Watching Danzo walk away without saying a word, Torifu could only shrug helplessly and turn back to Hoshiyomi and the others.
"He's always had a bit of a temper," Torifu said with a wry smile. "Don't take it personally. As for those scrolls—go ahead and keep them. Danzo meant well."
"Next time you see him, just flatter him a little and everything will be fine. He may look gruff, but he's a softie deep down."
Hoshiyomi glanced at the scrolls left on the ground. Torifu's explanation didn't ease his mind much. Compared to Danzo's friendly facade, he was far more inclined to trust the version he knew from his past life—the one who ordered the assassination of comrades he'd fought beside for decades.
He'd been worried he'd be assigned under Danzo's command. Now that he was safely placed in Torifu's team, he had no intention of drawing attention to himself. Playing it safe and keeping a low profile—that was the smart move.
So in the end, Danzo's visit was just a brief interruption for Team Torifu. The three of them accepted the scrolls and politely moved on. Strength was still their top priority.
Torifu's teaching style differed greatly from Hiruzen's. While Hiruzen favored steady daily training and gradual accumulation of knowledge, Torifu preferred to throw his students into real missions, identifying problems as they arose and correcting them through combat experience.
This distinction in teaching philosophy began shaping the development of Hoshiyomi and his teammates.
In just three months, the trio had completed over ten D-rank missions similar to the bandit-clearing job in Hanabi Village. In contrast, Tsunade's team had only completed one mission during that same period.
Still, the two squads remained close friends. Whenever they had downtime, they'd gather for a meal to catch up and share updates about their respective teams.
Yūhi Shinku had quickly blended into the group. After completing more than ten missions, he'd finally shaken off his old fear of leaving the village. With his psychological burden gone, he returned to his usual self: gentle, talkative, and easy to get along with.
That afternoon, the six of them met up at a local fried chicken shop. As they dug into their meals, the complaints began:
"Ugh, Hoshiyomi, I'm dying here," Jiraiya groaned, mouth full. "Hiruzen-sensei is so boring. He won't take us on missions, and he won't let us take our own. All we ever do is train, train, train—I'm gonna explode!"
"Same," Tsunade chimed in, pouting. "I really wanna get out of the village and do something exciting."
"What's wrong with training in the village?" Orochimaru said coolly, sipping his drink. "It gives us more time to develop new jutsu. What, you want to run off and get killed like an idiot?"
"Preach," Shinku nodded. "You guys don't know how lucky you are. I'd love to just train at home. Instead, I keep getting dragged into bloody skirmishes with bandits. I'm a genjutsu specialist—why do I have to keep brawling with filthy thugs?!"
"Easy for you to say, Orochimaru," Jiraiya snapped. "Sensei actually likes you. You've learned, like, ten jutsu in the last three months. If I could learn that many, I'd be happy to stay in the village too."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Could it be because someone's still struggling to master Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu after two whole months?"
Jiraiya flinched like he'd taken a direct hit. "Wha—! It's not like I didn't learn it—"
"You didn't," Tsunade cut in mercilessly. "I saw you fail the hand signs two days ago."
Jiraiya's face turned red as a tomato, veins popping on his forehead. "That's only because sensei talks too fast! How am I supposed to memorize all that in one go?!"
More bold declarations followed—how he'd definitely surpass Orochimaru one day, how he'd become the greatest ninja ever. The others couldn't help but burst into laughter. The shop filled with an easy camaraderie and lively chatter.
This was usually when Hoshiyomi would jump in with some motivational words, feeding Jiraiya a bit of confidence and encouragement.
And to be fair, Hoshiyomi wasn't wrong. At this point in time, Jiraiya was clearly lagging behind his teammates. It wouldn't be until he failed his summoning training and stumbled into Mount Myōboku that his legendary rise would truly begin.
What Hoshiyomi didn't know was that his pep talk wasn't just inspiring Jiraiya. It was also touching someone else not far away.
Crash!
The sound of a shattering cup drew everyone's attention. The shopkeeper's voice rang out, harsh and angry:
"Can't even wipe a table properly! What use are you? I must've been out of my mind taking in a clumsy brat like you!"
The culprit was a boy in a green bodysuit, around the same age as Hoshiyomi and the others. He bowed repeatedly, apologizing profusely as the shopkeeper stormed into the kitchen.
Now that he turned around, the group got a good look at his face—and his outfit.
Shinku fell silent. Tsunade looked like she was about to cry.
Green tights, orange leg warmers, a faded yellow scarf, thick eyebrows, and a bowl cut. The whole ensemble could only be described as "visually traumatizing."
The shopkeeper, despite his temper, clearly had a soft spot. After a few grumbles, he disappeared back into the kitchen, leaving the boy to sweep up the mess.
The boy quickly cleaned up, then turned and beamed at Hoshiyomi's group, flashing a smile bright enough to blind a Byakugan user.
Hoshiyomi and Orochimaru exchanged a look. Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and asked,
"Duy… what are you doing here?"
Hoshiyomi's suspicions were confirmed. This oddball kid, with his awkward smile and overwhelming optimism, was none other than Might Duy—the man who would one day define the meaning of youth, and use the Eight Gates to beat the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist into a retreating mess.
Of course, right now he didn't look like a future legend. The cheap clothes and scrawny frame made it clear life hadn't been easy for him.
Duy scratched his head awkwardly. "Ah… I'm saving up to buy weighted training gear, so I picked up a part-time job here."
Then his eyes lit up. He looked over to Hoshiyomi, eyes sparkling with hope.
"Were you the one saying those things earlier? About how hard work leads to success? That even someone like me can become a ninja if I never give up?"
Hoshiyomi saw the boy's trembling excitement and smiled warmly. He placed a hand on Dai's shoulder and said sincerely:
"Yes. As long as you're willing to work hard, you will succeed. I believe in you. One day, I know you'll become a truly great ninja."
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin