I Can Become Stronger Just By Teaching

As Kushina lifted the cover off the dish, something magical happened. A red light seemed to emit from the food, casting an otherworldly glow. But upon closer inspection, it was evident that the red hue was not light but the result of the dish's vibrant coloring.

Staring at the bright red Mapo Tofu that lays before her, Kushina couldn't help but comment, "Makoto, you didn't mention it was going to be this spicy. It looks incredibly fiery!"

Initially thinking that Makoto had merely added a few extra chili peppers, Kushina was now convinced that the entire dish was a spicy masterpiece.

Makoto calmly replied, "This dish is indeed quite spicy, but it's not just about the heat. It offers a range of flavors, from fragrant and hot to crispy and numbing."

Minato, intrigued by the promise of multiple flavors, decided to taste it himself. He grabbed a spoon and took a generous bite. "Spicy!" was the first word that came to mind.

It was really damn hot, even for him.

The spiciness seemed to engulf Minato in a world of flames, with an intense fiery sensation throughout his mouth. But it didn't stop at spiciness; a multitude of flavors soon burst forth, captivating Minato's senses.

"It's delicious!" he proclaimed, and without hesitation, he continued to scoop more tofu into his bowl.

Observing Minato's enthusiasm, Kushina couldn't resist the temptation and took a bite herself. The dish was numbing and spicy, but it also held a rich fragrance, and she even detected hints of a meaty flavor.

"It's indeed delicious!" Kushina exclaimed as she joined Minato in scooping up more Mapo Tofu.

After their satisfying meal, it became the topic of conversation. When Makoto listed the ingredients, Kushina questioned, "Makoto, did you forget to mention an ingredient? I distinctly tasted meat in there."

Makoto replied, "There is no meat in the ingredients. What you experienced was the flavor of processed soybeans."

Minato nodded in agreement, "I also thought it tasted like meat. It's incredible that soybeans can mimic that taste."

Having to continue his disciples' training, Makoto bid farewell to Minato and Kushina, promising to show them the cooking process when they have more time.

...

In the southern forest, Shisui concentrated on mastering the Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson, while Obito and Might Gai worked on honing their physical conditioning and practiced Soru.

As the training session neared its end, Obito approached Makoto with a question, "Teacher Makoto, how can I teach others ninjutsu?"

Makoto inquired, "Whom do you wish to teach, and what do you aim to teach them?"

Obito explained, "My good friend, Nohara Rin, is also in the summer special training program, but she's in Group B. I tried explaining things to her today, but she just can't seem to grasp it."

Makoto was a bit taken aback by Obito's description, thinking that Obito's teaching abilities were somewhat similar to Naruto's – more like a casual demonstration rather than structured instruction.

Makoto was aware of what it took to be a competent teacher. After all, it was his major. However, based on Obito's current performance, he had reservations about leaving Obito to teach others.

"Maybe you should focus on mastering the ninjutsu yourself first," Makoto suggested.

Obito looked disappointed for a moment but then had an idea. Since he couldn't teach Nohara Rin, and Makoto couldn't make him an effective teacher, why not let Makoto teach Rin instead?

"Teacher Makoto, I think she could really benefit from your guidance," Obito recommended, realizing that it might better for Rin to be taught by Makoto.

After hearing Obito's words, Makoto fell into thought.

Currently, there were only four disciple positions within the system, with just one vacancy remaining. It was apparent that this spot couldn't be given to Nohara Rin formally.

However, Makoto realized there was no need to confirm her status within the system.

Makoto pondered for a moment, considering the benefits of teaching Nohara Rin. One was to motivate Obito to practice diligently, and the other was to create an opportunity to potentially trick Kakashi into becoming his disciple.

"Then go and talk to Nohara Rin. If she's willing to study with me, have her come over," Makoto suggested.

Upon hearing Makoto's agreement, Obito was overjoyed. He had hoped to give it a shot, knowing it was impossible to force Makoto into teaching Nohara Rin.

"Indeed, SageMakoto is all-powerful!" Obito exclaimed excitedly.

The thought of practicing with Nohara Rin in the future filled Obito with anticipation. He couldn't wait for tomorrow to arrive so he could share the good news with Nohara Rin.

The next day, Ebisu went to the training ground as usual in the morning, preparing for his special training.

"Why does it feel like I've become the center of attention?" Ebisu muttered, an uneasy awareness of the scrutinizing gazes that seemed to converge upon him from all directions.

While he had once dominated the promotion list during his previous ascent, his performance in Group A the day before had been far from exceptional. It was entirely reasonable for him to be overshadowed by the original Group A members.

Shiranui Genma, a fellow student from Class 6 of the fourth year, couldn't resist a playful jab, "Ebisu, who'd have thought that beneath that perpetually serious facade of yours, there lay a mischievous side?" He gave Ebisu's chest a good-natured pat.

The camaraderie between the two was evident.

Upon hearing Shiranui Genma's jest, Ebisu couldn't help but feel a sinking sensation in his gut. Although uncertain about the cause of the commotion, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

Shiranui Genma continued, his tone light, "If you've got some free time around noon, maybe you could grace us with your technique. I'd love to challenge my own shortcomings."

"My technique?" Ebisu ventured a guess, his heart sinking further.

"Let's not pretend any longer. Now that the technique is known throughout the three groups, there's no sense in keeping up the act," Shiranui Genma said with a knowing look. "It's just a matter of having contributed to the development of some adult ninjutsu. Why not own up to it openly?"

Ebisu, who had an inkling of what was going on, paled and almost seemed on the verge of fainting. He stammered, "I really didn't create it; I merely made a suggestion!" The impending farewell of his ninja school career seemed all too real.