Chapter 6: Mother's Worry and Plans, Make Up Lost Time
'My foolish son, he has always been bad at lying, so I know he did not fall comatose due to chakra exhaustion.
That can only mean someone is targeting him… That means I need to prepare for the worst as well' I thought, biting my nails in worry
I watched my dear son Bunta walk out of the gate to visit the clan leader and my cousin, Chōza, and his family to talk to his son.
It has always been like this, you can learn some weak basics as clans in terms of elemental jutsu, but only if you are too powerful, like Kakashi Hatake or the Uchiha when they were around, or as a civilian shinobi, can you use all kinds of jutsu openly, without anyone batting an eye.
I know we clans mainly use our clan jutsu, but that's such a waste, so I am happy my son decided to branch out. But now he is being targeted in our own village for it…
I know, just like all shinobi about this shadow, and as the direct cousin of Chōza, I learn many things not meant for others to hear, so I know the shadows are real. Even if he and his teammates, fellow leaders of the Nara and Yamanaka, never mention a name.
But that is besides the point, my son is a target, and that means I will be as well to get to him.
'Guess I will have to start training again, I have been keeping my strength up as is, but maybe I should learn a few elemental things as backup?' I thought, suddenly making my eye twitch
I always valued raw power like Tsunade-sama was able to do even as a child, but to see the shock of an enemy when you take them down with jutsu would be good to buy some much-needed time, even if it means enough time to have gotten close to smashing their skulls with my fist or hammer.
Sigh, but I'm not getting younger, and my son is neither. So I guess, since he is not looking at any ladies. To properly find himself a wife, I guess it will be up to me to do so for him.
My eyes glinted, and I started to think of many decent kunoichi in the village, both clan and civilians included, mainly those who have no family in the civilian council or have no family left.
'Let's see, Anko Mitarashi is out, besides the snake slut or whore comments by jealous men, she mainly brings women home during the night, but they are always the same few who are her friends, so who knows, besides can't see her being a mother at all.
Maybe that red-eyed black-haired girl, Kurenai Yuuhi? She is rather traditional, enjoys tea, and I did teach her tea ceremony in the past… anyone who enjoys and loves tea is good in my books, so I know she would stay loyal to my son if they got together. Her father was traditional, so she should be taught to be as well by that man. Besides, she would be a good mother to any children, as I have seen she has treated Hinata Hyuga rather well. The only problem is that bearded chain-smoking fool who is trying to court her.
Or maybe Hana, the daughter of Tsume Inuzuka, could also be a good option… I wonder if Tsume would even allow it. I got to talk with her soon. It has been too long anyway. But Hana would be great, a doctor for pets and humans alike. And I have seen her around that clinic of hers, treating children kindly with a smile.' I started to think of some potential girls to couple my son with.
Then I saw many other names I had written down, mainly from many of the clans in the village, and most of the civilian names I noticed I crossed out because of civilian council bias.
Then I shook my head at the remaining names. There are too many options, even besides those three; forcing a relationship is never healthy, and for us shinobi, it is even worse.
Then again, if she's traditional and likely raised in that way, she won't be a problem, but then that leaves my son… how to convince him to get a wife?
I looked at the tiny animal lying under my porch, and an idea struck.
'Of course! Summoning! If he wants my summoning contract, he has to get married; he was rather close to most of them growing up. This will be good, he always tried to get his hands on it even as a child, again as a genin, and even when he became a chunin. He only stopped a few months ago to focus on his training for the Jonin exams.' I started to smile, my eyes glinting a dangerous light
'Mother knows best after all, you can only blame your own indecisiveness.' I felt my mouth curl as I rubbed my hands gleefully
— — — — —
Not long after I left my mother's place, I felt cold chills down my spine, and it was there to stay, the same chill I felt when she was about to talk about women as potential wives for me and mothers for grandkids and all that.
I could feel my eye start to twitch. She really likes that idea and seems to be getting worse. I guess all mothers are like that at a certain age… no, think they are in general, specifically those with only one child.
I walked toward the massive courtyard of the clan leader's family, where Chōza had asked me to come to meet his son Chōji, who had not been eating well.
I know he will be fine in the Genin exams; those are just a hoax after what is taught nowadays anyway. But the follow-up test from the sensei will be problematic, so I'd better get him to snap out of it.
It did not take long for me to arrive at the location. I saw a large spread of foods on multiple tables outside, with Chōji just sitting there looking at the sky.
'It is much worse than expected. If it is this bad, I would have come sooner.' I thought, watching the living dead, Chōji, who was just sitting there
"Ahoy there! Chōza-sama, you did not have to put such a line-up of food out for me, Hahaha!" I walked towards them with a loud laugh, making sure the kiddo heard it
"Huh?... BUNTA-SAN!" I saw Chōji's head turn my way, eyes growing wide, and he suddenly yelled loudly, falling off his chair
The closer I got, I noticed him lying there crying, kinda understandable, but I wonder what he thought…
"Thanks goodness! I…I…I thought you died because of me!!!" I heard him say when his crying became hysterical crying
'Sigh, like this, I can't even lecture him, let alone be annoyed at him for not listening to what I taught before.' I thought, finally arriving at the table and watching both Chōza and his wife standing there with a wry smile.
"Ahoy there me matey!, Ye be bailing them tears out of ye places called eyes." I said in the worst possible pirate accent and wording possible, even taking a weird pose
I had a memory of a mission from Bunta's past where they dealt with a pirate group who talked like this.
