Adamo Amet
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Chapter no.45 A Lesson With Iruka
🕑 Added 2024-05-06 21:30:06 +0000 UTCNaruto, disguised as Tenten, found himself in the peculiar position of walking a tiny Japanese Chin dog through the park.
"Come on, you little bastard, or I'll punt you," he threatened the dog, though his heart wasn't really in the threat.
The dog, completely unfazed by Naruto's frustration, decided that moment was perfect for a bathroom break—right on Naruto's pants.
Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief, and for a split second, he contemplated sending the tiny canine into orbit using his failed....
He stopped.
"I need a new name for this... Failed chakra control technique sounds lame; let's go with chakra explosion technique... Nah, chakra propulsion... No."
Naruto's thoughts on naming his unique application of chakra control were cut short by the sound of the system notification.
[ Alert: World Quest Generated ]
[ Due to the close reputation between Umino Iruka and Player Naruto, a new quest has arisen from Iruka's current existential crisis. ]
[ Alert: World Quest ]
[ Quest Title: Iruka's Cheer-Up Mission ]
[ Objective: Umino Iruka is going through a tough time. As someone with a close bond to Iruka, your mission is to cheer him up. This can be achieved through thoughtful gestures, spending quality time, or providing meaningful assistance to lighten his burdens. ]
[ Rewards: ]
- [ 200 Reputation with Iruka. ]
- [ A Lesson ]
[ Failure: ]
- [ Iruka gains the Status Depression. ]
[ Action Required: Acceptance or Declination of Quest ]
"Yatta!" he exclaimed, startling the dog, which scampered back a few steps, its eyes wide.
With a grin that stretched ear to ear, Naruto hurriedly returned the dog to its owner, barely containing his joy at having found the perfect excuse to ditch the dog. The mission was over, and Naruto couldn't have been happier to leave the little bastard behind.
_______________________________________
The sun wasn't yet up.
Konohagakure no Sato was clouded over by the sweet afterglows of early morning fog. Dewdrops of water drooped, coruscating, and the soft cold air hung in abeyance. The sky was tinted a brief dark blue. The birds were drugged and the insects were mute.
It was in this early tranquility, in which even the most fervent and steadfast of mothers would banish the thought of rousing from their depths of slumber, and the most eager of shop owners would assuage themselves that time was in their favor, that a brown haired man worked.
The Training Ground was desolate.
One would easily be thought a mad man, to have been found present there at the ungodly hour.
Yet, this was the strange, peculiar case.
A rhythm had begun with the sound of labored breaths, not the variety expected of more sensitive activities of the night, oh no, rather, it was the sort that one would oft find coming from men who were fleeing from their lives, running, being chased, as though cheetahs had metamorphosed into demons from the beyond, and were hot on their tails.
Grunts of exertion followed in the same manner.
The sounds, echoing dryly into the night air that one would have been forgiven if they assumed a vengeful spirit had risen with the intent of haunting the location with all the subtlety of a scorned lover plotting a swift comeuppance.
Beads of sweat mirrored dew drops.
Falling in their own manner unto moist soil, mixing with the earth and forever marking it with the scents of human effort.
The man in question allowed himself a brief sigh, a quick reprieve, before he rose, stretching his arms as far back as he could.
It wasn't easy, he noted.
It was not easy, not as easy as he had thought.
That, perhaps, was the strangest paradox. He knew it was not easy, yet, he had calculated that the difficulty, no matter how vast, would still be surmountable.
It was not easy to lift a horse unto your shoulder and toss it into a bath, yet, he had been prepared for the difficult task of lifting, of the weight, and of the determination required to painstakingly put one foot in front of the other as he approached his destination, and unleashed the equine into water.
However, he had not been prepared for the creature to resist all the way through, to squirm to fight back, and to extend its rear and deliver hooved kicks into his skull.
It had only been a day, and he knew there could be no immediate results.
Still, he had expected, or at least anticipated, that he would have been able to lift the horse, and take his first step.
Instead, he had barely been able to make the horse budge.
The analogy of the horse was quite apt, he noted with a sigh.
One filled with bitter merriment, the taste of acrid fruit and soured lactate staining his palates.
Maybe if he were to utilize more analogies, his students would be more inclined to listen to him in class.
Or perhaps, would that instead put them to sleep instead?
Would they stare at him like he had grown two heads, the second of which was a cross between an aged monk and a pubescent teen?
Perhaps, he thought, this was a bad idea.
It was unlike him to get riled up so strongly. It was unlike him to grit his teeth and squeeze his fists and then declare that he was going to become stronger.
