Chapter 30
As for Kakashi, who was nearby, he heard Haneda's words, and his expression darkened ominously. He recalled the terror he once felt under Gai's influence.
Suddenly, a loud burst of laughter erupted from the crowd outside.
"Hahaha, you lost, you watermelon head! Competing against Haneda was just overestimating yourself!"
"I, Uchiha Obito, hereby declare that in the match between Haneda and Might Gai, Haneda is the winner!!"
Obito raised a flag high, happily announcing Haneda's victory.
At that moment, Gai gave Obito a thumbs-up:
"Thanks for the encouragement, Uchiha Runta."
Upon hearing the name "Runta," Obito's anger flared up immediately, and he retorted:
"Damn watermelon head! My name is Uchiha Obito!! Uchiha Obito!!!"
...
After Haneda and Kakashi helped Gai leave, a curious boy picked up the sandbag that Gai had casually thrown aside.
With a bit of effort, he managed to place the several-kilogram sandbag down firmly on the ground, almost without moving it.
At that moment, he was stunned.
"Wow, how is Gai's sandbag heavier than a barbell!!"
Hearing this, others in the training field came over curiously.
They tried to lift the sandbag, but even the boys who looked very strong could only hold it at waist height for about five seconds.
"Is Gai some kind of genius in taijutsu?!!"
At this, everyone who tried to lift the sandbag couldn't help but gasp in amazement.
Upon hearing this, the girls walking by were startled and unconsciously quickened their pace.
...
On the other side, in the center of Konoha, in the Hokage building.
Haneda's teacher, Takamura Bunta, stepped into the Third Hokage's office again after a week.
"Hokage-sama," Takamura Bunta said respectfully.
The Third Hokage, sitting in his swivel chair, put down the documents he was holding and smiled:
"Ah, Bunta, has Asuma and the others been okay these days?"
Seeing the amiable Third Hokage, Bunta relaxed a bit.
"Asuma has been fine, but about Haneda…"
"How should I put it? I feel like with his talent, I have nothing more to teach him."
Takamura Bunta scratched the back of his head, feeling he had let down the Hokage's expectations.
"Oh?" The Third Hokage recalled Haneda's unparalleled talent and silently took a puff of his pipe.
He slowly exhaled a smoke ring and asked:
"Did Haneda do anything at school?"
Takamura Bunta shook his head repeatedly:
"Nothing, nothing…"
"Just that he even learned last year's graduation exam question, the Clone Technique, and he can even use the forbidden technique—Shadow Clone Technique."
"Hokage-sama, I feel like I have nothing to teach him anymore; it seems like he's just wasting his time in the ninja academy."
After saying this, Takamura Bunta's face turned red as he unconsciously felt ashamed.
As a teacher, not having anything to impart to his student was quite embarrassing…
"Looks like the sprouts of the new era are quite outstanding…"
After hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in the Third Hokage's eyes.
Back in the day, his most talented student, Orochimaru, likely couldn't compare to Uchiha Haneda at this age.
The Shadow Clone Technique was a forbidden technique invented by the teacher that required precise control of chakra.
But then again…
He is still an Uchiha.
The Third Hokage silently took a puff of his pipe, set it down, and pulled out the list of students who would graduate this year.
On this list, every student was more than capable of graduating, perfectly meeting the requirement to form teams of three.
The Third Hokage picked up a pen, searching for suitable replacements.
Suddenly, the images of Shikaku and Asuma appeared in his mind, becoming clearer and clearer.
A plan that would kill three birds with one stone emerged.
The Third Hokage put down the pen in his hand, picked up the pipe he had just set on the table, and took a slow puff.
As he exhaled a smoke ring, he had already made a decision.
"Well then, Bunta…"
"While Haneda's ninjutsu skills are impressive and meet the graduation standard…"
"His theoretical knowledge is still quite lacking; he only scores single digits on every test."
"There's still a lot he needs to learn. You need to be patient and teach him seriously, Bunta."
"Especially in understanding the village and the Will of Fire."
At this point, the Third Hokage slowly stood up.
He gazed into the distance towards Hokage Rock, where students from the ninja academy were playing and laughing on the training field.
"Wherever the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire continues to burn."
"The firelight will continue to illuminate the village, nurturing the new leaves…"
"Bunta, the burden on your shoulders is still quite heavy."
"Haneda and the others are the new leaves; we are the firelight that shines over Konoha."
"In this age where their thoughts are not yet mature, guide them on the right path."
Hearing the deep hopes of the Third Hokage, Takamura Bunta couldn't help but feel ashamed again.
How much the Hokage trusted him; how could he let him down?
With this thought in mind, Takamura Bunta loudly replied:
"Yes, Hokage-sama! I will definitely teach Haneda seriously and not disappoint your expectations!"
...
After sending off Takamura Bunta, the Third Hokage gazed at the ninja academy for a long time.
"Ah, the Uchiha clan…"
"If it were you, what would you do for him, Sensei?"
The Third Hokage looked at a document on his desk, which detailed the invitation from the Daimyo of the Fire Country for him to visit the Daimyo's mansion.
"Seagull, you immediately go to the Uchiha clan's location, find Uchiha Haneda, and tell him to come to my office."
The Third Hokage spoke to a shadow that no one was paying attention to.
At that moment, a man wearing a large bird mask came before the Third Hokage.
He knelt on one knee and said, "Yes, Hokage-sama."
...
At this time, Haneda was not at the Uchiha clan but was on his way to Gai's home.
Since Gai had been injured by Haneda's kick, he could not move his legs after receiving treatment in the infirmary.
So, Haneda and a reluctant Obito helped Gai home.
"Gai, your taijutsu is really strong; who did you learn it from?" Haneda asked knowingly.
"My dad." Gai felt a bit shy when he mentioned his father.
His father, Might Dai, was a forever genin level ninja.
What does that mean?
It means that since graduating from the ninja academy, he had always been a low-ranking ninja, serving as a cautionary tale.
Due to only being skilled in taijutsu, Dai often faced disdain from his peers and ridicule from other ninjas.
However, in Haneda's eyes, Dai was not someone who only knew taijutsu; rather, he was someone who embodied taijutsu.
This statement would equally apply to Gai in the future.
"Well, your dad's taijutsu must be really strong too, right?" Haneda smiled.
"Mm." Gai nodded seriously, "To me, my dad's taijutsu is the strongest!"
"What strongest taijutsu? Isn't he just a forever genin ranking ninja? What's there to be proud of, you watermelon head?"
Obito made a downward motion with his thumb, but he was met with Gai's thumbs-up.
"Thanks for the encouragement, Uchiha Runta."
"Damn watermelon head! How many times do I have to say it? I am Uchiha Obito! Uchiha Obito!!!"
"Let me tell you one last time!"
"I, Uchiha Obito, am going to be the future Hokage, the man whose face will be carved on Hokage Rock; you better remember that!"
***
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