Chapter 16: The Feast
The middle-aged Jōnin had a broad, sturdy build. His cheeks were round, yet they carried a sense of firmness—exactly the kind of physique typical of the Akimichi Clan.
Izumo's heart started pounding the moment he recognized him.
Akimichi Dōtō—one of Minato Namikaze's former teammates. In his memories of the manga, this was the man who had once fought alongside Minato against the combined duo of A and B from Kumogakure.
"I wonder if I can learn more about Minato through Akimichi Dōtō… and see if there's a chance to study that Ninjutsu as well…" Izumo's thoughts began to spiral.
"Team 8, follow me." Akimichi Dōtō's voice was deep and firm, without any unnecessary words. He turned and headed toward the stairs.
The three of them exchanged glances, then quickly followed.
The wind on the rooftop carried the familiar scent of Konoha's trees. Akimichi Dōtō walked straight to the corner and stopped with his back to the railing.
He turned around, his gaze sweeping across the three of them, as if weighing the importance of each person standing before him.
"My name is Akimichi Dōtō, a Jōnin of Konoha. From now on, I will be the instructor in charge of Team 8."
He paused. Seeing that none of them spoke right away, he gave an awkward smile. "You don't have to be so tense. Alright, let's start with self-introductions."
The three of them looked at one another. Kotetsu Hagane was the first to break the silence.
"Sensei, what are we supposed to say when we introduce ourselves?"
Akimichi Dōtō rubbed his chin, a relaxed smile appearing on his round face. "Don't be too stiff about it. Just talk about what you like to do in your free time, the things that give you headaches when you deal with them, and what kind of ninja you want to become in the future—even if that dream is just eating tempura every day, that's fine too."
The moment those words left his mouth, the tense atmosphere immediately softened.
Kotetsu Hagane stepped half a step forward, his voice as loud and energetic as ever. "My name is Kotetsu Hagane! There are tons of things I like, like eating the grilled meat my mom makes!"
"The thing I hate most is writing theory assignments! All those tactical analysis questions just go around in circles, and after reading two lines, I'm already sleepy. I also hate rainy days—my training clothes get soaked and stick to my body. It feels awful."
When he spoke about his dream, Kotetsu clenched his fist and swung it hard through the air. "I want to surpass my father and become the first Jōnin in my family!"
Akimichi Dōtō nodded repeatedly, then shifted his gaze toward Kurenai Yūhi.
Kurenai gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her voice was soft, but clear. "My name is Kurenai Yūhi. My favorite thing is arranging flowers in the yard in the morning. Watching the petals slowly bloom makes my heart feel very calm. I also like studying Genjutsu scrolls. Sometimes I'll stare at a single Genjutsu hand seal for hours, and when I finally understand it, it feels really wonderful."
She frowned slightly as she mentioned what she disliked. "I don't like insects. And I also don't like people who say things like 'girls aren't suited to be ninja.'"
When she spoke about her future, her hands unconsciously clasped together in front of her. "I want to become a great Genjutsu ninja, like my father, someone who can protect her comrades with illusions. I also want to become a kunoichi like Lady Tsunade."
Akimichi Dōtō nodded with appreciation, then looked at Izumo.
Izumo Kamizuki's voice was calm, but sincere. "My name is Izumo Kamizuki. What I like is training—especially watching myself grow stronger day by day."
He paused, then said honestly, "The thing I hate most is laziness and giving up. If you're given talent, you should use all of it."
When he spoke of his dream, his gaze grew deeper, half-joking yet serious. "My goal is to live until the end of the story. Of course, if I can become the strongest person in the ninja world, I won't complain about that either."
Akimichi Dōtō burst into laughter after hearing that, then patted Izumo on the shoulder. "Izumo, your dream sounds very simple, but in truth, it's the hardest one among the three of you. Even Sensei can't guarantee you'll live to the end."
Then he said to all three of them, "Now it's Sensei's turn to introduce himself. My name is Akimichi Dōtō. My favorite things are training and eating grilled meat. The thing I hate most is seeing food go to waste. My dream is to become a strong shield for Konoha, protecting my comrades-in-arms!"
"Next, to celebrate the official formation of Team 8, Sensei is treating you all to a meal at a yakiniku restaurant!"
Smoke and the rich aroma of meat filled the air inside the restaurant. Beef tongue sizzled on the hot grill, curling into mouthwatering shapes. Akimichi Dōtō picked up a slice of fatty pork belly with his chopsticks and placed it into his mouth.
He swallowed in satisfaction, then lifted his cup of tea and took a sip. His tone grew a bit more serious. "Tomorrow morning at eight, our team will gather at the village's Mission Hall. We'll start with a simple D-rank mission to train your teamwork."
"Sensei, what kind of preparations should we make when we get back?" Kotetsu asked.
"No special preparation is needed. Just bring your daily ninja gear packs."
Akimichi Dōtō thought for a moment, then added, "Oh, and if you have time these days, the three of you should practice throwing ninja tools, Taijutsu, and the Substitution Technique more often. Also, review your battlefield hand signals."
That statement suddenly made the table fall silent. None of the three were fools.
A heavy feeling settled in Izumo's chest, and he asked quietly, "Sensei… is the time almost here?"
Akimichi Dōtō hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded…
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