It was unlike him to find himself completely discontent with his peaceful life as a teacher, imparting new knowledge to the cheerful students who wished to become legends in their own rights.
The world needed teachers - it was a necessity.
Teachers were the ones who built up foundations, who continued traditions, who passed down legacies and ensured that their students would survive, and most importantly, thrive.
He had always wanted to be a teacher, and he had achieved that goal of becoming a teacher.
Then came the next question.
Now, what?
He had never felt the need to ask himself that question before.
He was perfectly content, perfectly fine with his post, his role, as an instructor to young, gentle, fragile minds and hearts of young innocent children.
A task he would continue to do, until perhaps one day he would maybe open a larger academy and become a principal.
"Just a chunin."
Then, then, he remembered those words and his dream fell flat.
His ambition became empty, shallow.
He could not hate the woman, the ANBU, for he knew the type of lives they lived.
He knew that they had seen horrors and committed unspeakable acts in order to ensure that people like him, were able to live comfortable lives out of general risk.
The statistics did not lie, as most shinobi in administrative positions tended to live, on average, at least three times longer than shinobi in the active field. Some of them even got to retire.
Only four out of ten shinobi actually lived long enough to see retirement, and of those four, three of them were bound to have been in administrative positions.
The man shook his head, staring at his sweat drenched form, and he resisted the urge to laugh for doing something so ridiculous.
That ANBU had lit a powerful spark within him, one which was burning even still, and the first thing he had thought of doing was to rush out and train, and then become a Jonin, just to disprove the woman out of spite.
Except, he knew that he wasn't Jonin material.
Jonin were the cream of the crop, the best the village had to offer, most of them were either war heroes or experts in one specific art or another, and some of them had gone above and beyond to be considered S-Class.
In contrast, he, well -
He was pitiful.
Slightly above average chakra reserves, average handseals speed, average genjutsu skills, average taijutsu skills, average ninjutsu skills, average - everything.
He was the very definition of what a Jonin was not.
There was no magic he was going to use to suddenly find himself standing at the top with the likes of Hatake Kakashi and Maito Gai, and the question of course, was that did he even want to stand amongst them?
He shook his head and sighed.
It was a fun thought, entertaining the idea at the time, but of course, there was no way anything close to that would ever happen.
"Iruka-sensei?"
He blinked, his mind drawn from his musings as his eyes flickered over to a familiar blond haired form.
It was a form that he had not seen for weeks, and a form that he had often queried the Hokage on, only to receive often vague confirmations about the boy's whereabouts and activities.
"Naruto?"
The boy's face scrunched up as he stared at him.
"You stink Iruka-sensei. You really, really need a bath."
Iruka's left eye could only twitch ever so lightly.
He wanted to immediate raise his voice, demand questions, ask where the boy had been and what he had been doing, and chastise him for that being the first thing that had come out of his mouth after not seeing him for a long time.
Instead, he said none of those things, and sighed.
"Sure."
The boy blinked, his eyes immediately going wide.
"Huh?"
Iruka scratched the back of his head.
"I'll take a bath Naruto - heaven knows I need one, at least, before classes start for today anyway."
The boy stared, before immediately going defensive.
"Oi - oi - who the hell are you and what have you done with Iruka-sensei?"
He resisted the urge to allow his eye twitch. "Very funny Naruto."
"KAI!"
This time, Iruka's eye did twitch, when he noticed the young blond charge with his hand placed in the familiar seal for dispelling Genjutsu.
"A double-layered illusion! That just proves that there's no way you're Iruka!" He pointed his finger at him accusingly.
"I'm not gonna lose to some imposter! KAI!"
Iruka's eye began twitching madly, as a slow tick mark was beginning to form.
"Huh? A triple layered Genjutsu? N-no way! KA - OUCH!"
His famed fist of tough love was rendered upon the blond's head, smacking him down as Iruka held the comically steaming fist up.
"Still think this is a Genjutsu?"
Iruka watched, as Naruto turned over from his position on the ground, a large fulfilled smile on his face.
"Ah - there you are Iruka-sensei! Hey, hey, did you know that there's a guy going around transformed as you?"
His eye continued twitching. "Oh?"
"Yeah!" Naruto sprang up to his feet in one motion "I mean, he looked like you and all, but he kinda got your face all wrong."
"My face huh?"
"Yup! The guy was all scowls and broody and kinda emo-ish... like teme, but constipated."
Iruka's tick mark returned in full measure.
"So I knew he couldn't be you! I mean, Iruka-sensei is the coolest, kindest, most awesomest teacher I know! Nothing ever gets him down!"
