Chapter 21
Tenzō's actions had greatly improved Hyuga Chinano and the others' impression of him. At the very least, their teacher wasn't as ruthless as he seemed. He was the type to have a sharp tongue but a soft heart. It was clear that he genuinely cared about the trust between teammates.
Zixu couldn't help but wonder what had shaped an Anbu directly under the Hokage to have such ideals. As far as he knew, the Anbu were supposed to be emotionless, operating strictly under orders. Was Tenzō different? What kind of experiences had led him to think this way?
"The bond between you and your teammates is strong," Tenzō said, his voice steady as they walked back to the classroom. "But when you're in the field, it's best not to fight recklessly when you know you can't win. Seeking death will not solve the problem in front of you—it will only put your teammates in greater danger."
Aburame Hatsuizumi opened her mouth to argue, but when she recalled how her insects had been captured and restrained without any effort, she had no choice but to accept that Tenzō was right. Even Chinano, who was always strong-willed, had to admit that his words made sense.
In real combat, the correct thing to do was to abandon injured teammates and ensure that critical information made it back to the village. But if Zixu or Hatsuizumi were in danger, could she really do the so-called "right thing"? She doubted it. Compared to the abstract concept of the village, Zixu and Hatsuizumi meant much more to her.
"In the end, it all comes down to a lack of strength," she thought. "If I learn more ninjutsu, I'll have more ways to fight. If I rely only on the clan's secret techniques, enemies will eventually find my weaknesses. The major clans' techniques have been passed down for generations, but at the same time, countermeasures have been developed against them."
By the time they reached the classroom, Tenzō pushed open the door and motioned for them to enter first. As they sat down, he rummaged through a stack of books, all while continuing his explanation.
"The biggest difference between us and the Ninja Academy is that the Academy is meant to build your awareness and mindset as shinobi. But from now on, our goal is to improve your actual power. Continuing from what I said earlier, if you master more ninjutsu, you'll have a greater variety of techniques to use in battle. That way, you can react more flexibly to ever-changing combat situations."
After flipping through several books, Tenzō finally found the one he was looking for. However, after skimming a few lines, he frowned, then casually tossed it aside.
"Forget it. The way it's written is too complicated. Even I didn't understand it when I first read it. Books always overcomplicate things. I'd rather just teach you through practice. Honestly, even if you asked me to explain the detailed principles behind it, I wouldn't be able to."
Zixu listened attentively. This was knowledge that wasn't easy to come by. Konoha was incredibly strict when it came to preserving its ninjutsu. Forget the legendary forbidden scrolls—he hadn't even seen the most common ninjutsu scrolls before. That kind of knowledge was tightly controlled by the higher-ups and inaccessible to ordinary people.