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At 3:00 PM sharp.
Okamoto appeared right on time.
He cast an indifferent glance at Kanda Rokuro before addressing the children. "Training begins now. This afternoon, we start with kicks, straight punches, and side steps. Once those are done, run two laps, and today's mission will be considered complete. If you want to rest early, you'd better get started immediately!"
The children were obedient and scrambled up to begin training.
Kanda Rokuro joined the ranks as well.
His stamina was currently overflowing; he could easily train all through the night without issue.
He had already tested the Experience Points required to restore his stamina.
It only took 100 points for a full recovery. With 400 points currently in his possession, he could maintain his stamina and keep training until tomorrow morning.
The other children had burned a lot of energy in the morning, so their pace slowed down in the afternoon. Only Rokuro completed the entire regimen within two hours.
With his training finished.
He glanced at Okamoto on the sidelines. After a moment of thought, he walked over and bowed. "Instructor, I've finished my training. I'd like to join another class for extra practice. Once the others are done, I'll join them for the run!"
Okamoto had been watching Rokuro the whole time.
He was actually quite astonished to see the boy finish so quickly.
However!
He didn't show it.
As a ninja, one had to learn to conceal one's emotions.
He looked at Rokuro and asked calmly, "Do you not want to rest?"
Rokuro's expression turned serious. "Instructor, I don't want to go back to my old life. I want to become a real ninja so I'll never have to go hungry again!"
Just a brat after all!
Becoming a ninja just to avoid starvation.
Okamoto scoffed internally but nodded. "Your training is over; what you do now is your own business. As long as you can still run those two laps later, it's fine. However, I'm warning you: if you don't have the stamina to finish the run later, there will be no dinner for you!"
Rokuro bowed. "Don't worry, Instructor. I understand!"
Okamoto nodded. "Then do as you please. Just be back before six o'clock for the run."
Okamoto's quick agreement made Rokuro very happy.
After bowing again, he walked towards his target.
Joining another class wasn't really about the training.
His goal was to complete the Random Quest.
So, he sidled up to the training squad where Miya Fukada was and started training alongside them.
Having just arrived, he naturally couldn't start trouble immediately.
He needed to find the right opportunity to teach Miya Fukada a lesson.
Ideally, he would do it in a way that no one could fault him for afterwards.
His appearance attracted the attention of the children in Class 6.
However, since they were in the middle of training, no one could stop. They simply glanced at Rokuro and continued their routine until the first phase was over.
After every session, there was a ten-minute break.
One of the children from Class 6 walked up to Rokuro and said, "Hey kid, you came over here to train and Lord Okamoto didn't give you any trouble. Are you his relative or something?"
Rokuro paused, looking back at Okamoto.
It seems Okamoto isn't that nice to everyone; he's only treating me specially.
Could I really be his relative?
No... that's impossible.
If he were Okamoto's relative, his past wouldn't have been so miserable. Having a Chūnin relative meant he wouldn't have starved.
It seems there's another reason.
Did he discover my special traits?
This isn't good.
The children of the Konoha Orphanage were groomed by Danzo. If that old schemer Danzo discovered his anomaly, he might use mind-reading techniques on him.
I need to be more careful in the future.
His extraordinary stamina had likely been exposed. He had better hide his talents in Ninjutsu and Genjutsu. At the very least, he needed to wait until he could stand up to Danzo before revealing his full strength.
Having thought it through, Rokuro looked at the child in front of him and said, "No. If I were Lord Okamoto's relative, why would I come here? Wouldn't I just go directly to Konoha Village?"
The Class 6 child paused, then nodded. "That makes sense. It looks like your talent has caught Lord Okamoto's attention. He's always been quite partial to geniuses!"
As expected!
Okamoto has noticed something about me.
I have to be more careful.
Since his rapid stamina recovery was already exposed, he would stick to using only Taijutsu for the time being.
After thinking about it, Rokuro relaxed and looked toward his mission target, Miya Fukada.
He remembered that guy.
During dinner seven days ago, Fukada had accidentally choked and sprayed a mouthful of spit all over him.
Later, he had apologized and introduced himself, which was how Rokuro remembered his name.
Who would have thought?
Today I have to teach Fukada a lesson. That guy doesn't seem like a bad person!
He actually felt a little guilty about it.
However!
For the sake of completing the mission...
Fukada is just going to have to suffer a bit.
Lost in thought, he walked up to Fukada and greeted him with a smile. "Big Brother Fukada, you're training here too? Could you teach me some training techniques?"
Fukada recognized Rokuro and smiled, patting him on the shoulder. "I'm really sorry about spraying rice all over you last time. I'll teach you now as compensation!"
Rokuro was overjoyed internally but kept a straight face. "Then thank you, Brother Fukada!"
Fukada glanced at Okamoto in the distance and noticed the instructor was watching them. He immediately realized that Rokuro was someone Okamoto was paying attention to.
Children who caught Okamoto's eye had a high probability of being sent to the main Konoha Orphanage for advanced training.
This place was just a branch.
Only by passing the training here could one go to the headquarters in Konoha to learn Ninjutsu.
If he built a good relationship with Rokuro, he might gain some favor with Okamoto, potentially graduating early and heading to the headquarters.
Thinking of this, Fukada got a bit excited and shouted to someone nearby, "Captain Kiishi, give me an hour off! I want to help this little brother train for a bit!"
The boy named Kiishi looked at Fukada, then at Rokuro, and nodded. "Fine, but your training isn't finished. You have to complete it all afterwards!"
Fukada nodded. "Don't worry, I know the rules!"
Captain Kiishi said nothing more.
Fukada pulled Rokuro along. "Come on, let's go over by the track to train!"
Rokuro was eager to be alone with Fukada.
That was the only way he would have a chance to teach him a proper lesson.
So, without hesitation, he followed Fukada to a tree just outside the running track.