Iruka could not help the manner in which his annoyance deflated. Instead, he could only let out a smile and give a chuckle. "Awesomest isn't a word Naruto."
"Bah! What do those dictionary-guys know about making up cool words?"
He smiled.
"I'm sure the lexicographers know a lot more about it than you might think."
Naruto grinned, a wild, carefree grin.
"See? Only Iruka-sensei would know about awesome words, or know that awesomest isn't a word, or know about mexicographers -"
"Lexicographers." He corrected automatically.
Naruto shook his head.
"See? You're cool Iruka-sensei."
Iruka could only let out a brief chuckle at his student.
"As flattered as I am Naruto, I'm afraid most of what I know is general knowledge. There are Jonin who know much more than I do."
Naruto pouted, putting his hands lazily behind his head.
"I don't see any Jonin spending seven hours a day to teach us anything they know."
Iruka blinked.
Was it coincidence that Naruto's topic had strayed into an area that his mind had recently been contemplating?
Of course it was.
What else could it be?
Still, Iruka engaged in his 'lecture tone'. "They can't Naruto. Jonin are the elite shinobi of the village, and they are needed in the field, carrying out important missions in which they risk their lives and wellbeing for the good of the village."
"I know all that!" Naruto whined, "It's just, you know, they're this super-awesome elite ninja type that everyone wants to be - you think they could spend a day out of their free time and stuff to just branch the Academy and teach us something? Teach us anything?"
Iruka's mouth opened, and then it closed. "There... are reasons... why I don't think that would be possible."
Naruto quirked a disbelieving eyebrow.
"Well..." he placed his hand on a chin "Once you graduate, you'll be assigned to a Jonin-sensei, and they will handle your training -"
"Doesn't that mean that teaching us stuff while we're still in the Academy would kinda make their jobs easier for them in the long run? I mean, we'd already know each other and have a grasp for some of the more complex stuff and all."
Iruka found that to be somewhat true.
"Most of what they could teach you would be rather advanced for people in your age and level Naruto -"
"Which would be way better!" Naruto yelled his hands going up into the air.
"I've been reading jiji's books and there was some stuff in there about Elemental Natures, and how each person has a distinctive nature, and how it takes years to master them! Just think about how much cooler and stronger we would all be if we started learning at the academy?"
And what, let impressionable young children gain access to giant fireballs, tsunamis and hurricanes?
That would have been his response, except... well, it wasn't like that wasn't supposed to be the case anyway.
Kind and caring he may be, but naïve he was not. Would it not be better to let them have access to these powers early?
To teach them the value of responsibility more firmly?
What if a child accidentally shot a fireball at another child and caused grievous harm?
On one hand, both the assaulting party and the receiving party would learn a very valuable lesson about the potential danger inherent in the power and chakra they possessed, and on the other hand, once word got out to civilians, they might be wary of sending their children to a place where they could be grievously harmed or killed.
Or, the children in question would be allured by the realization that there were people their age with that kind of power.
"All I'm saying Iruka-sensei," Naruto began, scratching the back of his head "Is that all we learn is what you guys teach us. And if you taught us - well, if you really taught us, not just boring us to death with old stuff written in books or making us memorize stuff that we'll never really need -"
Naruto shrugged.
"We'd be awesome."
The gears in Iruka's brain churned, as though it had been an old rusty engine which had recently been firmly cleaned and lubricated.
The Konoha Shinobi Academy Teaching Syllabus had not changed too much since the era of the Second Hokage. The only major difference had been the restriction of the graduating age, to allay fears of any more child geniuses going berserk from the pressures of the Shinobi lifestyle, but that was it. They taught the same subjects, the same routines, implemented the same drills and the same practices. This routine of teaching had grown so monotonous that most of the teachers and students alike considered them a chore.
They considered the Shinobi Academy a waste of time.
Iruka could feel his heart thumping heavily in his chest.
He could never be a Jonin.
Sure, he could manage to make his way to Special Jonin class, and then what?
Where would his satisfaction be attained? From going on harder, more dangerous missions?
From the better paycheck?
From the sense of adventure?
Money was not an issue.
Danger was not his calling.
Adventure was not his dream.
Oh no.
He would never be a Jonin.
Instead, he was a teacher.
What if he had been looking at it the wrong way?
What if, instead of wanting to become more in the sense of accomplishment did not mean a promotion?
What if it meant, he became a better teacher?
To teach, to implement knowledge and understanding and tactics, to have his students possess sharp wits, sharper skills, and the sharpest of minds and blades.
