"...Hundreds of shuriken! I was almost turned into a sieve!"
The chunin, his head still bleeding, shouted furiously.
Iruka kept bowing and apologizing, finally escorting the injured ninja to the infirmary.
Before leaving, he shot Shinju a fierce glare, as if saying: Just you wait, kid!
Meeting Iruka-sensei's gaze, Shinju shrank his neck.
I'm done for.
I've caused trouble again!
Still… my performance today wasn't too bad, right?
Naruto leaned over with a grin.
"Shinju, have you noticed? Ever since you 'figured things out,' Iruka's been way busier."
Shinju thought for a moment, then realized it was true, and laughed along.
When Iruka-sensei returned, it was already half an hour later.
Naturally, the culprit Shinju was dragged into the office for a lecture.
"That guy's fine now. Luckily, he wasn't seriously hurt. The doctor patched him up. From now on, don't you ever throw things outside the academy wall again..."
Iruka scolded.
Shinju nodded. "But, sensei, you told me to demonstrate the Shadow Shuriken Jutsu..."
Iruka glared. "And did I also tell you to throw hundreds of shuriken at someone?"
Shinju realized his mistake and shut his mouth.
For the rest of the day's lessons, Shinju kept feeling like the teacher was glaring at him.
To avoid catching Iruka's bad mood, he spent the entire class lying on his desk pretending to sleep, never meeting the teacher's eyes.
Being a ninja is way too hard!
Before long, the day's classes ended.
This time, Iruka didn't say anything about what tomorrow's test would be. Instead, he faced the class with a serious expression.
"Tomorrow, we'll begin the ninja knowledge curriculum. In the final exam, aside from the three basic support techniques—Clone Jutsu, Transformation Jutsu, and Substitution Jutsu—the written test will account for a large portion of your grade.
"This is important. Whether or not you graduate from the academy and become a real ninja depends entirely on this exam. So go home and work hard."
Shinju and Naruto nodded and headed home.
...
Night.
As usual, Shinju and Naruto were practicing ninjutsu together.
At that moment, Shinju spotted the same shadow he'd seen the night before.
It crouched on top of the wall, hesitating for a long time.
"Who are you?"
This time, Shinju didn't attack right away, but called out to the shadow.
"Huh? Shinju, what are you talking about?"
Naruto looked puzzled, wondering if Shinju had trained himself stupid and was talking to thin air.
Shinju's expression turned serious. Thinking the figure might be one of the Third Hokage's people on a secret mission, he found an excuse.
"Never mind, I might've been seeing things. I'm stepping out for a bit."
Naruto scratched his head as he watched Shinju leave.
"What's with him these last couple days? So mysterious..."
Sure enough, once outside, Shinju ran into a masked ANBU.
There was a familiar feeling from the man.
Shinju realized—it was the same person he'd hit with his Wind Style: Shuriken the day before.
Instantly, Shinju felt a pang of guilt.
This ANBU wasn't here for revenge… right?
Putting on his most obedient face, he asked, "ANBU-san, what's the matter? Did the Third send you?"
"Yes."
Yamato, under the mask, was brimming with black lines of irritation. He really didn't want to admit it.
Getting beaten up by this kid yesterday was humiliating enough—he'd lost all reputation in the ANBU!
He continued, "Actually, my purpose for coming yesterday and today is the same. The Third wants me to teach you some special ninjutsu..."
Shinju's eyes lit up.
(´◊ω◊｀)
Could it be the Third had finally recognized his potential and was giving him special training?!
"What ninjutsu?
Shinju asked excitedly.
Under the mask, Yamato's expression softened with satisfaction.
That's more like it. This is how a kid his age should react.
Much better than yesterday, when they first met and the brat immediately hit him with a self-made Wind Style: Shuriken!
Yamato began his explanation.
"Wood Style—the secret technique created by the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama. It's a kekkei genkai that combines Earth and Water chakra, using the caster's chakra as the source of life to produce wood."
"I'm sure you've heard of the First's achievements—during the Warring States era, he ended wars, subdued tailed beasts, and conquered the world with Wood Style..."
"The Third wants me to learn Wood Style?" Shinju asked.
"That's right."
Yamato nodded.
"But you just said Wood Style is a kekkei genkai. Can I even learn it?"
Shinju asked doubtfully.
"If the Third sent me, that means you have the qualifications. Just focus on learning."
Yamato spoke like a proper teacher.
"Let me introduce myself—my name's Yamato. From now on, I'm your instructor."
"Today we'll start with lesson one—feeling the presence of Wood Style..."
Yamato closed his eyes and clasped his hands together.
"Follow me—channel Water chakra into your left hand and Earth chakra into your right hand..."
Shinju closed his eyes and followed along, still a bit confused.
"Next," Yamato continued, "we need to give 'Water' and 'Earth' a seed. Once this seed grows, it becomes the Wood Style we'll use..."
Shinju did exactly as instructed.
Before long, he felt something sprouting in his palms—a tiny sapling.
"Sensei, I think I can feel it..."
Shinju reported, sounding a little surprised.
Yamato: ??
A genius!
He sensed Wood Style so quickly!
When Yamato learned, it had taken him two or three full days before he could grow even a small flower.
"What exactly do you feel?"
"A little grass?" Shinju said uncertainly.
Yamato nodded in approval.
Not bad.
To sense Wood Style so quickly and even condense a blade of grass—impressive talent.
"Sensei, I think this grass is a bit too heavy… I can't hold it up..."
Shinju added.
Yamato frowned slightly. "It's just a little grass. Hold it. Can't a young guy handle that much?"
Just a moment ago, Yamato had thought this kid was reliable—now he was showing his weak side.
"No, sensei, I think the grass is growing a bit too big..."
"I told you to hold it. How big can a blade of grass be?" Yamato said impatiently.
But as he opened his eyes and looked at Shinju's hands—
His pupils dilated sharply, and he clutched his chest, shouting a classic curse.
Hearing Yamato yell, Shinju opened his eyes and looked down.
In his palms was a towering tree—trunk as thick as a water tank, rising forty to fifty meters high!
"This… this… this is the 'grass' you were talking about???"
Yamato's voice trembled in shock.
----------------
For each review +1 Chapter
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo