Chapter 53: Coming Back!
That day, Tsuna finally received a notification saying he completed his mission and could return to his original world.
However...
Tsuna stayed for a few more days to seek guidance from Guy about becoming a ninja.
Guy was baffled by Tsuna's request, thinking Tsuna was already a ninja given his earth-bending abilities, which he assumed to be Earth Release.
Knowing Guy's character, Tsuna made up a story about wanting to improve and claimed his earth-bending was a bloodline limit. This touched Guy deeply, and he teared up at Tsuna's "youthful spirit"!
With a smooth tongue, Tsuna managed to get Guy to explain the chakra pathway system, which Guy considered far too basic.
However, since Tsuna asked, Guy honestly explained it.
This gave Tsuna an idea of how it worked, as it was similar to the cardiovascular system, which he was already familiar with from his previous occupation as an assassin.
Tsuna could feel his chakra wasn't much, as the seed had just been planted and had recently sprouted.
Given that he wasn't from this world, Tsuna didn't expect to have an insanely massive chakra reserve like the Uzumaki or Senju.
Not that he minded.
In fact, he would be satisfied if he could develop his chakra reserve up to the Jonin level since he had Earth Bending as his main power.
Unfortunately, being mostly a taijutsu master, Guy couldn't offer much guidance beyond the basics of being a ninja.
He introduced Tsuna to chakra control exercises, such as walking on trees and water, which Tsuna picked up quite easily since his limited chakra reserve made it easier to control.
Being unaffiliated with Konoha, there were restrictions on what Guy could teach him.
However, Guy still explained how jutsu required both physical and spiritual energy, released through hand signs as a catalyst.
He taught Tsuna the transformation jutsu and bunshin, which Tsuna found quite useful.
More importantly, he also learned the Body Flicker Technique!
Tsuna thought this was the real treasure as it would allow him to move even faster than he already could.
The technique was straightforward, spreading chakra throughout the body to vitalize it and increase capability for a short period of time.
The mechanism was similar to his Earth Bending.
The difference was that he had to channel his energy within his own body to strengthen it, while bending required him to channel his energy outward to manipulate the elements he had a connection with.
"Are you really going to leave today?"
Guy asked, tears glistening at the corners of his eyes.
They were standing at the village's front gate.
Tsuna had decided that there was nothing more to do and it was time to go back and accept his reward.
He had already bid farewell to Teuchi and Ayame, who wished him the best.
Tsuna had not only learned Teuchi's way of making ramen but also taught Teuchi his own techniques, recalling the jar of white powder Teuchi had accepted with a smile.
"Yes, it's time for me to move on," Tsuna said, giving Guy a reassuring nod.
"He's a traveler, Guy. He has somewhere else to go..."
Kakashi's voice came from behind, carrying a note of respect. Unlike the first time they met, Kakashi wasn't reading his book.
He had discovered that Tsuna had given input to Jiraiya, helping to make the best Icha-Icha series Kakashi had ever read.
This newfound respect made Kakashi feel a closeness to Tsuna and led him to teach Tsuna more about being a ninja.
From Kakashi, Tsuna learned he had an affinity for fire.
Kakashi gave him a piece of chakra paper and instructed him to channel his chakra into it.
As Tsuna did so, the paper caught fire and burned, confirming his affinity.
"You're right..." Guy sighed as another voice chimed in, "It's fine, Guy-sensei! I'm sure Tsuna-san will keep up his training wherever he goes!"
"Lee..." Guy looked at Lee, who was in a wheelchair, with a touched nod. "You're right..."
"That's why, Guy-sensei! We should train even harder!"
"Lee! Such youthful spirit!"
"Sensei!"
"Lee!"
The Young Spirited Embrace of Youth was in full swing, and everyone else suddenly found themselves under a dramatic sunset.
Tsuna twitched his lips before giving them a thumbs up and immediately dispelling the genjutsu.
Kakashi scratched his head and turned to Tsuna, "Well, I guess I have nothing more to say, but please keep in touch with Jiraiya-sama..."
"...Right," Tsuna replied, a bit speechless.
Jiraiya and Naruto were nowhere to be seen; the pervy sage was busy, and Naruto was still struggling with Hiruzen's death.
With the Sand Ninjas finally being released after an agreement with Konoha's higher-ups, Tsuna looked at the three unexpected people who had come to personally see him off.
"I might have been here for only a couple of weeks, but it was fun. I hope you guys feel the same way..."
Guy and Lee had tears streaming down their faces as they gave him a thumbs up.
Tsuna continued, "Well, I'll be back someday to visit this village again, so until then... goodbye!"
With that, Tsuna quietly left, walking away from the village that had inspired him to create his ultimate ramen recipe.
He walked down the dirt road leading to the outskirts of the Fire Country when Tsuna's expression suddenly changed as if realizing something.
"...Damn it, I need to pee!"
He cursed and dashed off the main road into the slushy trees on the side.
"What the hell?"
However, Tsuna seemed unusually clumsy this time as he tripped over a rock and fell to the ground. A metallic sound echoed from his loose kimono as a bunch of chopsticks spilled out onto the ground.
Annoyed, he scratched his head before his expression changed again, "Just kidding..."
Tsuna's expression turned nonchalant as he stood up, brushing himself off.
He looked around his surroundings coldly, his demeanor shifting back to his usual composed self.
"Why don't you guys come out?"
Tsuna called out, his voice cutting through the silence.
The atmosphere suddenly turned heavy as shadowy figures emerged from their hiding spots, swiftly positioning themselves in front of him.
Tsuna observed the group of three, noting their dark cloaks and masks, "Anbu? No, that's unlikely since the Third Hokage is now dead, and no one has the authority to command them at the moment..."
He smirked, "Then, you guys must be ROOT Anbu, huh?"
"...!"
Tsuna's words startled them, their bodies tensing slightly. It was clear he was aware of their existence, something most ninjas in Konoha were not.
The leader of the squad shouted, "Let's capture him alive!"
However...
"Ha!"
Tsuna scoffed, a cunning glint flashing in his eyes as he spoke, "Catch me alive? Why don't you see what you're stepping on..."
"Huh?"
All the ROOT members looked down, only to find a sharp, metallic substance hurtling towards their heads.
The chopstick that had fallen earlier had transformed entirely!
Puchi!
A sickening sound filled the quiet forest as the metal embedded itself sharply into a head. Tsuna's expression remained cold and unaffected, "It's unfortunate for you guys that I'm a new man now..."
After his soul had harmonized with the body, Tsuna found himself reevaluating his decision not to shed blood anymore.
In his previous life, he'd always fled when faced with lethal threats, unable to reciprocate.
But now, he knew he might visit a similar world like Naruto where a world where peace was an illusion.
He couldn't afford such naivety!
Especially when knowing the death toll of Konoha, Sand, and Sound ninja strewn about from the conflict, Tsuna realized the flaw in his no-killing policy.
With a cold gaze, he slammed his foot down, bending the earth to bury the fallen.
"I could've avoided this by simply accepting the reward and returning to my original world immediately..."
But sometimes, conflict was unavoidable.
With resolve, Tsuna opened the reward panel and accepted it, muttering, "Now, Danzo Shimura will be after me..."
"But even if you had eyes across the world... you won't find me."
A radiant light enveloped him, swallowing him whole before disappearing, leaving no trace behind.
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