So sharp, that upon graduation, their Jonin instructors would gaze upon their skills, mouth agape in astonishment, as the bewildered question escaped their lips:
"Who the hell taught you that?"
Their answers?
"Umino-fucking-Iruka, that's who."
And when the lips of Jonin sang songs of a mysterious teacher who went above and beyond with their students, and said students went on to excel above and beyond, carrying the lessons of their mentors, of their sensei -
He would not even need to find the woman who had scorned him, as she stared in confusion as to how a mere teacher was more respected than she -
He would smile and say:
"Of course you wouldn't understand. You're just an ANBU."
Iruka let out an excited breath.
"Thank you, Naruto."
The blond in question blinked owlishly. "Err... you're welcome? I guess, for whatever awesome cool stuff I did that you're thanking me for?"
He rubbed his hand through the blond boy's hair, a deep smile on his face.
"You helped me realize something. And, I think you may have helped a lot more people than you realize as well."
Naruto grinned.
"Helping people is fun."
Iruka's smile grew wilder.
"Yes it is Naruto."
The image of a classroom full of rambunctious people filled his mind, and the image of these people smiling came right after.
It really is.
[ Quest: Iruka's Cheer-Up Mission ]
[ Status: Successfully Completed ]
[ Rewards Granted: ]
- [ +200 Reputation with Iruka ]
[ Player Naruto's reputation status with Umino Iruka has evolved from Friendly to Honoured. ]
- [ A Lesson ]
[ The Reward Lesson is a benefit that player Naruto can request from Iruka, who will utilize all available resources to assist the player. ]
Naruto smiled as he noticed Iruka, who seemed lost in thought.
"Iruka Sensei, I need your help," he said earnestly.
The man immediately set aside his concerns, giving Naruto his full attention. "Sensei, how can I unlock fire affinity?"
Iruka frowned, unsure how to explain. "Naruto, a chakra nature affinity can't be unlocked. Everyone is born with a unique affinity for an element," he explained, watching as Naruto's shoulders slumped and he dropped to his knees.
"Goddamnit, I can't learn the fireball jutsu. So much for beating that teme to get that reward."
"You fought Sasuke?" Iruka asked, surprised.
"Yeah, I won, by the way."
"And he gave you the fireball jutsu," Iruka repeated, trying to understand.
"Kinda," Naruto replied, his voice low.
"Naruto, you can use fire jutsu without a fire affinity," Iruka stated, trying to lift his spirits.
"Nuh-uh."
Iruka's brow furrowed with concern.
"Naruto, what do you mean 'nuh-uh'? Let me show you."
....
[ Naruto's POV ]
I stood by the lake's edge, watching Iruka Sensei prepare to demonstrate something I thought was impossible for me.
The evening air was cool against my skin, the surface of the lake smooth and reflecting the fading light.
Iruka took a deep breath, his hands moving through seals with practiced ease.
A sense of anticipation tingled through me.
As he completed the final seal, he exhaled sharply.
From his lips burst a brilliant orb of fire, bright against the darkening sky.
It soared over the lake, a fiery sphere casting dancing reflections on the water's surface.
The fireball illuminated everything around us with a warm, orange glow, and the heat from it brushed against my face, even from a distance.
Mesmerized, I watched the fireball travel in an arc before it finally dissipated into sparks that fizzled out like tiny stars returning to the sky.
"Awesome, I can do that?"
Iruka Sensei nodded.
"Yes, while people with a natural fire affinity have a stronger fireball initially."
"Initially?"
"Yes, like everything, practice makes perfect. Do you know what my natural affinity is?" he inquired, his eyes twinkling.
"Being smart?"
I ventured, trying to lighten the mood.
Iruka chuckled softly.
"No, out of the five natural elemental affinities—fire, wind, earth, lightning, and water—my natural affinity is earth."
"Because you are stubborn?"
Iruka just snorted in response.
"Sure, even with my earth affinity, I can do a basic fireball jutsu. Want to try?"
I nodded eagerly.
"Good, take out the jutsu scroll," he instructed.
I froze. I didn't have a jutsu scroll; I just needed to complete the objectives given by the system, and voilà, I'd get the skill.
In a pinch, I activated Spirit Possession, feeling a sudden calm wash over me. Instinctively, it was like whispers in my ears told me what to say.
"Iruka Sensei, I was actually searching for a way to get the fire affinity before trying to practice the jutsu," I explained smoothly.
Iruka nodded, understanding.
"So, I left the scroll at home, but since you already know the jutsu, why not just guide me?"
"Okay," Iruka agreed, then began to explain the basic mechanisms and hand signs.
"Try it," he encouraged.
