If you want to get stronger, of course you have to leverage your connections—your dad, your teacher, whoever.
As the saying goes, "Give your life for the Ninja World," but passing down the torch through the clans is our real duty!
As a ninja, there is absolutely no shame in accepting gifts or guidance from seniors and teachers.
Getting stronger through the help of your elders? That's just the natural order of the ninja world.
After Musashi's pep talk, Tenten's confidence had finally reignited.
Looking at Musashi in front of her, a bold idea popped into her head, and it quickly solidified into a resolve.
"Senior Musashi!"
"Hm? What's up?"
"Please be my teacher! I want to be your disciple!"
Musashi looked surprised.
"Be your teacher? Is that... appropriate?"
When Tenten said "teacher," she didn't mean it in the sense of a Squad Leader like Guy or Kurenai. A Squad Leader was more like a temporary captain; you called them "Sensei," but it was a rank-based title.
The "teacher" she was talking about was the relationship between Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze, or Kushina Uzumaki and Minato, or Tsunade and Sakura.
It was a much more intimate, master-disciple bond.
However, there were two issues. First, the age gap between them was only about six years.
Second, Musashi was worried she was just acting on impulse.
"Of course it's appropriate. Senior Musashi, I think compared to Guy Sensei, you are much more suitable to be my teacher," Tenten said with a serious expression.
Musashi thought for a moment.
"Tell you what, Tenten. Don't rush into this."
"Go home today, think it over slowly, and ask your family for their opinion. Taking on a master is a serious matter. You need to consider it carefully."
"If you've really thought it through, come find me again."
"...Oh." Tenten realized she had been a bit hasty. Becoming a disciple wasn't something to be done lightly.
---
That night, Tenten went home and told her parents about her idea.
"Musashi Ryomiya? Never heard of him."
Her parents listened to their daughter's idea and thought about it seriously, but neither of them recognized the name.
"Senior Musashi wears a green jumpsuit just like Guy Sensei, and he's also a Jonin," Tenten reminded them.
The couple thought hard, but still drew a blank.
Who pays attention to some guy in a green jumpsuit?
"A Jonin? There aren't that many Jonin in the village, but your mother and I don't know all of them," Tenten's father said. "Tenten, what department is this Senior Musashi in?"
"Um... I think I heard Guy Sensei mention it once. He's in... the Anbu Black Ops, or something."
The couple exchanged a surprised look.
Then, Tenten's father spoke up.
"Tenten, if he's an Anbu Jonin, then his skills and qualifications are definitely not an issue. As long as you've decided, your mother and I support you."
---
The next day, during Team Guy's group training.
During the high-intensity Taijutsu drills, Tenten wasn't as focused as usual. Might Guy noticed immediately.
"Tenten! What's on your mind? Ninja training allows for no slack!"
Tenten, panting heavily, put down her ninja tools.
"Guy Sensei, I have something to tell you."
"What is it?" Guy didn't stop moving, single-handedly blocking attacks from both Neji Hyuga and Rock Lee.
"I want to ask Senior Musashi to be my teacher."
As soon as the words left her mouth, the three people sparring froze in unison.
"Tenten, why do you suddenly want Senior Musashi to be your teacher?" Lee asked in shock.
In his eyes, Guy Sensei was the ultimate teacher!
Neji Hyuga also looked at Tenten, waiting for her answer.
Being stared at by everyone, Tenten felt a little awkward.
She stammered, "Well... I thought about it, and Senior Musashi might be the teacher who suits me best."
Among the three of them, Neji had the backing of the Hyuga clan. As a genius of a major clan, he didn't have to worry about his future path at all.
Just mastering the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist was a highway to success that ordinary ninjas could only dream of.
Lee had no talent for Ninjutsu and had already decided to follow in Guy's footsteps to become a pure Taijutsu specialist.
But she was different.
Her family didn't have powerful ninjas or secret techniques, and Guy wasn't skilled in Ninjutsu.
If she kept learning only from Guy, aside from getting physically fit, it would be hard to bring out her talent for Ninjutsu.
A teacher who suited her would be a huge help to her training.
Still, saying she wanted to find another teacher right in front of her Squad Leader felt a bit awkward—like telling your boss you were looking for a new job.
"Excellent, Tenten!"
Seemingly sensing the embarrassment in her heart, Guy laughed heartily.
"I am happy that you found a teacher who suits you!"
"Really? Guy Sensei, you support my decision?" Tenten was overjoyed.
Guy gave her a thumbs up.
"Of course!"
"Tenten, if you've made a decision, then go for it boldly."
"I watched Musashi grow up. He is an incredibly outstanding ninja. His talent is even above mine."
Saying this, Guy scratched his head, looking a little sheepish. "Although Musashi and I are both Taijutsu types, unlike me, Musashi's talent in Ninjutsu is... well, just a tiny bit better than mine."
"Tenten, Ganbatte! Give it your all!"
---
The sunset filled the sky.
Musashi stopped his training and looked at the little girl in front of him, feeling a bit helpless.
Tenten was squatting on the ground, looking up at him with wide, puppy-dog eyes, acting completely obedient.
She looked like a little girl waiting for candy.
Seeing him stop, she spoke up in a crisp, clear voice:
"Sensei, I'm here!"