Chapter 71: My Student Causing Trouble is None of Your Damn Business.
With the system mission completed, Tatsuro no longer had the desire to continue fighting. After all, that fervor had been extinguished by words.
He said, "Let's call it a day for now, best friend. Let's put out the nearby fire first."
"Mm, alright." Aoi Todo also sighed, his eyes filled with disappointment. After all, they were just about to determine a winner, and being interrupted now, he couldn't muster any interest.
Tatsuro, watching Aoi Todo leave, deactivated his Sharingan and observed his surroundings. He realized the severity of the fire. Though it had only been burning for less than four minutes, it had already become a raging inferno.
Coupled with the recent hot, dry weather and a slight autumn breeze, its rapid spread was to be expected.
"First, let's cut down the trees to create a firebreak and prevent the flames from spreading further."
Having formulated an initial plan, Tatsuro gripped his sword and quickly moved out, severing any burning trees he passed with a single stroke.
Clang—
Trees toppled. Okkotsu Yuta wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking at the still-burning fire inside and said, "Tatsuro-kun played a bit too big this time. I wonder what kind of punishment he'll receive later."
"Hahaha! This is the kind of passion and fervor youth should have! No reservations, forging straight ahead!" Kinji Hakari threw the felled tree trunks inwards, creating a firebreak.
Kirara Hoshi simply sat to the side watching. After all, they didn't have much strength and naturally couldn't lift such things. They just gazed at the roaring fire and lamented, "He played even rougher than Hakari. Maybe in the future, he'll be on equal footing with us in terms of... class suspensions for rectification."
...
"What a pain. There's so much smoke I can't even see what's going on inside. The one fighting Todo should be called Tatsuro, right? He's really daring, setting the forest on fire with one go."
Momo Nishimiya surveyed the forest from high above, holding her phone and reporting the current fire's trajectory to Noritoshi Kamo.
Mini-Mechamaru was currently gathering a cursed energy cannon in its hands, firing it at the burning trees ahead to sever their trunks.
Noritoshi Kamo, on the other hand, had cut his finger and was using the Kamo family's hereditary technique, [Blood Manipulation]. The arrow that had curved to ambush Tatsuro earlier had done so because its tip was smeared with his blood.
Blood flowed from the wound, forming a blood wheel as thin as a cicada's wing, which he then used to slash at the burning trees.
With the arrival of other support units, the forest fire was successfully extinguished within ten minutes.
...
Kyoto School, Principal's Office.
Aoi Todo and Tatsuro were currently standing inside.
Yoshinobu Gakuganji stared at the two without saying a word. Gojo Satoru sat with his legs crossed, whistling and looking at the ceiling, as if it had nothing to do with him.
"Gojo Satoru!" Yoshinobu Gakuganji finally couldn't hold back and spoke first. "Look at the student you've taught! Actually starting a fire in the forest!"
"Now, don't be angry. At your age, if you get too worked up, something bad might happen. How about this, next year, come to my school, and I'll let you start a fire once, okay?" Gojo Satoru said with a laugh.
"Pfft!"
Although he knew he shouldn't laugh in such a situation, Tatsuro couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing. Perhaps he had been infected by Gojo-sensei; anyway, he just really wanted to laugh. He thought to himself:
"Come to our school next year and start a fire? What an insulting phrase. Isn't that just saying they're bound to lose this year?"
"Kid, if you laugh again, be careful you won't be assessed as a second-grade sorcerer!" Yoshinobu Gakuganji thought this would be enough to threaten him.
After all, being able to fight Aoi Todo on relatively even terms meant that being assessed as a second-grade sorcerer was a certainty. If he didn't get it this year, he'd have to wait another year. Or get a recommendation from another first-grade sorcerer, which couldn't be the team-leading teacher. No one would give up such an opportunity.
"Tch, if I don't get assessed, so be it. I don't care about such an ethereal thing anyway. Can it improve my strength?" Although Tatsuro wanted to say this, he felt it would be too disrespectful to this old man. After all, he was the head of a school. He just gave a cold snort and closed his mouth.
Gojo Satoru now said with some displeasure, "My student's future is something you can obstruct? Besides, he doesn't even care. Don't be so self-righteous, old man."
"..."
Knowing he couldn't win an argument with Gojo Satoru, Yoshinobu Gakuganji said no more. After all, the man was already so thick-skinned as to protect his own student to the death. He could only wave his hand and say, "Forget it. I'll discuss this matter with Yaga later. Gojo Satoru, take your students and leave. Today's group battle is void. We'll continue tomorrow."
"Alrighty, bye-bye!" Gojo Satoru immediately stood up, put his arm around Tatsuro, and left directly. Before exiting, he kindly left a message, "Don't take this fire too seriously. If it really bothers you, you can burn our place back next year."
"..."
Just as Yoshinobu Gakuganji was about to curse, Gojo Satoru very tactfully made his exit. Aoi Todo looked at his principal's hands, veins bulging on the wooden cane, and said:
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. I still need to find my best friend to deepen our bond."
"Wait a moment, Todo." Yoshinobu Gakuganji stopped him. "Your assessment for semi-first grade sorcerer has come through."
"Oh, is that all? Principal." Aoi Todo's expression was natural, as if he didn't think it was a big deal.
"..."
If it were anyone else, receiving a semi-first grade sorcerer assessment would make them happy for days, maybe even brag about it for half a year. Why is it that when it comes to you, you act completely indifferent, as if it's a matter of course, or perhaps you don't care about the so-called assessment at all?
Yoshinobu Gakuganji continued, "What do you think of that Tatsuro's strength?"
"Neither of us used our killing moves, so who knows? If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving. Goodbye, Principal." Aoi Todo finished speaking and left directly.
Watching Aoi Todo leave, Yoshinobu Gakuganji slowly uttered a few words, "Killing moves, huh..."
Tokyo School's Lodging.
Okkotsu Yuta sat in a chair, asking with some concern, "I wonder what kind of criticism Tatsuro will receive for burning so many trees."
Kinji Hakari consoled him, "It's just setting fire to a forest. At most, it'll be like us – a school suspension. It's not a big deal."
"Yeah, we got suspended not long after we became second-years. Now we just eat what we should, drink what we should, and nothing's wrong," Kirara Hoshi said, lying on the table with a popsicle in their mouth.
"..."
"What did you do to get suspended?" Okkotsu Yuta asked, somewhat curious.
Kirara Hoshi: "It didn't feel like a big deal. Forget it, let's not talk about it."
"..."
"The more you don't tell me, senpai, the more curious I become!" Okkotsu Yuta complained internally.
"Yoo-hoo! Miss us?"
Gojo Satoru's voice came through, and everyone's attention shifted. Tatsuro walked into their view with a woeful expression, as if he had suffered some severe psychological blow.
Seeing this, Okkotsu Yuta knew Tatsuro had been disciplined and quickly ran forward to comfort him, "It's nothing major, right? How about after the competition in a few days, I'll help you replant the trees? Maybe the punishment can be revoked?"
"Thanks, it's great to have a brother like you. As for the punishment... of course there isn't any!"
Tatsuro, who had been speaking with a choked voice, instantly switched to a smiling face and cheered, "Today's group battle is void! We continue tomorrow! The plan is changed to a ganging-up tactic!"
"..."
Everyone was speechless. Okkotsu Yuta also silently withdrew the hand he had placed on Tatsuro's shoulder.