27 Search for the old man

Rei continued to train along with Naruto in the Miyazato Household while sparring all this time Rei's focus dwindled since he has been thinking about where to find the old man.

Rei remembers a few years from now the old man would appear nearby his tombstone every now and then to eat his granddaughter's personally made rice balls. But at that time the child was no older than Naruto was and the possibility of that child being younger by more than five years than Naruto is high given her physique as it was showed in the anime.

Given those facts the chances of that child being born and alive now is close to zero and old man Chen dropping by his tombstone to pick up some rice balls couldn't happen. Distracted from his thoughts Naruto landed a roundhouse kick on his left shoulder waking him up from his half-focused state. Realizing he was in trouble Rei tried to react at Naruto's sudden advantage but was too late since a fist was already on its way towards his chest hitting cleanly and sending him backwards taking a few steps back.

Naruto: Hahaha! I'm such a genius Rei. Now I'm catching up to you in no time at all!

Rei: Now you've done it, I'll get serious now!

Naruto: Come get me then! I'll surpass you in no time!

Rei: Hahaha! Try that again when you can finish my physical training routine without collapsing.

Naruto: tsk tsk, you'll see I'll even surpass the previous Hokages... You better believe it!

Rei: Then train like your life depends on it Naruto.

Naruto enjoyed training with Rei since he is like a brother to him that taught him the basics of taijutsu and bukijutsu even now his shuriken throwing techniques are improving. To honor the efforts of Rei teaching him, he decided to one day be on the same level of strength as him or even surpass him and help him in times of his needs aside from that his ultimate "rival" Sasuke is the person he'll definitely surpass cleanly is what he promise to himself. Naruto also viewed Rei's close combat style as his ideal right now since he combines his use of kunai fluidly with his taijutsu and hopes to be able to do the same in the future.

Rei on the other hand exploits every weakness Naruto shows in their sparring since he realizes that Naruto was sort of hopeless learning with words since Rei couldn't possibly make simple analogies all the time for him to understand. But Naruto's instincts could be considered top notch because every time Rei dismantles him in their sparring he gradually learns through experience what are the things he should correct and keep on doing.

Seeing Naruto's progress Rei wondered how he survived in the canon with his taijutsu combined with his reckless charging. Rei told himself that if his taijutsu after graduating was the same with Naruto's at that time he'll probably die more than the number of his fingers then realizes that plot armors for mc are really a thing.

Training Naruto has been productive for Rei as well since he has to review the forms and techniques he learned though recently, it corrected his bad habits making his current techniques much better. But all these improvements are not enough for Rei so he's still trying to look for the old man to improve his fighting skills even for a short time learning from such a master would work wonders because even Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura who wasn't that impressive before the tutelage of their masters then probably about top rank genin in skills that has impressive ninjutsu before the mentorship of a sannin reached almost S-class level of skills in just two and a half years with their respective masters.

In their adulthood the three definitely reach S-class even if the two males don't rely on their cheat advantage like rinnegan and sage of the six paths. Rei also knows that he could basically specialize in genjutsu or ninjutsu but having a taijutsu in high levels would lessen his chakra consumption in a fight he rather overwhelms them with his barehanded fighting or bukijutsu skills than possibly reveal his ninjutsu or genjutsu and that's the reason why he is so intent on improving it.

Walking by the heroes' graves in the hidden leaf Rei was at lost since he has no idea where the old man's tombstone was and finding the scroll where he was mentioned and his technique is close to zero since it was found by ten ten later on after the first konoha crush from who knows where. So, he has to looked for the grave stone himself and his only clue is that it was located at a top of a hill with some trees and bushes surrounding it. Rei gave up for the day and went home meanwhile later during their dinner his father was home spending time with them.

Rei: Dad, there's nothing going on these days?

Mokichi: Not so much that I'll not be able to come home, besides you don't have to worry about that Rei.

Shizuku: Daddy, teach me how to be a ninja too! -shizuku butt in shouting in a childish way.

Mokichi: Of course, my cute little daughter but you have to grow a little bit more first!

Shizuku: How do I grow? -asked innocently

Mokichi: just eat your vegetables!

Shizuku: not yummy...

Rei: Dad, would the hidden leaf still pay you if you don't do anything?

Mokichi: why do you care about money so much?

Rei: uuhhmmm... if you don't take home any money mom's going to have more power at home dad since cleary mom's got a lot of money from the clothing shop and we're basically rich because of mom's side... you'll just be following her every time if you don't have money dad, mom would probably make all the decisions at home.

Fuyuki laughs at Rei's remarks about Mokichi's possible future in the house. On the other hand, Mokichi sweated just thinking about how manly he is as an anbu protecting the village from the shadows and turning into a henpecked husband at home.

Fuyuki: Don't worry about that Rei even now that's the current situation. -laughs while saying it.

Mokichi: eerrhhmm... Let's enjoy our meal first.

Rei: oh... Dad, you know where Master Chen's grave stone is?

Mokichi: Why are you interested in it?

Rei: Maybe if I go to his grave I'll get enlightenment in taijutsu or meet one of his disciples. Maybe see his ghost then he'll teach me taijutsu...

Mokichi: Hahaha... enlightenment from visiting a grave stone that's a good one. Son if you really meet one of his disciples then ask them for instructions in taijutsu it would do you great. I'll give you a small map tomorrow on where his grave is at.

Excited for tomorrow Rei exercise for a bit to calm himself down before sleeping. Even though the chances are low he could still meet the old man after that it would only be a matter of time to convince him and learn taijutsu from him. Now that he knows his father is going to give him the exact location he felt annoyed that he didn't ask his father first and wasted some time looking for a grave who knows where. Rei decided that he should definitely exploit his father's network and information whenever he needs to know something in the future.

