Chapter 23: Chapter 23 will of fire
Konoha.
Akimichi BBQ Restaurant.
Crunch!
Iruka and the three Genin were happily eating.
"Don't worry, before your captain here runs out of money, you don't need to worry about the cost."
Satoru also picked up a piece of grilled meat, put it in his mouth, and chewed it with relish.
"It's so delicious, Captain, when are we going to take on a mission?" Ibara Keisen asked while eating, a little expectant.
Iruka: "Yes, I need to learn all the Ninja abilities to teach my students in the future."
"We'll start after we finish eating. It's a very challenging mission, perfect for a Genin like you who just graduated," Satoru smiled.
"Huh, what kind of mission is it? Is it some great mission, like capturing enemy spies or protecting the country?" Mibu Shinobi asked expectantly.
"Oh no, those missions are just child's play."
As soon as he said this, the three of them simultaneously looked at him with burning eyes. Could it be a mission related to Konoha's survival?
"It's a difficult mission concerning Konoha's life and death."
It was true. Did their captain acknowledge them that much? They recalled defeating a giant beast earlier; was that why they were acknowledged?
"You'll find out later," Satoru kept them in suspense.
"Oh, no, Captain, tell us quickly."
"Less nonsense, if you want to know, eat faster."
Hearing Satoru's words, the three ate even faster.
Just as they were eating happily, a tall figure appeared, accompanied by a seemingly virtuous woman holding a chubby baby.
"Yo, isn't that Satoru? Are you leading a team out on a mission?" Seeing Satoru, the tall figure greeted him.
Satoru turned around and smiled: "Ah, yes, it's finally my turn to lead a team, Choza-senpai, long time no see."
Then he looked at the small figure the woman was holding: "Is this Choji, who Inoichi-senpai said is the same age as his daughter?"
Choji was plump, and he seemed to understand Satoru's words, turning to look at him, but soon his gaze shifted to their grilled meat.
"Yes, isn't he cute?" Choza was very proud.
"At first glance, he inherited your excellent genes, senpai. He will surely surpass you in the future and become a pillar of the Village," Satoru also knew how to praise people.
Choza laughed heartily at his words: "Of course, look at his physique, he has my demeanour from back then. By the way, this meal is on me."
"Want to eat," Choji pointed at the meat on the grill.
His drool was about to flow out.
"Come, uncle will give you some, say 'uncle'," Satoru picked up a piece of grilled meat and put it near Choji's mouth.
"Uncle."
"Eh, good boy," Satoru smiled and put the grilled meat into his mouth.
Choza and his wife did not stop him. Given the Ninja World's physique, eating grilled meat at this age was not a problem.
Satoru looked at Choji, seeing him happily chewing the grilled meat, and a smile also appeared on his face.
This guy's future growth would be extraordinary; he could use the Akimichi clan's strongest secret technique without medicine.
That was an achievement no one in the Akimichi clan had ever accomplished throughout its history.
The three Genin also greeted Choza.
Then Choza opened a table for himself, and the family ate warmly.
"Alright, let's go when you're full. Mission start."
"Yes," the three Genin said excitedly.
...
Konoha Residential Area.
Farmland Area.
Three figures slowly inserted rice seedlings into the field.
Satoru held a book and watched from the side of the field, occasionally showing a look of sudden realisation.
Mibu Shinobi shouted: "Captain Satoru, is the great mission to plant rice seedlings in the field?"
"Of course, don't Ninja need to eat?
If they don't eat, won't they starve to death?
Farming can prevent thousands of ninjas from starving to death. Isn't that very great, much greater than waging war against other Villages?" Satoru glanced at them and only spoke after seeing they weren't slacking off.
"But, but, it's boring!" Iruka was dejected.
Is this what a Ninja should be doing?
Ibara Keisen thought the same. Is planting rice seedlings what a Ninja should do?
"A Ninja must endure what cannot be endured. If you can't even endure this, how can I feel confident leading you on more difficult missions?" Satoru said in an annoyed tone.
"And did you study well in school?"
As soon as he said this, the three of them became indignant.
"Captain, I'm the man who scored full marks in school theory, you can't underestimate me!" Iruka protested.
To become a great educator, he had studied diligently.
"Theory and practice are different, and who said farming isn't something a Ninja should do?
Not only is it something a Ninja should do, but it's also an important part."
Satoru closed his book and said seriously.
"What's the use of this?" Ibara Keisen retorted.
The other two also agreed. Besides learning to endure, what was the use?
"Very good, then I'll give you your first lesson. Listen carefully, and don't slack off, okay?"
"Mm-hmm, go ahead." The three of them wanted to see how he would make it up.
They were all confident in their learning abilities.
There was nothing useful in the textbooks at all.
"First, a Ninja's Chakra requires the combination of physical and spiritual energy to be refined into Chakra.
This mission can accumulate spiritual energy for you."
The three nodded in agreement, but did not approve, because other missions could also accumulate it.
"Second, Ninjas are a secret profession. For espionage activities and intelligence gathering, a cover identity is needed. A farmer who can plant rice seedlings is a good identity."
The three scoffed. In the espionage class taught at school, there was no option for a farmer, because the identity of a farmer was not useful for intelligence gathering.
They couldn't access much intelligence.
"Third..."
There's a third? The three wanted to see how their captain would make it up.
"If others do it and you don't, you'll seem out of place. This goes against our great Konoha ideal of unity and friendship. It's the beginning of destroying Konoha's unity and is considered heresy, so you must do it..."
Seeing that the Genin were quite knowledgeable, Satoru immediately changed the pretentious words he had prepared and pointed seriously at the squad next door also performing the rice planting mission.
Damn it, when he watched the anime, Naruto's team was easily fooled by Kakashi, so why isn't it working for him now?
Iruka suddenly realised: "So that's it. This is the Will of Fire that Lord Third spoke of. Is it to train our Will of Fire?
As expected of a Captain, to be able to become a captain, he is indeed a Ninja with resolve."
"Very good, then we can't be individualistic either. Come on, for the inheritance of the Will of Fire!" Mibu Shinobi's hands became more energetic as he planted rice seedlings.
Ibara Keisen's eyes also filled with fervour: "Yosh, behold my Will Planting Rice Technique."
"..."
Satoru was utterly speechless. Did his brain work well?
The ideas he thought of for half a day were not as good as Lord Third's ideological lessons!