Gekko Chizan assumed a fighting stance, both fists turning into open palms, one in front, one behind.
Seeing his posture, Chen-sensei's eyes lit up. As a taijutsu expert, he could tell how refined Chizan's stance was.
With his palms positioned one in front and one behind, he could advance or retreat at will. His feet were spaced perfectly, knees slightly bent, heels anchored, toes turned outward, and the waist powered his leg motion.
Hmm! This kid's got a knack for taijutsu!
"Old man Chen, come on! This time I won't dodge!"
With his stance set and battle cry shouted, his aura exploded!
"Not bad, kid. Just for that, you're a real man in my eyes!"
"Konoha! Great Whirlwind!"
Chen shot forward like a bolt of lightning—leopard speed didn't even begin to describe him. He truly launched like a rocket.
His powerful legs unleashed a fierce kick.
Gekko Chizan's smile grew even wider. His Insect Eyes were already activated.
No matter how fast Chen moved, Chizan could see it all clearly.
Just a split second before the whip kick struck him—
Gekko Chizan moved.
His right palm suddenly pressed down on Chen's attacking leg.
Chen had been surging with fighting spirit, but then he saw—
Gekko Chizan's sly grin.
And then he mouthed something.
If Chen lip-read correctly, it was something like: "Take care"?
Why would he tell him that?! Countless question marks exploded in Chen's brain.
And then, the next second—
Total confusion.
Because the scenery around him changed.
The training ground vanished, replaced by… a rooftop?
Gekko Chizan was gone too.
In his place stood someone with their back to him—white-haired?
Wait, why did that white hair look so familiar?
Holy crap! Isn't that Hatake Sakumo?!
"Oh no!"
"Dodge, quickly!"
Hatake Sakumo had just been enjoying the show when, suddenly, Chen disappeared from his view.
Just as he wondered what was going on, he felt a sharp, frigid gust of wind behind him—like falling into an icy cellar.
He turned to see Gekko Chizan still on the training field, smirking mischievously at him.
That damn brat! He used the Flying Thunder God to set me up!
Damn it! Evade!
Hatake Sakumo immediately reacted, trying to dodge.
But Chen was too fast.
And Chizan's Flying Thunder God had locked onto a rooftop seal.
So Chen reappeared just one meter behind Hatake Sakumo.
To a true expert, one meter—tsk tsk—there's no time to dodge.
With a solid Konoha Great Whirlwind, Chen landed a full-force kick right into Hatake Sakumo's kidney.
"Aaaaargh!"
A miserable scream echoed from the rooftop of the ninja academy.
Everyone turned their heads, stunned by what they saw.
Chen's size-40 foot had slammed right into Sakumo's kidney, launching him clean off the roof.
Hatake Sakumo clutched his waist midair, screaming as he flew.
Later, someone asked: What's the true power of Konoha's strongest taijutsu?
Pakura rubbed her temples, exasperated. She knew Gekko Chizan wouldn't follow the rules.
And she was right.
[Ding! Detected that host used Flying Thunder God to ambush Hatake Sakumo, leading to a heavy kidney blow from Chen. Bonus reward: +2 strength.]
Hearing the familiar notification, Gekko Chizan's smile widened.
You white-haired bastard, trying to be my dad? Hmph! Feels good now, doesn't it?
...
Evening, at the Gekko residence, at the dinner table.
"Chizan, that was too much today."
"That was Hatake Sakumo-sama, for heaven's sake."
Pakura was eating Chizan's cooking—and she had to admit, the guy could really cook.
"Oh? Chizan, did you act up again today? What did you do to Sakumo-sama?"
Sayo asked while serving her son another bowl of rice, curious what kind of trouble her delinquent boy had stirred up this time.
"Mom, today Chizan-niisan got the principal kicked by Chen-sensei. He's in the hospital now."
As soon as Ebisu said that, he put down his bowl and dramatically recounted the entire scene.
Sayo was stunned. That was the mighty Hatake Sakumo-sama—yet this little punk actually ambushed him?
"Hmph, he wanted me to call him 'Dad.' Like hell I'd put up with that!"
"That was just a small punishment. Just wait!"
Every time he thought of Sakumo's smug face earlier that day, he burned with anger.
He was the one who brought the target in. He was the one watching them. And yet Sakumo just swooped in and took them—rage-inducing!
Looking at Gekko Chizan's grumpy face, Pakura unexpectedly felt… rather pleased.
"Sayo-san, another bowl please! I've got such a great appetite today!"
"Sure! Eat more! When you two get married, you'll need your strength to give me a chubby grandkid."
Sayo grinned as she took Pakura's bowl.
Before she even finished speaking—
"Pfft!"
"Pfft!"
Pakura and Chizan both spat out their food at the same time. Their eyes met, and both saw awkwardness and evasion in the other's gaze.
"Sayo-san, don't say weird stuff like that! Who'd marry him?! He's just a little punk, hmph!"
"Hmph! As if I'd want to marry you! I'll have you know, my dream is the sea of stars!"
Sayo just smiled at their bickering and said nothing.
...
After dinner, Chizan sat on the rooftop, gazing at the moonlight.
Pakura suddenly leapt up beside him, standing quietly by his side.
"Hatake Sakumo said that if you want to join Konoha, you'll have to join a clan."
"Have you made up your mind, Pakura?"
At that, Pakura looked down, her heart in turmoil.
Sakumo had told her the same earlier, but she hadn't answered.
Now, with Chizan asking directly, she felt even more conflicted.
"I…"
She was a Sunagakure ninja, and had come to Konoha as a prisoner. Could someone like her really abandon Sunagakure and join Konoha…?
"You don't need to worry about Sunagakure. I just want to know what you truly want."
"I… I don't know… Sunagakure was the village that raised me…"
Chizan slowly stood up. For some reason, a hint of irritation rose in his chest.
"Raising you doesn't mean they had your best interests at heart."
"You know what your life there was like. You were treated as a weapon. That's not your destiny."
"You deserve better."
He paused, thinking of Pakura's original fate.
Killed by betrayal. Killed by Kirigakure. That unwillingness. That injustice.
He calmed down slightly, then continued.
"If you join the Hatake clan and become part of Konoha, even if you don't serve as a ninja, this place would suit you better."
"And also…"
"I want you to stay…"
...
A/N: Pakura must join Konoha!
That perfect back of hers can't be riddled with holes! No way! Absolutely not!
But honestly... romantic arcs aren't my strong suit...
I just hope it didn't fall apart in your eyes. Thank you all so much for your support.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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