Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 91: You Want to Learn Swordsmanship?

Tonari found himself with yet another bump on his head, but his admiration for Hatake Sakumo was sincere. After all, he'd always been drawn to the short sword style that resembled Sakumo's. Despite his meager skills, Tonari fancied himself as the self-proclaimed "Little White Fang of Konoha."

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"Tsunade, even you're here? Does this mean the Rain Country front has stabilized?"

Tsunade ignored the sparkle in Tonari's eyes—she feared she wouldn't be able to hold back if she looked too long.

Currently, Sakumo was the last high-ranking shinobi stationed on the Rain Country battlefield. His return hinted that perhaps the Second Shinobi World War was finally over.

Technically, the war had "ended" when the Rain Country agreed to ally with Konoha against the combined threats of the Sand and Stone villages. The alliance between Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, Hatake Sakumo, the Sannin, and the Rain's Salamander Hanzo had forced the two major villages to concede.

But an official ceasefire didn't mean absolute peace. Skirmishes continued, mostly centered around the Rain Country.

Iwagakure had been relatively quiet after being ambushed by Kumogakure, which left them focusing their resources internally. Sunagakure, however, had been the primary instigator of border conflicts with the Rain Country.

At present, the Third Kazekage held power in Sunagakure. Known for mastering Magnet Release, he could extract gold dust from the desert sands, alleviating the village's financial woes. Among his people, he was hailed as the strongest Kazekage in history.

However, Sunagakure's political structure differed from Konoha's. The elders, including Chiyo and her brother Ebizo, wielded significant power, even holding the right to impeach the Kazekage.

Fueled by a personal vendetta—Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law were killed by Sakumo—Sunagakure had been relentless in their provocations.

As part of its alliance, Konoha was obliged to aid the Rain Country in countering these threats. Thus, Sakumo had remained stationed in the Rain Country as a powerful deterrent.

Hearing Tsunade's question, Sakumo's warm smile faded slightly. He shook his head.

"It's not that simple. Sunagakure won't back down so easily. The minor skirmishes haven't stopped, and many of Konoha's missions remain focused on the Rain Country.

"For now, the Hokage has found someone else to hold the line in my place, so I'm taking some time off to rest… and spend time with my son."

At the mention of his son, Sakumo's smile returned. It was a smile filled with warmth, pride, and a tinge of guilt—a father's complex emotions toward a child he'd been absent from for too long.

The White Fang's son… Hatake Kakashi.

Tonari's thoughts drifted to the Kakashi he knew—a man perpetually hidden behind a mask, perpetually cool, and perpetually known for his infamous "fifty-fifty" odds against any opponent.

But right now, Kakashi was only two or three years old. Would he be as adorable as Tonari imagined?

"The Hokage found someone to replace you temporarily? There's only one person capable of that…" Tsunade trailed off.

Sakumo nodded. "That's right—Orochimaru. I heard the Hokage initially assigned him to mentor a new graduate team, but he refused and was instead sent to the front lines. His presence alone is enough to keep Sunagakure in check."

Tonari's eyes widened slightly. So that's why Orochimaru left—to fight on the front lines? That's just like him.

The front lines were chaotic and unrestrained, offering freedom from the mundane responsibilities of teaching a team. They were also a treasure trove for gathering research materials, which explained why Orochimaru would find them appealing.

Tsunade and Sakumo continued discussing the current state of affairs, clinking their sake cups occasionally. They didn't avoid sensitive topics, allowing the students to overhear.

For Yoshino and Yoshin, the conversation weighed heavily. Their expressions darkened as they processed the realities of being a shinobi. Tonari, however, seemed unfazed, focusing on eating the remaining barbecue.

Why waste perfectly good food?

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Before long, Sakumo slumped over, clearly intoxicated after a brief bout of drinking.

Yoshino and Yoshin froze, unsure of what to do, while Tsunade remained unbothered. "Tonari, take him home," she ordered with a wave of her hand.

Tonari sighed but didn't object.

Carrying Sakumo wasn't easy—his feet dragged along the ground, and Tonari looked like he was dragging a sack of potatoes.

As they wandered through Konoha, a thought struck him: Wait, I don't know where Sakumo's house is!

Going back to ask Tsunade for directions was out of the question—he didn't want to risk being stuck with the bill.

"Hmm… looks like I'll have to take the scenic route and let him sober up a bit," Tonari muttered, inadvertently heading toward Ichiraku Ramen.

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"Is this a new ramen shop? Looks pretty good," Sakumo said, suddenly alert as he looked around.

Tonari stopped in his tracks, stunned as Sakumo casually walked into the shop and sat down like nothing had happened.

"Wha—?!" Tonari exclaimed, his jaw nearly hitting the ground.

Sakumo chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Surprised? I was faking it earlier. As a father supporting a family, I can't let myself drink too much. Gotta stay responsible, you know?

"Besides, a barbecue dinner isn't cheap. A man has to be frugal, right?"

For a moment, Tonari's worldview shattered.

But then, as he thought about it, Sakumo's reasoning made sense. With a sage-like nod, he patted Sakumo's shoulder. "I get it. Times are tough.

"This meal is on me."

Sakumo smiled slyly. "I heard you want to learn swordsmanship."

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(Chapter End)

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