Chapter 26: Great Righteousness and Extermination of Family Members, Sarutobi Asuma?

Chapter 26: Great Righteousness and Extermination of Family Members, Sarutobi Asuma?

The four members of Team Kakashi sat down with their legs crossed and their eyes closed, just as Iruka had instructed. 

"Very good. Empty your minds, don't think about anything, and slowly... slowly... sense your inner self... sense your chakra..." 

Iruka's voice gradually became ethereal, lulling Team Kakashi into a trance, making them forget everything else. 

Until... 

A series of snores filled the room. 

Tap!

Naruto, feeling confused and groggy, opened his eyes and asked, "What is it, Iruka-sensei?" 

His voice was filled with bewilderment, laziness, and incomprehension. 

"Naruto, you fell asleep just now," Iruka said with a smile. 

"Hmm, I must be really tired then. I want to keep sleeping..." Naruto yawned and tried to close his eyes again. 

"Stay alert, you're forgetting why you're here," Iruka reminded him. 

Uzumaki Naruto started and recalled everything that had happened before. 

Scratching his head, he said, "Sorry, Iruka-sensei... I don't know how I dozed off like that." 

As he spoke, he glanced at Sakura by his side and then at Sai and Yamato, continuing, "Um, Iruka-sensei, they also fell asleep, right? Should I wake them up?" 

"Naruto, take a closer look at them," Iruka suggested. 

Naruto frowned and cautiously examined his three teammates. 

Yamato and Sai seemed normal, their breathing steady. 

But if you looked closely, there seemed to be a translucent layer of energy flowing beneath Sakura's normally pale skin. 

"Sakura! Sakura looks so weird!" Naruto exclaimed. 

"You noticed? Good job. This indicates that Sakura has already sensed her chakra and activated it. Once she becomes completely familiar with it, she can move on to the next step of her training," Iruka explained, a look of appreciation appearing on his face. 

"Amazing! As expected of Sakura! She was the best in academics back in the Ninja Academy!" Naruto said, a hint of admiration and aspiration in his voice. 

"Sakura is indeed very smart and perceptive. Such people are actually more suited for the spiritual martial arts path. But she won't fall short with the Six Paths Senjutsu either," Iruka agreed with a nod. 

"But... what about Yamato-taicho and Sai? Are they really not asleep?" Naruto asked, turning to his other two teammates with a puzzled expression. 

"Yamato and Sai's perceptiveness and adaptability aren't as strong as Sakura's, but they are still in the process of understanding. Out of all of you, only you, Naruto, actually fell asleep," Iruka said with a helpless look on his face as he gazed at Naruto. 

"Ahahaha! So that's how it is! Sorry about that, Iruka-sensei! But I'll succeed for sure this time! Watch me!" Naruto said. He then performed a series of hand seals. 

In an instant, a cloud of smoke rose, and over a dozen shadow clones of Naruto appeared in Iruka's office, filling the once spacious room. 

Iruka was surprised by this turn of events and asked, "What are you doing?" 

"Iruka-sensei, I know I'm not as smart as Sakura, Yamato, and Sai, but I have my own advantages! I have more chakra and stamina than them! So, if I don't succeed the first time, I can try again and again—a second, third, tenth, or even a hundred times! Until I do succeed!" Naruto said with a smile, causing Iruka to understand, but at the same time, he couldn't help but worry. 

"Shadow Clone Training? While this method is effective, the subsequent surge of memories and fatigue from the clones is something that not just anyone can handle, Naruto," Iruka cautioned. 

"It's okay, Iruka-sensei. I'm already used to it!" Naruto said resolutely. 

"I see. All right then," Iruka nodded. 

And so, a new round of training began. 

All the Narutos gradually stabilized their breathing. 

But if any of them fell asleep, Iruka would tap them to wake them up, and this continued until one of the clones truly entered the required state and passed that sensation back to the original body... 

Naruto also began to truly enter a meditative state. 

After an unknown amount of time had passed, Naruto slowly opened his eyes and looked at Iruka excitedly. 

"Iruka-sensei, I really did it! Now I can clearly feel a warm current in my abdomen; it feels so comfortable! I can even move it to any part of my body!" Naruto exclaimed. 

