Chapter 155 – Training and Returning to the Village
Late at night, the Konoha camp remained orderly and active.
Everyone was busy with their duties. Patrol teams came and went constantly, maintaining vigilance around the perimeter.
Among the rows of tents in one corner of the camp, one tent stood out.
Light shone from inside, and shadows could be seen moving—three figures seemingly wrestling and playing around.
Yet if someone approached closely, they would realize something strange.
Not a single sound escaped from the tent.
Inside, Taichi had set up a soundproof barrier.
Within the tent, Taichi was still explaining methods for dealing with tailed beasts.
"Actually," he said, "there's another extremely effective way to deal with tailed beasts."
"Sealing techniques."
"They're currently the main method the ninja villages use to restrain tailed beasts."
Saori's face brightened immediately.
After all, sealing techniques were her specialty.
But the smile lasted only a moment.
Soon a trace of doubt appeared in her eyes.
Could sealing techniques really restrain something as powerful as a tailed beast?
Taichi noticed her expression and nodded slightly.
Saori's ability to recognize her own limitations was one of her strengths.
So he continued explaining.
"Of course, ordinary sealing techniques aren't enough to deal with a tailed beast."
"Most of the time, it requires the combined power of an entire village."
Saori's expression dimmed slightly.
Seeing this, Taichi quickly reassured her.
"What's wrong? Already disappointed?"
"You shouldn't underestimate tailed beasts."
"Even the Kage of each village struggle to fight them."
"In the entire shinobi world, there are probably no more than a dozen people who can defeat a tailed beast with certainty."
Hearing that made Saori feel better.
Even Yōhei visibly relaxed.
So it wasn't that they were weak.
It was simply that the enemy was terrifyingly strong.
---
"Then, Taichi," Yōhei asked curiously, "which tailed beast does Konoha have?"
He had been holding that question in for quite some time.
As the strongest village, surely Konoha must possess the strongest tailed beast. That would make them look impressive.
"Nine-Tails," Taichi replied calmly.
"The tailed beast possessed by Konoha is the Nine-Tailed Fox, said to have nearly infinite chakra and the greatest power of them all."
Yōhei and Saori's faces immediately filled with excitement.
In their minds, they imagined Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki rampaging across the battlefield, terrifying enemies everywhere.
But Taichi quickly poured cold water on their enthusiasm.
"Don't imagine Jinchūriki life as something glorious."
"Tailed beasts were forcibly sealed inside human bodies."
"Because of that, they harbor deep hatred toward humans."
"And the Jinchūriki are constantly influenced by the tailed beasts' chakra."
"As a result, their personalities often become… unusual."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"On top of that, ordinary villagers often treat Jinchūriki with fear and suspicion."
"After years of that treatment, you can imagine what their lives are like."
"And when someone that unstable appears on the battlefield…"
"It's not only the enemy who faces danger."
"If things go wrong, even allies could be dragged into disaster."
"Just like the Two-Tails today."
"Once it entered full tailed-beast form, the beast's consciousness completely took over."
"At that point it didn't care whether someone was from Konoha or Kumogakure."
"If it saw you…"
"You were an enemy."
---
Taichi's words left Yōhei and Saori feeling chilled.
They felt both fear of the Jinchūriki's power and sympathy for their tragic circumstances.
Seeing that the two finally understood the true danger of tailed beasts, Taichi let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Being a squad leader wasn't easy.
Not only did he have to lead missions—
He also had to handle his teammates' mental state.
Sometimes it felt like he was both their captain and their parent.
"Alright," Taichi said at last.
"You've learned what you needed to know."
"From here on, just train with clear goals in mind."
"And now…"
"Go to sleep."
"Yes!"
Both answered at the same time.
The tent quickly fell silent.
Soon the steady breathing of Yōhei and Saori could be heard as they drifted off to sleep.
---
But Taichi remained awake.
Today's encounter with a tailed beast had given him an important reminder.
Without absolute strength, he currently lacked reliable methods for fighting such monsters.
