kscans

Chapter 29 -

"S, sorry. It was just so unexpected for you to make a joke like that, Hayate."

Rena, who had been laughing out loud, looked at me apologetically.

"I'm telling you, the training part is true."

"But it was a correspondence course, right?"

"Yeah, well... it was."

I mean, if the candidate training locations are Mie Prefecture, Shiga Prefecture, or online, online is the only choice. There are no travel or lodging costs, and the tuition is 30 percent off.

"So, what did you learn to do in that training, Hayate? And why did you even want to train as a ninja in the first place?"

"Ninjas, they have this image of using a lot of weapons. I thought if I trained with ninjas, I might learn some way to use the four-sword style."

"And there's the four-sword style again."

"Of course. As for what I learned in training, I'd say it was things like body movement and sensing presences. For example, right now, there are 14 people hiding around us."

"What?"

"They've been there since we left your house, Rena. They don't seem hostile, so they must be your SPs, right? As expected of the great Shinonome family. These are some highly skilled SPs with excellent concealment techniques."

"W, wait. Hold on. Hayate, are you... for real?"

"Hm? What do you mean?"

For real? What's she talking about?

As I was wondering, Rena clapped her hands.

A person in a black outfit appeared silently beside her. From the silhouette, I think it's a woman.

"This is Mochizuki-san, my guard. Hey, how many guards are on duty today in total?"

"We are guarding you with 14 personnel, Rena-sama."

"See? I was right."

I'm glad my ability to sense presences hasn't dulled.

"Eh, but. No way... Because you said it was a correspondence course."

What. She still doubted me.

"I was also listening to your conversation, but frankly, I find it hard to believe. It is true that, under the direction of the head families of both Iga and Koga, there has been a recent effort to spread ninja teachings online to find promising young people. However, that is merely a ninja experience for fun. It should be impossible to learn true shinobi techniques through correspondence education alone."

She says that, but I managed to do it.

"From your perspective, Mochizuki-san, do you think Hayate has really trained as a ninja?"

"I have seen his videos. If you ask whether his movements are those of a shinobi, I would say they are indeed similar. In particular, his tendency to rotate when defending is characteristic of modern-style ninjutsu."

The course I took was, in fact, modern-style ninjutsu.

Ninjas these days have to protect their charges from firearms. And things like bullets and explosions can often be deflected with rotation. That was the theory my master used to teach me rotational techniques.

"Moreover, he showed no surprise at all when I appeared. His claim of having sensed our presence must also be true. By the way, Hayate-sama, do you remember the name of the ninja who was in charge of your training?"

"It was Hattori Juuzo-sensei of the Iga."

"Could that be──"

"I, is that true!? He is the leader of the Iga ninja!"

"Eh, really? He works part-time at my place, doesn't he?"

Juuzo-sensei... He was complaining about it back when I was training with him, but has he really come all the way to Kanto to work a part-time job because he has no work?

"Part-time? Rena-sama, what could you possibly mean?"

"He's the old man who protects me sometimes, right?"

Mochizuki-san showed a hint of confusion at Rena's answer.

"I, I have heard no such thing. And it is impossible for Hattori Juuzo to come to Rena-sama's mansion. Rena-sama, where on earth did you meet him──"

"In the little lady's room, of course."

An old man with white hair appeared.

This feeling, it's nostalgic. It's definitely my master.

"Wha-!?"

Mochizuki-san's alert level shot up instantly. My master, on the other hand, remained as nonchalant as ever.

"Your security is full of holes. A ninja of my caliber can slip in easily."

"Master, it's been a while."

I had a vague sense that my master was fighting something far away and then approaching us after it was over.

There were 14 guards for Rena. My master was in a distant location, so I figured he wasn't one of them.

"Oh, Hayate. It's been a long time. I've been watching your recent exploits. I even subscribed to your channel."

"Really!? Thank you so much!"

I was a little worried he might be angry that I was using his teachings without permission, but that doesn't seem to be the case, which is a relief.

"Hayate, you really did know the old man."

"Do you finally believe me now?"

"We're not just acquaintances. This one was the most talented of all my disciples. If only he had continued his training, he could have been my successor... but he got absorbed in some game."

"I'm sorry. I originally started learning ninjutsu because I thought I might be able to use the four-sword style. But then I found I could achieve my ideal four-sword style in FWO."

"But now, a world where you can use the four-sword style has become reality. What do you say, will you seriously consider becoming the head of the Iga ninja? I don't mind if you use that tool called a 'manipulator'. With your skill, including that, no one would object. Succeed me. You are the only person alive in this era to whom I have given the scroll of mastership."

So that wasn't just something you get as a souvenir for completing the training course.

"By the way, with that scroll of mastership, you can even become a bodyguard for the Prime Minister. I hate the current Prime Minister, so I'd never guard the likes of him."

Are you serious? I once spilled miso soup on it when I left it on the table while eating. I was debating whether to throw it away, but I have it stored in the shed back home for now.

It's pretty stained, but I wonder if it's still okay?

"U, um... Hayate-sama, did you really complete Hattori's training course just through correspondence?"

"Hmm. Actually, I was surprised by that myself. A ninja who was supposed to be teaching happened to be absent, so I reluctantly filled in and ended up with Hayate. He completed the ninja experience course with ease, so on a whim, I taught him a few real training exercises. And he completed every single one. I got carried away and kept making the training more and more advanced."

"There was that time you told me, 'Humans only use 10 percent of their brain, so you must raise that to 50 percent!' and I thought you were being ridiculous."

"But you kept up with the training."

"Because I wanted to use the four-sword style."

I couldn't in the end, though.

I saw it in an old movie once. If you could use 100 percent of your brain, you could lift objects with psychokinesis. I might have been able to use that to float swords in the air and use the four-sword style.

But the limit of my brain function was unlocking up to 78 percent. I can still do it now, but it's tiring, so I rarely use it.

"Well, no matter. I'm making a decent living as the little lady's guard now. I'll remain the leader for another 20 years. If you feel like leading the 30,000 Iga ninja active at home and abroad in that time, just let me know."

"Okay."

I'll just let that go in one ear and out the other for now.

"By the way, Master, what were you fighting just now? There were quite a few of them, weren't there?"

"Special forces from some country or other. Probably China, India, Russia, and America. Their target was you, Hayate."

"I see. Well, thank you for that."

"All of them were planning to kidnap the little lady and use her as a hostage to control you. So this was my job."

"Grandpa, you saved me again. Thank you."

"Fuhuhu. You're very welcome."

Could it be, Master... did you come all this way to report your achievements just so Rena would thank you? You haven't changed a bit. But she's my girlfriend now, so please stop sneaking into her room.

If you do it again, I'll be seriously angry.