jonin, you were still willing to remain a genin and have continued contributing to the village."

Hearing Meikyō's praise, Maruboshi Kosuke immediately beamed.

"Grandpa Yu? You mean Senior Uchiha Yu? This old man does remember that senior's heroic bearing during the First Shinobi World War."

Uchiha Yu had indeed commented to Meikyō about the village's experts, and had also mentioned the legendary genin Maruboshi Kosuke in passing.

"Alright, alright, enough flattery for now. Come taste this old man's cooking first."

After saying that, Maruboshi Kosuke took the large iron pot from his back and replaced Meikyō's small iron pot with it.

"Come! Brat, aren't you an Uchiha? Hurry up and light a fire."

Meikyō obediently used his own unique ninjutsu to start a fire.

Only then did Maruboshi Kosuke notice in surprise that Meikyō's fire produced no smoke.

The smile on the old man's face immediately deepened, and he scooted closer to Meikyō.

"Ahem, this old man has already introduced himself. Shouldn't it be your turn now?"

As he spoke, Maruboshi Kosuke kept stirring the pot with his long-handled ladle.

Meikyō, Inuzuka Ryo, and Aburame Nami did not understand why, but they still introduced themselves.

"All young talents from famous clans, huh? But how come this old man has never heard of such a Fire Style technique from the Uchiha Clan—one that starts a fire without producing smoke?"

Meikyō instantly understood what Maruboshi Kosuke meant.

This old man was a foodie too. The iron pot on his back made that obvious.

Judging by the look of it, he probably wanted to learn this smokeless Fire Style as well, so he could cook himself something extra while out on missions.

"Senior Kosuke, this is a secret Fire Style technique that I painstakingly created while training in Fire Style—after countless hardships, twists and turns, and much deep thought. The process of developing this ninjutsu was truly difficult, but if an elder like you wishes to learn it, I will certainly teach you everything I know."

Meikyō replied with a bashful smile.

My meaning should be obvious enough, right?

You're a senior asking a junior from the village's new generation for a little ninjutsu. Shouldn't you offer something good in return?

"You really don't seem like an Uchiha at all, kid. Not straightforward in the slightest. Still, this old man won't shortchange you."

Maruboshi Kosuke curled his lip and pointed at the Wakizashi on Meikyō's back.

"Judging by your appearance, you've studied swordsmanship before, haven't you? This old man's Konoha Style Swordsmanship was passed down from the Second Hokage. I should be able to offer you a little guidance."