"Bragging!"
Senba immediately pointed at Isamu and declared confidently, "My grandmother said my father was the greatest genius of the previous generation and the true leader of Konoha. I've never even heard the name Sani before."
"If you were really that talented, there's no way nobody in Konoha would know about you. So you're obviously just boasting!"
"The greatest genius, huh…"
Hearing that title, Isamu could only shake his head with a faint smile.
"Nothing more than an empty reputation."
"What do you mean 'empty reputation'?!" Senba instantly became angry.
"In my opinion, you're the one with the empty reputation! You're just a loudmouth braggart!"
Ever since childhood, Senba had grown up listening to stories about his father.
To him, his father was his idol.
How could he tolerate someone insulting him?
"Heh. What else should I call it?" Isamu said helplessly.
"People with true ability usually hide themselves. What kind of leader goes around showing off everywhere?"
Thinking back on his past self, Isamu sighed inwardly.
If not for the system forcing him forward step by step, he never would have stood in the spotlight so openly.
But at the same time, without the system, he never would have reached such monstrous heights either.
"Maybe," Isamu said quietly, "he simply had his own reasons."
"What are you even talking about?" Senba frowned. "You're so weird."
"You little brat, why am I even explaining all this to you?"
Isamu suddenly smirked.
"Didn't you say your talent was amazing? Then watch this carefully."
He immediately formed another set of hand seals.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Song Technique!"
BOOM!
Four enormous dragon-shaped flames burst into the sky.
The blazing dragons roared upward with terrifying heat, directly piercing through the clouds overhead and scattering the entire layer of white clouds apart.
The sky above Konoha instantly cleared.
This technique was vastly more powerful than the Great Fireball Technique.
If Isamu had aimed downward instead of upward, the explosion would probably have alerted half of Konoha.
"So strong…"
Senba stared upward with his mouth hanging open.
His eyes were filled with shock.
But hidden beneath that shock was obvious envy.
This move was simply too cool.
If he could use something like that, he could show off all over Konoha.
"Well, brat?" Isamu crossed his arms smugly. "What do you think of that technique?"
Hearing the question, Senba quickly suppressed the amazement on his face and lifted his chin proudly.
"It's just alright."
"There's nothing special about this technique. I already learned it after seeing it once."
"Oh?" Isamu nearly laughed.
This brat was still pretending.
"If that's true," he said while gesturing dramatically, "then please, begin your performance."
"If you can use this technique, I'll personally eat every piece of crap in Konoha."
"Hmph! Just watch!"
Senba immediately copied the exact sequence of hand seals Isamu had used.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Song Technique!"
Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff!
Four tiny dragon-shaped flames emerged from his mouth.
Each flame was only the size of a finger.
Silence.
Then—
"Hahahaha!"
Isamu burst into laughter.
"Were you trying to perform a candle trick for me?"
"Th-this…"
Senba froze completely.
"What's going on?"
"I don't believe I can't learn it!"
Refusing to accept reality, Senba immediately began trying again and again.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Song Technique!"
"Dragon Flame Song Technique!"
"Dragon Flame Song Technique!"
Over and over, he repeated the hand seals.
But no matter how hard he tried, the result remained the same.
Tiny little sparks.
Nothing more.
Eventually, Senba finally stopped, his brows tightly furrowed.
"What exactly is wrong?"
Seeing him finally calm down, Isamu walked over.
"Well? Can't do it this time, can you?"
"This technique isn't something you can master with talent alone."
"So," Isamu said casually, "want me to teach you?"
"Hmph! I don't need your help!" Senba refused stubbornly.
"I'll definitely figure it out myself!"
Clearly unwilling to admit defeat, he started experimenting all over again.
After another long round of failures, however, he finally gave up.
"…Fine."
"Tell me already. What's the problem?"
Even while asking for help, Senba still wore an unconvinced expression.
"Is that how you ask someone for guidance?"
Isamu shook his finger in front of Senba.
"Besides, I don't teach just anyone."
"Then what do you want?" Senba rolled his eyes impatiently.
This guy was unbelievably troublesome.
"If you want me to teach you," Isamu said seriously, "then first, improve your attitude."
"Second…"
"You must become my apprentice."
That was Isamu's true goal from the very beginning.
He wanted to enter Senba's life as his teacher.
He wanted to personally guide him, teach him, and watch him grow.
"What?!"
Senba instantly jumped backward.
"You want me to become your apprentice?!"
"You're dreaming!"
"My mother said that a teacher for one day is like a father for life!"
"There's no way I'd casually take some random stranger as my master!"
"If you want money, I can give you plenty instead!"
Clearly, Senba had no intention of agreeing so easily.
After all, with his background, countless people in Konoha would gladly teach him.
Why would he randomly accept some strange middle-aged man he had just met?
"If that's the case, then I can't help you," Isamu replied calmly.
"I only teach my own disciples."
"And as for money…"
"Heh. I'm not interested."
"Tch!"
Senba clicked his tongue unhappily.
"If you won't teach me, then forget it. I'll just ask my grandmother later."
"You should go find someone else to be your apprentice."
With that, Senba turned and began walking away.
"Kid."
"If you change your mind, come back here after school next time."
"I'll be waiting."
Isamu didn't stop him.
He had never expected success on the very first meeting anyway.
Taking a master was a major decision.
No sane person would agree immediately.
"Oh, right."
Thinking of his current identity, Isamu suddenly called out again.
"Don't tell anyone about meeting me today."
"My identity as an Anbu Ninja is confidential."
"Remember—don't tell anyone."
"Not even your grandmother."
"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Senba replied impatiently while waving without even turning around.
"What a pain."
Then he quickly disappeared into the distance.
Watching his son leave, Isamu smiled helplessly.
"This brat…"
"He doesn't have any manners at all."
"It looks like I'll have to properly discipline him in the future."