Chapter: 4

Toshiro stepped out of the Uchiha compound and entered Konoha Village. The most recognizable feature is the huge Hokage Mountain. He observed the towering rock faces bearing the likeness of the first, second, and third Hokage. Their faces felt as if they were silently protecting the whole village. Their gazes are straight at the village below and its bustling inhabitants.

'What a clever idea! Carving their faces into huge rock statues and having their gaze upon the villagers will create an image of the position of Hokage as larger than life, and the heroic stories of all the Hokages circulating will make all the villagers deeply admire them at the same time.' he thought to himself.

'It's a way to motivate the next generations of ninjas to protect the village, just like the Hokage.' Though the first Hokage seemed a bit childish and funny in the anime, the concept was quite sound. This is not to take away from the mighty strength of the First Hokage; there was even a saying from Tobirama that Hashirama's chakra quantity was comparable to that of the Nine-tails. And when the Great Madara Uchiha says, Hashirama was the greatest in all things ninja, Ooof that is some praise.

As he strolled along the village's main road, taking in the bustling street markets, Toshiro pondered. "Is that the Hokage Building?" he wondered, finding it even less appealing than on TV. Its oval shape resembled an egg stripped of its top and coated in red paint. He grumbled some unintelligible things about the building's design as he passed through the lively downtown area, spotting landmarks like the Konoha Hospital, the Ninja Academy, and the iconic tree with the tire swing in front of the Academy.

"Yakiniku Q is already open. But Ichiraku Ramen isn't. Have they not opened yet?"

At that moment, Toshiro, having wandered for over an hour, sported a fox mask on his head sideways. In one hand, he held a small paper bag; in the other, he held a stick of dango, which he sampled with relish.

"These Dango balls favored by Anko seem famous as the eatery was quite busy, and they definitely are worth it," he mused as he continued eating while strolling. Originally, he did not intend to shop or eat out; Mei had stuffed two hundred taels of banknotes into his pocket before he left, and she seemed concerned about letting me go alone, but after some assurances, she let me go.

After some thought, he decided to purchase something nice for her to reassure her further. As for why Dango, the original anime, had an impact on him, Just then, a small white figure darted out from the crowd with a dog mask in his hands.

"Be careful, Kakashi, watch where you're going!" scolded a couple who followed closely behind a child. Their eyes were fixed on the child in front of them, though their warning came a bit late. With a thud, the white-haired child collided with someone and tumbled over. Toshiro's paper bag of dango sticks fell to the ground.

"I'm sorry, are you alright?"

The couple rushed to pick up the fallen bag and help the child to his feet. "Kakashi was too reckless; did he hurt you?" they inquired apologetically.

"It's okay; I'm not hurt," Toshiro assured them.

"If that is Kakashi just now? Could this white-haired man be Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha, who's only appeared on anime twice?" He wondered, looking at the man in front of him. With a gentle demeanor, medium-length white hair, and a small braid at the back, he seemed far from the fearsome warrior depicted in tales of battle.

As the woman stepped forward to assist Kakashi, Sakumo handed him the paper bag. In his mind, thoughts of Sakumo being reprimanded by the village for abandoning his mission to save his comrades lingered. He pondered Kakashi's mother, absent from the original books—was she later sacrificed on a mission, or did she perish alongside Sakumo Hatake?

Unable to quell the chaotic thoughts swirling in his mind since arriving in this new world, Toshiro observed the child on the ground, lost in thought.

"Do you know me?" asked Sakumo, curiously looking at him and touching Kakashi's head affectionately. He seemed to have caught something in my expression.

"I've heard clan members speak of you as Konoha's hero," he replied emphatically.

"I'm sorry for Kakashi's recklessness," Sakumo apologized, urged on by his wife to maintain decorum.

"It's okay; just be careful next time you play in the street," Toshiro advised, ruffling Kakashi's hair. Though he usually dislikes being touched by adults, he felt compelled to reciprocate when it came to Kakashi. "He's a boy, isn't he?" Toshiro asked hesitantly, even though he knew about Kakashi. At that moment, Kakashi hadn't yet donned his trademark mask, and his eyes didn't carry the usual deadpan expression. He seemed oddly cheerful.

"Indeed, he's a boy," Sakumo replied, as Kakashi's mother laughed.