Genjutsu and sealing techniques were clearly the best solutions.
For most people, mastery of those arts had strict limits.
But Taichi was different.
As long as he found the right direction…
He could rely on skill points to develop abilities comparable to Mangekyō-level genjutsu or even techniques like Adamantine Sealing Chains.
For him—
It was only a matter of time.
Thinking of this, Taichi opened his status panel.
---
Name: Matsushita Taichi
Rank: Chūnin Lv7 (783 / 1200)
Talents:
• Diligence Makes Up for Lack of Talent
• Scholar
• Enhanced Growth
Age: 10
Stats
Physique: 25 (1 / 6)
Strength: 23
Agility: 23
Spirit: 27
Chakra: 40,000 (Maximum Daily Extraction: 50,740)
Attribute Points: 23
Skill Points: 10
---
Nature Transformations
Fire Release: Lv12 (1623 / 4000)
Wind Release: Lv11 (1512 / 3000)
Water Release: Lv11 (323 / 3000)
Earth Release: Lv6 (603 / 1000)
Lightning Release: Lv6 (458 / 1000)
Yang Release: Lv9 (1056 / 1600)
Yin Release: Lv7 (331 / 1200)
Ice Release: Lv5 (301 / 800)
Chakra Shape Transformation: Lv9 (1125 / 1600)
Chakra Control: Lv11 (1543 / 3000)
---
Skills
Advanced Taijutsu Lv6 (1312 / 7000)
Advanced Meditation Lv6 (304 / 7000)
Advanced Swordsmanship Lv6 (322 / 7000)
Monster Strength Lv8 (220 / 1200)
Sealing Arts Lv11 (211 / 3000)
---
Evaluation:
Your software is strong, but your hardware is terrible.
Your physical condition is seriously limiting your growth.
Train your advanced skills more, or this War will become your grave.
---
"Oh?"
Taichi raised an eyebrow.
For once, the system had given him a different evaluation.
He was about to complain about it—until he finished reading the message.
Then a chill ran down his spine.
It was true.
Recently he had spent far too much time on ninjutsu, while neglecting his physical training and meditation.
As a result, his physical stats had become a major weakness.
The battle earlier with the Kumogakure jōnin was a perfect example.
Under equal conditions, his strength had clearly been inferior.
In close combat he had only maintained an advantage thanks to his superior swordsmanship.
But as the Third Shinobi War escalated, the enemies he would face would become stronger and stronger.
Veteran jōnin from every village.
Regardless of their exact combat ability, their physical conditioning alone would likely surpass his.
Ironically, Taichi often lectured Yōhei that the body was the foundation of everything.
Yet he himself had neglected that principle.
How was that any different from Uchiha obsessing over the Mangekyō or bloodline users relying entirely on their kekkei genkai?
"Examine yourself three times a day."
The old saying suddenly felt very appropriate.
Taichi immediately revised his training plan.
From now on, physical conditioning would become his top priority.
---
Looking at his Fire, Wind, and Water nature transformations—already at Lv12 and Lv11—Taichi knew they had reached a temporary plateau.
Shadow-level elemental mastery could wait.
For now, his focus needed to shift elsewhere.
With that thought, Taichi slowly closed his eyes and finally fell asleep.
---
Over the next few days, as Konoha ninja gradually returned to camp, an unusual calm settled over the Land of Hot Water.
For the moment, peace returned.
Konoha and Kumogakure shinobi rarely appeared in towns or on the roads.
Both sides had withdrawn their forces.
Silently preparing for the next eruption of war.
Perhaps because of the urgent report about Kumogakure's Jinchūriki…
Or perhaps because the village finally realized how severely undermanned and undersupplied the northern front was.
Roughly ten days later, reinforcements from Konoha finally arrived—along with a large shipment of supplies.
The news spread quickly throughout the camp.
Fresh manpower and ample supplies greatly relieved the pressure on the front lines.
Even the tense atmosphere in the camp relaxed slightly.
