Chapter 111: Cowardly Kiba
Training Ground 98.
Kiba sat under the shade of a tree with Akamaru, propping his face up as he waited for his teacher to arrive. Despite only knowing him for a few days, Kiba already trusted Tonbo Tobitake implicitly. He believed Tonbo could help him become Hokage and secure a "Dog Festival" for Akamaru.
"Ugly old man isn't here yet?"
Kiba stretched, watching the shadows cast by the sun through the leaves.
Woof~ Akamaru offered a comforting nuzzle.
"I know there's no rush, but the thought of adding a Dog Festival to Konoha for you, Akamaru... I'm just so excited."
Woof woof!
"What? As long as you're with me, every day is a Dog Festival? Akamaru, you're the best." Hearing Akamaru's "words," Kiba became even more determined to become Hokage.
Flap, flap, flap!
Suddenly, the sound of massive wings beating filled the air, and a giant shadow swept across the ground. Kiba looked up to see a hawk the size of a house descending from the sky. He and Akamaru scrambled back in terror, certain they were about to be crushed. It was terrifying.
Poof!
The hawk suddenly vanished.
"Early bird gets the worm, Kiba. It seems your resolve to become Hokage is quite firm!"
Tonbo Tobitake appeared in front of Kiba, holding a child in each arm.
"Oh, it's just the ugly old man. You nearly scared me to death. And the little siblings are here too." Kiba patted his chest, letting out a sigh of relief. At the same time, his hope grew—his teacher's ninjutsu was so huge and majestic!
Tonbo's eyebrow twitched. "What 'ugly old man'? Call me Tonbo-sensei."
"Yes, ugly old man," Kiba replied.
Woof woof!
Wa-ee~
"Doggy~!"
Tianyu and Maki cried out upon seeing Akamaru. After a day of exposure, they had already grasped the concept of "doggy." They weren't particularly interested in Kiba, but they quite liked Akamaru.
Tonbo sighed. Looks like I need to give you a real lesson. He had planned to start with some "gentle" education since his research wasn't fully complete, but now he decided to go with something intense. Besides, Kiba's personality thrived on challenges.
Forming a seal with his hands while still holding the children, the hawk that had just vanished reappeared, now equipped with two secure child-carriers on its back. Amidst Tianyu and Maki's giggles, Tonbo placed them in the carriers and carefully cast a barrier jutsu around them for protection.
"Come on, Kiba, Akamaru. Let's begin your first lesson. It's also the simplest."
Tonbo grabbed Kiba and Akamaru by their collars and leaped onto the hawk's back. The giant bird immediately took flight, soaring into the sky.
Gulp!
As the hawk climbed higher and the village below shrank into a miniature model, Kiba and Akamaru swallowed hard.
"Ugly old man, I thought we were going to study?"
Whimper~ Akamaru felt like he was about to pee himself.
"Indeed. Since you're young and your chakra reserves are low, I'll teach you other ninja qualities first," Tonbo nodded.
Kiba didn't dare look down; he squeezed his eyes shut. "What qualities?"
"I call this quality: Guts."
"Guts?" Kiba asked, confused.
"In other words, not being afraid."
"Oh, okay."
"Now, open your eyes. Do you dare?"
"I don't dare!"
"Then aren't you just a coward? What will Akamaru think of you?"
Kiba pried one eye open just a crack, then immediately squeezed it shut again. However, thinking of Akamaru, he forced both eyes open. He was no coward!
"Excellent. That's the spirit."
The hawk flew beyond the borders of Konoha, soaring at high speed through the clouds. Kiba gradually began to adapt to the sensation. Tonbo then directed Kiba's attention to Tianyu and Maki.
"Look at them. Not only are they not afraid, they're laughing."
Indeed, the two babies were laughing and having a great time, as if they were watching a fun show. Kiba felt a surge of pride—he couldn't let his "little subordinates" look down on him.
