5 Chapter 4: Konoha
As the steaming dish was set down on the small square table by the waiter, Asuma leaned forward and grabbed a piece of meat. He lifted the tender cut to his mouth.
He shifted his gaze across the small table towards where Junpei was grabbing a tender cut and sinking his teeth into the juicy meat. A smile slowly crept up to Asuma as he asked, "Do you like the food?"
Junpei dryly looked up and nodded in confirmation, allowing silence to take over the table for a few moments. Asuma eventually spoke up, his tone warm.
"When we reach Konoha, I would like to introduce you to some of my close friends. A few of them even have children your age who would be more than happy to play with you."
Asuma waited a moment for a reply, but one never came. Then, he sighed in exasperation.
"Son, you haven't talked to me for a week. Say something."
After a while of silence, Junpei finally spoke up, his voice edged with annoyance.
"When can I join the Ninja Academy?"
As Asuma spoke, a serious expression crossed his face.
"Junpei, I want you to focus on enjoying your childhood," he began, his voice sounding sincere. "Not on becoming a ninja."
Junpei's expression became sullen as he asked, "Are you saying you won't let me join the Academy?"
Asuma sighed. "No, I am saying don't rush into things. Rather than joining the academy earlier than other children, I can train you."
Junpei snorted in annoyance as he grudgingly accepted the proposal.
. . . . .
Throughout their month-long journey to Konoha, Junpei devoted himself to practicing Sutāsutoraiku and Total Concentration Breathing technique. He would wake up before sunrise and find a quiet spot near the camp or ryokan they were staying at, practicing the taijutsu and breathing technique again and again until mid-morning. He would repeat the kata over and over, trying to level it up, and it eventually did. Three times.
Sutāsutoraiku was a unique taijutsu technique created by the first Hoshikage and had been taught to Junpei by his mother. It had a special place in his heart as it was something that he could remember her by.
Sutāsutoraiku required its practitioners to envelop their bodies in a thin layer of chakra, strengthening their defenses and boosting their physical capabilities. The technique's main feature was its rotational hip movements, which were used in every kick, punch, elbow, and block. The hip rotation helped to generate extra force and power, adding to the overall strength of the attacks.
Little did Junpei know… this technique closely resembled Muay Thai. But this was just a facade to create openings. Its real power comes out once it has created enough openings
Regardless for Junpei, this was just the first step in getting strong. He already knew that relying solely on this technique wouldn't be enough, especially when facing the Akatsuki and the looming threat of the Otsutsuki Clan. If he wanted to become strong enough to fight and protect himself, he would need to start to culminate soul points to use his system abilities.
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Today was the day that they were arriving in Konoha. Junpei was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice the gates of Konoha standing before him.
'If I get enough soul points, I can kill a snake from Ryūchi Cave and get its natural ability of sage mode through Necrofusion. Or maybe I can even get a trait from a regular animal like a beetle and get a shell-like skin, and with it, I can enhance that trait even further with chakra.'
"Hey...Junpei?"
Junpei was ripped out of his thoughts as he heard his father's voice.
"We are here, Junpei."
Junpei hummed in acknowledgment at his father's words as he saw the ninja at the gate nodding to Asuma. As Junpei stepped foot into the village hidden in the leaves, his eyes widened in awe at the vibrant colors of the homes and shops that filled the streets.
Led by Asuma, Junpei was navigated through the streets of Konoha. Asuma pointed out various locations and shared stories of his life with Junpei, who could not take his eyes off the scenery. But Junpei's eyes were fixed on the four mountain-sized heads of the Hokages in the distance.
Suddenly, Junpei froze in place when a system notification rang in his ears.
[Your psychic bond is within 100 meters of you, establishing a psychic link]
"Are you okay?" Asuma asked, and Junpei could only give a weak response.
"Yeah," he replied faintly, as his thoughts were still preoccupied by the system notification.
"We are going to the Hokage Tower," Asuma said with a slight frown, and Junpei followed his footsteps to the center of the village.
{Hello...?} Junpei hesitantly reached out through the psychic link.
{Who are you?} A deep voice forcefully resounded through his head.
