Konoha: Unable to learn ninjutsu, they had to develop their own.

What kind of swordsmanship could he create himself?

Gale watched from the side.

At first, he could understand that Chiba was practicing Iaijutsu, but later he gradually couldn't understand it anymore.

This swordsmanship...

"Uncle, what is he practicing? Something seems off to me."

Moonlight and Sasa leaned closer and asked in a low voice.

She had given up comparing herself to Chiba; that guy was no ordinary person, and comparing herself to him would only damage her self-confidence.

Moonlight Gale pondered for two seconds and said, "It seems to be a dual-wielding style."

Dual-wielding?

Kazusa paused for a moment, then turned her head to take a closer look.

It really is!

Chiba's sword techniques all attack only one side, while his other hand seems to be doing something in coordination. Normally, dual swords are used for offense and defense, but his style...

I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's just one word: weird.

"Did you understand?"

"Well."

"uncle?"

"It should be used in conjunction with an assassination sword technique. By the way, the Hokage has some matters to attend to, so please take good care of them."

Moonlight and Gale fled in disarray.

He couldn't understand Chiba's swordsmanship, but he felt that the other party seemed to have his own way of thinking, so it was best not to comment.

If you don't understand, you don't understand. What's the point of hiding it?

We know that, don't we?

Kazusa pouted, ignoring her proud uncle who had run away, and turned back to the training ground.

Seeing Tian Tian, ​​she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Fortunately, not everyone in the team is a freak; there's someone normal like her, so she doesn't seem too stupid.

After a day of training, Chiba requested another training session the next day, and both Tenten and Kazusa wore long faces.

no way.

Being with Chiba is really discouraging.

But Chiba doesn't train all the time. In his spare time, he'll point out their shortcomings, especially their techniques at their muscle limits, so...

They were experiencing both pain and joy.

three days later.

"Wow, you guys are training really hard!"

Kakashi was perched on a tree, holding the book "Make-Out Paradise" in his hand.

"That's right. There's a certain teacher who hasn't shown up lately. It feels like Chiba-kun is almost becoming our teacher."

He always stands with his hands on his hips and retorts.

"Haha, the capable should do more work, wanna go do a task?"

Kakashi said with a smile.

"Task?!!"

"Go! Of course!"

Kazusa nodded repeatedly.

Chiba didn't care. As for the tasks, in the early stages, they would probably just involve helping people carry water and chop wood, or at most, helping rich women catch cats. There was no challenge at all.

"Hehe, are you feeling pressured by being given a C-level mission right off the bat?"

Kakashi said with a smile.

"No way!" x3

Chiba didn't want to do chores, but he was very interested in C-rank missions.

These missions generally do not involve actual combat, and even if they do, they are mostly for ordinary people or samurai. However, to take on high-level missions, you must improve your "resume".

and.

For a rookie team like theirs to receive a C-level mission, they must have gotten special treatment from higher-ups; they can't ask for more.

"Then let's meet at the Hokage Building!"

"Yes!"

As soon as the sound ended, there was a "whoosh".

Four figures simultaneously headed towards the Hokage Building.

Chapter 28: Is stripping away ninjutsu really that simple?

"A C-rank mission? Uh, well, the Hokage did mention beforehand that your team could take on C-rank missions, so please choose one."

The Chunin in charge of registration laid out the task list.

Chiba glanced down at the list and saw countless tasks, such as escorting caravans and delivering documents.

and many more!

Escort Sakuraba Sataki to the Temple of Fire?

Sakuraba seems to be the surname of a noble family in the Land of Fire, and he also has some interest in the Fire Temple.

Isn't this perfect!

"Kakashi-sensei, let's choose this one."

Escort Sakuraba Sataki.

Task Level: C.

Chiba chuckled: "If a real fight breaks out, don't cower in the back and be too afraid to draw your swords. At the very least, you'd better protect the mission target for me."

Chiba felt a surge of relief.

Kakashi saw through Chiba's intentions.

After registering at the entrance, the two girls instantly came to life.

The chunin wanted to persuade him further.

The two shared a common hatred for the enemy.

Does this child want to go to the Temple of Fire?

He thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "This is it."

The two girls were overjoyed and their faces were full of excitement.

Chiba remained completely calm, carrying a small bag with three books on it.

Fortunately, I didn't need help carrying the bag.

Tsukiko Kazusa didn't speak. Chiba noticed that she would hide herself when there were many people around...

The four of them walked slowly toward the door.

This is something to watch during the mission.

Every day, he looked excited.

"That's just perfect!"

"Hey, who are you underestimating? You're the one who shouldn't be scared!"

Kakashi nodded again, and the other person had no choice but to take off the mission card and hand it to him.

"Lord Kakashi, this mission requires you to go to Kyoto to pick up Sakuraba Sataki first. There may be some battles that do not involve ninjas, so please be careful."

He walked and looked around, completely oblivious to the noise around him. In contrast, the girls seemed very enthusiastic, as if they were going shopping.

"received."

During a break, Kakashi asked curiously, "Isn't it your first mission? Aren't you nervous?"

"No, and the mission hasn't even started yet. If we start worrying now, it means we're not qualified to take on a C-level mission."

Chiba ate a hunger-suppressing soldier's ration pill and then continued reading.

Blood, life—he had seen too much of it during his time in the hospital. Birth, aging, sickness, and death were all too common for ninjas, let alone ordinary samurai.

If Chiba encounters an enemy during a mission, he will show no mercy.

of course.

That would be best if there were no unexpected events.

Chiba read silently, occasionally putting the book down and gesturing with his hands.

Kakashi observed silently from the side, his heart filled with countless emotions.

Initially, he chose to take Chiba with him for a year to see how things went, but now, he has been moved by the three people.

They all work very hard.

While constantly honing her chakra skills, Moonlight Kazusa conceals her presence in the shadows, observing and keeping watch, and seemingly secretly practicing some kind of technique.

Chiba goes without saying.

This guy worked incredibly hard, and on top of that, he was exceptionally talented. The ninjas of his era were destined for both good and bad fortune.

They don't need to worry about being lost and confused without anyone to guide them; there is always a figure ahead of them, and that is precisely the tragic aspect.