---
One day, seeing that the camp had finally stabilized, Minato gathered Hiashi and Taichi.
Since the defensive contraction of the front, the three of them had remained idle in camp for several days.
Now that reinforcements had arrived and manpower was no longer lacking, they decided it was time.
They would request permission from Orochimaru to return to the village.
Once the decision was made, they acted quickly.
The three went directly to Orochimaru's command tent.
Golden snake-like eyes slowly swept across the trio.
Finally, Orochimaru's gaze rested on Minato.
Truthfully, he did not want to let them leave.
Whether it was combat ability or execution efficiency, all three were top-tier shinobi.
Especially Taichi.
The boy was a complete all-rounder.
Wherever there was a weakness, place him there—and the problem would disappear.
"Must you leave so soon, Minato?"
Orochimaru's hoarse voice carried a hint of persuasion.
"The camp has only just stabilized."
"Your presence here is far more valuable than returning to the village."
Minato smiled warmly.
But his tone remained firm.
"Lord Orochimaru, thank you for taking care of us during this time."
"But our squad originally came here on a specific assignment."
"That mission has long since been completed."
"It is time for us to return to the village and report."
"Besides," Minato added politely, "with you commanding the camp and reinforcements already here, we can leave with peace of mind."
Seeing that Minato wouldn't budge, Orochimaru shifted his attention to Taichi.
This was the one he truly wanted to keep.
"Taichi," he said slowly.
"Your ability and potential will flourish far faster on the battlefield."
"If you're willing to stay, I can write to Sarutobi-sensei and request special permission for you to assist me here."
Taichi was genuinely surprised by the offer.
But he had already planned his future.
At least for the near future, he had no intention of remaining on the front lines.
"Thank you for your appreciation, Lord Orochimaru," Taichi said respectfully.
"But my encounter with the Two-Tails gave me many ideas."
"I want to return to the village as soon as possible to develop them."
"So I'm afraid I must decline your kindness."
Orochimaru nodded in understanding.
He himself was a research-oriented shinobi.
He understood that kind of inspiration better than anyone.
"Very well."
"Since you have already decided, I will not insist."
"Your achievements have been recorded. Take the documents back with you."
"The village will register your mission records accordingly."
"The war is not over. Be careful on the road."
Finally, his gaze returned to Taichi.
"I look forward to meeting you again."
"When that time comes, tell me about those inspirations of yours."
"We can discuss them together."
Taichi's eyes brightened.
Speaking with one of the greatest scientific minds in the shinobi world would undoubtedly bring new insights.
But he suppressed the excitement.
Returning to the village came first.
"I look forward to it as well, Lord Orochimaru."
---
After bidding farewell to Orochimaru, the group quickly packed their belongings and began the journey home.
When they had arrived, six of them traveled together with high spirits.
Now, only five walked the road back in silence.
The Kumogakure spy who had infiltrated their team remained like a silent scar in their memories—a reminder of the cruel nature of war.
---
Two days later, they returned to Konoha.
They had departed in March.
Now it was April.
A month had passed.
Yet the village remained as bustling as ever.
The war at the front had done nothing to dampen its vitality.
Merchants constantly moved through the gates.
Because the Land of Fire remained relatively stable, traders eagerly traveled between regions, making profits from price differences.
Especially now.
As tensions rose, the prices of goods had increased across the board.
Merchants were like cats that had smelled blood—running wherever the profits were highest.
---
Once inside Konoha, Minato immediately spoke.
"Taichi, Hiashi."
"Come with me."
"We're reporting to the Hokage."
Taichi blinked in surprise.
Normally only jōnin reported directly to the Hokage.
He was still officially just a chūnin.
But after thinking for a moment, he understood Minato's intention.
First, Taichi was the leader of his squad, which justified his presence.
Second, Minato wanted him to appear before the Hokage more often.
A subtle opportunity to build favor.
Naturally, Taichi wouldn't waste Minato's goodwill.
After briefly speaking with Yōhei and Saori, he followed Minato and Hiashi toward the Hokage's office.