"Congratulations!" Iruka smiled. 

"Congratulations, Naruto!" 

Sakura's gentle and familiar voice rang in his ear. 

Naruto turned his head and saw his three teammates smiling at him. 

"Did you all succeed?"

"Yes."

"Great! Now everyone can become stronger and better protect the village!" Naruto exclaimed joyfully.

His three teammates also smiled at the thought.

Previously, the gap between them and the people of this world had been immense. But now, with their grasp of this new power called martial arts, that gap might soon be narrowed or even erased entirely. And after that, they could pass on their knowledge of martial arts true qi to the rest of the village.

If anything unexpected were to happen with the Empire, at least they would be able to put up some resistance. The four of them had the same thought.

"Now that you have a basic grasp of true qi, the next step is to incorporate it into your daily training and practice circulating it! Come on, follow me, and let's train together with your other classmates!"

Iruka smiled broadly and headed toward the door.

Team Kakashi hurried to keep up with him.

As they exited the faculty building, Iruka led them to another classroom in the teachers' building.

The room was already filled with young children who looked to be around nine or ten years old. They greeted Iruka in unison when they saw him.

"Good morning, Iruka-sensei!"

Then they turned their curious gazes toward Team Kakashi.

"Good morning, everyone! Before class starts, I'd like to introduce you to a few new classmates!" Iruka said.

"New classmates? You don't mean these uncles and aunties beside you, do you?"

A child with his hair sticking up, a fake mustache on his face, and a cigarette in his mouth looked at Team Kakashi disdainfully.

"Hey, you brat! What's that look for?"

Naruto clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with anger as he glared at the child.

This kid was asking to be punched! Just who did he think he was dealing with? Naruto had even punched the grandson of the Third Hokage!

"Yeah! Who are you calling an old lady, you brat?!" Sakura's veins popped out on her forehead as she yelled back.

"Of course, I'm talking about you! Who else is there besides the four of you? Am I right, everyone?"

The child replied arrogantly.

"Aster Sarutobi is right!" Another child with sunglasses and a headband scarf chimed in.

"You little brats!"

Naruto and Sakura were furious and wanted to rush over and punch them.

Iruka glared at the two children: "Aster Sarutobi! Hermes! How dare you speak like that?"

"I'm just stating the obvious. Look at them; they're obviously old! Especially the guy with the metal thing on his head; he looks like he's in his forties! What's he doing here at the Imperial Magic Academy with us? Doesn't he know he should be embarrassed?

They're so weak; they'd be better off as logistics ninjas farming in the fields. It's embarrassing to be in the same class as them."

The smoking child scoffed.

"!!"

Taiyo, who had been silent and quietly amused by the situation, stiffened.

A forty-year-old uncle? Me?! I'm only in my thirties! Naruto, Sakura, and Sai's faces twitched as they listened to the child's bold words.

But... this kid is a Sarutobi?

"You little brat, are you Asuma's kid?" Naruto asked, looking at the smoking child.

"How are you the old man's disciple? No way! My grandpa is a hero, so how could he possibly take on a disciple as old as you, still attending classes at this age?"

The smoking child was skeptical.

"Asuma-sensei is a hero here? Impressive! But why is his kid so rude?"

Naruto glared at the smoking child, his teeth clenched.

"Rude? I don't feel the need to be polite to someone who doesn't even understand history and is so weak," Aster Sarutobi retorted disdainfully.

"Yeah! Anyone who doesn't know why Asuma-san is a hero doesn't deserve our respect!"

The child with sunglasses agreed, looking down on them.

"Damn! Then tell me why Asuma-sensei is a hero!" Naruto demanded.

"Hmph! You really want to know, you stupid uncle? Fine, I'll take pity on you and tell you then!

Asuma-san used to dwell in darkness, enduring unimaginable inner torment. But he eventually saw the light and seized the opportunity to carry out a great righteous act by killing one of the leaders of the Ninja Village remnants, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Danzo Shimura!

He also contributed greatly to the Empire's liberation of the Ninja World. Now do you understand?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end