Chapter 37: Graduating Early?
"Isn't that a great thing? Receiving long-term guidance from a Jōnin is an incredibly precious opportunity."
Hiiro Rinko looked up, not quite understanding why Pakura had that particular expression on her face.
He vaguely remembered from the original story that Academy graduates were supposed to be put into three-man squads led by a Jōnin-sensei, but after coming to Sunagakure, he realized that system hadn't been formalized yet.
At least in the current Sunagakure, Jōnin didn't have the free time to teach fresh Academy graduates. Most of the time, Chūnin handled the job, and there was no detailed three-man-cell division for teaching.
In this situation, to be favored by a Jōnin who actively requested to teach her, why wouldn't she be smiling?
"...If I graduate... won't I be separated from you guys?"
Stared at by Rinko's gaze, which was clearly more emotionally invested than usual, Pakura bit her lower lip and hesitantly let the words out.
—Oh no. Oh no.
Hiiro Rinko did a tactical lean-back, his expression like a player who just got hit by a full-damage, unblockable counter.
Unlike Karura, who was always clinging to him, Pakura was the type who seemed normal but would suddenly hit him with a burst of emotional damage, giving him no time to parry.
Like right now. The blushing profile, the moist eyes, the slightly trembling nose, all combined with a tone far softer and more vulnerable than usual… Hooo, a powerful, powerful critical hit.
They say the feelings of children are the most sincere, so wasn't this emotion, in this instant, the purest? This artless, heart-wrenching expression... how could he possibly resist it?
"It's just graduating early, Pakura. It's not like you're transferring to another Hidden Village. You don't need to look like that."
"But... but, Rinko, can't you just keep teaching me?"
Oh, crap. A follow-up attack.
"Eh… Don't hold me in such high regard. At the end of the day, I'm just your peer. I've already taught you everything I can."
Thinking this, Hiiro Rinko used the motion of pushing up his glasses to quickly reset his expression. Not a peer.
But his words weren't an excuse; they were the truth.
Hiiro Rinko was an excellent researcher, but not a good teacher. He could analyze Pakura's and Karura's Chakra circulation, calculate their physical potential, and create training plans tailored to them.
He could even use his own experience to teach them the basics of Medical Ninjutsu and taijutsu, but that was only by substituting his own state onto theirs. After all, while tenketsu locations vary, they are generally similar, and basic taijutsu is universal.
This was all Rinko could do.
While the idea that Chakra nature reflects personality is a bit skewed, it's not baseless. Pakura, who was more aggressive in combat and favored high-risk taijutsu maneuvers, had a strong, aggressive streak, she just couldn't show it in front of Rinko.
Similarly, her ninjutsu talent truly did lean more toward Fire Release (Katon) than Wind Release (Fūton).
Rinko was happy to teach her the Wind Release principles he'd learned from Matasaburō, but the application and philosophies of different elements are worlds apart. It wasn't something you can just "teach." Rinko's own understanding of Fire Release came from Pakura. Asking him to teach her Katon was completely backward.
As for a Jōnin, even if they don't specialize in Fire Release, they have a breadth of experience and their own understanding.
Once their theoretical knowledge was more built up, Rinko didn't mind exchanging ideas. But at this stage, it was too easy to lead a student astray. Teaching based on aptitude wasn't his strong suit; a shinobi's fighting style had to be polished by the individual.
"The things I've mastered and am good at aren't all suitable for you. You can understand that, right?"
He reached out and cupped Pakura's cheeks, feeling their warmth, and patiently persuaded her.
"...Mhm..."
It wasn't that she didn't understand the priorities, she just couldn't get over the emotional hurdle. The girl lowered her head, buried her face in Rinko's palms, and nuzzled, letting out a muffled sound.
Inexplicably feeling she was a bit like a cat, Rinko subconsciously flipped his hands and started scratching her under the chin.
The intimate contact made Pakura tense up, but she didn't pull away. She just secretly enjoyed it, her earlobes turning red.
"Speaking of which, Karura should be able to graduate early too, right?"
Rinko, acting as if he hadn't noticed, turned his head toward Karura. "The Old Hag's medical team is pretty short-staffed. At your current level, it shouldn't be difficult for you to get in."
"Eh… Can I really?"
The little rabbit clearly had no confidence in herself. Without a clear benchmark, it was hard for her to gauge her own abilities.
"Be a little more confident. In a way, you're pretty much the Old Hag's direct disciple."
This was true. The Medical Ninjutsu she was learning was all stuff Rinko had swiped from Chiyo. It wasn't wrong to call her a direct disciple.
Clearly, Karura trusted Rinko's promise more than her own feelings. Hearing his confirmation, the little rabbit let out a sigh of relief.
"Then what about you, Rinko?"
"Me? I don't really care. Graduate, don't graduate, go wherever. It's all the same to me."
Anyway, it makes no difference. Rinko didn't say that last part out loud.
Whether it was a normal graduation or graduating early to become a Jōnin's disciple wouldn't have any impact on his record.
From Sunagakure's perspective, their primary demand of him had always been his training in Sealing Jutsu (Fūinjutsu). In the early days, Chiyo would constantly ask him about his progress.
It seemed like she was rushing him, but Rinko could feel the worry and concern hidden in her questions.
After all, he was just a child and couldn't be compared to his parents. Chiyo's word alone might not have been enough to reassure the village leadership. If his talent proved insufficient, who knows how he would have been treated.
In places he couldn't see, Chiyo must have been under a lot of pressure.
But once Hiiro Rinko's talent was on full display, no one bothered Chiyo with those questions anymore.
Given all this, he himself was in no hurry to graduate.