Shota stepped through the familiar gates of Sunagakure with the rest of the delegation.
He separated from the group as soon as they entered the village. Rasa and Elder Mina went straight to the Kazekage tower to get back to their duties officially. The ANBU escorts dispersed to their own duties.
Shota had only one place he wanted to go first. The orphanage. He needed to see Shizu. He needed to eat Matron's rice balls after such a long mission. He needed to feel normal for a few minutes before the world of missions and politics swallowed him again.
The orphanage looked the same as always. Children running and shouting. The moment Shota stepped through the gate, tiny voices screamed his name.
"Big brother Shota is back!"
A swarm of kids aged three to ten crashed into his legs. Some hugged his knees. Some climbed his back like monkeys. One little girl yanked on his binding cloth scarf and asked if it was a snake. Shota laughed and ruffled heads. He let them drag him inside. Matron appeared in the doorway.
She looked him up and down like she was checking for broken bones or hidden injuries.
"You're alive. Good. Now help with lunch."
Shota grinned.
"Yes, ma'am."
He spent the next hour carrying pots, chopping vegetables, and dodging Matron's spoon when he tried to sneak extra rice balls.
Shizu came back from her day in the academy. She also was no longer burdened by the fact about being compared to him. And she was also progressing quite well. And Shota would make sure that she would continue to do so and would not let her graduate the academy and become a shinobi until he was sure that she would be safe out there.
After lunch, Shota slipped away. He needed to report to Spider. He wanted to take a long awaited nap on his very expensive bed but duty came before naps. He walked to the assassination division headquarters. Shota entered Spider's office without knocking.
"Spider-senpai, I'm back. Did you miss me?"
Spider sat behind his desk, rubbing the temples of his mask. He looked tired. He always looked tired when Shota showed up unannounced.
"When would you follow proper procedure for reporting? And I know you have come back since the Kazekage has also returned."
"I could have been dead, you know."
Spider snorted.
"Nah, I have trained you good enough to survive even the most dangerous threats out there. That reminds me that the Kazekage was quite impressed with your performance during the trip and thus Kazekage has given me the permission to have you begin on the next step of your training."
Shota tilted his head.
"My training has not ended?"
Spider leaned back in his chair.
"You are quite strong, Shota. You might be ranked an S-ranked threat because in a one-on-one fight, you will be undefeated. That's a fact that everyone realizes. Everyone in Suna as well as outside the village."
Shota puffed out his chest a little. "Obviously."
Spider ignored his student's arrogance and continued, "Your dojutsu and even your cloth binding jutsu make you equal to very strong people despite lacking the foundation and skill of a jōnin."
"Hey! I have beaten a lot of jōnin."
"My dear kohai, you have defeated those jōnin because of your dojutsu which shuts down their jutsu and thus their techniques. If you had seen them using those techniques without your dojutsu, you would know why these people are jōnin and different from chūnin. There is a reason that the villages has so many chunin and so few Jonin. There is a requirement to become a Jonin that your dojutsu has managed to overcome."
Shota crossed his arms curious.
"There is one thing that still separates you from the top leagues. You lack Nature Manipulation. Or in better words, in-depth understanding of Nature Manipulation."
Shota frowned.
"Sensei, I can use Nature Manipulation. I use it in most of my ninjutsu."
"You do. But you are only using the surface of what Nature Manipulation is capable of."
Spider continued, "Have you ever wondered why my Wind Breakthrough jutsu is much stronger than yours?"
"Duh, you use much more chakra than me and enhance the jutsu with more chakra."
Spider shook his head. "I use less chakra than you do for your jutsu. I just have better understanding of wind as well as what the jutsu does."
He paused as he let it sink in. "Let's talk about what it means for fire-style jutsus. You need to understand the principles of not only fire but also that jutsu. How do you make your flames hotter? How do you get them to cover a wider area? How do you make them faster so that your enemy just can't dodge it? These are all the questions that you should try to answer while using the jutsu."
Shota stared at Spider. 'Is he saying that I lack what cultivation worlds would call Laws? What an isekai cliché in a Naruto world? Next thing you know, he'll tell me I need to comprehend the Dao of Wind or face inner demons in a heavenly tribulation. I'm not ready for that level of nonsense. I just want to throw bigger fireballs and nap. Is that too much to ask?'
Spider continued.
"Well, you have come from a long mission and trip. We will begin your training after you have gathered enough rest. For now, just think about what I said."
Shota left the office with a lot of thoughts in his mind after what Spider told him.
--------Author Notes---------
Y'all can now read the next 15 chapters of the fanfic on my pat*reon.
https://pat*reon.com/Charizard6
[No star]
Thankyou for your support!