Shikamaru brought up the topic, and the others continued it.
Naruto unsurprisingly wanted to be Hokage.
Choji wanted endless delicious food.
Kiba also wanted to be Hokage, but he wasn't as certain as Naruto.
In his words, although he wanted to be Hokage, he wasn't sure if it was his true dream.
He just didn't have any other goals for now, so he took being Hokage as his dream.
When it was Jokichi's turn, he fell silent.
It wasn't that he didn't want to say, but he himself didn't know.
Gaining power, controlling his own destiny, preventing tragedies from happening around him...
These were not dreams, but countermeasures to prevent future disasters.
Although he didn't dislike it, and even liked power, it wasn't his dream.
Jokichi looked up at the sky. Clouds drifted by, and his thoughts drifted far away.
His dream should be to be happy every day, living a carefree life.
But what kind of days would allow him to be happy and carefree every day, he didn't know.
At least, in his previous life, he didn't have to worry about food or drink, but he still had many troubles.
Perhaps his dream was simply endless greed!
Thinking of this, the corners of Jokichi's mouth involuntarily curled into a smile, and he murmured, "Who knows, for now I just want to have the power to protect what I want to protect."
"Is that so, I see!"
The group didn't speak, just lying quietly on the ground, enjoying the morning sun.
Suddenly, Iruka's roar came from downstairs.
The few of them scattered like birds and beasts, slipping away in different directions. At this time, it was a matter of life and death, escape if you can, and you can't blame anyone if you get caught.
Escaping from the teaching building's rooftop, Jokichi didn't return to the academy, but went directly to the 39th Training Ground.
Going back at this time would definitely result in being punished to stand outside the classroom holding buckets of water while listening to the class.
He had skipped class before it even started, so the teacher shouldn't know he had returned from his leave.
At this time, he might as well focus on training and forget about the duration of his leave.
Returning to the 39th Training Ground.
Ryohei wasn't there, and it was completely quiet inside. The movements of birds coming and going on the branches could be clearly heard.
Jokichi took a deep breath, took out his ninja tools from a storage scroll, and began to train.
He wasn't in a hurry to train his chakra nature transformation, but started practicing shuriken instead.
In matters like training, if you don't advance, you fall back.
For the past two months, Jokichi had been immersed in chakra nature transformation training, and the things he learned before had become somewhat rusty.
If he didn't familiarize himself with them again, he would probably regress.
After all, whether it was shuriken, swordsmanship, or the Three Basic Jutsu, he hadn't practiced them to the point where they were carved into his bones like an instinct.
"Thud, thud, thud..."
One by one, the shuriken nailed into the wooden stakes. His past feel for them gradually returned, and his accuracy got better and better, until he completely recovered his previous level.
Seeing this, Jokichi put away the shuriken and practiced the Three Basic Jutsu once more.
It was only after that familiar feeling returned that he began to practice swordsmanship.
At first, he just swung his sword very slowly, practicing various basic movements.
But gradually, his movements became faster and faster, longer and more continuous. Each basic movement was quickly linked together, forming a fluent killing move.
The autumn wind blew gently, and red leaves fluttered.
Jokichi, alone with his sword, danced in the forest. Amidst the sky full of red leaves, killing intent lingered. From time to time, leaves would break in the middle, as if cut by a sharp blade.
"Training like this is completely useless."
An uninvited guest broke into the artistic conception. It was Ryohei's voice.
Jokichi suddenly snapped out of it, and the surrounding leaves split open one after another, scattering all over the ground.
He scanned his surroundings, his brow tightly furrowed.
His sword was getting sharper and sharper, so why was it useless?
Jokichi couldn't figure it out, and his brow furrowed even tighter, almost squeezing together.
"You have to remember, you are a ninja, not a samurai. As long as the sword can kill, that is enough. There is no need to hone it to be this sharp," Ryohei continued.
Jokichi became even more confused, "Isn't what you are saying self-contradictory?"
As long as the sword can kill, that is enough.
But the sharper the sword, isn't it easier to kill?
Why is there no need for it to be this sharp?
"It is a bit convoluted to explain. You will understand once you fight me. Of course, don't use your Sharingan or other items."
Ryohei snapped a branch from a nearby tree, used a kunai to scrape off the twigs and leaves, and then pointed it diagonally at the ground in a sword-holding posture.
"Are you sure you want to use that?" Jokichi asked uncertainly.
The corners of Ryohei's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a confident smile. "I am a Jonin."
Jokichi closed his eyes, let out a deep breath, and then suddenly opened them.
"Understood."
As his words fell, Jokichi advanced with his sword raised. The sharp blade gleamed with a cold light as he slashed out fiercely.
But Ryohei seemed to have anticipated this. Holding the branch, he slapped it forward in advance.
"Smack!"
Before the slash could be fully executed, the branch struck the flat side of the blade.
The blade trembled violently, emitting a harsh sound, and the immense force almost made Jokichi lose his grip on the hilt.
Relying on brute strength, he forcefully blocked the branch and pushed it away.
Taking advantage of the opening as the opponent retreated, he swung his sword down again.
Ryohei had expected this. Using the pushing force, he took two steps back, and the blade fell, brushing past his chest.
Jokichi seized the initiative and showed no mercy, gripping the hilt with both hands and hacking fiercely.
But Ryohei could anticipate the enemy's moves every time, either preemptively blocking the attack route or dodging in advance, easily neutralizing every attack.
Mid-fight, Jokichi thought of using his weapon's advantage to cut the branch and then attack its owner.
But Ryohei didn't clash with him head-on at all. He merely changed Jokichi's attack route by striking the flat of the blade or blocking the handguard. If he couldn't neutralize it, he would dodge in advance.
The battle was at a stalemate. On the surface, it looked like Jokichi was suppressing Ryohei with fierce slashes, but in reality, he was constantly being led by the nose.
Jokichi had strength but couldn't apply it, feeling exceptionally uncomfortable.
After fighting for a while without a result, Jokichi sheathed his sword, stepped back, and called for a stop.
"What are your thoughts?" Ryohei put away the branch and asked.
Thoughts...
Jokichi pondered slightly and said, "I have strength but cannot apply it."
He clearly held a sharp weapon. Whether against a branch or a person, as long as the blade struck, he would win.
Yet, he couldn't even touch him once.
The saying that as long as the sword can kill, that is enough, did it mean he should focus on improving technique rather than lethality?
But future battles would be clashes between gods!
Technique alone would be completely useless.
Ryohei seemed to see what Jokichi was thinking. He shook his head gently and said, "It is not to make you focus more on technique and ignore lethality, but your application is too rigid."
"?"
Jokichi looked at him in confusion.
Ryohei kept a straight face and said seriously, "Someone must have guided you before, telling you to practice the basics well, and then summarize killing techniques through actual combat."
"Mhm!"
Jokichi nodded, then raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is that wrong?"
"That is not wrong, but the path you summarized is wrong. You focus too much on moves."
"Focus too much on moves?" Jokichi carefully pondered Ryohei's words, recalling the swordsmanship he had practiced over the past two years.
It was indeed getting stronger and stronger!
Where was the problem?
"Just explain it directly!"