Chapter 49

  "Hey there, my generous friend Sugito! How about you do me a teensy-weensy favor and lend me another eighty thousand Ryo? I promise, cross my heart, I'll pay you back as soon as the money fairy showers me with riches!" Ikari Isamu wearing an exaggerated grin, sneakily pinched Kimura Sugito's shoulders

  Kimura Sugito: (deadpan) "I refuse."

  As anticipated, Kimura Sugito would rather attempt to juggle flaming kunai than lend money to this dumbass. 

  "Sigh, Why on earth do you need to borrow again? Don't you already owe me 80,000 Ryo from last month?"

  "Oh, come on, why not let me repay you with my salary from next month instead?"

  "So, let me get this straight – you borrow this month, repay it the next, and now you're penniless again, so you are going to borrow again next month with the promise to return the month after?" Kimura Sugito raised an eyebrow.

  "Congratulations, Isamu. If we keep this up, you'll transform into the living, breathing embodiment of eighty thousand Ryo. No wait, one hundred and 60 thousand Ryo."

  "Waaaaaahhhhhhh!!" Isamu started crying and throwing a fit.

  "...." 

  Kimura finally gave in and gave him 80,000 Ryo.

  Ueda Aya started doing her best Isamu impression,  with gestures:

  "Sugito, please grant me this one last request! I have a hunch that this month, I'll be on the verge of a groundbreaking love confession. I, Isamu "The Borrowing Dynamo", absolutely swear on my ninja honor, I won't ask to borrow again next month!"

  "..."

  "If it's your first date, there's nothing wrong with going to a better restaurant to leave a good impression. But you've been together for two months. If she really cares about you, she won't refuse if you ask her to go eat ramen together..." Ueda Aya wanted to awaken Ikegu Isamu's dormant IQ.

  "And you can't choose to date during your own class timings, and ask Teacher Makoto for help every time." Ueda Aya said as she looked at Makoto who came in.

  "She said she wasn't free at other times..." Ikari Isamu said with some pain.

  He was also embarrassed to trouble Makoto every time. Even Isamu wanted to help Makoto teach as a substitute, but Makoto refused every time.

  "It's okay. I'm idle anyway. Teaching more students can also help improve my teaching abilities." Makoto walked to his desk and said with a smile.

  "Teacher Makoto is amazing, but he's got a knack for getting taken advantage of," sighed Ikari Isamu as he listened to Makoto's words. "It's like he's got a 'Free Tutor' sign hanging around his neck."

  Ikari Isamu, feeling a tad indebted, couldn't resist dashing over to Makoto's side, eagerly offering to fetch tea and water while delivering compliments.

  However, as the clock inched closer to the end of the day, Isamu realized he had a more pressing engagement – his date!

  "It would be great if Ikari Isamu was the Taijutsu teacher of class one." Makoto thought in his heart.

  If Ikari Isamu asks him to take over his classes a little more diligently, it will be the same as him being their own Taijutsu teacher. He can't go to other teachers and apply to teach their classes instead. That would be an extremely rude thing to do.

  The most important thing in a ninja school is strength. It would be easier if the students and the Hokage knew that the appointment of a taijutsu teacher would affect the growth of strength.

  Next, Makoto continued to practice calligraphy until it was time for class.

  When Makoto walked into the classroom of Class 2, Grade 4, the students weren't surprised at all.

  Makoto teaches them steadily at least once a week, so they already regard Makoto as their teacher.

  "Teacher, I..."

  Obito was also late every day. Makoto said nothing and asked Obito to sit down and listen to the class.

  "Damn Mr. Isamu!" Obito complained in a low voice, feeling that it was always the wrong time for Isamu to ask Makoto to take over his class.  

  "Did you rescue another granny in distress, Obito?" Nohara Rin asked with a knowing smile.

  Obito scratched his head and replied, "I got lost in the mesmerizing world of pens at the bookstore."

  Nohara Rin looked a bit puzzled. "Why not grab pens after school? Lunch breaks are so short, and missing a meal can't be good, right?"

  Obito shrugged and said, "Skipping one meal won't hurt, Rin. Plus, the stores at noon are top-notch."

  Rin sighed, shaking her head. "Well, if you change your mind about lunch, I've got some snacks I can share with you after class."

  Obito grinned and nodded, sparing the class from more delays caused by his pen-shopping adventures.

  Forty minutes passed quickly. When the bell rang, Makoto announced that class was over, and Nohara Rin handed the snacks to Obito.

  "Obito, who's the lucky granny today?" A cheeky classmate, well-versed in Obito's adventures, sidled up to him.

  Obito, feeling cornered, blurted out, "Did I mention I won first place in the Junior Ninjutsu Competition over the weekend?" His words tumbled out like a squirrel on roller skates.

  As soon as Obito said this, the man couldn't say any ridiculing words. He felt like he had a lemon in his mouth, especially when he remembered Obito's eight-thousand-Ryo prize.

  Not too far away, Uchiha Ikunori fell into a dramatic silence.

  He couldn't forget the memory of Obito's Great Fire Ball from that competition. He had initially thought he could defeat Obito by meticulously working on and mastering the fireball technique, having learned valuable lessons from the practical exam.

  But alas, a mere junior ninjutsu competition had obliterated his self-confidence.

  As he observed the bewildered expressions of those around him, Obito's grin widened, practically illuminating the room.

  Henceforth, Obito decided that during every class break, he'd venture out and proudly declare to anyone who crossed his path, "Do you realize I'm the reigning champion?" — all to reap the maximum benefits of his newfound title.

  [Lecture completed]

  [Evaluation: A]

  [Reward: Water Release: Kirigakure no Jutsu]

  Spotting the lecture reward, Makoto couldn't help but nod secretly. Though it is a low-level ninjutsu, it is very practical

  The fog summoned by this technique was no ordinary mist; it could confuse even the sharpest Sharingan, making it as useful as an umbrella in a blizzard. It could probably even hinder Madara's Reningan – well, at least partially. He can easily get rid of it.

  After school, Makoto left for the Southern Forest, only to find Shisui still in the midst of his rigorous training. 

  Makoto didn't have to wait long for the arrival of Might Gai. What truly caught Makoto off guard was the conspicuous absence of Obito, who had yet to appear even fifteen minutes after Might Gai.

  Makoto cleared his throat, realizing it was time for the lecture–

  "I'm sorry, Teacher Makoto, I'm late," Obito panted, trotting up to Makoto with a long box in hand.