"So this is the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit… definitely a lot stronger than standard Lightning Release."
Ayato lifted a finger. Pale-blue currents crackled at his fingertip, dancing freely. He could feel it clearly — this lightning wasn't on the same level as ninjutsu at all.
Now he could manipulate lightning at will.
Excellent.
He could finally wield thunder and look cool doing it.
He tapped his chin while checking his status panel.
[Master–Disciple Mission:
Teach Naruto the Rasengan.
Teach Sasuke the Chidori.
Teach Sakura the Strength of a Hundred Seal.]
[Reward: Gura Gura no Mi (Quake-Quake Fruit) ability (no side effects), Eternal Youth, Lifespan x2]
[Time Limit: One year]
Ayato pondered.
The Quake-Quake Fruit was undeniably stylish — the power to shake the very atmosphere, even rattle space with enough force.
Just like the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, it was an ability designed for dramatic entrances and effortless dominance.
The second reward was nice too — eternal youth and doubled lifespan.
Meaning…
He could stay handsome forever.
But there was one troublesome point: the Strength of a Hundred Seal.
Teaching Naruto the Rasengan? Easy — he already knew it.
Teaching Sasuke the Chidori? Also easy — he knew that too.
But the Strength of a Hundred?
He had never used it.
Why would he? With his monstrous chakra reserves, he could spam advanced techniques without a second thought. Slowly storing chakra was completely unnecessary for him.
And in the entire shinobi world, only Tsunade — that crazy, big-busted woman — knew how to use it.
The problem was…
He had once drunkenly slept with Tsunade.
So asking her for help was impossible.
The moment she saw him, she would go berserk and try to obliterate him.
What a pain…
Tazuna took a swig from his bottle and grumbled,
"I'm the client here. With your carefree attitude, can you even guarantee my safety?"
He truly felt Ayato was far too casual — not taking the mission seriously at all.
Testing his students in the middle of an escort mission?
Absurd.
Old as he was, Tazuna had never met a ninja like Ayato — someone who treated life-or-death danger like a stroll through the park.
If a real threat appeared, this laid-back instructor would get killed instantly.
"No worries. Think of it as a government-funded vacation." Ayato waved dismissively.
He had no choice.
He would have to find that crazy woman Tsunade eventually.
She was the only person alive who knew the Strength of a Hundred.
Tazuna bristled with irritation.
"Hmph. I just hope we'll all be alive when the enemy shows up."
"Achoo!"
Sakura—soaked from the lake earlier—sneezed as she wrung out her pink hair.
"Ayato-sensei! So… did we pass the test?"
Testing was one thing, but did he really have to throw them?
What kind of teacher does that!?
Ayato-sensei was the worst!
Ayato gave a thumbs-up.
"Yep. Good job. You passed."
Naruto wrung out his drenched clothes.
"Tch. Who gives exams during a mission!?"
Sakura, for once, agreed.
"Exactly!"
Naruto pointed at the completely dry Sasuke and pouted.
"Why didn't he get thrown!?"
"Idiots."
Sasuke shoved his hands deeper into his pockets and stepped back onto the shore.
He wasn't as naïve as Naruto and Sakura — he already had a good idea what Ayato was planning.
Suddenly—
Splash!
The lake erupted, sending ripples surging outward.
Three masked men in dark clothing burst from the water, brandishing sharp blades as they slashed toward Ayato.
The sudden ambush froze everyone — Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and Tazuna alike.
Except Sasuke.
He had expected this.
CRASH!
Their blades struck Ayato dead-on, kicking up dirt and smoke in a violent cloud.
A sinister voice echoed from within the haze:
"Foolish man. You dared to let your guard down. With the jōnin taken out, the rest are easy prey!"
The attackers smirked confidently.
Even a jōnin was still flesh and blood.
Flesh could not withstand steel.
And judging from the feeling of the strike, the man they sliced wasn't a clone.
"Ayato-sensei!!"
Squad Seven cried out in panic.
Tazuna's legs buckled.
"It's… over. We're doomed."
He had long thought Ayato was far too careless.
Now that carelessness had gotten him killed — or so Tazuna believed.
But then—
"If I say I'm fine, you'll probably feel embarrassed, right?"
A calm voice drifted from within the dust.
"My bad. Didn't mean to ruin the mood."
A gust of Wind Release cleared the smoke.
Ayato stood there with his hands in his pockets.
Completely unharmed.
Not even a rip in his clothing.
"Wh—What…!?"
The three masked men froze.
They had definitely struck him.
They had felt the blades hit flesh.
So how…!?
How could a human body withstand a direct strike from shinobi tools!?
"Don't make that face. It's disappointing."
Ayato lifted a finger and beckoned mockingly.
"Go on. Try again. I'll make an exception and let you experience it twice."
Arrogant.
Taunting.
Completely relaxed.
They had never fought a man like this.
"You'll regret your arrogance!"
One attacker lunged, leaping high and swinging a gleaming scythe straight toward Ayato's neck.
SHING—
The blade descended—
And stopped against a single raised finger.
"Impossible…! Is that chakra!?"
The ninja strained with all his strength, unable to cut through the thin, pale-blue chakra coating Ayato's fingertip.
"Yep. Just like that."
Ayato flicked his finger.
CRACK—
The scythe split apart, fragments raining onto the ground.
"To be honest, I almost feel bad. My strength is just way outside your comprehension."
Ayato looked down at him with a detached, superior gaze.
Ah.
Right.
He'd forgotten to test the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's intangibility.
He'd originally meant to let their attack phase right through him, but the ambush was so weak he ended up blocking it out of habit.
"You freak…!"
The masked man tried to retreat—
But Ayato grabbed him by the throat.
"Stay here. Walking over to chase you would be annoying."
"You—!" the ninja croaked.
Ayato's fingers tightened.
CRACK.
The man's neck snapped cleanly.
A mouthful of blood spilled down his chin as his body went limp.
"Wha…"
Tazuna stared blankly.
Squad Seven stared blankly.
Everyone stared blankly.
Ayato had killed a ninja with a casual squeeze.
So effortlessly.
So naturally.
Was… Ayato really this strong!?
To be continued…
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