The next day after class Rei quickly went to the old man's grave waiting for him to somehow show himself but seeing that there's no change in his tombstone or no human presence or activity nearby it for some time he went home disappointed and started training again. This habit of visiting the grave continued for a week until he stumbled upon a couple offering their prayers.

The woman looked a lot like Chen's granddaughter who was shown in that specific episode where he fought in the fourth shinobi war when lee calmly told the story of his encounter with Chen. The lady though looks more mature and has a bulging stomach. Seeing this Rei wasn't surprise the child in her belly is probably Chen's granddaughter and the man with her is probably the father of the child. Rei approached the couple.

Rei: Big sister, The tombstone here... Is it Master Chen's?

Chen's Daughter: Yes, it is...

Rei: Really, I've been coming over to pay my respect towards him... I didn't know what to bring but I wanted to improve on taijutsu very much and heard the story about how legendary he was and thought if I come and pray and pay my respects to him I'll be blessed with talents too.

Rei pretended to be an innocent child looking to improve and somehow convince the big sister in front of him. Since Rei knows somehow that the Old man already saw him coming to his grave almost every day but he has no way of confirming since the man is a legend and a master. Pretending to be an innocent child in front the lady before him eager to improve himself might just convince the old man and the lady clearing him of suspicions from having goals such as learning taijutsu from Chen himself or luring him out for the anbu squad or the ninjas of konoha to answer for his desertion.

Chen's daughter: Well father never taught me taijutsu if he had I might have taught you a bit. Since you are sincere in coming over every now and then maybe cleaning his grave stone and bringing some rice balls would help.

Rei: Really, big sister. I'll make sure to do it tomorrow!

With the lady's words Rei somehow knew that she was helping him to meet the taijutsu master himself since just now he saw them leave some rice balls in his grave which was Chen's favorite food. Now with the daughter's permission Rei was intent on visiting the grave every day and bring some rice balls and somehow meet the old man. What Rei didn't know was that even the lady didn't know about her father being alive and only her daughter in the future would be able to know about Chen and when her daughter mention about Chen being alive eating the rice balls she makes the lady actually dismiss it as a playful mumbling of a child looking for her grandfather.

Meeting the old man didn't come immediately for Rei even though he was visiting the grave every day and leaving Rice balls since he thought that maybe the old man was somehow observing him.

When the rice balls went missing when he comes back the next day he decided to practice nearby with his very own training methods pushing himself to his limits this routine continued for a few days.

An old man who was wearing a yellow jump suit with black stripes on it, open toed sandals for footwear, sporting a grey dread-locks held by a green sweat band, and trying look cool with his red framed sunglasses walks towards Rei in a laid-back manner.

Old man: Child you've been bringing me rice balls for quite some time now... what is it you seek from me?

Rei: uhhmmnn. Who are you? -Rei tried to looked confused when he asks his question.

Old man: Hahaha... The tombstone you are offering Rice balls to is mine.

Rei scratched his eyes with his hand in a close fist.

Rei: uuhhhmmnn... Are you a ghost? -Rei trying for an oscars award.

Chen: Can a ghost eat the rice balls you were offering?

Rei: But why did they say you were dead.

Chen: it is a long story child... I just didn't want to be burdened with many things. If you are thinking that I'll take you in as my disciple you got it wrong I showed myself to make you give up on being a ninja. All this time I've been observing that you only practiced your taijutsu and a ninja without ninjutsu or genjutsu faces a danger if not twice then thrice that of a ninja who has it and relying purely on taijutsu in the battlefield would get you killed sooner than most ninjas.

Puzzled by Chen's dramatic speech just right after their first meeting Rei snickered quite a bit which made Chen frown. Rei's plan of luring Chen out with his taijutsu practice worked so well making Chen's memory and regret surface for his previous student dying in the third ninja war because of his inability to perform ninjutsu. The memories of Chen's last student nibbled on his heart resulting to faking his death and leaving his duties as a ninja, seeing a child who solely practice taijutsu urge him to stop a young ninja from continuing his path to not suffer the same fate of his beloved student.

Rei: But grandpa I didn't say I can't use ninjutsu or taijutsu... I just choose to place more importance on it than the other skills since I plan to become one of the best ninjas ever even with my average amount of chakra reserves.

Chen: Don't lie to me child... this is serious stuff. I'm not sure why your parents are allowing you to continue such a path.

Rei: But I can really use genjutsu and ninjutsu grandpa... would you like to bet on it?

Chen: then show me.

Rei: If I win you'll teach me and I'll bring rice balls every day if I lose then I'll quit being a ninja.

Chen: As if a child like you can use such things... you are about five years old and six at most. Sure, sure, sure. -Chen replied in a laid-back manner.

Rei smirked since having a kid's body works wonders on convincing and having adults drop their guards on him. So, Rei took advantage and use his favorite genjutsu "Leaf-Style Willow". Surprise by the kid's talent Chen put his guard up to resist the genjutsu dispersing it from his mind right away but what he thought of as over was only starting what comes after are series of hand seals then suddenly the child performed "Water release: Raging waves". A child as young as this performing ninjutsu can be considered a genius in his view even in the warring state of their time where children were forced to train as hard as they could, forcing their potential to surface early.

Chen is still loyal to the Hidden leaf village even with his desertion seeing a young child performing genjutsu and ninjutsu at young age if his taijutsu matured as well he'll be teaching a possible A-class or S-class ninja who could help the village which he grew up in and loved.

Chen: Child what's your name?

Rei: Miyazato Rei.

Chen: You have to make four promises if you want to learn from me.

Rei: Yes sir.

Chen: One never betray the hidden leaf, two save people as much as you can, three Never tell anyone about me, and four never forget my rice balls! they are my only joy in life!