Hojo Residence.
"They sure were soft."
Returning home Isamu couldn't help but trace his slightly warm lips, the sensation still lingering as he couldn't help but praise Sumire's lips.
Isamu as early as a year ago had seen through Sumire's feelings for him but him who needed stability and wanted to avoid deep love due to his lack of strength pretended to always ignore her hints. But now that he had gotten an opportunity to improve his strength, he could finally do what he wanted.
He was a young man in his teens, an age where hormones overflowed and being mature would only stop that overflow to some extent as he had done so till now but now no need to torture himself anymore.
Having eaten already there was no need for Isamu to cook today so quickly changing into his shinobi attire he activated the crossgate seal and disappeared from his room, no matter the day not intending to take even a single break from his training.
Nothing much happened at the Island in the calm belt as he trained like usual, perfecting his water release or sparring with the dangerous animals on the island, returning about eight hours later.
One thing worth mentioning was that the crossgate seal seems to have the function to keep him mentally refreshed as in the past month he had hardly slept. He actually liked to call this function "negative state remover" as ever night before teleporting through the crossgate he would feel sleepy but the moment he urged the seal and teleported, he would immediately feel refreshed.
Same was for when he teleported back as all that mentally tired feeling after the training would go away though no change in his physical state.
After taking a shower and changing into his jonin gear, he made himself some scrambled eggs and after that hurried out of the house, rushing towards konoha training ground 78, located within the forest behind the great stone faces.
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Konoha Training Ground 78.
This training ground had a rocky terrain without a hint of grass and huge boulders everywhere and even pits from practice of ninjutsu everywhere. In the middle of the training ground near a boulder stood three figures all six years old, two boys and one girl.
"I didn't expect Isamu Sensei to be our guide even after graduation." Said Tsunade as she kicked a nearby stone away, muttering with a hint of surprise in her tone.
"Hahaha, isn't it good this way? It'd be easier to get along and ask for leaves in the future." Said Jiraiya while laughing, already thinking of an excuse to take a leave and inspect the local bathhouse.
Tsunade's eyes lit up at his words also, she was forced to graduate earlier by her second Grandpa and Grandma Mito and had seriously affected her spare gambling time but with Isamu who they were familiar with it, she could surely get early leaves and a lot of holidays from time to time.
"We are genin now and our main objective should be to improve our strength; Isamu sensei has taught us everything he knew already; I'm worried my growth would be limited under him."
Orochimaru was the only one who was thinking about the future seriously, no disrespect towards Isamu but he wanted someone who could truly make them stronger.
Orochimaru at this point had not lost his parents so he was much more talkative then his self in a few years, communicating rather normally with other two.
"Humph! Don't get so cocky Orochimaru! If you look down so much on Isamu sensei, then why don't you fight and defeat him when he arrives." Said Jiraiya while crossing his arms around his chest, giving Orochimaru a look full of disdain, mocking him without care.
Jiraiya hated Orochimaru who always maintained that fake calm look on his face and took the attention of girls in the class, girls flocking around him like bees. Him dying of thirst while Orochimaru drowning in it.
Jiraiya's words caused a vein to pop up on Orochimaru's forehead, nearly breaking his calm persona and quibbling with him which he considered childish.
"Sigh…why I have to be assigned with them?" Questioned Tsunade in a frustrate tone, especially finding Jiraiya really annoying.
Swish!!
Just as Tsunade was cursing her fate, the sound of something cutting through air reached her ears and that instinct drilled into her body by Grandma Mito through private training coming in handy.