Chapter 125: Daily Life
The purpose of their visit was simply that they hadn't seen him in a long time and wanted to check in. They happened to know he was on a break, so they dropped by.
In the past two years, Anko and Shinobu had officially gotten together, though they weren't married yet.
"Going on a honeymoon before you're even married... honestly, how could the Third Hokage allow two vital combat assets like you to go on a honeymoon?" Tonbo Tobitake was speechless.
A year ago, when the two told him they were going on a honeymoon across the Land of Fire, he was stunned. Good grief, he hadn't even gone on a proper honeymoon himself; at most, he used ninjutsu to take Ayame for a spin in the sky or the sea. Unlike them, they actually got permission from the Third to go play. He really couldn't wrap his head around it.
"Haha, didn't Lord Third say it himself? The village's combat strength is gradually recovering, and what we need now is a steady stream of descendants. He hopes that after we get back, we can produce a few healthy baby boys." Mibu Shinobu laughed heartily.
"Hmph, didn't you say you wanted to have four? Why is it still just two?" Anko asked, looking at Tianyu and Maki.
The two children watching TV pricked up their ears. Are we going to have younger brothers or sisters?
"I'm not considering it for now. I'll wait a few years until these two grow up a bit. My workload isn't exactly small; I don't have time to raise so many right now." Tonbo did want more children, but time simply wouldn't permit it.
"As for you two... Anko, Shinobu has actually managed to feed you so well that you've gotten this plump. Just how much have you been eating? Are you even going to fit into a wedding dress by the time the day comes?" Tonbo teased.
He really hadn't expected these two to actually make it work. Thinking about Anko wearing a "plus-sized" wedding dress made him want to laugh.
While Tonbo was chatting about domestic life, back at the Ninja Academy:
"Bleegh!"
The first student to fall victim to Iruka's trick appeared: Naruto.
He leaned against the wall, vomiting uncontrollably, trying to expel everything in his stomach. The surrounding classmates felt a chill run down their spines as they watched.
Because Naruto had been mischievous earlier—hanging a chalkboard eraser over the door—Iruka-sensei caught him and said he would give them a "spectacular lesson." They were taken to the school playground where they watched Iruka-sensei blow the whistle around his neck. Immediately, Naruto turned pale and started vomiting. They were all terrified.
"Iruka-sensei, what did you do to me?!" After he finished vomiting, Naruto wiped his mouth, still tasting that horrific flavor, and shouted at the teacher. That taste was the most unbearable thing he had ever experienced.
"Is that the legendary 'Ultimate Punishment' of the Academy... Iruka-sensei's Eight Scents of Fire?" one student whispered, recalling a rumor.
"Eight Scents of Fire?" The other students were in the same grade and were naturally curious.
Sasuke's brow furrowed. Naruto's condition was very similar to what his brother had described as the "Bad Uncle's" ninjutsu. According to his brother, if you were hit by this move, you would taste the flavor you hated most. But Sasuke felt it shouldn't be that bad—even the worst thing he'd ever eaten wouldn't make him vomit like Naruto.
Meanwhile, a little chubby boy's eyes lit up at the word "scent." He looked toward Naruto.
"Eight Scents?" Choji's mouth watered. Did the teacher give Naruto something delicious?
The student continued: "Legend says this is a terrifying ninjutsu Iruka-sensei uses to deal with students. If you don't listen or behave in class, he'll use it to make your life a living hell."
"Whoa, so scary."
"A living hell."
"What does it feel like?"
They were incredibly curious. Judging by Naruto's face, it clearly wasn't pleasant.
Iruka smiled. "This is the ninjutsu Eight Scents of Fire. It was created by a powerful ninja specifically to educate mischievous students like you."
He hadn't used this move in a long time. Generally, it was only used on the new first-year students. This was because the second-year students had already mastered chakra and begun learning ninjutsu; the Throat Protection Jutsu created by Tokuma Hyuga had already flourished among the upper grades. Basic skills like the Three Basic Jutsu or the Rope Escape Jutsu weren't nearly as important to those students as learning the Throat Protection Jutsu as quickly as possible—you never knew when you might accidentally get hit with the "scents" yourself. Every student who had experienced it made it their priority to learn the counter-measure first.
As for the first-years, except for a few geniuses, they could only behave and listen. Originally, after hearing Ebisu's advice, Iruka hadn't planned on using it. But seeing students who were already good at Throat Protection, he felt it would stimulate their potential. After discussing it with other teachers, they decided to use it on the first-years so they could experience it once—which would then motivate them to study harder. Tokuma Hyuga had done it that way and even invented his own jutsu because of it; the teachers felt they shouldn't "stop eating for fear of choking"—the tools should be used when appropriate.
"Who? Exactly who created this disgusting ninjutsu?!" Naruto was furious. Which jerk created such a loathsome technique? The lingering taste of vomit was still in his throat, making him feel miserable. It was worse than vegetables!
"Uh... well..." Iruka thought of Tonbo Tobitake, who occasionally said he wanted to "test" him, and decided it was better to keep his mouth shut. He had suffered quite a bit because of that man.
"Tell me! Who is it? Once I become Hokage, I'll make them taste this flavor first!" Naruto's eyes were practically spitting fire.
Hearing this, Iruka's brow twitched. "Are you trying to tell me how to do my job? Do you want to try it one more time?" I am the teacher here.
"Ah..." Naruto chickened out and retreated two steps with a forced laugh.
"Get back in line! Because of you, we don't have enough time for the math lesson. Everyone, start running laps around the playground to build your stamina!" Iruka ordered. He then led the children in physical training. "One, two, one, two..."
"Naruto, what did Iruka-sensei give you to eat?" Choji ran up beside him and asked, his mouth still watering.
"The worst taste in the world! A hundred times worse than vegetables!" Naruto babbled incessantly about how bad it was.
Choji hurried to keep up. "Really? There's a taste a hundred times worse than vegetables?" I really want to try it! He dreamed of eating every delicacy in the world.
Naruto recalled the taste and shuddered. "Yes, the absolute worst."
"Is it really that bad?" Suddenly, Shino Aburame appeared beside them.
Naruto was startled. "Who are you? Are you in our class?"
Shino paused. "...As expected, you don't even remember your own classmate. I..." He began to mutter and ramble under his breath.
Even though Shino was buzzing in his ear, Naruto actually enjoyed it a little. Although Choji and Shino hadn't fully "accepted" him yet, they didn't look at him with those "other" eyes.
In the distance, Kiba Inuzuka remembered the Throat Protection Jutsu his sister had mentioned. It turned out the "foul taste" she talked about was Iruka-sensei's doing. But he wouldn't give the teacher a chance; as a model student, he had nothing to fear.
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