Chapter 25: Custom Training Regimen
Konoha, Ichiraku Ramen.
"Tonbo, I heard you started leading a team. Is it dangerous?" Teuchi asked as he set down a bowl of noodles.
Tonbo accepted the ramen. "It's just leading a squad, not doing S-rank missions. There's no real difficulty."
Teuchi nodded upon hearing that. "Is it okay for you not to be with your team?"
"Hah, it's all D-rank labor missions. A Shadow Clone is more than enough to keep an eye on them," Tonbo replied nonchalantly.
He didn't care. He wanted to see Ayame today; what was wrong with using a Shadow Clone? Not like they'd dare to complain.
Ayame chuckled from the back. "Tonbo-kun, isn't that a bit bad? I see other ninjas staying with their teams the whole time."
"Haha, I'm very serious too! Any task the village gives me, I handle it clearly and perfectly. No one can find a single fault." Tonbo slurped his ramen.
He wasn't lying. He put a lot of thought into his team members, especially since it was his primary job now. However, those three kids were incredibly motivated even after half a month. Even when facing boring D-rank tasks, as long as he said something related to the Will of Fire, they'd act like they'd been injected with adrenaline.
It was borderline ridiculous.
If he had known earlier, he wouldn't have spent so much time coming up with clever ideas to entice them to finish missions; he could have just given them a lecture on the Will of Fire. To be a steady worker, he had researched this area thoroughly.
After half a month of training through minor missions, the three had finally consolidated the knowledge taught at the Academy.
When he used to watch the anime, he never understood why Konoha made graduates start with D-rank missions when they had chakra and were vastly superior to ordinary people. Now that he was a Captain experiencing it firsthand, he understood.
These minor tasks tempered a ninja's patience, resolve, tracking, and analysis—all comprehensive abilities. It was the first real-world application of their schooling.
Just as he had realized on his first battlefield: the most important thing for a ninja isn't learning ninjutsu, but intelligence and analysis. And to achieve those, using things like parabolic motion math in battle was foundational. Without that, it was hard to hit an opponent with a shuriken or kunai.
"Hey, Ayame, let's discuss when we should get married. I want to have two big, healthy kids with you. I plan to train them to be powerhouses that surpass the God of Shinobi."
His contemplation lasted only a second before Tonbo tossed it aside to drop a major line on Ayame.
Whoosh!
Ayame's hands stopped mid-task. Her entire face turned "red-hot" instantly, her blushing cheeks looking quite adorable.
"Wha... what are you... saying?" Her voice trembled.
"Discussing our marriage!"
Teuchi's gaze sharpened. "No. You're still young. You have to wait another two years."
"I know we're young! I'm just thinking about discussing it now so I can prepare!" Tonbo scratched his head. He wanted to do this right. This was his dream, after all—his lifelong happiness.
"Mm. I'll help you find a good day. It's working hours now, so don't discuss it here. Come to my house tonight for the discussion," Teuchi said, glancing at the other customers who were already giving them gossipy looks.
The "red-hot" temperature on Ayame's face faded slightly, but her shyness remained, and her heart felt as sweet as honey. Ah, I'm usually so composed, why do I get so flustered whenever it's Tonbo-kun?
"Understood!" Tonbo's smile was so wide his teeth nearly split. His life's goal was practically secured.
"Now go find your teammates. Don't let the Hokage see you slacking off," Teuchi hurried him out; it felt weird having the customers overhear this.
"Hehe."
Tonbo finished his ramen and walked out the door, heading north.
Training Ground 98.
"First: Never act impulsively! Second: Never do anything harmful to the village! Third: Never abandon your belief in the Will of Fire!"
"Yes, Captain!"
As Tonbo's main body arrived, he heard his Shadow Clone using those chuunibyou-esque lines to brainwash the three Genin. He felt like he could dig a hole in the ground with his toes from the sheer cringe. Wait, do I actually have chuunibyou tendencies too?
"Release!"
Iruka and the others were in the middle of a hot-blooded moment when the Captain before them suddenly vanished in a puff of smoke. Their excitement cooled instantly.
"A Shadow Clone?"
"Hahaha, forget everything that clone just said. It was just a joke," Tonbo said, stepping out from the shadows with an awkward laugh.
Iruka pouted, his fists clenched. "How could we forget the Captain's words? And it's definitely not a joke! We will carve those three sentences into our hearts; they are excellent! Captain, we understand your resolve to pass on the Will of Fire, and we believe you are a true successor. We might be far behind, but don't underestimate our determination!"
Togetake Tetusen and Mibu Shinobu nodded in fervent agreement. How could they not feel the Captain's burning Will of Fire? They were honor students in the Hokage's Will of Fire lectures; they understood the weight of those three sentences. It was the Captain's personal summary! Although it didn't sound as "poetic" as the Third Hokage's version, it felt authentic. Their respect for him grew; truly, he was a worthy Captain.
"..."
Looking at Iruka's expression and hearing his words, Tonbo could already imagine it: when Iruka became a teacher at the Academy and Naruto started school... Naruto, that loudmouth, would probably have a new catchphrase. And Sasuke... if he was influenced too... it was hard to imagine Sasuke shouting, "First! Never act impulsively!"
He quickly shook his head to clear the thought. That "art style" was too much.
"Cough. As long as you understand my intent. Just don't go spreading those words around. Next, I'm going to teach you things to improve your actual strength as ninjas."
Tonbo quickly changed the subject. He didn't want to debate this with people who could be hyped up by the Will of Fire to do boring D-rank missions for half a month without flagging. He could only marvel that the Third really had a way with words.
Hearing that the Captain was teaching new things, their attention was successfully diverted.
"Captain, what is it? Is it that 'Real Genjutsu' of yours?"
Truth be told, they were starting to get bored, but they stuck with it because they felt D-rank missions helped them understand the Will of Fire.
"Over the past half-month, you've accumulated spiritual energy. You've had practical experience in intel gathering and your patience is improving... overall, your qualities as ninjas are rising rapidly. However, besides intel and resolve, a ninja needs individual strength to make that intel useful. Therefore, I have customized a step-by-step training plan to make you excellent shinobi."
Hearing the Captain's recognition made their efforts feel validated. But his following words made them even happier.
"As for 'Real Genjutsu,' that's not something you little runts who just entered the ninja world can learn. Remember not to aim too high too fast."
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