Appreciating her son's handsome features, she beamed with pride. Meanwhile, Kakashi, observing the scene, felt a twinge of embarrassment. He decided he would convince his father to get him a mask; he wanted to hide his face so as to not let people confuse him for being a girl. As he gave Kakashi his dog mask back, he waved goodbye and returned home.

"I'm back!" Toshiro announced himself as he entered home, holding out the bag of dango to Mei.

"Ah, Toshiro, how considerate of you! I'll reward you for not forgetting your sister while shopping," she said, lifting him up and planting a kiss on his cheek. He immediately tried to make her stop, but that made her even more enthusiastic.

In the evening, after dinner, Toshiro sat in the backyard outside his room, his legs dangling in the air and swinging back and forth. He held a book about the history of the Uchiha clan but seemed to be lost in thought.

"Toshiro-chan, come here; it's time!" called Mei's voice from inside the house. Hearing her, Toshiro went to the bathroom. Inside, Mei was busy tying up her hair next to a large wooden barrel filled with water. Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead and sideburns, whether from the steam in the bathroom or exhaustion.

"There are a few more medicinal herbs that need to be added after you have successfully refined your chakra for better efficacy," she explained, glancing at the tub in front of her. Toshiro hesitated for a moment.

On one hand, the bucket of brown "bath water" emitted a strong smell of herbal medicine, making him uneasy. On the other hand, the liquid medicine in the bucket was also scalding hot.

Adding to his discomfort was the fact that, as a thirty-year-old man, he felt awkward undressing in front of a girl barely sixteen or seventeen. Despite his hesitation, Mei seemed to read his mind. With a slight smile, she effortlessly removed his coat, jacket, trousers, and finally, his last layer of defense, with her ninja speed, and plunged him into the tub.

"Ah!" He yelped, trying to jump out of the hot water. But before he could escape, Mei's arm reached over and pushed him back into the tub.

"If you can't endure this pain, then perhaps becoming a ninja isn't the right path for you," she said firmly, not releasing her grip on his head as he struggled in the bathtub. Enduring pain is the first lesson of a ninja's life, she explained, emphasizing that pain is an inevitable part of a ninja's journey, both physically and emotionally.

"Okay, Mei-neesan. You can release my head now. I'm starting to get used to it," gasped Toshiro, his skin flushed from the hot potion in the tub.

"Good to hear. Let's move on to the next step," she replied, withdrawing her hand. Bending over, she retrieved a few sticks of wood and ignited them with a mouthful of fire, explaining that the higher the temperature of the medicinal bath, the better its effects.

Watching Mei's actions, Toshiro couldn't help but regret his decision. He pondered the challenges of being a ninja and wished for an easier path. Yet he couldn't shake off the feeling of sorrow and resentment at his own predicament. While other transmigrators seemed to have effortless success with their cheats, his journey was going to be filled with hardships and pain.

Lost in his thoughts, Toshiro endured the torment while Mei closely monitored the water temperature and his condition. Time seemed to drag on, but eventually, the pain subsided, and Mei pulled him out of the tub.

"Toshiro, are you alright?" she asked with concern as she wrapped him in a blanket.

"Neesan, will every medicinal bath be like this?" He asked, feeling drained.

"Of course not. As you refine your chakra and grow stronger, you'll find it easier to withstand the heat of the medicinal baths," she assured.

Carrying him in her arms, she made her way towards the bedroom. Observing the relieved expression on the child's face as she held him, she playfully smiled again. "Our clan believes that the higher the temperature of the herbal bath, the longer its duration, the better the effect," she explained.

"Most children can't endure it and give up," she added.

Upon hearing this, Toshiro couldn't help but wear a somewhat sorrowful expression. The notion that greater torture led to better effects left him feeling disheartened.

"Whoever came up with this treatment, did they try it themselves?" He couldn't help but grumble.

"Alright, enough complaining. It's time for the second step," she said, placing him on the bed. "This step ensures better absorption of the medicinal properties."

As she reminded him, Mei initiated the process. With a crisp "click," she pulled his right hand fast, causing him to snort in pain. Ignoring his discomfort, she continued, explaining, "After the high-temperature medicated bath, it's optimal to stretch your muscles and bones." With another "click," she assisted him in performing challenging movements such as waist bends, high leg kicks, and squats, actions he hadn't attempted in his previous life.

After all the stretches and weird movements, I was completely exhausted, and as soon as the process was complete, I went out like a light.

AN : You can read chapters published ahead on my p@treon account - p@treon.com/noviceauthor777