Meanwhile, the Shadow Clone had begun training with the students who had already learned Fire Release ninjutsu.
"Although you have already learned Fire Release ninjutsu, today you saw the transformation in my Great Fireball Technique. The key to this lies in the precise division and reorganization of chakra."
As the Shadow Clone spoke, he demonstrated the technique. A small fireball emerged from his mouth, slowly split into two, then three, and finally fused back together into a larger fireball.
Obito watched intently from the side, a bright spark of excitement dancing in his eyes. He couldn't wait to try it himself, but he knew he had to build a solid foundation first.
"Obito, I never expected you to learn this so quickly!"
Seeing a fireball three meters in diameter first split into two small fireballs in the distance, and then merge back into an even larger one, Teacher Shinichi couldn't help offering his praise.
Hearing the compliment, Obito naturally looked immensely pleased with himself, his chin held high in the air.
Before Obito could bask in his triumph for long, an even larger fireball appeared right in front of him.
"Aoba, you're doing well too."
Teacher Shinichi praised Yamashiro Aoba, who was already wearing sunglasses at such a young age.
......
As time passed, the students on both sides worked hard at their studies. Teacher Shinichi moved back and forth among the students who hadn't yet learned Fire Release, correcting their mistakes and answering their questions. The Shadow Clone continually presented new challenges to the students who already knew the technique, pushing their skill levels higher.
The sun gradually slanted westward, and the day's ninjutsu instruction was drawing to a close.
"Today's lesson ends here. Practice diligently when you get home, and I will check your progress during our next class," Teacher Shinichi said loudly.
Though somewhat tired, the students responded to Teacher Shinichi with high spirits. Then they left in groups, their figures stretched long in the twilight, as if telling the story of their hopeful path of the ninja.
"Obito, Rin, is there something you need?"
Seeing the other classmates leave one after another while Obito stood there fidgeting awkwardly, Teacher Shinichi couldn't help asking what was wrong.
Hearing Teacher Shinichi's voice, Obito snapped out of it.
"Teacher Shinichi, I—tomorrow is my birthday. Would you have time to come to my house tomorrow evening for my birthday?"
"Of course, Obito. I'm very glad you invited me to your house for your birthday. Come find me in my office after class tomorrow."
With that, Teacher Shinichi bent down and started ruffling Obito's hair. He couldn't explain it—ever since crossing over, whenever he saw a child's hair, he simply couldn't control his hands.
"Oh yeah!"
Hearing Teacher Shinichi agree, Obito jumped up with joy.
Watching Obito's excited state, Teacher Shinichi just stood there in place, watching him stand by himself and giggle foolishly.
"Obito, Obito."
Finally, Nohara Rin couldn't bear to watch any longer and shook Obito by the shoulder. Obito came back to his senses, didn't offer any apologies, and just stood there silly and grinning.
"You two head back first. If you get home too late, your families will worry."
"Then we'll head back first, Teacher Shinichi!"
Seeing Teacher Shinichi say this, Rin called out a greeting to him, then grabbed the still-giggling Obito alongside her and headed home.
Even though school was over, Teacher Shinichi still had a lot of work to take care of, such as the upcoming task of promoting the Will of Fire, which was enough to keep him busy.
Returning swiftly to his office, Teacher Shinichi began brainstorming how to handle the promotion of the Will of Fire. Just as he stepped into his office, he was surprised to spot an unexpected figure.
"Namikaze Minato?"
Seeing that shock of blonde hair, Teacher Shinichi momentarily thought he had walked into the wrong classroom.
"It's Shinichi-kun! It really has been a long time!"
"Yeah, long time no see. Is there something you needed me for today?"
Ever since receiving the original owner's memories, Teacher Shinichi naturally knew that the original and Namikaze Minato had been classmates in the same class.
"Is this about promoting the Will of Fire?"
Thinking about recent events in his life, Teacher Shinichi figured only an assignment given by the Third Hokage would attract someone else's attention.
"Yes, Shinichi-kun. Lord Third sent me here to learn from you."
"Lord Third said that Shinichi-kun is an exceptionally fine teacher. I really wouldn't have thought, after a few years apart, that Shinichi-kun would turn out to be so remarkable," Namikaze Minato said in a gentle tone.
"Ha, Minato-kun is being too modest. In our class, who doesn't know that you are the youngest Jonin, Minato?" Teacher Shinichi naturally brushed off Namikaze Minato's praise.
Pondering for a moment, Teacher Shinichi spoke up eagerly:
"Minato-kun, are you and Kushina together yet? Back in the day, I even made a bet with Shikuro-kun over that."
At this, Namikaze Minato's face flushed involuntarily, and the initial stiffness in his tone vanished.
"Shikuro-kun... I haven't seen him in a long time either."
Hearing Minato deftly steer the conversation away, Teacher Shinichi didn't press further about Kushina, instead pivoting to reminisce about childhood fun. After the two of them traded memories of their early days, the distance between them closed naturally.
"Minato, I have some thoughts now—some ideas already taking shape in my mind. How about we discuss the work details once I've written up a proposal?"
Hearing Teacher Shinichi's suggestion, Namikaze Minato readily agreed, explaining that he had just dropped by today to say hello. Afterwards, at Teacher Shinichi's warm invitation, the two of them went to Teuchi and had a bowl of ramen.
Once they finished dinner, the pair parted ways, as both of them had their own matters to attend to.
After parting ways with Minato, Teacher Shinichi strolled leisurely through the heart of Konoha. Passing by a ninja tool shop, he paused in his tracks, thought for a moment, and stepped inside.
A middle-aged man sat behind the counter, and upon seeing Teacher Shinichi arrive, he immediately stood up to welcome him.
"Customer, please feel free to look around our shop's ninja tools. Many ninjas in the village use tools crafted right here in our shop, and our quality stands the test of time."
"Do you take custom orders? Can a single kunai be forged and ready by five o'clock tomorrow?"
Teacher Shinichi put forward his request.
"Our shop does accept custom orders, and custom pieces certainly carry a higher price tag, but a single day is definitely not enough time."
Hearing the shopkeeper's explanation, Teacher Shinichi didn't feel disappointed—after all, he had just asked on a whim. But after thinking for a second, he asked further:
"If I buy a regular kunai, can you engrave a character on it?"
"That can be done, but the price will be a bit higher. A standard kunai is two thousand ryo, while a kunai containing special metal costs fifty thousand ryo. Engraving a character on it will cost an extra one thousand ryo. Is that acceptable to you?"
Hearing the prices quoted by the shopkeeper, Teacher Shinichi felt a brief pang of heartache. On his very first day after crossing over, he had taken stock of the original owner's assets: aside from some basic ninjutsu scrolls, he had only forty thousand ryo in savings and a house.
Weighing his options, Teacher Shinichi opted for the high-quality kunai—after all, how could a gift for a student be anything less than the best?
Instructing the owner to carve the character "Earth" onto it, Teacher Shinichi fished fifty-one thousand ryo out of his wallet, paid the man, and quickly left the ninja tool shop.