Especially for certain elders who hadn't fought in years and whose strength was average at best. If surrounded by enemies, they wouldn't stand a chance.
"Alright, I'll stay home and not run around while you're away," Kushina said, her voice tinged with reluctance. She knew that Shinki's departure was inevitable, but she was sensible enough to understand her limits. While he was gone, she'd stick to her routine: home, the ninja academy, the market, and the shopping district—no straying beyond those places or venturing out at night.
"That's my good girl," Shinki said, smiling as he ruffled Kushina's hair. She beamed and leaned into his embrace.
After reassuring her, Shinki turned to Minato and Nawaki. "Minato, you'll continue your training as planned while I'm gone. Remember what I said—don't go wandering around. Stay put."
"Yes, sensei," Minato replied obediently. He knew that his teacher had made plenty of enemies. While Shinki wasn't worried about retaliation, Minato understood that careless behavior could endanger him.
"And you," Shinki said, fixing Nawaki with a sharp look. Before Shinki could launch into a lecture, Nawaki raised his hand defensively and said, "I promise I won't go running off. I'll train with Minato."
"Good. I hope you stick to that promise. And don't even think about those little schemes you've been cooking up. If I come back and find out you sneaked out on a mission with others, you might as well prepare to spend time in the Anbu prison."
Nawaki had a habit of getting restless and even contemplating forming a team with friends to go on missions.
"Ah? How did you know that?" Nawaki blurted out.
Shinki picked up a chopstick and lightly flicked it against Nawaki's head. "My puppets have been keeping an eye on you. Want to go on a mission? Finish your training first. Until then, you're not stepping a foot outside the village."
"If you try to run off and get your legs broken by my puppets, don't come crying to me," Shinki added. He'd given his puppets strict orders: if Nawaki disobeyed, they were to restrain him, even if it meant breaking his legs.
Nawaki gulped. "You really have to go that far, huh?"
Shinki's stern warning left him with no doubt. If he tried to act out, he'd pay the price.
"Alright, listen up," Shinki said, clapping his hands. "For the next three days, I'm staying home, so I'll be around if you need anything. Just make sure that when I leave, you stick to your routines."
"Yay! I want to go shopping and buy new clothes! And eat barbecue—lots of barbecue!" Kushina shouted, jumping up in excitement.
"Me too! New clothes and barbecue!" Nawaki added, his eyes lighting up.
Kushina might not have been short on money, but she cherished having Shinki accompany her. Nawaki, on the other hand, often ran out of the allowance Shinki gave him and was looking forward to a treat.
"What about you, Minato?" Shinki turned to his quieter student.
Minato smiled, scratching the back of his head. "Sensei, could we train together?"
Compared to eating and shopping, Minato was more interested in honing his skills and improving his strength.
"That won't work," Shinki said, shaking his head. "These next three days, I'm taking a break from training. But I'll have one of my puppets spar with you to help sharpen your combat skills."
Training with a puppet meant there would be no holding back. The puppet could move with full speed and intensity without worrying about injuries, providing Minato with a more rigorous experience.
"Awesome!" Minato said, his eyes lighting up.
"What about me? Do I get to train with the puppet too?" Nawaki pointed to himself eagerly.
"You?" Shinki raised an eyebrow. "Stick to your water-style jutsu practice. Until your reaction speed matches Minato's, you'd just end up getting pounded by the puppet."
Deep down, Nawaki knew Shinki was right. He didn't have the reaction speed to keep up with a puppet's relentless attacks. Sparring with one would just lead to a one-sided beating.
"…"
Despite his disappointment, Nawaki couldn't deny that he wasn't ready. He knew the puppets didn't pull punches and would press on without hesitation. A sparring session could easily turn into a painful experience.
Shinki's collection of puppets ranged in strength. Some were crafted from the bodies of powerful shinobi and were formidable in battle. There were also puppets made from secret, powerful creatures. These stayed hidden and only emerged when necessary, mainly assigned to protect Kushina.
During the next three days, Shinki devoted time to Kushina, who basked in his attention and spent the days smiling non-stop. Meanwhile, Nawaki and Minato, finding themselves restless, continued their training with determination.
After hours of rigorous training, Nawaki and Minato lay on the grass in the yard, sweaty and exhausted. Nawaki went inside to grab two bottles of juice, handing one to Minato before taking a long drink from his own.
"Minato, why do you think Shinki is so strict with us? He doesn't even let us step outside the village," Nawaki said, his tone a mix of frustration and contemplation.
He appreciated the sense of security but couldn't help feeling envious of classmates who were already forming teams and going on missions. Only he and Minato remained in the village, training intensely instead of participating in fieldwork.
"It's for protection," Minato said simply after taking a sip of juice.
"Protection?" Nawaki echoed, brow furrowing. "I know Shinki means well, and I understand he's looking out for me. But is it really okay for us to just keep training like this, never going on missions or fighting real battles?"
Minato glanced at Nawaki, recognizing the doubt sparked by seeing their classmates' achievements.
"I don't see anything wrong with it," Minato replied, his voice steady. "Sensei always said that newly graduated shinobi are like flowers in a greenhouse. It's better to train hard and build our strength now than to leave the village unprepared."
He hesitated for a moment before adding, "Actually, Nawaki, you only see the surface. You don't see the hidden dangers and risks."
"Like what?" Nawaki asked, curiosity piqued.
"How many of our classmates from our graduation year are still around?" Minato said, spreading his hands.
Nawaki paused, stunned into silence. He remembered their last class reunion and how many familiar faces were missing. Some were still out on missions, but others… others had already been lost.
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Up to Chapter 355 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
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