Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 178: First Mission

After leaving the barbecue restaurant, the two teams parted ways.

Tonari, who initially felt a tinge of resentment about taking on a team, suddenly found his frustration easing after observing Minato's squad.

Indeed, dissatisfaction often stems from a lack of perspective.

Compared to the dynamic and hardworking Might Guy, the well-mannered Yūhi Kurenai, and the easily "teachable" Asuma, Tonari realized his team wasn't so bad.

However, the meal also left his three disciples feeling a sense of urgency.

To their surprise, Tonari was highly sought after—even members of other teams sought his guidance.

Might Guy, inspired and fueled by competition, resolved not to let his teacher down. Even after a stomach full of barbecue, he felt re-energized and ready to train harder.

Kurenai, too, felt the pressure. Seeing her female counterpart Nohara Rin, brimming with enthusiasm, made her more determined to improve.

The most affected, however, was Asuma. During the meal, Kurenai had glanced at Kakashi five times—five whole times!

Though Asuma prided himself on his looks, which he considered equal to Kakashi's, he knew his strength was lacking. Determined to win Kurenai's attention, he vowed to surpass Kakashi in both skill and power.

Observing the sudden surge of determination in his disciples, Tonari couldn't help but marvel, "Competition truly is one of humanity's greatest motivators."

---

On their way to the training ground, Tonari deliberately slowed his pace under the guise of "digesting the meal." In reality, he was strategizing their training plan. He had no intention of starting them with trivial D-rank missions.

Might Guy was straightforward. Thanks to his father, Might Duy, he had developed disciplined training habits. Tonari saw no need to pile additional tasks onto Guy, who already trained harder than almost anyone in Konoha.

Kurenai, as Hiruzen had mentioned, had an exceptional aptitude for genjutsu. Though Tonari wasn't particularly skilled in genjutsu himself, he had encountered numerous genjutsu masters in his years of combat and had learned much from those experiences.

While genjutsu rarely affected him due to his status as a Jinchūriki, he understood its nuances well enough to guide a novice like Kurenai.

As for Asuma, Tonari mulled over his approach. "Perhaps… I'll focus on his resilience."

The idea took root, and Tonari smirked inwardly. Asuma's chakra attributes were wind and fire—an excellent combination. Based on his original knowledge, Asuma excelled in close-quarters combat, which gave Tonari a clear direction.

Close combat inherently involved enduring heavy blows. "If he wants to fight, he needs to toughen up first. What better way than to build his resilience through a little… endurance training?"

---

When they arrived at the training ground, Tonari turned to Guy.

"Guy, start with 1,000 push-ups for your warm-up."

"Yes, Sensei!" Guy responded enthusiastically, diving straight into his routine.

Tonari then faced Kurenai. "Kurenai, use your most powerful genjutsu on me."

"On you?" Kurenai hesitated. She had never dared to use genjutsu against an instructor.

"Don't worry," Tonari reassured her. "I want to assess your current abilities. Go ahead."

After a moment's hesitation, Kurenai nodded. "Understood. Be careful, Sensei."

With a determined gaze, Kurenai transitioned from her usual reserved demeanor into that of a focused kunoichi. Her hands formed seals with commendable speed.

"Fox's Maze Technique!"

The technique created a labyrinth-like illusion where the target would wander aimlessly, expending energy without realizing they were under a genjutsu.

As the genjutsu activated, Tonari deliberately allowed himself to be ensnared, analyzing its intricacies. He walked through the illusory maze, identifying flaws and offering Kurenai feedback as she made adjustments.

By the time Tonari released himself from the genjutsu, Kurenai was panting heavily, beads of sweat dotting her forehead.

Tonari nodded approvingly. "Your genjutsu is well-executed, but your setups are too deliberate. You need to be subtler in your cues to catch opponents off guard."

"Yes, Sensei!" Kurenai responded earnestly, her confidence boosted by his guidance.

"To improve, focus on refining your execution. Start with simple genjutsu and practice making them seamless. From today onward, you'll train with my shadow clone for three hours daily until your techniques meet my standards."

Kurenai nodded, determination shining in her eyes.

---

With Guy and Kurenai occupied, Tonari turned his attention to Asuma, who stood ready, anticipation gleaming in his eyes.

Tonari motioned him over with a mischievous smile. "Come here, Asuma. Your father has high hopes for you, so we're going to work on… resilience."

"Resilience?" Asuma asked, confused.

"Yes, resilience," Tonari replied, his tone light but firm. "In battle, knowing how to endure hits is as important as delivering them. We'll focus on fortifying your body to withstand attacks."

Swallowing nervously, Asuma realized his training might not be as straightforward—or as pleasant—as his teammates'.

---

From that day on, Tonari's squad faced grueling daily training sessions. While Tonari supervised initially, he soon delegated much of the work to his shadow clones, who were more than capable of managing the trio.

Under this rigorous regimen:

Guy pushed his physical limits further.

Kurenai honed her genjutsu precision.

Asuma became intimately familiar with "resilience"—aka getting pummeled by Tonari's clones.

Despite the exhaustion, the results were undeniable. After a month, the three exhibited noticeable improvements, shedding their novice personas and emerging as true shinobi.

---

One morning, Tonari led his team to the Hokage's office to accept their first mission.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, seated at his desk, scrutinized the trio with keen eyes. Compared to a month ago, their demeanor was vastly different. The naivety of recent Academy graduates had been replaced with a hardened resolve.

Even Hiruzen's rebellious son, Asuma, now displayed a sense of discipline. Though he returned home bruised daily, the growth was evident.

Hiruzen sighed contentedly. Choosing Tonari as Asuma's mentor had been the right decision.

"Are you sure about taking on a B-rank mission as your first task?" Hiruzen asked, raising an eyebrow.

Tonari nodded firmly. "Of course. My first mission was B-rank, remember?"

Hiruzen hesitated. The memory of Tonari's early missions resurfaced—a mix of recklessness and brilliance. However, seeing Tonari's confidence and the trio's readiness, he relented.

The mission involved escorting a father and daughter to Yugakure in the Land of Hot Water. A tranquil village known for its hot springs and peaceful ideals, Yugakure had earned the nickname "The Village Forgetful of Wars."

When the clients arrived, the father appeared skeptical of the young Genin team, while the daughter seemed captivated by Tonari.

Hiruzen reassured them, "You're in good hands. Tonari is one of Konoha's top Jonin with the highest mission success rate. With him leading the team, you'll be safe."

Reluctantly, the father nodded. The daughter, however, seemed more focused on Tonari's striking features than his credentials.

Tonari, unfazed, gave his team fifteen minutes to prepare before heading to the village gates.

"Understood, Sensei!" the trio responded in unison, their voices brimming with excitement.

(End of Chapter)

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