‘Toji-sensei… he’s so gentle.’ Wakako took a moment before coming back to herself.
She nodded softly.
“Yes, sensei.
Her name is Shiro.” Toji smiled slightly.
“All things in this world move toward a balance of yin and yang.
Snakes are cold-blooded, yet it chooses to stay close to you.
That means… Wakako, there’s warmth in your blood.
You’re a warm person.” He played with the white snake for a bit, then handed it back to her.
“That’s also why I chose you as class leader.
Someone with warmth in their heart won’t be a bad person.
My students don’t need talent, but they must be good people.” “Toji-sensei…” Wakako’s eyes turned red.
This was the first time in her life someone had praised her so openly.
People only saw the snake beside her.
They whispered and called her cold, unlucky, a freak.
No one had ever told her like this, in such a gentle but firm voice, that she was warm.
Respect, and something close to devotion, quietly took root in her heart.
At that moment, she wanted to become someone like him.
Toji didn’t say anything more and lowered his head, flipping through the homework one page at a time.
What kind of deep understanding could ten-year-old children write about the Three Rules of Medical Ninja?
He didn’t really care about the content.
He was just using this as an excuse to act like a teacher who praises his students, and to build more natural contact with Wakako.
After all, her future child would be a rare genius in the ninja world.
And if you want the child, you start with the mother.
“You wrote this very well, Wakako.” Toji closed the notebook.
“I wasn’t wrong about you.
You have your own understanding of the rules.
Your file says your ninja talent is average, but you’re very interested in the science of ninjutsu.” Wakako steadied the moisture in her eyes and returned to her usual calm expression.
She lowered her head slightly, a bit embarrassed.
“Yes… I’m not very good at ninjutsu.” “I don’t care whether my students have talent in ninjutsu.” Toji’s tone was serious.
“Everyone has something they’re good at.
They shine in their own field.
What I want to know is, why are you interested in ninjutsu science?” She hesitated.
“Because… I simply like it?” Then she added quietly, “My talent isn’t good, so I want to create something I can use.
And because of Shiro… I used to get bullied by older kids.
So I want to learn medical ninjutsu.
Even if I can’t win, I can heal myself quickly.” “….” Toji listened without much reaction.
He only thought that Orochimaru launching the Konoha Crush might partly be connected to the bullying his mother experienced when she was young.
The ninja world was like this.
It was full of bullying.
Konoha was no exception.
From commoner children to clan princesses, almost everyone had gone through something similar.
People here believed only the strong deserved respect.
The law of the jungle ruled everything.
That was why his “kindness” stood out.
As for Wakako’s “scientific” talent, it was still uncertain.
Compared to the obsession of Orochimaru in the future, her reason for pursuing science was still simple and lacked depth.
“I see.
I understand now.” Toji’s expression remained gentle, but his tone turned firm.
“Wakako Matsumoto, I don’t pity you.
Pity is an insult to the strong.
And in you, I see the qualities of someone who can become strong.” “I specialize in medical ninjutsu, but I also have my own ideas when it comes to developing other jutsus.
Wakako, will you become my student?” “I’ve always been your student…” “I don’t mean just in the medical class.” Toji met Wakako’s gaze.
“I mean even after graduation, you’ll be assigned under me and take part in my research.” “Of course, this may not be fair to you.
Graduation is still far away.
During that time, you might meet someone better than me.
I’m not skilled in most combat jutsus either.
You can take some time to think before deciding.” “No!” Wakako answered without hesitation, “I want to be your student.
In my eyes, there is no teacher better than you, Toji-sensei.” Toji smiled softly and removed his prescription-less glasses.
Under Wakako’s stunned gaze, he gently placed them on her nose.
“This is your first gift from your teacher.
Wear them.
From now on, those who bullied you won’t dare to look down on you again.” Wakako’s fingers touched the frame, still warm.
Her voice trembled slightly.
“Thank you… Toji-sensei.” “I don’t like too many words.
Between teacher and student, meaning is proven through actions.” Toji stood up and took a notebook from the shelf behind him.
“I will hold my students to the highest standards.
That applies to the medical class, and to ninjutsu research as well.
This notebook contains one of my core studies.
Starting today, you will study it every day.
I will test you regularly, until you are qualified to officially join my research.” He paused, a faint hint of emotion in his voice.
“The subject… is curse marks.” * * * Curse marks had existed in the ninja world for a long time.
But they were extremely rare.
Only major clans studied them, and their results were treated as closely guarded secrets.
There were roughly two types.
Binding curse marks, and sage transformation marks.
No matter which type, the one who truly advanced them in the future was Orochimaru.
Toji’s own research into curse marks was slow, and his results were limited.
Some things were like math.
If you couldn’t do it, you simply couldn’t.
Without talent, even endless time wouldn’t guarantee results.
Taking Wakako as his student wasn’t just to show the Senju brothers his connection to the village, it was also a quiet gamble.
After all, she was the future mother of Orochimaru.
What if the talent for curse marks came from her?
A teacher stealing a student’s work would be shameful.
But a student who admired her teacher would willingly offer her results, just to gain approval.
All he had to do was smile and watch it happen.
Binding curse marks would let him push further in his experiments on Yanagi.
Sage marks would greatly increase his power.
Either one was worth it.
* * * On the way back to the academy from the hospital, several people who used to bully Wakako crossed paths with her.
One of them was about to step forward and cause trouble, but his companion quickly stopped him and whispered, “Look… her glasses.” The lenses reflected a faint glow in the evening light.
Their expressions changed instantly.
“Why is she wearing Toji-sama’s glasses?” One of them grew nervous.
“Should we… get her a gift and apologize?” “Tch, what are you scared of?
She wouldn’t dare get back at us.” “What if she tells Toji-sama?
What if the hospital refuses to treat us in the future?” A doctor was someone you could never afford to offend.
Unless you wanted no way out when you got injured.
“Toji-sama wouldn’t treat patients differently.
But I heard she’s already in the medical class.
What if she becomes a doctor too…” “Yeah, yeah!
Toji-sama won’t do anything to us.
But that freak Wakako will definitely take revenge at the hospital.” “Stop talking.
Let’s just go apologize.” ** ** ** Thank you for reading!
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