Chapter 112: Kurama Yakumo
High above the primeval forest.
Kiba and Akamaru tumbled through the air, limbs splayed, fully savoring the thrill and joy of soaring through the sky. Looking at the ground rushing toward them, there was none of the hesitation they had felt five days ago. Instead, they felt an immense sense of enjoyment.
"Heh, the ugly old man isn't all that. A mere 'Heaven's Descent' can't stop me."
Woof! Akamaru echoed his sentiment.
Whoosh!
Just as he finished speaking, an updraft caught them, slowly decelerating their descent before they were caught.
Standing boldly on the back of the giant hawk, Kiba bared his teeth. "I'm not calling for my mom ever again. The position of Hokage will definitely be mine!"
Wa-ee~
His two future "little subordinates" seemed to have changed their opinion of him, clapping their tiny hands. This made Kiba even more excited.
Two days ago, the ugly old man had told him that the previous falls were all Genjutsu. He had been shocked at first, but after getting used to it, his courage had grown steadily. It was just a bit annoying that his parents didn't believe the "stinky old man" would actually take him to such a high place and throw him off.
Once he became Hokage, he decided he would make everyone in the village experience "Sky's Descent," and then assign the ugly old man as the staff member in charge to work him to death. He felt his idea was brilliant.
Meanwhile, at the pineal gland in Kiba's forehead, a chakra seed received his emotions and transmitted them to Tonbo Tobitake's mind. Tonbo felt it, gratified by the success of another research result and by the fact that Kiba's guts were indeed impressive.
To monitor Kiba's psychological state and conduct experiments, Tonbo had planted an emotion-receiving jutsu on him. Whenever Kiba's emotions fluctuated, it would be signaled to him.
"Not bad. You're the gutsiest 'Future Hokage' I've ever seen. All the other kids are weak compared to you." Tonbo clapped for him.
Kiba stood tall, chest out and hands on his hips. Akamaru followed suit.
"Next, we begin the second phase of Guts Training: Water Spirit."
Kiba was fearless.
Tonbo then took him above the ocean, threw out two specially made wooden boards, and used "Eye of the Creator" to create a giant whale below, ready to rescue them at any moment.
"Go on."
"AAAAAAAAAHH!"
"WOOF WOOF WOOF!"
Surging seawater, an endless blue ocean. A darkness deeper than the sky. Waves more violent than air currents.
A four-year-old child and a tiny puppy just dozens of centimeters long were following Tonbo Tobitake to experience the so-called "Water Spirit." They were pulled into the waves from time to time, only to be rescued by the giant whale. Occasionally, they spat out seawater. Passing ships thought they had encountered sea ghosts and scrambled to steer away.
The Inuzuka Household.
"It's been half a month. Kiba must be having a lot of fun following Tonbo around!" Tsume Inuzuka said to Kiba's father.
Kiba's father patted the dog head at his feet and laughed. "Iruka-sensei at the Academy is his disciple. I asked him, and he said his teacher's education is all about learning through play—very happy and fast-paced."
Kiba was his son, after all; while Kiba's father wasn't the most meticulous man, he still cared. That's why he had specifically gone to ask Iruka at the Academy. Furthermore, Hana's progress proved that Tonbo's teaching ability was unquestionable—even better than what the two of them could provide as parents.
Tsume Inuzuka replied dismissively, "I actually think being a bit stricter would be better. Kiba is far too mischievous sometimes."
A-choo!
In the Ninja Academy office, Iruka sneezed and continued organizing student test scores. He thought of Tonbo-sensei and that poor Inuzuka kid who had been "scouted" by him.
He wondered if the teacher would use the "Eight Scents of Fire" jutsu to threaten him, or make the Inuzuka kid do something else. Knowing Tonbo, he probably wouldn't use the same routine twice. The longer Iruka served as a teacher, the more he understood Tonbo's educational methods, and he knew for sure the teacher wouldn't let the brat off easy.
The Ocean.
Bang! Bang! Boom!
"Excellent. You overcame the fear of the 'Water Spirit' so quickly. Although you're still young and lack the strength to fully master a surfboard against the power of nature, you've completed the pressure training for this project."
Tonbo looked at the little figure surfing beside him. By now, Kiba could stay on the board for five minutes, which was the limit of his physical endurance. Even though the physical cells of those in the ninja world were twice as resilient as ordinary people from Tonbo's previous life, and despite the existence of chakra, there were still limits.
"Next is the third phase: Earth Awakening. This one is much harder. It requires you to meditate in a closed space three hundred meters underground. This will train your resistance to fear and your focus. When it's done, you'll become much smarter."
Tonbo watched Kiba. "Sky's Descent" was pure courage training. "Water Spirit" combined courage with physical coordination—perfect for the Inuzuka clan's Taijutsu-based secret techniques. "Earth Awakening" was the culmination of a month of training; Tonbo's new jutsu, "God of Exams Possession," was basically complete, and now he needed to develop Kiba's focus. Once this was done, Kiba could enter formal theoretical education and begin his career as a top student.
Woof~
"Don't be afraid, Akamaru! We are the gutsiest man and dog in the village. We can definitely finish the ugly old man's task."
In the pitch-black underground space, the two couldn't see each other; only their voices could be heard.
Woof woof!
In all directions, there was only darkness. Every tiny sound seemed massive, yet there was no other noise. Tonbo sat there holding his two sleeping children, his perception focused on Kiba and Akamaru.
Meditating 300 meters underground for long periods created a mental pressure that falling from the sky or surfing couldn't match. If Kiba could endure this, his future achievements would far surpass his original self from the series.
Even Tonbo himself entered a meditative state, pondering his research on Genjutsu and Ninjutsu. Only when he sensed Kiba or Akamaru's emotions nearing the breaking point would he pull them out to see the sunlight and treat them to a good meal. Thanks to his jutsu monitoring and god-tier sensory abilities, Tonbo balanced it perfectly.
Again and again, the cycle repeated.
Boom!
Inside the Kurama Clan estate, a fiery explosion occurred. It caused a brief commotion as ninjas rushed about.
The Hokage's Office.
A figure was making a request to Hiruzen Sarutobi, but Hiruzen rejected it, disapproving of the man's methods.
"Every child in the village is our future. This was caused by her unconsciously; we cannot treat her like this. I will arrange for people to provide proper protection."
Kurama Unkai could only exit the room in dejection.
Konoha Cemetery.
Tonbo and Kurenai looked at the girl weeping before the grave.
"I can't believe it's only been a month since we finished the guard mission with Murakumo-senpai, and now we're attending his funeral," Kurenai Yuhi sighed.
Tonbo glanced at Kurama Yakumo. "At least he left behind a descendant. I heard her health isn't great and she has to shoulder the burden of the Kurama clan's future. You should look after her more."
So this is Kurama Yakumo? Tonbo thought. The one with the absolutely broken Genjutsu setting from the original story?
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