Chapter 603: Playing Hot Potata!

Fujin said, "Well, I have a request for you two. It's a rather simple one, but at the same time, it could be huge depending on how you see it."

Tatsuya and Bunjiro were intrigued. They listened carefully to his words.

A few months ago, when Fujin realized that he would have to increase his prestige in Konoha to avoid any political troubles if something happened to Hiruzen, Fujin had two options. The one he chose to act on was the proposal of the Guidance Hall. It had been as successful as Fujin had hoped.

The other option Fujin had was to create a faction equivalent to the clans in Konoha. Hiruzen had already laid a foundation for Fujin by giving him talented orphans who were trained by the Root and were being trained to join the Anbu. However, Fujin lacked the mid and high-level combat that the clans had.

Most major clans had around a dozen Jounins, a few dozen Chunins, over a hundred Genins and 1 to 3 Elite Jounins. Fujin could match the highest level of combat, but he had no one at Jounin level. The Kiri orphans could all be considered as Genins thanks to the training by Root and Anbu. Only a handful like some of Fujin's students could barely be considered as Chunins. However, they had zero battle experience.

When Fujin had thought about recruiting high-level Ninjas, the first name that came to his mind wasn't Renjiro or Hoka, two Elite Jounin level ninjas whom Fujin was very close to. Instead, it was Bunjiro!

The reason for this was rather simple. Both Renjiro and Hoka had their respective clans. They couldn't look after the orphans in Fujin's compounds. Hoka deciding to remove the seal had given Fujin an opportunity to recruit him, but that was a recent development and there was still some time for that to happen.

Even others whom Fujin could ask for a favor like Teru, Hana, Kaen, Tsuyoshi and Fumito were all from the clans. The only one who wasn't was Yugao. However, she wasn't someone whom he could call either for this purpose.

As a result, Bunjiro and, by extension, Tatsuya were his only options. Though both were quite good for their age and did well beyond what Fujin imagined they would achieve when he had helped them on a whim, it was not enough to create anything comparable to a clan's high-level force.

That was why Fujin focused more on the Guidance Hall while silently making arrangements with the Anbu Commander to ensure that Bunjiro wouldn't have to wait for several years before being allowed to take the promotion mission.

Fujin continued, "I have been looking to have someone help me with the orphans. It was why I pushed Eagle to allow you to take the promotion mission and made him station you here."

Bunjiro became confused. He asked, "What do you mean? Won't we help you here from now onwards as we will be stationed here?"

Fujin shook his head and answered, "That's not the same. Even though Lord Hokage has arranged for several Anbu Squads to stay here, they aren't orphans and have their own families. So, they don't understand it exactly.

What I want from you two is to move into the compounds permanently. Or well, at least until you two decide to start your respective families. This way, I won't have to be worried about something happening here when I'm out of the village."

Bunjiro and Tatsuya's eyes widened. They realized that Fujin wanted them to move from the rooms they were assigned by the academy to the rooms in his compound. That was different as compared to the other Anbu who stayed there temporarily and worked in shifts.

Even so, both nodded immediately with a smile and excitement on their faces. Bunjiro said, "I'll be honored to stay here."

Tatsuya added, "Same here. It'll be rather fun to guide the young ones here."

Fujin smiled as well and said, "Good. There are several living quarters in the compounds. Feel free to choose the ones you like the most."

Both nodded. They talked for some time to catch up on recent events in their lives before leaving to choose the rooms to move into.

While Fujin was recruiting the first official ninjas to his compounds, a couple of ninjas were busy in a training ground. A young blonde ninja weaved hand signs and grabbed a couple of shurikens while shouting, "Wind Release: Gale Palm jutsu!"

He threw the shurikens on the target in front of him. Wind appeared behind the shurikens making them fly towards the target at several times their speed. However, he still muttered, "Man! That's still not as fast as Kakashi sensei! It looks like it may take a while..."

Naruto stopped practicing and began running towards Kakashi who was observing his training from some distance away. As he ran, he shouted, "Kakashi sensei, I have mastered the Gale Palm jutsu! Please teach me another one!"

Kakashi's right eye twitched as he sighed and wondered in sadness, 'Why did I agree to teach him and spend all my time with him? I haven't been able to read my favorite Icha Icha Paradise as much as I want for the last week!'

That day, when Fujin threw Naruto at Kakashi, Naruto bothered Kakashi endlessly until Kakashi relented and agreed. He decided to teach Naruto the Gale Palm jutsu as it went well with Naruto's current skill set. Unfortunately for him, Naruto, whose nature had subtly changed due to Fujin's influence, had become persistent in asking Kakashi's guidance.

"Kakashi sensei? Which jutsu should I learn next?" Naruto asked again as he reached Kakashi.

Kakashi sighed and said, "Naruto, you still haven't mastered the Gale Palm jutsu. Your mastery is nowhere near my level. It is more important for you to master the jutsus you know than to know more jutsus."

Naruto looked at Kakashi suspiciously and argued, "But sensei, you know a thousand jutsus!"

Knowing that Naruto would continue bothering him, Kakashi explained, "I know a thousand jutsus because I could copy them with my Sharingan. If you try to copy me and learn too many jutsus, then you'll never become a strong ninja and you'll never be able to become the Hokage.

For now, you have learnt enough jutsus. Focus on improving your Body Flicker, Great Breakthrough and Gale Palm jutsus. Only after you completely master these jutsus should you start learning new jutsus."

Naruto was still suspicious, but he didn't have any good points to argue against Kakashi's logic. He said in a dejected tone, "Alright, Sensei. I will work on these jutsus."

What Kakashi didn't say and only thought was, 'Even though he doesn't have a Sharingan, he has a ridiculous amount of chakra. If I tell him the Shadow Clone trick, he'll be able to master the jutsus very quickly.

Unfortunately, Naruto has no self-control. If I tell him about it, he'll use it until he develops some mental issues. There is also the threat of Nine Tails sealed within him. Not to mention, if I tell him that trick, he'll bother me relentlessly for years until I teach him a thousand jutsus!'

Kakashi didn't dare to tell Naruto about that trick. The current Naruto wasn't mature enough to use it responsibly. However, there was one thing that he planned on telling Naruto. He continued, "Also..."

As Kakashi spoke, he recalled the events of the day when Naruto came flying at him. After an endless pestering, Kakashi began teaching him. While Naruto was practicing, Kakashi asked curiously, "By the way, how did you come flying here, Naruto?"

Naruto became embarrassed and flustered on hearing that question. He answered while looking away, "Fujin threw me."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow and asked, "Threw you? Why?"

Naruto replied with even more embarrassment, "I was planning to visit the Guidance Hall and told him. He scolded me for thinking about that when I have a sensei who knows a thousand jutsus much better than anyone teaching there and threw me over here."

Since Fujin hadn't asked Naruto to keep it a secret this time, he didn't. A deadpan expression appeared on Kakashi's face as he thought, 'I knew it! That bastard hates to see me be happy!'

Back to the present, Kakashi continued, "Also, Wind Release isn't my expertise. Even though I can use those jutsus, I am not very good at them. That's why I said that you should be able to perform them at least as well as I can."

Naruto was surprised. He asked in a stunned expression, "You call that being not very good?"

He thought, 'That's unbelievable! Kakashi sensei's wind jutsus are several times stronger than mine!'

Kakashi nodded and said, "You are still new at learning them. In a year or two, you'll realize it. So, I can't guide you much."

A smile appeared on Kakashi's face as he quickly added, "Fortunately, our village has someone who is probably the best at Wind Release in the world."