"What method?"
When Sakumo, and the others heard that this kind of jutsu could actually provide resistance, they all became very interested.
Hiruko didn't beat around the bush and gave the answer directly.
...
"Takeshi-sensei, are you really not going to reconsider?"
At the entrance of the Interrogation Unit, Tokikan was tugging at Takeshi's hand, making a last-ditch effort.
"Nope. Go sign up yourself."
Takeshi pulled his hand back, rolled his eyes, and ignored him.
"Alright then... how about grabbing dinner tonight?"
Seeing that Takeshi was dead set on not giving him a recommendation, Tokikan could only fall back on his next plan—hoping to invite him for a meal and build a connection.
"Let's skip that too. I've got other plans tonight. Anyway, our mission ended the moment we returned to the village. You guys can all go home and wait to get paid. I'll handle the mission handoff."
Seeing Tokikan still unwilling to give up, Takeshi's tone became more impatient. After saying his piece, he flickered away into the Interrogation Unit.
"Hahaha, since Takeshi-sensei said so, let's not cause him any more trouble."
Kosuke was the first to speak and act, laughing as he left the Interrogation Unit premises.
"Alright then... Tokuma, you..."
Tokikan sighed and was just about to make some small talk with Hyūga Tokuma, only to realize the kid had already turned around and left the moment Takeshi opened his mouth. By now, he was nearly at the end of the street.
"Ugh, always such cold teammates. Speaking of which, I really need to find a few steady partners. Maybe Kakashi? We were even on the same team back in the day..."
Muttering to himself, Tokikan walked off in the direction of home.
"Ahem, Takeshi-sensei, the department head is currently down in the dungeon interrogating a prisoner. If there's anything you need, you can talk to me."
Across from Takeshi stood a rugged-looking shinobi with a few scars on his face. He greeted Takeshi with a strained smile.
"Ahem... you know, if you don't want to smile, then don't force it."
Takeshi coughed, a bit startled by the other man's forced grin.
"Uh, yes sir."
Relieved by Takeshi's words, the scarred shinobi dropped his expression and returned to a deadpan face.
The other Interrogation Unit shinobi, who had witnessed the scene, all fought the urge to laugh. But facing Takeshi, none of them dared actually do it.
"Forget it. Whether your department head shows up or not doesn't matter. I'm just here to hand over a prisoner. Summoning Jutsu!"
Ignoring the reactions of the surrounding shinobi, Takeshi moved to a more open area and performed a summoning.
With the help of the slug, a massive ice coffin appeared in the Interrogation Unit. Through the translucent ice, the outline of the captured ninja inside was just barely visible.
"I caught this guy while on border patrol. I've already removed the sealing formula. If you're in a hurry, just use Fire Release to melt the ice. If not, just leave him out in the sun to thaw."
After disabling the seal on top, Takeshi dusted off his hands and, without even saying goodbye, rushed off from the Interrogation Unit.
"So that's what a jōnin is like... even though he's younger than my son, his actions are so cool."
Watching Takeshi's retreating figure, an older shinobi sighed with admiration.
"Hey, don't forget, he's a disciple of the Third-sama."
A younger shinobi joked as he began moving the ice coffin.
"Where are we taking him?"
Seeing him start to lift the coffin, the older shinobi stepped in to help.
"The incinerator, of course. Using Fire Release wastes chakra. Let's just dump him into the furnace and fish him out later. So much easier."
Just like that, the fate of the captured shinobi in the ice coffin was settled. The group carried him off toward the cremation chamber on the lower floor.
...
After leaving the Interrogation Unit, Takeshi's first destination was Minato's house.
Come on, that's Naruto—future main character, and with both parents alive! He absolutely had to latch onto this opportunity—
Er, well, with how young Naruto was now, maybe it was more accurate to say he was grabbing a little leg.
Come to think of it, he actually had "grabbed" Naruto once—though "grab" might better be described as "blew up."
After all, it was his Ice Explosion Jutsu that flattened the cave where Kushina gave birth. Not that he did it on purpose.
He knocked on Minato's front door, and after a scurry of footsteps, the door was opened by a now messy-haired, disheveled Minato.
"Minato, don't you dare run! You'd better explain to me what this book is all about!!"
As Minato opened the door, Kushina's roar echoed into Takeshi's ears.
"Ah, um, wrong door! Goodbye!"
Even Takeshi, dense as he could be, knew he'd stumbled into one of those "relationship-deepening marital arguments." He immediately turned to leave.
"Don't go! Takeshi, you're just in time!"
Minato, quick on his feet, grabbed Takeshi's arm to keep him from escaping.
"No no, Minato-san, I clearly came at the wrong time. Let go!"
Takeshi was nearly in tears from Minato's grip. He only wanted to get closer to little Naruto, not get caught in the middle of a husband-wife spat!
"Huh? Isn't that Takeshi? Perfect timing. Come on in and help take care of Naruto!"
Cradling Naruto and holding a book in one hand, Kushina's fiery red hair fluttered as she strode toward the door and spotted Takeshi.
Without caring whether he agreed or not, she shoved little Naruto into Takeshi's arms, then grabbed Minato by the ear and dragged him back inside.
"Uhh..."
Even after hearing all that commotion, the baby in Takeshi's arms didn't cry. Takeshi was awed. This little guy really had a strong heart—no wonder he was destined for greatness.
"There there, little Naruto, don't cry..."
But as Kushina walked farther away, Naruto's little mouth quivered, and tears began to well up in his eyes—just as Takeshi had finished praising him in his heart.
Takeshi quickly began to soothe him, just barely managing to stop the flood of tears before they broke loose.
After being rocked in Takeshi's arms for a bit, Naruto began to get used to the smell of this stranger. He blinked his big eyes and curiously studied Takeshi, reaching up to tug on the bangs hanging over his forehead.
"Ow! Hey, stop pulling, that hurts!"
"Waaahhh!!"
"Alright alright, pull away, tug as much as you want, just please don't cry! If you cry, Kushina-san is going to kill me."
"Heehee..."
After Kushina finished dealing with Minato—personally watching him tear that unspeakable book to shreds page by page—she finally smiled again and went to look for her precious baby.
Minato followed behind her with a bitter smile.
He swore to the heavens, he really hadn't bought that book called The Tale of the Snow Woman. He had no idea how it ended up in his study.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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