I looked at Chōji, who started to sniffle instead of crying, and looked at me in confusion.
"Oi! Laddy, you and me, eating contest now. The winner gets this Monster Bag of CHIPS!" I summoned a bag of BBQ taste Chips, the size of Chōji being tall and wide.
The confusion turned to understanding, and I could hear his stomach growl so loud it was at least twice as loud as my own earlier this morning when I was woken up.
We both stood on either side of the large group of tables filled to the brink with all kinds of foods, from finger foods and appetisers, to soups and main dishes, with even multiple containers with ice in them
I could see his teary eyes had turned into burning flames just waiting for the starting signal that I could see his father getting ready to give from the corner of my eye.
"Get ready! On your marks! GO!" Chōza yelled out in a loud voice
The moment the 'go' fell, I started grabbing plates of appetisers and finger foods and just let it all fall into my open mouth. The moment it was in, I chewed quickly, then *GULP* I swallowed it all.
I quickly grabbed a large pan filled to the brim with chicken soup, good for digestion and for those who are sick or recovering, and both of us are just that.
I quickly gulped it down greedily, holding the large pan with one hand, while my other hand grabbed multiple plates of riceballs, and a large plate filled with a pyramid of sticks of dango.
I did not look at how far my young opponent was, but the clinking of plates being stacked made me quicken my pace.
You might think I will just let him win, but I'm not going to. I started off with some light food instead of with my favorite foods that are more filling and heavier, because I just woke up after two weeks of a comatose state. Starting with light is the best for a stomach like that, and then move up from there.
I kept eating and eating, plates being raised, stack after stack, turning into small towers.
When I checked again, I saw Chōji surrounded by stacks of plates and pans, with his parents carrying the stacks away, while a few clan men did the same on my side.
But when I saw him slowing down, I decided to continue on, hastening my own tempo. I mean, I'm twice the size of a normal person, even twice as big as a normal shinobi, clan, or civilian alike.
My stomach and size demand way more than the tiny Chōji, who is still a child, even though I have to admit those stacked towers of plates make me believe otherwise, like he will be a menace in terms of his next sensei's wallet.
I know who it will be, and if I do not interfere, it will be the same as what is in my head. But I feel no sadness for the man in question, his wallet. Besides the future where he shows off he is in fact capable, his lazy nature and his simping behaviour, trying to court a certain woman, and keeping any other man away from even trying. Yeah, he is not in my books as someone I would care much about.
Unless I have to work with him on missions, and well, I guess I will have to care since he's gonna be in charge of Chōji and his teammates soon.
"Urgh… no more!... ate too fast… *BURP!*" I suddenly heard Chōji say while still gulping down food after a massive and loud burp that made the towers of plates around us shake dangerously
"Hahaha! Chōji, you should have started light. You started off with heavy food right away, no wonder you're slowing down!" I laughingly told him, watching him look at me like a bloated ball and filled cheeks like a chipmunk, only making me laugh louder
But when I, after laughing, wanted to grab more food, I noticed something horrifying on both our sides… we ran out of food.
"No more food? Hahahaha!" I questioningly spoke before breaking out in a loud belly laugh, holding my stomach as tears in my eyes threatened to fall
I thought Chōji would not be able to eat as much as myself well, the proof is the empty table. He clearly is talented as a child in terms of eating and burning food, since his rotund frame became normal already.
When I calmed down, I noticed that all around us stood many Akimichi, all with relieved smiles and looks of enjoying a good show.
I looked towards the clanhead, who looked sheepish, rubbing the back of his head, and I saw his wife standing next to him, holding a roller pin, frowning at him.
"Since Chōji said he can't eat anymore, he declared himself as having lost, meaning the monster bag of the BBQ chips will go back with Bunta-san, who it belonged to beforehand." I heard Chōji's mother say, putting the roller pin in her other hand with slight up and down thunks
"Well, since the tables are both empty, I call it a draw, since no one carried new food to the tables, we will never know if either of us can still eat, but even in a Draw, I will retake the bag of chips I brought." I calmly stated
"However, since you said you can't eat anymore. I will take the monster bag of chips away, and if you wish to get it, you have to prove to me that you can become a Genin. Only then will it be yours." I told everyone around, while I walked to the open clearing on the side, and started doing some warm-up exercises, as a few clansmen rushed up to take the tables, chairs, and remaining stacks of plates away
"Now, then, Chōji, let me see how much you improved over the last two weeks." I looked at Chōji when I said this, watching him pale a bit as if becoming unwell
I could see him getting up nervously, looking everywhere but at me, while he slowly walked to the opposite side of me.
Just when I was about to tell Chōji what to do, I heard some slight snickers from the side.
"I see we got more interested participants, come along now. This is a good opportunity for you all to show the clan how far you have come along since the time of the academy." I spoke up, looking at the children, both younger and older than Chōji, to the side.
To my great satisfaction, the parents, I take it, pushed them forward with some of them with fake smiles and some with stern faces, pushing their children forward.
Knowing they can't get out of this, I could see them pale slightly as well, some even gulping from nervousness.
"Now then, let us begin, shall we?" I said with a smile that was somehow making the children even more nervous
I looked at the ten children of different ages, six already Genin and four soon to be Genin. Well, only one is soon to be the others still need a few years in the academy.
"We will start with some of the basics, some warm-up exercises, so you won't get cramps or sprained muscles after what comes later today. Look what I do, then repeat it. I will walk around fixing you if you're not doing it well." I told the kids, who nodded in silence