Chapter 264: Class Reunion
Konoha Hospital.
Tsunade looked at the Mystical Palm Technique glowing in the hands of Sakura and Ino, falling into deep thought.
The Mystical Palm Technique is a high-level ninjutsu among medical-nin, with an A-rank learning difficulty. It requires the practitioner to possess extremely refined chakra control and a deep, comprehensive understanding of human anatomy.
As she watched the fish in their hands healing at an incredible speed, Tsunade began to doubt whether the technique was actually as difficult as she remembered.
"It must be their natural talent," she mused.
To bolster Konoha's medical reserves, Tsunade had spent the last six months familiarizing herself with Hokage affairs before beginning to hand-pick and training future medical leaders. Sakura and Ino had quickly caught her eye.
After a period of medical theory study, she had specifically chosen to teach them the Mystical Palm Technique to give them a taste of how difficult high-level ninjutsu could be.
But the result was unexpected.
Based on their performance with the Mystical Palm, their chakra control was already on par with her own—a ninja with fifty years of experience.
"The Mystical Palm Technique is surprisingly simple. Lady Hokage made it sound so hard," Ino remarked to Sakura with a smile after finishing her treatment on the fish.
Sakura smiled back. "Medical ninjutsu requires extreme chakra control. It's all thanks to the solid foundation Teacher Tonbo gave us!"
She felt a wave of gratitude. Previously, she had thought that aside from that "multipurpose, handseal-less gummy-like ninjutsu", basic chakra control only needed to be "good enough." Only after delving into medical ninjutsu did she realize just how superior the foundation they had built back then truly was.
"Tobitake Tonbo?" Tsunade interjected.
What did she just hear?
"Yes," Sakura explained. "After we failed the Chunin Exams, while Sensei Asuma and Sensei Kakashi were busy with other things, we asked Teacher Tonbo to guide us. He was the one who taught us this level of chakra control."
Tsunade huffed in annoyance. "That brat! If he has this kind of talent, why isn't he teaching at the Academy? Instead, he squats in that 'broken' position as Head of the Intelligence Analysis Squad, using Shadow Clones to slack off every day under the pretext of 'training to face a great enemy.'"
What frustrated her most was that whenever she asked him—a former Acting Hokage—to help with paperwork, he would refuse her by claiming his wife's belly was only a few months away from delivery. It left her and Shikaku Nara buried in work every single day.
Hearing that he possessed this teaching ability made her want to drag him out and force him to train Konoha's entire new generation. However, seeing the two girls before her, she felt satisfied that they were worthy successors to her medical legacy.
"Haha, Teacher Tonbo is indeed a bit..."
The two girls joined in the teasing. They weren't just thinking about his teaching ability, but his penchant for punishment as well. He had quite a few "wicked" tastes—like the Eight Fragrances.
"Since your chakra control has reached this level," Tsunade said seriously, "the next step is learning true medical surgery and techniques."
With such a foundation, she could pass on her life's work without holding back.
BBQ Restaurant.
A large group of ninjas sat gathered around a massive table.
"Oh? Hayama, you're married too? And the kid is already two years old? You really kept that hidden!"
Tonbo Tobitake exclaimed in surprise when Shirakumo Hayama mentioned he had to go home and help with the baby after the drinks. He really hadn't noticed!
"Hey, why didn't you invite us to the wedding?" Ebisu complained from beside him.
Hayama took a sip of his drink. "I wanted to keep things quiet. Plus, with the heavy mission load back then, I didn't hold a big ceremony."
Tonbo's eyes twinkled. "Ebisu, why are you interrogating Hayama? Look at you, Genma, Guy, Kakashi... none of you are proactive at all! We're all from the same class, and our kids are growing up. If you don't hurry up and get married, is the future of Konoha supposed to be carried solely by our children?"
In their graduating class, only Tonbo and Hayama were married with children. The others at the table looked on with deadpan expressions.
Even Guy lost his patience. "Tonbo... can we please change the subject?"
The nagging was relentless. It was one thing to be lectured, but since Tonbo actually was married and a father, it made them feel strangely inadequate. For "mighty men," the word "husband" felt like a title they were failing to earn.
"I told you, we shouldn't sit at the same table as Tonbo. He's too annoying," Kakashi added.
Genma sighed. "Eat, just eat. I'll try to find a partner this year so I can join the 'nagging squad' too."
"Exactly, Hayama! We need to keep pestering them, otherwise Konoha will have no successors. If people find out, they'll think our entire generation is just a pack of single dogs!" Tonbo teased.
It felt great. In his past life, he had been the one nagged about marriage. Now the roles were reversed. When you're the one being nagged, it's annoying; but when you're the one doing the nagging, it's surprisingly therapeutic.
Coming to the Ninja World and getting married early was definitely the right move.
"..."
The others remained silent, eating as fast as they could in an attempt to stuff themselves into a stupor to block out Tonbo's voice. After all, Tonbo was paying—his father-in-law's restaurant chain was booming, and he was loaded.
"Speaking of which, where's Asuma?" Kakashi suddenly asked.
"And Kurenai too," Ebisu noted.
"There. Look outside."
Tonbo pointed out the window. Two familiar figures appeared in their line of sight, though they weren't heading for the restaurant.
Immediately, the group of elite ninjas abandoned their food. As the couple passed, the men peeked their heads out of the doorway, stacking one on top of the other to watch.
"No wonder."
"Looks like they're heading toward the cinema."
"That rascal Asuma... is he actually on a date with Kurenai?"
"Not bad. I used to take my wife to the movies all the time back then too!"
"See? Hayama, you truly are the second most visionary man in our class."
"This is youth... unfortunately, it's not my youth."
The group was a mix of envy, jealousy, regret, and a sudden urge to jump Asuma. Only Tonbo and Hayama felt that Asuma was doing exactly what a man should do.
Walking toward the theater, Kurenai Yuhi suddenly paused and looked back.
"Kurenai, what's wrong?" Asuma asked.
"I feel like someone is watching us... and the feeling is very familiar." Kurenai looked suspicious. As a sensory specialist, she was certain her intuition wasn't wrong.
Asuma's expression turned serious. Utilizing his Jonin instincts, he quickly scanned the surroundings.
Swish! Swish!
"I don't see anyone."
"Did I really just imagine it? Let's go then." Kurenai's face flushed slightly. She figured she was just being emotional because of the date.
"Hehe, today's movie is supposed to be great. You'll definitely like it," Asuma said, following happily behind her.
Once they were gone, several heads popped out from an alleyway behind them.
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