Chapter 397: The New Ninja Academy
When you wake up tomorrow morning, your world will still be perfect.
Tobitake Tonbo rose from his bed and looked at the weather outside the window. Outside, the sky looked as if a miraculous painter had brushed it with a myriad of colors. Against the azure backdrop, clouds floated like clumps of cotton candy—sometimes gathering, sometimes dispersing—as if performing a silent play.
Sunlight spilled through the gaps in the clouds, forming pillars of golden light that illuminated the earth and Tonbo's focused eyes, seemingly inviting him to explore this mysterious and beautiful world.
"I'll go inspect the Ninja Academy today and see what needs to be arranged."
As it happened, Keigo Tobitake was nearing school age. Once this current term of home-study concluded, he would enter the Academy to learn. Because Tonbo knew he had lost his previous advantage of knowing the plot, his heart had been fraught with anxiety. Now, he had cleared his head.
Therefore, aside from his daily research and training, he planned to spend most of his time living a normal life and doing relaxing things. Today, he would inspect the Academy and begin preparing specialized training grounds to enhance the strength of future ninja. This was a spontaneous idea that arose after his trip to Mount Myoboku.
The current Ninja Academy already possessed a genjutsu training system, so they weren't lacking in combat experience. All that remained was to elevate their fundamental power: Taijutsu, chakra, spiritual energy...
Using the Eye of the Creator Technique to have the toothbrush and towel clean him up, Tonbo cast a glance at the soundly sleeping Ayame before leaving the room and heading toward the Ninja Academy.
"Little one, Daddy is really working hard, hehe. Once Keigo goes to school, I'll be at ease. Letting him stay with that gloomy fellow all the time... I can't imagine what your big brother would turn into after a while."
Ayame opened her eyes and stroked her belly, talking to herself. She had met Keigo's teacher (Orochimaru) and felt his gaze was a bit sinister. If she didn't trust her husband, she would never have let Keigo follow such a teacher. Now that he was about to start school, she finally felt a bit relieved. At least by playing with friends his own age, he wouldn't turn out like that.
Achoo!
Orochimaru was contemplating the expansion of his next project when he suddenly sneezed. He wiped his nose. "It seems someone is thinking of me. Could it be you, Jiraiya?"
He thought about it and realized there wasn't much about him worth being missed. The only person likely to nag about him was probably Jiraiya in the Pure Land. If it weren't for the Great Toad Sage's prophecy, he would definitely drag Jiraiya out of the Pure Land just to ask if he was gossiping behind his back. As for Tsunade, impossible—she was likely off traveling in some foreign country or gambling. She had left Shizune single, and Kakashi hadn't even taken notice of her yet.
Achoo!
In a far-off foreign land, Tsunade had just stepped out of a casino looking dejected when she let out a loud sneeze.
"Damn it, which brat is talking about me? It made me lose a huge sum of money," Tsunade grumbled. She had lost all her cash again.
"Tsunade-sama, please wait a moment."
Just as she was about to leave, a voice called out. It was a very gentlemanly-looking man wearing a morning coat, a top hat, holding a walking stick, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and sporting a friendly smile.
Tsunade: "Hmm? You know me?"
"Of course. Allow me to introduce myself formally. I am the General Manager of Weiling Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Natsume Yujin. Here is my business card." Natsume Yujin handed over the card.
Tsunade took it impatiently. "You want something?" she asked directly after reading it.
Natsume Yujin: "You must have lost all your money in there. It just so happens our company's recently developed drug requires a superb medical ninja to provide guidance on our product. Tsunade-sama is exactly the Two-Star Medical Ninja certified by the Ninja Association that we need. We will pay you a very generous remuneration."
Tsunade's expression soured when he mentioned her losing money, but her spirit instantly lifted at the mention of being paid. This wasn't the old ninja era anymore; she couldn't just use Transformation Jutsu to fool people. Every casino now hired specialized ninja to prevent chakra cheating and debt jumping. Even if they couldn't beat her, they could apply to Konoha for debt collection, which would be very embarrassing. After all, she was Konoha's Fifth Hokage.
"Very well, I'm interested in what you said. Lead the way." Tsunade wasn't worried about any conspiracies. She had absolute confidence in her strength as a former Hokage.
Natsume Yujin smiled. "That's wonderful. With your guidance, our product will surely complete its mission." It was as if he had received the perfect answer. He performed a gentleman's bow. As Tsunade walked ahead, he pressed down on his hat, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
Walking through the campus, looking at the children full of vitality, Tobitake Tonbo thought back to his own school days. Back then... he wasn't this energetic. But Guy and Ebisu certainly were. The brisk air of youth brushed against him. In the blink of an eye, he was over thirty and about to be a father of four.
"These are the first-year students currently doing physical training. Tonbo-senpai must not have seen this in a long time..." The teacher leading the way was visibly excited. Damn, I'm actually the one leading Captain Tonbo on a school tour! This is great.
"Look at me! Body Flicker Jutsu!"
"My Transformation Jutsu—I'll turn into a puppy and bite your butt!"
"Ah! Teacher, he is trying to bite my butt! Can I punch him?"
A group of children in the distance suddenly broke formation and started fooling around.
"Hey, don't..." The lead teacher tried to stop them.
"Wait, no need. This is how children should be—full of life," Tonbo stopped him. Kids playing and fighting were just being kids. Those like Itachi Uchiha or Kakashi were the exceptions. Even Kakashi had his moments of fooling around with Guy.
"Hmph-ha-hey! Left hook, 1,300 times!" In another area, rhythmic shouts could be heard.
"Good! Not bad! Next is 1,500 leg kicks!" Then came the voice of Might Guy.
Tonbo looked toward the sound and saw Might Guy teaching the children Taijutsu. Is Guy passing on his "Youth" to the next generation already? This was an important decision made by Konoha after witnessing the power and necessity of Guy's Taijutsu: the establishment of a Taijutsu Class. It was designed specifically to train powerful Taijutsu ninja to prevent situations where ninjutsu proved useless. As for Senjutsu... there was currently no possibility of popularizing that.
"Yo! Tonbo! Are you here to watch our youthful training as well?" Guy sensed someone approaching and immediately greeted Tonbo loudly. The little radishes in front of him followed his gaze and looked over.
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