"It really brings back memories." Yahiko looked at the iron gate in front of him, a faint smile on his face, and murmured, "I never expected Teacher Tobi would actually come back."
Back then, after Principal Madara passed away, Teacher Tobi left the Land of Whirlpools for no reason. Asking Brother Jun about it only resulted in him saying that Tobi was tired and planned to take a break for a while, and so on. Everyone knew at the time that this was just an excuse, but seeing Brother Jun's serious expression then, they didn't press further. Yet, who would have thought Teacher Tobi would return just at this time?
"Teacher Tobi probably couldn't find a job outside and almost ended up eating dirt."
He turned to look at Nagato and Konan beside him...
"That's why he decided to come back, right?"
It had been so long since the three of them had gathered together like today.
He did come back during the last war, but time was tight, and the three of them didn't have the leisure to chat idly and stroll around like now. As for when the war ended...
Nagato was still volunteering in Konoha.
"It must be like that." Konan nodded, squinting her eyes, a happy smile on her face, and said, "With his drawing skills, it would be strange if he could find a job."
He only knows how to draw poop...
It was already quite difficult for him to find a job in the Land of Whirlpools, let alone elsewhere.
"So, he must have been on the verge of starvation outside before coming back."
Then, Konan greeted the security guard at the gate, pushed the door open, and urged Nagato and the others to hurry inside...
"Hurry up, otherwise we might disturb Teacher Tobi's class later."
Although it's just drawing poop anyway...
"Konan is still the same as always." Yahiko shook his head, a wry smile on his face, and said, "By the way, where is that cat?"
She used to love holding it very much before. Why hadn't he seen it with her today?
"You mean Shiraben?" Nagato yawned, a look of helplessness on his face, and said, "Originally, we planned to train it into the strongest summon, but after being tricked by that white-haired uncle..."
You know...
"Its strength didn't increase much, but it got a lot fatter. Konan can barely hold it now."
He spread his hands...
"It's really too heavy."
"Haha." Yahiko was startled upon hearing Nagato's words, then laughed heartily and said, "I never thought Shiraben would end up getting fat."
He knew about Konan's goal back then, to train Shiraben as her summon. But she got tricked by Teacher Jiraiya once, and then Konan decided to train it herself, never expecting it would end in...
Failure.
"Must be heartbreaking for Konan."
"Eh, not really." Nagato was taken aback and said, "After Shiraben got fat, it's still good for warming feet and stuff, and it feels quite comfortable to pet, all chubby."
Not to mention, he finds the current Shiraben quite amusing.
"Is that so?" Yahiko nodded with a smile as he walked, then looked at Konan ahead, who was still as cheerful and unchanged as ever, and said, "What are you two planning to do?"
So much time has passed...
If he hadn't come to the Land of Whirlpools as a child back then, who knows what would have become of them all?
And now...
Everyone has become remarkable ninjas.
"What do you mean, what are we planning?" Nagato looked at Yahiko blankly, puzzled, and said, "What else can we do? Just stay in the Land of Whirlpools."
If the Land of Whirlpools moves its capital, we might go to the Land of Hot Water, but otherwise, I won't leave this place for my whole life.
"Huh? That's not what I meant." Yahiko was startled by Nagato's words, smiled wryly, and said, "It's..."
He hesitated, then patted Nagato on the shoulder...
"Forget it, I won't say it. When you figure it out later, remember to call me and let me know."
As the big brother in the group, he could only silently offer his blessings and not interfere too much.
"Hey, hey." Nagato looked at Yahiko, even more curious about what he meant, but since Yahiko refused to say, he sighed and said, "You know, talking like that might get you hit."
Not explaining clearly...
That's exactly why authors end up offending so many people.
However...
Yahiko smiled and shook his head, saying nothing, and continued walking forward...
After a while...
"You'll understand when the time comes."
And then...
When he saw the black-haired, straight-haired figure at the staircase corner...
"Teacher Tobi?"
Yahiko was taken aback and called out uncertainly.
"Huh?" Tobi turned around, looked around, and said, "Who's calling me?"
When he saw the three familiar figures not far away...
"It's you three little ones."
"Teacher Tobi." Konan also ran over with a smile, scanned Tobi up and down, and said, "Teacher Tobi still looks exactly the same."
Hasn't changed a bit. What brand of skincare products does he use?
"Ah, ah." An unconscious, happy smile appeared on Tobi's face as he scratched the back of his head and said, "But you all have grown up so much."
He remembered when he was teaching these three little ones, they were still very small. Now...
He gestured with his hand...
"You're all taller than me now."
"Yes." Yahiko looked at Tobi, sighed with emotion, and said, "We've all grown up."
"Hehe." Tobi gave a silly laugh, looked at the yawning Nagato beside him, and felt a sudden joy inside. He said, "What about Nagato? Do you want to come back and learn drawing from me?"
My drawing skills are super slick now.
"Forget it, Teacher Tobi. Back in your class, I always felt like sleeping." Nagato spread his hands, a look of helplessness on his face, and said, "If I weren't afraid of discouraging you, I would have sneaked away back then too."
"Hmph." Tobi snorted disdainfully upon hearing Nagato's words and said, "You bunch have no artistic sense."
"..."
Artistic sense means drawing poop?
The three little ones looked at Teacher Tobi speechlessly...
But remembering the virtue of respecting teachers, and considering that Teacher Tobi was actually quite nice, they decided not to discourage him further.
Shifting their gaze, they looked at the similarly young robed man beside Teacher Tobi...
"Who is this?"
"The newly hired music teacher at the academy." Tobi introduced to the three little ones, "Teacher Utakata." Then, to Utakata, he said, "My three stupid students, Nagato, Konan, Yahiko..."
He sighed...
"They have no artistic talent at all."
"Hello, Teacher Utakata."
Hearing Teacher Tobi's words, the three little ones rolled their eyes but politely greeted the young man who was about their age.
"Mm." Utakata responded with a smile and a nod, then said to Tobi, "Thank you for today, Teacher Tobi. I won't disturb you all now."
He waved and went straight down the stairs...
He knew of these three. They were famous powerful figures in the Land of Whirlpools, dominating the battlefield, invincible, with extremely strong abilities. He never expected they were Tobi's students. It seemed he had underestimated Teacher Tobi.
The three little ones didn't try to stop Utakata either, continuing to look at Teacher Tobi. They had come today mainly to see Teacher Tobi. After all, Teacher Tobi had been very good to them back then, treating them to candies, tofu pudding, and other delicious food. He would also run after them when they ran around everywhere, worried they might get into trouble. Even though Teacher Tobi only knew how to draw poop, still...
Teacher Tobi had always been a very good teacher, always cheerful with a silly laugh, and very patient. Even when students made mistakes, he wouldn't scold them, but would quietly listen to their explanations, and then...
Have them go draw.
The only drawback was...
Tobi only knew how to draw poop.
"Since you're here, come on." Teacher Tobi pointed ahead and said, "Let's go to the classroom. Teacher Tobi will give you a few of his paintings. They are my new works from these past few years."
The skill...
He believed that once they saw them, they would definitely cry and beg to come back and learn.
Hmph.
Then he would refuse them all...
After all, he, Tobi, is now a great artist, so...
An artist should have the demeanor of an artist.