Ibuki-sensei's face was full of pride. As a teacher at the Ninja Academy, he knew all too well what he should do to help his students.
Once he learned his students' dreams, there were some he could give a helping hand toward!
After all...
Not everyone wanted to become Hokage like Minato Namikaze!
Many students had very practical dreams.
For example...
Some students dreamed of graduating successfully, receiving a ninja Forehead Protector, and becoming a ninja!
Some students dreamed of becoming a teacher like Ibuki-sensei!
Once Ibuki-sensei understood these things, he could make some preparations in advance. Just a few days ago, he had happened to come across a notice from the Medical Team and remembered that Araki's dream was to become a medical-nin.
That immediately gave him a sense of purpose!
He had signed Araki up!
"S-so... that's how it is..."
Respect immediately filled Araki's heart. He had thought Ibuki-sensei liked to meddle, but now, he seemed rather like Iruka-sensei.
This was a teacher who wanted to help his students fulfill their dreams!
It was just that...
Araki had only mentioned becoming a medical-nin in passing. He had never expected Ibuki-sensei to actually sign him up.
That was quite unexpected.
"I... Ibuki... sensei... c-can... I do it?"
Araki raised both hands and gestured at his throat, trying to convey his difficulty communicating, hoping he could put this matter off.
"No problem!"
Ibuki-sensei walked down from the podium and patted Araki's shoulder with his right hand. He did not use much force, but the gesture held a comforting strength. Through his actions, he was soothing Araki's psychologically wounded heart.
"I didn't just sign you up blindly!"
"After signing you up, I went to the Medical Team to ask about the details!"
"Actually, in a sense, you're quite suited to the Medical Team, because the ninja there are all the quiet type. Everyone is busy working."
"That will also help cover some of your weaknesses!"
Ibuki-sensei spoke one sentence after another, his voice gentle. It was very clear that he was comforting Araki and hoped to give him strength in his own way.
Araki said nothing.
It was not that he did not want to speak, but that he could not.
At this point, he had not yet shown others the verbal ability to express his feelings perfectly.
Still...
He was quite touched!
He had never had much of a presence in class!
Neither his classmates nor Ibuki-sensei had paid him any special attention.
But recently, he had suddenly realized that Ibuki-sensei was not as simple as he had imagined. Even when choosing people for the mock battles, he had tried to take everyone's feelings into account.
Being a teacher was not easy either!
Now he also understood that Ibuki-sensei was helping everyone in class pursue their dreams.
He truly was a great teacher!
"Araki, don't worry. To be honest, I actually think the Medical Team suits you quite well. When you told me your dream, I thought it was very realistic!"
Seeing that Araki did not speak, Ibuki-sensei continued to comfort him. He knew that children who had suffered severe emotional trauma often needed even more encouragement.
He had thought about helping Araki before, but he lacked sufficient experience and did not know where to start. He could only do his best to protect Araki's self-esteem from harm, refraining from scolding him even when he slept in class.
"I know you may have reservations, but that's because you haven't been to the Medical Team yet. Everything is still just in your imagination!"
"Once you actually go to the Medical Team, you'll find that it's a new environment. It's bound to be different from what you imagined. It may not be as good as you imagine, but it won't be much worse either!"
"The most important thing is to try!"
"You have to try as many things as you can in life!"
"Only then will you have no regrets!"
"Since your dream is to become a medical-nin, you need to work toward that dream!"
"That's the advice I can give you!"
As he spoke, Ibuki-sensei smiled again. His gaze was incredibly gentle, as though he could see limitless hope and possibilities in the future.
"Maybe being a medical-nin really will suit you. You can gain recognition, contribute your strength, realize your own worth, and perhaps even cure your condition!"
At those words from Ibuki-sensei, Araki's eyes immediately widened, his pupils contracting slightly.
Indeed!
That was a very good reason!
Araki deliberately showed his surprise as a response to Ibuki-sensei, conveying his strong interest in becoming a medical-nin.
If he really could become a medical-nin, he would have a sufficiently convincing reason to speak smoothly and communicate like a normal person in the future.
Chapter 33: Araki, You're a Good Kid!
He absolutely had to be able to speak!
That was far too important!
Araki was not originally from the ninja world. He was a transmigrator and knew a great deal about this world.
That was equivalent to knowing a great deal of intelligence!
Classified intelligence, at that!
For now, Araki did not know how to make use of these things. At present, he was merely a student at the Ninja Academy and had no access to higher levels.
But he believed the day would come when it would prove useful.
When that day arrived, he would have to be able to speak very clearly. Otherwise, if he still pretended to be unable to communicate normally, it would be like having a mountain of treasure he could not use.
Araki could now communicate fluently in front of Kushina, but not in front of others. A sudden change like that without any explanation would inevitably attract many people's attention, most notably the Third and his wife. It was precisely because he could not speak and communicate normally that they had arranged for Kushina to stay here.
If he became a medical-nin...
He would have an entirely legitimate reason to explain regaining his ability to speak!
Araki thought it was quite good. This had not occurred to him when he spoke of his dream, and he had certainly never expected Ibuki-sensei to make these arrangements for him.
"I... Ibuki... sensei... th-thank you!"
Araki sincerely thanked Ibuki-sensei. In the past, he had thought Ibuki-sensei did not pay much attention to him. He had not been dissatisfied with that; on the contrary, he had found it quite freeing. Only now did he realize that Ibuki-sensei had always cared about every student in class.
"You're welcome. You don't need to attend this afternoon's classes. I'll excuse you and personally take you to the Medical Team for an interview. Lunch is on me."
A warm, kindly smile appeared on Ibuki-sensei's face again, with none of his usual sternness remaining.
This made Araki realize...
Perhaps only after they graduated, when they saw Ibuki-sensei again, would they get to see this side of him often.
"O... okay..."
Araki nodded. He did not refuse, nor could he.
Not only did he feel that this was indeed a good opportunity for him, but although Ibuki-sensei's tone was very soothing, he was not asking.
Araki still did not know whether he could learn Medical Ninjutsu.
But...
If he could learn it...
He would have a very reasonable identity in the future!
"Come with me."
Ibuki-sensei patted Araki's shoulder, then headed out through the classroom door.
Araki said nothing more and simply followed behind Ibuki-sensei.
The two left the Ninja Academy one after the other and went to a sushi restaurant, where Ibuki-sensei ordered two identical set meals.
"The sushi here tastes pretty good. Try it and see if it's to your liking."
Ibuki-sensei rubbed his hands together as he spoke with a broad smile. From the look of him, he was almost unable to keep himself from drooling.
"Mm... mm..."
Araki quietly studied Ibuki-sensei. Through their brief time together, he had discovered another side of him. Not only did he have a deeply hidden goofy streak, but he was also a foodie.
Before long.
The two servings of sushi were brought out.
Araki had not eaten sushi like this since coming to the ninja world. After all, he only had his monthly survivor's allowance. He could afford nothing more than ordinary food and had little money to spare.
"Let's eat!"
Ibuki-sensei immediately bowed to the sushi, then impatiently grabbed a piece with his hand and forcefully stuffed it into his mouth, paying no attention to his image.
"I... I... I'll... eat too..."
Araki likewise bowed to his food. This was the etiquette here, and there was no need to study it in detail. He saw this scene repeated every day.
Then.
He picked up a fish roll and put it straight into his mouth.
"Is it good?"
Ibuki-sensei immediately fixed his gaze on Araki, his eyes shining with anticipation. From his manner, he seemed to be asking Araki's opinion, but in reality, he wanted to hear a particular answer.
"It... it's good..."