Chapter 043: Sasuke, Naruto, When the Sage of Six Paths Appears, You Two… (Asking for Data)
"..."
Realizing that both Sasuke and Naruto were looking at him at the same time, Kitahara Kaede knew... he'd been tricked.
These two guys had intentionally brought him here, and then—declared that this wasn't just Naruto's idea.
To be exact… it was Sasuke's.
"I want to participate in the Chūnin Exams."
"I need to get stronger."
"Take me as your disciple!"
Sasuke said.
"I want to get stronger too!"
"Take me as your disciple!" Naruto quickly followed.
Both of them performed a dogeza—a deep bow of utmost sincerity—in front of Kitahara Kaede.
This was the highest form of courtesy, representing absolute sincerity.
"..."
"..."
Kitahara Kaede.
[Descendant Chat Group (^_-)]
[Kakashi Hatake]: …
Kakashi felt as though… his existence had just become meaningless.
Because out of his three students… two of them now wanted to change masters…
So then, what was the point of his existence?
[Minato Namikaze]: …Umm…
Minato, too, was momentarily speechless.
Because—
Look.
In that little corner of the group chat, the First Hokage, Second Hokage, and Kakashi had all gone into self-isolation.
[Might Guy]: So they're going to participate in the Chūnin Exams, huh?
[Might Guy]: That means they'll run into Neji and the others.
[Might Guy]: That actually sounds pretty exciting. In my team, Neji was the top graduate last year. And in Kakashi's, Sasuke is the top student.
[Might Guy]: Isn't that great?
[Might Guy]: Kakashi, you and I have always competed and chased after one another, and now it's finally our disciples' turn!
[Might Guy]: The youth has been passed on.
[Kakashi Hatake]: …
Guy didn't understand a thing.
[Ding!]
At that moment, the system issued a notification.
[Congratulations, Might Guy has adapted to the chat group and received a fair evaluation.]
[Congratulations, Might Guy has earned the title — "The Man Who Can Kick Uchiha Madara with the Eight Gates Released."]
[Congratulations, Might Guy has obtained a group entrance effect — Morning as Peacock, Noon as Tiger, Evening Beast Emerges, Night Guy Dances!]
[Morning as Peacock, Noon as Tiger, Evening Beast Emerges, Night Guy Dances]
...???
Guy suddenly noticed golden and purple text swirling around him.
And the words were all techniques from the Eight Gates…?!?!
[The Man Who Can Kick Uchiha Madara with the Eight Gates Released]: Eh?
[The Man Who Can Kick Uchiha Madara with the Eight Gates Released]: Kakashi, this title is kind of weird.
[Kakashi Hatake]: …
[Tobirama's Achievement - Izuna]: That is a pretty weird title.
[Tobirama's Achievement - Izuna]: This guy can kick my big brother?
[Tobirama's Achievement - Izuna]: …
[Minato Namikaze]: Guy's strength…
[Minato Namikaze]: The Eight Gates...
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: So, Minato, what are you trying to say?
[Kakashi Hatake]: Very few people choose to train in the Eight Gates because the physical demands are extremely high.
[Minato Namikaze]: So right now, Guy...
[Kakashi Hatake]: He could open the Seventh Gate a few years ago. Maybe now he can even open the Eighth.
[Minato Namikaze]: That's incredible.
[Minato Namikaze]: Kakashi, Guy really is a genius.
[The Man Who Can Kick Uchiha Madara with the Eight Gates Released]: Eh… hehe.
Though he didn't quite understand what was happening, Might Guy could tell the Fourth Hokage was praising him.
[Kakashi Hatake]: I already knew Guy was strong…
[Kakashi Hatake]: But now… my students are taking Kitahara Kaede as their master, and Guy's so outstanding too.
[Kakashi Hatake]: And I was just scolded by the Second Lord a while back… Guess I really don't have any talent after all?
[Kakashi Hatake]: Ah… I've lost my motivation.
And so, the zone of self-isolation where the First and Second Hokage were… gained one more member.
Meanwhile, outside the chat group—
"..." Kitahara Kaede.
"You two… want to become my disciples?"
"Yeah."
"That's right."
Sasuke and Naruto lifted their heads.
"I carry a deep blood feud, but my current strength is still far from enough."
"If I stay a Genin, I'll constantly be stuck doing annoying and trivial missions, leaving no time for proper training."
"So I need to become a Chūnin, get more free time, and focus on improving."
"But…"
"I know my current strength isn't enough to become a Chūnin," Sasuke said. "My top student status is fake."
"I want your guidance!"
"M-Me too!" Naruto added. "Now that my chakra flows properly, I can finally use the Clone Technique."
"But…"
"I also want to get stronger."
"Or rather, I have to get stronger. I want to shut up everyone who looks down on me!"
"..." Kitahara Kaede.
"You want to get stronger… then I'll train you."
Kitahara Kaede had initially planned to refuse, but he suddenly remembered who these two really were.
They carried the chakra of Asura and Indra, the sons of the Sage of Six Paths.
So... they might actually be useful in the future.
Naruto, the saintly type, and Sasuke, the tsundere… even without his intervention, they would eventually protect Konoha.
And they would end up fighting off the endlessly swarming Ōtsutsuki like flies.
So raising them himself wasn't a bad investment.
"Then I'll make you promise me one thing," Kitahara Kaede said.
"Hmm?" Naruto and Sasuke blinked.
"Wait—does that mean you're accepting us?!" Sasuke's eyes widened.
"I'll only accept you if you agree," Kitahara Kaede replied.
"Okay, I promise!" Naruto said immediately.
"Me too!"
"…You guys agreed way too fast," Kitahara Kaede said flatly.
"Then I'll say it." Kitahara Kaede leaned in. "In the future, if an old man with Rinnegan appears and offers you power…"
"…Uh… come here, let me whisper it to you."
Kitahara Kaede motioned them closer.
"Oh…"
"Are you sure you want us to do that?" Naruto was shocked.
"If it's to protect my own interests, then yes," Kitahara Kaede said.
"So I've actually been hiding this kind of power all along?" Sasuke mused.
He had once believed he was a genius, but after being crushed by Kitahara Kaede, and even needing Naruto's help… he almost spiraled into despair.
But now… he was a child of destiny?
Then… getting stronger might really be within reach!
Sasuke, once on the verge of a breakdown, found his confidence again.
"This is your last chance—will you do it or not?" Kitahara Kaede asked.
"I can do it," Naruto nodded.
"Me too!" Sasuke had no objections—becoming stronger mattered more than anything.
"Good!"
Kitahara Kaede nodded.
As for how to train Naruto and Sasuke, the method was actually quite simple.
····
"Achoo…"
At that moment, in the adjacent room of Kitahara Kaede's apartment—
On the windowsill, his white-eyed, red-clawed ninja rabbit sneezed.
Obviously—
It had no idea that, back in Chapter 93, this little meeting between Naruto, Sasuke, and Kitahara Kaede…
…would cause such a huge ripple in the future.
And it would change its fate too.