After a while, Kiba and Akamaru fully adapted, no longer feeling dizzy just by looking down.
"This is guts. Still afraid?"
"Not afraid anymore!"
"Good. Guts must be forged. If your chakra is insufficient, you must develop your courage first. Only then will you have the bravery to protect your comrades when facing an enemy. This is a quality every Hokage must possess."
"I'm not afraid!" Kiba gritted his teeth.
Woof! Akamaru echoed the sentiment.
"Then let's begin the real 'Guts Training.' This is a training program I invented specifically for you—something neither your sister nor my other disciples have ever experienced." Tonbo gave a thin smile.
Kiba: "Really?" Sister never did this? Then I'll definitely be stronger than her, hehe!
"This training is called Sky's Descent. it can rapidly increase one's courage." Tonbo looked at the landscape below and bared his teeth. Call me 'ugly old man' one more time, you brat.
It was a training method he'd come up with on the spot, but it was certainly effective for building courage.
"How do we do it?" Kiba asked, though he felt a sudden chill in his heart.
"Like this."
Tonbo let go. Kiba and Akamaru instantly plummeted. Man and dog tumbled through the air, the wind howling violently against their faces.
Kiba was still wondering what the old man was going to do when, in the next instant, the world began to spin uncontrollably. His eyes went wide.
Awoooo! Akamaru let out a terrified howl. A boundless fear spread through their hearts. I haven't even become Hokage yet! I'm going to die!
"I don't want to be Hokage anymore!" Kiba screamed at the top of his lungs. Snot and tears flew wildly in the wind as they continued their rapid descent.
"That won't do."
Tonbo, carrying the two babies on the hawk, circled around the falling boy. "Wind Release: Updraft."
Kiba's descent slowed significantly until Tonbo reached out and caught him.
"Ugly old man, I don't want to be Hokage anymore! Waaaaa!" Kiba immediately burst into tears, snot bubbles popping.
Woof woof!
Wa-ee~ Tianyu and Maki giggled, seemingly mocking him.
Kiba was only four years old; he had never experienced anything like this, and he couldn't stop crying.
"Cry any more and I'll drop you again," Tonbo threatened.
"But... but... I'm so scared..." Kiba sobbed, his voice full of grievance. The words "not afraid" had vanished from his heart.
"What's there to be afraid of? You'll get used to it after a few more flights. Look at Tianyu and Maki, look how happy they are." Tonbo pointed at his son and daughter.
Sniff! Kiba sucked back a snot bubble, looking at the protected babies. "They aren't jumping!"
I was waiting for you to say that.
"Is that so? Then I'll have them 'jump' with you. No excuses this time, right?"
"..." Kiba was screaming for his mother in his head. Akamaru was doing the same.
Tonbo smiled. He "released" the two babies (using Genjutsu to make it look like they were falling) and, after Kiba had a moment to catch his breath, continued the "Sky's Descent" training. He even created a shadow clone to continue his ninjutsu research while he worked.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
"Wa-ee! Wa-ee!"
"Uwaaa! I don't want to be Hokage!"
"Wa-ee!"
"Woof woof!"
Time after time, they dropped. At first, Kiba was paralyzed with fear, but as they continued, he began to adapt—especially seeing the younger Tianyu and Maki beside him. He couldn't understand how these toddlers, not even three years old, could keep laughing. They even seemed to be making "wa-ee" sounds to encourage him.
What he didn't know was that on the back of the hawk, the real Tianyu and Maki were sitting safely in their carriers, watching the scenery. Every time they saw Kiba's distorted face, they laughed.
Kiba had no idea of a ninja's deviousness; he was being played like a fiddle by Genjutsu. He actually thought his two "little subordinates" had legendary levels of courage.
From that day on, far above the outskirts of Konoha, the sound of wailing and screaming could always be heard. Kiba's mind was adapting, though his physiology was taking a bit longer to catch up.
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