In the Land of Fire, a middle-aged couple, Tatsuo and his wife, were on their way with dozens of servants. Behind them stretched dozens of carriages laden with goods, carrying huge boxes one after another, forming a line hundreds of meters long! Elite ninja escorts even accompanied the team. After all, this was quite a substantial amount of cargo! It was enough to fully support the entire supply of ninja tools for all of Konoha's shinobi for the next two years!
"Tatsuo-san, Konoha will be here soon. We are now in a safe zone, you can rest assured," Kakashi walked to the front of the line and said to the middle-aged couple.
Tatsuo immediately put his hands together in front of his chest and said with a grateful smile, "Thank you so much for this journey, Kakashi-sama. If it weren't for you, most of my goods would have fallen into the hands of those rogue ninja bandits."
Kakashi waved his hands expressionlessly. "It's just my duty, you don't have to worry about it. This shipment of yours affects the entire supply of ninja tools in Konoha Village. Even Lord Hokage takes this seriously. Therefore, this mission was designated as B-rank, and I personally escorted it."
Tatsuo nodded and smiled, his eyes long as he looked at Konoha Village in the distance. He truly missed it. The couple had been gone for over half a year. He wondered how his son, Ren, and daughter, TenTen, were doing during this time. He also wondered if the expensive chakra scrolls he had bought for them had helped them extract chakra. Last year, they had already reached the age to enter the Ninja Academy. He wondered if they had become ninja talents and successfully enrolled, bringing honor to their family by having a ninja in their lineage.
That's it, that's it, Tatsuo thought. Although he also had some expectations for his children, as a father, the most important thing for him was for his two children to grow up safely and happily. It didn't matter if they didn't have ninja talent; it wasn't bad to be a ninja tool merchant like him, living an ordinary life.
A parent's love plans far ahead. Tatsuo looked at the Konoha elite Jōnin, Kakashi, beside him. He was the youngest and most promising ninja in Konoha Village, and a direct disciple of the Fourth Hokage. If only he were willing to spend a little time instructing his own children...
Tatsuo summoned his courage and said to Kakashi, "Kakashi-sama, I have two children who also want to become ninja. I wonder if you could give them a little advice if you have time..."
"Sorry, Tatsuo-san," Kakashi refused with a cold expression. It seemed he had become accustomed to this kind of request. "I'm usually very busy, and I don't have time to give instructions to children below the Genin level. Generally, I only go to specifically instruct certain people when Lord Hokage issues an order to me. Sorry." Kakashi's words were very blunt, but he also expressed his attitude very clearly: without a background, it would be impossible.
Tatsuo sighed secretly, laughing at his whimsical idea. Sure enough, it's truly difficult for children from ordinary families like theirs to get guidance from a Jōnin.
Soon, the caravan's carriages arrived at Konoha. Kakashi also bade farewell to Tatsuo and his wife and went to the Hokage's office to report.
Behind the door of Ren's house, "Mom and Dad are back!" Hearing the commotion outside, TenTen excitedly jumped up from her bed.
There was a light in Ren's eyes. "Brother, when the ore arrives this time, can you also make a Grass Pheasant Sword for me?"
Ren said with a smile, "Let's talk about it when you've mastered all three of the Three Body Arts with kunai!"
TenTen pouted, unconvinced. "Hmph, I'll be able to practice it soon! And I'm currently researching and making a very powerful ninja tool. After I research it, I'll make you envy me, big brother!"
"Okay, big brother, I'm looking forward to it~"
The return of their parents made the quiet Ren family mansion lively after a long absence. Moreover, the fact that both Ren and TenTen had successfully entered the Ninja Academy and become ninja students truly surprised the couple. The unpleasantness of being rejected by Kakashi earlier dissipated instantly. Tatsuo and his wife immediately immersed themselves in the joy that their family might now have two ninja. To celebrate this great event, Tatsuo immediately decided to take the whole family to the most luxurious barbecue restaurant in Konoha for a feast!
In the days that followed, Ren and TenTen also relaxed a little. With their parents home, Ren and TenTen didn't have to take turns looking after the ninja shop. And daily food and clothing were also guaranteed. Ren's system had issued several tasks during this half-year, which he had never taken the time to do before. It just so happened that his father had brought back a lot of rich ores from the Land of Iron, enough for his forging consumption for a long time in the future!
In the ninja shop, Tatsuo finally finished arranging the shelves. The newly arrived kunai, shuriken, and several new types of ninja tools had all been neatly lined up. All set, ready to open!
"Huh? Tatsuo-san, you're back!" At this time, Might Guy walked over to the ninja shop and greeted him very enthusiastically.
"Oh, it's Guy-sama!" Tatsuo greeted him with a smile. "Our store just bought a batch of ninja tools from the Land of Iron. Would you like to come and have a look?"
"No need, I usually use very few ninja tools, mainly my fists, haha," Might Guy smiled heartily, scratching his head. "I'm here this time mainly to find Ren. I didn't expect him not to be in the store today."
"Ren, he went to the Ninja Academy," Tatsuo said apologetically. Then, he suddenly realized something and asked, somewhat confused, "Hey, Guy-sama, you actually know my son Ren?"
"Of course we do! Ren is my most beloved big apprentice!" Guy laughed loudly.
"What, what?! My son actually became your apprentice?!" Tatsuo froze in place, a look of shock on his face. "Yes, but he's still just a Ninja Academy student...!" His son wasn't even a ninja yet. How did he get an instructor with elite Jōnin-level strength? This was completely beyond the scope of Tatsuo's comprehension!
Might Guy said indifferently, "It doesn't matter, that's just the process. Ren's strength has already surpassed that of a Genin. If it wasn't for the Third Hokage's order prohibiting students from graduating early, I would have already taken Ren and brought him out of the village to perform missions with me. But sooner or later, I have already designated Ren as my inner disciple!"
What? Exceeding Genin level? Lord Guy's unofficial disciple? At this moment, Tatsuo was completely dumbfounded!