Teacher Dan Is Tall and Tough!
Ming Jing wore an arrogant expression, perfectly mimicking the classic haughty demeanor of certain Uchiha clansmen.
"Really?!"
"Are you... questioning the power of the Uchiha?!"
He activated his Sharingan, his cold eyes locking onto Tobita Yuichi.
Yuichi snorted, clearly unsettled. Considering the Uchiha's prideful nature and disdain for deception, he had no choice but to silently admit defeat.
---
At the inn...
"You completed the mission in two days? Impressive," Kato Dan said, setting down the book in his hand—The Tale of the Gutsy Ninja.
Though he and Jiraiya were once love rivals, the two men held deep mutual respect. As shinobi, they acknowledged each other's strength and character. After publishing his first book, Jiraiya enthusiastically gave a copy to all his friends.
Dan had to admit—it wasn't bad.
Jiraiya's writing was passable, and his protagonist, Naruto, was clearly crafted from an idealistic ninja's mold. But the story, while passionate, was marred by clichés, a romanticized worldview, an unearned power progression, and unrealistic plot devices. Still, the vivid and immersive descriptions of the protagonist's relationships—particularly with female characters—were skillfully done and undeniably engaging.
"Now, let's go over the mission details so we can file the report," Dan said casually, leaning back in his chair.
Ming Jing, Inuzuka Rui, and Aburame Nami exchanged subtle glances. Behind their backs, they formed silent hand signs.
[Stick to the original story!]
With quick, wordless coordination, they recounted the version of events they'd agreed on beforehand.
"So, you split up to gather intel," Dan repeated, summarizing. "Then, based on a scent trail from an item found at the lord's mansion, you tracked the bandits to their mountain hideout."
"Exactly!" Ming Jing and the others nodded enthusiastically.
That part, at least, was mostly true.
"You then stormed the stronghold, took out all the bandits, and Ming Jing personally decapitated the leader with Yuru's help. Nami's insects located the stash, and you recovered all the stolen goods. Afterward, worried about the risk of plague, you used Fire Release to incinerate the corpses and the hideout itself."
Dan clicked his tongue.
"What a flawless story."
He looked at them with a grin that made Ming Jing's stomach drop.
Uh-oh.
He knows. He definitely knows.
What now?! Inuzuka Rui signaled in panic.
Ming Jing ignored him, opting to play it cool.
"Impressive!" Dan gave Rui a thumbs up, mimicking a pose Rui had made in the hideout.
"You too, Ming Jing. Ruthless and efficient!"
Dan made the same gesture toward him.
"No, no, you're the one who taught us, sensei. You're the real tough guy!" Ming Jing said with an awkward smile.
It was eerie how accurately Dan seemed to know what happened. As if he'd been there himself.
Could this be the infamous Spirit Transformation Technique...? Ming Jing wondered silently.
"I didn't teach you to mess around like this," Dan muttered, shaking his head with a sigh.
"But..." His tone shifted, mischievous now. "Finders keepers, right? And as your squad captain, protocol says I'm entitled to half of the profit. So, how about you bribe me with 750,000 ryo from the 1.5 million you conveniently 'acquired'?"
With a sheepish look, Ming Jing opened his wallet and handed over 250,000 ryo. He shot a glance at his teammates, who followed suit.
Dan accepted the money, then waved a hand dismissively.
In truth, he had no intention of keeping it. The gesture was to teach them a lesson.
"It's not uncommon for shinobi to earn extra income during missions," he said, pouring tea into three cups. "Even the Hokage turns a blind eye to it sometimes."
They accepted the cups.
"Officially, mission payouts sound generous. But most teams split the rewards, and much of it goes into training, gear, and upkeep. There's rarely anything left."
He raised a finger.
"But it has to be selective. Take this mission, for example. I dug deeper than you three did. The client—Lord Feitian—was far shadier than you realized. I have strong reason to believe he was colluding with enemy nations, selling iron and other resources from Tieshi Town under the table. I'll be submitting all that in my mission report."
He took a sip of tea before continuing.
"In cases like this, it's acceptable for shinobi to claim some benefits, as long as they don't break the rules. But don't forget: as ninjas of Konoha, our actions reflect the village. Never bring shame to it."
Then, Dan pointed out flaws in their operation—places they could've been more discreet, more coordinated, and cleaner in execution.
When Ming Jing first met Kato Dan, he'd only known him from the brief mentions in the original timeline.
But now, after spending time under his command, Ming Jing finally understood what kind of person Kato Dan truly was.