---
Minato knocked on the door.
The three waited quietly.
Very much Minato's style—calm and composed.
Unlike his teacher Jiraiya, who often barged in like he owned the place.
"Come in."
The Hokage's voice sounded from inside.
Minato opened the door and led them in.
"Lord Hokage."
"Minato Namikaze, Hiashi Hyūga, and Matsushita Taichi reporting."
Sarutobi Hiruzen finally looked up from the mountain of paperwork on his desk.
His face brightened immediately.
"Minato! You're finally back!"
"How was it? Was Orochimaru treating you well at the northern camp?"
For some reason, Taichi couldn't shake the feeling that there was a faint hint of bitterness in the Hokage's tone.
Maybe it was just his imagination.
Minato responded calmly.
"Thank you for your concern, Lord Hokage."
"We should have returned earlier."
"But due to manpower shortages at the northern camp, Lord Orochimaru ordered us to assist with defense."
"These are our mission reports and records during that period."
He handed over a prepared scroll.
Sarutobi opened it and began reading carefully.
The office fell silent.
Taichi glanced sideways at Minato.
He couldn't help but admire him.
No wonder this man would become the Fourth Hokage.
His answer had been flawless.
Before the Hokage even asked, Minato had already explained why they stayed longer.
And clarified that it wasn't them disobeying orders—only following the command of the frontline commander.
Taichi was impressed.
That kind of political finesse was not something he could pull off.
---
"Excellent."
Sarutobi finally spoke with a smile.
"You've completed this mission perfectly."
"Orochimaru also spoke highly of your performance at the northern camp."
His eyes shifted to Taichi.
"Especially you, Taichi."
"If you hadn't been there, the casualty rate would likely have doubled."
"You've greatly reduced Konoha's burden."
Taichi scratched his head awkwardly.
"Well… I just had the opportunity you gave me, Lord Hokage."
"And my teammates helped a lot too."
"Alone, I wouldn't have managed it."
Sarutobi chuckled.
He knew the truth well enough.
"Minato," he continued.
"You'll register the mission records later at the mission hall."
Minato nodded.
The Hokage was always generous with rewards.
Everyone would receive recognition according to their contributions.
"Also, Minato."
"A group of students from the Ninja Academy will graduate early in the next few days."
"I'd like you to serve as their jōnin instructor."
"They're promising children."
Minato thought for a moment.
Since he currently had no team, mentoring new shinobi before the war intensified wasn't a bad idea.
He accepted.
Taichi, standing nearby, immediately realized what this meant.
This must be the formation of Kakashi, Obito, and Rin's team.
They were finally stepping onto the stage of history.
He clenched his fist quietly.
Those were his friends.
No matter what happened—
He couldn't simply watch their tragic fate unfold again.
---
"Taichi," Sarutobi suddenly said.
"Your squad is short-handed, isn't it?"
"Have you considered selecting one of these new graduates?"
Taichi was caught off guard.
After thinking for a moment, he frowned slightly.
"Lord Hokage, our squad is currently handling A-rank missions."
"If we add a newly graduated genin… it might be dangerous."
It was like adding a husky to a wolf pack.
Not only might the husky fail to keep up—
The wolves' hunting rhythm would also be disrupted.
"You're right," Sarutobi said with a nod.
"That was my oversight."
Then he smiled again.
"If you find someone suitable later, let me know."
"I'll do my best to arrange it."
"Thank you, Lord Hokage," Taichi replied happily.
Being able to choose his own teammate?
That was perfect.
At least it reduced the risk of another spy incident.
---
"Hiashi," Sarutobi continued.
"You've also done excellent work."
"Your Byakugan played a major role on the front lines."
"After this mission, take some time to rest."
"If there are further assignments, Clan Head Hizashi will inform you."
Sarutobi offered encouragement evenly.
But whether he truly didn't notice—or simply pretended not to—
He failed to acknowledge the faint bitterness and helplessness hidden in Hiashi's expression.