I nodded, taking a deep breath to center myself.
As I completed the hand signs—Horse, Serpent, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger—I focused intensely, connecting my pointer finger and thumb to form a circle.
Drawing deep into my chakra reserves, I felt the energy swirl and gather, a sensation of warmth spreading from my core to my fingertips.
My breath held, I exhaled slowly, envisioning a blazing inferno in my mind's eye.
A surge of heat burst forth from my lips as a small fireball, the size of a tennis ball, formed and flickered before me.
It was a bright, pulsating orb of orange and red flames, dancing with life.
The heat was intense, almost scorching my face, yet it was exhilarating to feel such power emanating from within me.
The fireball cast a warm glow on my hands, and I could feel the slight sting of heat as if I were holding a lit match too close.
As the fireball hovered in the air for a moment, I marveled at its creation. It was a raw and primal force, yet under my control. The warmth radiated into the cool air of the evening, mixing with the lake's chill in a whirl of steam.
I was creating fire, manipulating the elements with my own chakra—something I had only dreamed of doing.
[ Quest: Learn Fireball Jutsu ]
[ Status: Successfully Completed ]
[ Congratulations, player Naruto has completed the quest without following the objectives. ]
[ Achievement Unlocked: Unpredictability ]
[ Rewards Granted: 5000 Experience Points ]
....
[ Skill: Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu ]
[ Level: 1 (Active) ]
[ CP: 100 CP per 100 units of diameter ]
[ Description: A C rank Jutsu that involves mixing air in your lungs with chakra, then igniting it to form a ball of flames projected towards a target. ]
[ Passive Enhancements: ]
- [ Fire Nature Affinity: Give the user's natural affinity to fire, improving control and potency of fire-based jutsu. ]
[ Active Effects: ]
- [ Air Capacity: Increases the capacity of the lungs to hold air by 25%, allowing for larger and more powerful fireballs. ]
As soon as I saw the fire affinity on the notification screen, I felt a sudden surge within me, warmth spreading from the core of my being. It was like a dormant volcano had awakened inside me, sending ripples of fiery energy coursing through my veins. I could almost hear the crackle and hiss of flames, the sensation so real and vivid.
Now I want to see what a natural fireball looks like.
....
Iruka couldn't hide his pride as Naruto managed to produce a fireball on his first try, and it was impressively sized too.
As he watched Naruto gear up for another attempt, he nodded in approval.
"Good, practice makes perfect," he thought, smiling.
But his smile vanished as the next fireball erupted from Naruto's hands, growing to the size of a house.
Iruka could feel the intense heat washing over him, making him step back instinctively.
As the giant fireball hit the lake, it produced a massive cloud of steam, the hot vapor mixing with the cool air and enveloping him.
A single thought crossed Iruka's mind as he felt the warm steam from the lake hit his face.
"The Third Hokage was taught by the First and the Second. The Fourth Hokage was taught by Lord Jiraiya."
His eyes then turned to Naruto, who was grinning broadly.
"And the Fifth Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki, taught by Umino Iruka."
The thought made him chuckle, swelling his heart with pride as he placed his hand on Naruto's head.
"Let's go get some ramen," he suggested.
"Yatta!" Naruto cheered, darting off ahead, while Iruka's gaze lingered on his back.
He remembered the ANBU's orders—an investigation into a suspected bias of a teacher against a student, the hampering of Naruto's talent by those supposed to nurture it.
Iruka couldn't excuse himself from that list.
"If I had just been better, Naruto would have had the means to have his talents bloom," he thought regretfully.
We need a change—a change in the teachers, a change in the curriculum, a change for something better.
I must meet with the Hokage.
.....
[ Author Note:
This is a big chapter, I know, but it is fun to give Iruka Sensei a bigger role in the story. And yes, Iruka in the last chapter referred to Naruto as the fifth Hokage; it's not a mistake but rather a moment for Iruka where he genuinely and wholeheartedly believes that Naruto can become the Hokage, the fifth Hokage.
But does Naruto want to be Hokage since he now has the Uzumaki clan identity as something to wear as a badge?
Naruto is already suspicious of Hiruzen because of Chapter 38.
Naruto is numb to the village's hatred (revealed in Chapter 17) as he just wants to be there for his friends and be powerful enough to protect them rather than the village as a whole, but since the village is their home, he will protect Konoha, not for the people, but for his friends.
So, this author note is to ask you all what should be the name of Naruto's application of chakra control where he just blasts chakra out of his body and mimics Tsunade's strength.
Thoughts on this development in the comments. No, like seriously, give me your thoughts in the comments, I would love to know.
