Chapter 83: Beginning

The time passed quickly, and it had already been two days. 

On the third day at noon, near the bustling commercial district of the Land of Fire, in a hidden grove near Nick Town, a group of one adult and three children were resting under a large tree roughly twenty to thirty meters tall.

From a distance, the elite Jonin Uchiha Juzo appeared the same as he did three days ago. His attire, demeanor, and aura showed no signs of the past three days of travel affecting him. Dressed in a green Jonin vest with a specially embroidered Uchiha Police Force emblem on the shoulder, he looked relaxed and unaffected by the journey.

However, the three resting opposite him were not as leisurely. Toshiro and his two companions appeared completely exhausted, sitting on the muddy ground without any concern for their image. Their clothes were disheveled, their hair was messy, and their faces were full of fatigue. Even Toshiro, the one with the best physical endurance, was no better off, sitting unceremoniously on the ground.

After about an hour of rest, Toshiro and his two companions, feeling more refreshed both mentally and physically, gathered again in front of Juzo. Being young, they had recovered quickly with just a short break despite the long two-and-a-half-day journey.

Juzo nodded with satisfaction as he looked at the three disciples he had been with for almost two months. While they weren't yet elite, they were far stronger than their peers. Though there was still a long way to go, rushing the process wouldn't be beneficial. He had high expectations, especially for Toshiro, the child of a former colleague. He wondered what surprises Toshiro would bring to him and the clan in the future. He hoped he wouldn't be left too far behind as their teacher.

Juzo had a clear understanding of his own capabilities. Reaching the level of an elite Jonin was his limit. Advancing further was nearly impossible, a hurdle that ninety-nine point nine percent of 'Bloodline Limit' ninjas couldn't overcome. It's a case of being both blessed and cursed by their Bloodline Limit.

Thanks to the powerful bloodline, many ninja born into noble families easily surpassed the threshold from Special Jonin to Jonin. It's almost impossible for an ordinary ninja to become a Jonin without special opportunities or the guidance of a master.

Not mentioning powerful or strange ninjutsu, even basic physical techniques require good mentorship to achieve significant results. Not every ordinary individual is like the 'Konoha's Noble Beast' Might Guy. Even Might Guy had the secret 'Eight Inner Gates' technique, a family inheritance. This secret technique was almost unknown even to Konoha's head, the Third Hokage. Otherwise, it would have been used during the war for its formidable strength.

Might Guy's father, Might Duy, remained a mere Genin all his life, mocked and rejected by his peers in the village. His son, however, through relentless effort, completed the 'Eight Inner Gates Formation,' unlocking massive power briefly.

In the ninja world, ordinary individuals reaching the peak often pay with their lives. It's hard to get by without some connection to the 'Otsutsuki' clan in this world invaded by 'aliens'. Countless ordinary people didn't even have the chance to put in an effort.

For example, Genma Shiranui from the original story, despite his effort and being trained as a member of the Hokage's Guard Platoon, remained only a Special Jonin by the series' start. Age didn't stop him—he was almost thirty, same as Kakashi's age and a veteran of the Third Great Ninja War. 

He likely wasn't lacking in effort. Despite his seemingly lazy, unmotivated appearance, he relentlessly pursued self-improvement. He simply couldn't surpass the formidable barriers of talent and bloodline, unlike the Fourth Hokage who broke through immense personal limits. Such breakthroughs are extremely rare among ninjas.

"Toshiro, the next mission is up to you three!" Juzo handed a twenty-centimeter scroll to Toshiro, signaling a mission only to involve Juzo if a major mishap happened. Unless more than one Chunin appeared, Juzo wouldn't intervene. The mission was to eliminate bandits—small-time crooks consisting of bankrupt peasants, local thugs, and wandering samurai. At most, perhaps one or two among them knew how to refine chakra.

These 'small fries' were perfect for training Toshiro and his companions. Juzo was an excellent instructor, guiding them through low-level tasks, personalized training, combat skills, and mission tips. He ensured their first 'kill' missions were educational, though he worried about their safety too. 

(Chapter end)