{Shouldn't you know?} Junpei's response carried a tinge of suspicion.
Junpei was careful when providing information to his psychic bond. Even though the other party was his "brother", he was aware that living as another person for a long time would inevitably alter their personality. Even when their past life memories were unsealed, that did not change the fact that the current version of them was shaped by their memories in this world.
Having that in mind, Junpei also considered that the psychic bond only prevented open betrayal and killing, and did not prevent the other reincarnator from using indirect means of harm against him.
For example, capturing his grandmother as leverage would allow the other reincarnator to control him like a puppet.
{I just wanted to know if you knew Leo Aracal.} The voice said with a soft chuckle, and Junpei could hear the amusement in his voice.
{Joe Logan. What's your name in this world?} Junpei decided to be direct as he scratched the bridge of his nose.
{Shikamaru Nara} he casually said.
{How can I confirm that is your real name?} Junpei replied in a slightly challenging tone.
{Lying is a form of betrayal, isn't it?} Shikamaru responded.
'Hmm... should I tell him anything at all?' Junpei contemplated as he remained silent.
So, to confirm this instead of telling Shikamaru his real name, he tried to lie and say that his name was Madara Uchiha - the descendant of Hagoromo Otsutsuki - but instead, the following came out
{My name is Junpei Kiritsu the son of Asuma Sarutobi} He said, realizing that he really couldn't lie to his psychic bond.
{Huh, you're the kid of Uncle Asuma. I will tell my father that I want to meet you so we can talk in person} Shikamaru said, ending the psych-link as soon as he finished his sentence.
. . . . .
In the Hokage tower, rays of sunlight streamed through the glass window, bathing the Hokage's office in a warm glow. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, sat behind his grand desk, engrossed in reading a file that contained a recent report.
His face grew dark as his eyes quickly scanned the report about an Aburame clan child named Torune Aburame, noticing that Danzo had hand-picked him for his ability to control lethal poison insects.
As Hiruzen thought about the report, he took a puff from his pipe, letting the wisps of smoke surround him.
Suddenly, Hiruzen slammed his fist in anger "Damn you, Danzo." He grabbed a piece of paper and swiftly moved his pen across it. His anger could be tasted in the words he wrote:
"Danzo, you have continued to pursue your own interests, without considering the consequences, or the effect it has had on the relationship between the clans and the village. Tobirama was right, you are too narrow-minded. It has come to the point where I can no longer permit you to continue recruiting more clan children into your ranks. I will not allow you to chip away at the unity between our village and our clan members any further."
With a heavy heart, Hiruzen sealed the letter using his thumb to apply the crimson wax seal. Once complete, he summoned an ANBU member. The member was tasked with delivering the sealed letter to Danzo, who was at the moment in the capital of the Land of Fire.
As the ANBU member departs from the office, Hiruzen can't help but let out a tired sigh as he sets his Hokage hat down on the table.
"I'm too old for this..."
He softly mumbled to himself as he rubbed his weary eyes. With a sigh, he lifted himself out of the chair and began pacing around the room. One final puff of smoke, and then a knock was heard.
"Enter!" Hiruzen said forcefully, ready to deal with whatever problem that was on the other side.
A man with two scars on the right side of his face, his dark hair tied up in a spiky ponytail, and dark eyes with a mesh shirt underneath his flak jacket and deer-skin coat, enters the room. His features are somewhat rough and harsh.
He brings with him a man and a child, who both trail in behind him.
"Thank you, Shikaku." The Hokage stated as the Nara gave him a short and polite bow as he left the office.
"You must be Junpei." The Hokage said warmly, taking the child into a hug.
"I am your grandfather." He continued, his tone shifting slightly and becoming more stern as he now looked at the man standing next to the kid.
"It's nice to meet you," Junpei said awkwardly, unsure how to handle his interactions with the Hokage.
Hiruzen softly chuckled before responding, "Junpei, we're family - just call me grandpa."
"Okay," Junpei replied, his lips slightly pursed as he forced himself to give a smile and add, "Grandpa."
The Hokage gave a happy smile in response as his face brightened up.
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