Chapter 11: Log In to Get a Free Draw

The small talk was just about done. Since the two advisors still hadn't offered any real suggestions about Kirigakure, they didn't stay long. After a polite farewell, they got up and left, giving Danzō and Hiruzen the space to talk alone.

"This kind of approach doesn't seem like your style, Hiruzen."

Now that the advisors were gone, Danzō finally had the chance to unload on Hiruzen.

Forcing him to publicly acknowledge Takeshi's existence in front of the advisors—this guy, Hiruzen...

Hiruzen just shook his head at the comment, not even bothering to set down his pipe.

He hadn't expected the pressure to be so effective. Or maybe everything had just gone far too smoothly—Danzō actually admitted Takeshi was his son.

"Heh, Danzō, aren't you the same?"

"But, Koharu and Homura weren't wrong. As Takeshi's elders, we really should go see him."

With both advisors gone, Hiruzen freely lit his pipe without any concern.

Danzō's face twisted in disgust as he smelled the secondhand smoke.

This guy—of all times to smoke, it had to be when they were alone?

Sure enough, the person he hated most was this man in front of him!

"Give it a rest, Hiruzen. Takeshi is my son. A soft-hearted guy like you should stay far away from him. I'll make him into a real shinobi!"

Unable to stand breathing in Hiruzen's smoke, Danzō walked to the door and rejected the olive branch.

"The way you raise kids is what's really the problem, Danzō."

Hiruzen cheerfully tapped his pipe on the edge of the table.

"You tossed everything onto Biwako's shoulders—you have no right to say that."

That single sentence struck Hiruzen like a dagger, making him freeze mid-motion.

"You're too extreme, Danzō. I had to do that because of the duties of being Hokage!"

Recalling his failures as a father, Hiruzen's face darkened—something that rarely happened.

"I'm Takeshi's father, Hiruzen!"

Danzō flicked his sleeve and refused to continue the argument.

Without thinking, Hiruzen blurted out:

"You—you'll regret this, Danzō!"

And then silence.

Both of them sank into thought.

This scene... Why did it feel so familiar? Almost like a role reversal from long ago?

...

Elsewhere, Takeshi followed Aburame Ryōma to a small two-story house.

The location was great—right in the heart of Konohagakure.

He pushed open the gate and entered the courtyard, only to find an unfamiliar figure waiting inside.

"My name is Aburame Ryōma. This is Yamanaka Akira. Starting today, we'll be responsible for your protection and training."

As Akira arrived, Ryōma introduced them both.

"Hello, Ryōma... san? Uh, Akira-san?"

Takeshi looked at their faces and tried cautiously.

"Ahem."

Ryōma visibly stumbled at the title.

"Just call me Ryōma."

Being lumped into the same generation as Danzō was something Ryōma hurriedly waved off.

If word got out that he was on the same level as Danzō-sama, he'd vanish from the village the next day.

Akira also looked uncomfortable, trying to shut the idea down:

"Yeah, just call me Akira."

"But... isn't that a bit rude?"

Looking up at the two men—both much taller than him—Takeshi tried to argue, but Ryōma cut him off:

"Enough, Takeshi. Danzō-sama ordered us to guide your training. Don't get caught up in unimportant things like titles."

"Yes, sensei!"

Feeling Ryōma's aura, Takeshi straightened up immediately.

"Sensei it is. Beats calling them 'san' anyway."

Akira rubbed his smooth face, wondering to himself whether he looked younger than Danzō's wrinkled mug.

"Back in Kirigakure, did you undergo any formal training?"

Ryōma asked his first question.

"No, but I did refine chakra according to the scroll my mother left behind."

Takeshi shook his head, answering truthfully.

Hearing that Takeshi had a scroll, Ryōma asked where it was:

"And that scroll?"

"I left it in Kirigakure. That place isn't exactly friendly to ninja, so..."

Honestly, with the state Kirigakure was in, he was lucky to leave behind a token kunai as a cover story—he could at least claim he picked it up somewhere.

As for the scroll... Sorry, he wasn't ready to die like Haku's mother, butchered by villagers with farming tools.

So after barely learning the basics of chakra refinement, Takeshi had hidden the scroll.

It didn't even contain many jutsu anyway, so he didn't care if it got lost.

"I see. Go ahead and refine your chakra. Let me observe."

Ryōma nodded in understanding. With a shake of his sleeve, a swarm of black bugs poured out.

Takeshi obediently closed his eyes, formed the Tiger seal, and began refining his chakra.

Using the bugs, Ryōma watched the chakra flow in Takeshi's body. After confirming there were no issues, he said:

"That's enough."

"Your chakra refinement method is fine. You can keep using it. But since you're still young, don't do it for too long. If your stamina runs out while refining, it'll place a huge burden on your body—especially since your stamina is far below others your age."

Takeshi nodded.

Yeah, it all came down to bloodline. He got it.

"So..."

Ryōma clenched his fist, remembering Danzō's orders.

"Train him the way Root operatives are trained," Danzō had said coldly when Ryōma asked how to handle Takeshi's development.

Training like Root… That usually meant tossing him into a pit of death row inmates.

But clearly, that wouldn't fly with Danzō's own son.

So there was only one answer.

Before Takeshi could react, Ryōma punched.

"Try fighting me first."

???

Shouldn't we be starting with something like running laps?

Takeshi, now flying backward through the air, was just short of screaming curses.

...

Three hours later.

Takeshi was pulled out of a wall again. Yamanaka Akira used Healing Jutsu to heal his injuries.

"Ryōma-sensei, how about we take a break?"

With several broken ribs freshly mended, Takeshi raised his hand to signal a time-out.

I'm not even a genin yet, and you've got me fighting a jōnin?

I can't even see your moves—what the hell am I training for?

You're seriously not doing this out of spite toward Danzō-sama?

Also, what's up with the neighbors? Their patience is insane.

I've practically smashed through their wall, and they haven't said a word!

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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