A Seeker's Journey Of Transmigration

Chapter 26: Third Time's the Charm?

Elder Kazuya smiled, "With whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?"

"I'm Dandin Hatamo, son of Mujin Hatamo."

"Ah... Dandin! I've heard much about you from Zanko-san. Please come in. Would you like some tea?"

"I wouldn't want to trouble you."

"It's no trouble, I insist."

"Then please."

The two walked inside and Kazuya poured them each a glass of tea. They sat down at a low table and began to converse.

Kazuya asked, "How may I help you?"

"As you may know Zanko-sama was occasionally training me before he left. I also received a lot of guidance from my father. With both of them gone I've lost my training mentor. Mr. Masaru at the academy is a good instructor but he has to divide his attention between many students. I'm looking for a new mentor and my mother instructed me that you might be willing to help me."

Kazuya sipped his team slowly and raised his eyes towards the ceiling like he was thinking.

"I am aware. However, my time is limited and I'm already helping multiple clansmen. So tell me, why do you desire more instruction than you already have? What happened to your father's present? I heard that he passed on his valuable teachings to you."

"I'm not ready to open that scroll Kazuya-sama. I feel that, if I open it, it's the same as admitting that my father will never return from the frontlines." Dandin clenched his fists and lowered his head as he continued to speak, "and that's why I need to get stronger. I don't have enough strength to protect my family. The quicker I can grow the quicker I can help and defend them."

Kazuya gently smiled at Dandin. He said, "That's a good answer, it's right to love your family and wish to protect them. It's enough motivation for now, but you'll have to find a deeper reason at some point. Take it from me, it's easy to grow tired. It's easy to grow resentful," Kazuya's eyes became distant for a few seconds as he recalled many painful memories from his youth, "it's easy to lose faith. Family is a powerful motivation, but family can fall apart. So, like everything else, it needs to be stewarded and tended. Remember that."

Dandin replied, "Thank you for your wise words," but internally he scoffed at Kazuya. He thought, "your family might betray you but mine never will. Neither of my families will! We love each other too much to ever walk away from each other."

Kazuya asked, "What can I do to help you?"

"I want a combat instructor. I have learned several Ninjutsu Techniques, but I haven't been able to practice them in combat. I want someone to help me learn the right way to fight with Ninjutsu and I want someone who can help me improve my Ninjutsu skills."

"That's a good aspiration to have. Normally I'd forbid you from practicing Ninjutsu as we don't want to distract you from building your base, but the clan has no complaints about your progress, so I don't have any issues either. There is no pressing reason I can't accept you as a student. However, I am serious that I'm actively training a lot of clansmen. In fact, if it wasn't for the war and some of my students being sent with Zanko-san I would have had to refuse you outright. While I have a little space to take on another student adding an additional student isn't easy for my old bones. So, you'll have to pass a test if you want to train under me."

Dandin smiled.

"Come back on Saturday at 6AM. You'll perform the test then."

"Yes Kazuya-sama."

The two wrapped up their conversation and Dandin left the house.

When Dandin got home his mother was waiting for him. She asked, "how was your meeting with Kazuya-sama?"