"It's so late, shouldn't you be heading back to rest?" Amemiya Kenichi said with a helpless look at the little tagalong trailing behind him. Why is this kid so clingy?
"Senior Brother, Teacher hasn't paid me any attention lately. Do you think he's angry with me?" Anko Mitarashi asked, her head bowed as she fidgeted with her fingers, looking utterly dejected.
Kenichi scratched his head. He understood his teacher's intentions perfectly. After all, the teacher had said that Anko wasn't suited to leave Konoha with them.
The teacher had other plans for his junior sister: to help her forget about him so she could live a peaceful life in Konoha.
Though Kenichi knew this, he couldn't possibly tell Anko. He had to come up with something else.
"Of course not! Teacher's just been really busy lately. Even I barely see him," Kenichi said with a warm smile, ruffling Anko's hair. This little girl is so sensitive.
"Even you can't see him, Senior Brother?" Anko Mitarashi asked, her face surprised.
Amemiya Kenichi nodded.
The best way to comfort someone is to empathize with them first, letting them know you understand. That way, your words will carry more weight.
This was a lesson Amemiya Kenichi had learned in his previous life.
"Teacher's so busy! Everyone in the village is saying he might become the Fourth Hokage," Anko said, sounding a little more cheerful as she started chattering about other things.
Amemiya Kenichi listened quietly, buying two skewers of three-colored dango and handing one to Anko.
Looking at the dango, Amemiya Kenichi thought of Itachi and Shisui. The Uchiha Clan really did produce a lot of geniuses. The Mangekyō Sharingan was truly powerful.
At least, that was true for the current Ninja World. Even later on, the Mangekyō Sharingan would remain a significant force.
"Oh, right, Senior Brother!" Anko suddenly remembered something and tugged at Amemiya Kenichi's sleeve.
"What is it?" Amemiya Kenichi asked, looking at his junior sister with a puzzled expression.
"Senior Brother, I don't really understand that ninjutsu Teacher taught me. Could you help me with it?" Anko Mitarashi asked, her eyes wide and hopeful as she gazed at Amemiya Kenichi. Kenichi scratched his head but didn't refuse.
Teacher had been warning him to be careful lately, and teaching his junior sister ninjutsu would be a decent cover.
So Kenichi took Anko to the training grounds for some practice. Having grown much stronger recently, Kenichi found it easy to guide his junior sister.
But their training session was cut short by a flash of lightning and a deafening clap of thunder.
"It's thundering," Kenichi mused. He remembered Sasuke's future Lightning Release: Kirin, an incredibly powerful ninjutsu that supposedly required the Sharingan to track the lightning's path.
It was a high-level Lightning Release technique that harnessed the power of nature.
Kenichi checked his progress on his Three-Tomoe Sharingan research. It was only at twenty-three percent. Not too slow, but still a ways to go.
Without the aid of his Sharingan, Amemiya Kenichi had no intention of recklessly experimenting with other ninjutsu. After seeing his junior sister home, he leisurely returned to his own house and collapsed onto his bed.
The next morning, Kenichi had barely gotten out of bed when his teacher, Orochimaru, dragged him away.
"Kenichi, do you know about Summoning Beasts?" Orochimaru asked calmly. Kenichi blinked, then nodded. Of course he knew.
In the world of Naruto, the most famous Summoning Beasts were undoubtedly the toads of Mount Myōboku, since they frequently appeared alongside the protagonist.
Then there was his own teacher's Manda, though Kenichi had little interest in Orochimaru's Summoning Beast. Manda's personality was simply...
Next came slugs, salamanders, ninja dogs, and even crow Summoning Beasts—the variety was vast.
In terms of pure strength, the Summoning Beasts from the Three Great Sage Lands were naturally superior.
"Teacher, are you going to have me contract with a Summoning Beast?" Kenichi asked, puzzled. Summoning Beasts were undeniably useful, though those from Ryūchi Cave might have more stringent requirements.
"No, what you need to focus on now is honing your ninjutsu," Orochimaru said, shaking his head. Having been a student of Sarutobi Hiruzen himself, he knew the steps from Genin to Jonin well.
The Chūnin level was a bit awkward—not quite high enough, not quite low enough—but it was crucial to solidify one's foundation. With a strong foundation, becoming a Jonin would follow naturally.
Ultimately, whether one was a Jonin or a Chūnin was just a title. What truly mattered was strength. There were even Genin who, after a sudden breakthrough, could defeat Elite Jōnin or even Kage-level opponents.
"You're my disciple, after all. If your strength falls short of an Elite Jōnin, I'd be embarrassed to admit it," Orochimaru said with a smile, his expectations for Amemiya Kenichi high.
He'd once thought Kenichi would have to rely solely on himself to survive, but now that his strength had improved so dramatically, Orochimaru felt genuinely pleased.
"Heh heh... I'll do my best. So, Teacher, about what you mentioned earlier?" Kenichi scratched his head, unable to resist asking.
"I was just wondering," Orochimaru said with a faint smile, a hint of fanaticism in his eyes, "could Summoning Beasts get cancer?"
Amemiya Kenichi's lips twitched. Summoning Beasts getting cancer? Now that was a profound question.
In his previous life, Kenichi would have immediately nodded. Animals are animals, after all—cancer isn't surprising. But this was the world of Naruto. The powerful Summoning Beasts here had constitutions far stronger than ordinary ninja.
So whether they could even get cancer was a question. And if we're talking about those with Sage Chakra, the variables multiply.
"Teacher, this would require experimentation," Kenichi said, rubbing his hands together eagerly. "Are you thinking of summoning Manda?"
Orochimaru's face darkened instantly. "Don't mention that creature." Manda had become increasingly arrogant lately. If it weren't for the White Snake Sage backing him...
Kenichi coughed awkwardly. He had a point. His teacher only summoned Manda during wars; otherwise, he avoided it completely. Manda's personality was truly awful.
"Teacher's Summoning Beasts need a checkup."