I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 378 Don't work overtime silently; your boss won't see your hard work that way.

Although Minato offered two options, the Dark Side and Root, in reality, Minato openly suspected that Root had some unspeakable secret.

After all, as a member of the Anbu, Minato knew that the biggest operation of the Anbu recently was their team's trip to the Land of Water. Their operation had no follow-up, since they hadn't even done their job review yet, so how could they do any follow-up work?

Moreover, there are quite a few people in the Anbu, at least several dozen. If those who were sent to "protect" Kushina were Anbu ninjas, then the Anbu would not hesitate to withdraw them.

On the contrary, it is the root, which has only about ten official members, that needs to be so meticulous. Moreover, they are the kind of people who are good at causing trouble. It may be a little wrong to doubt them, but it is by no means excessive.

Tatsuma also frowned. Because of his access privileges, he was able to obtain more and faster information than Minato. Although he hadn't been to the Anbu since he returned, if the Anbu had any major operations, Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't have kept quiet about it yesterday.

As for Root, Minato didn't know, but Tatsuma did. Long before they set off, Root had the possibility of going on a mission, which was the mission of Hatake Sakumo.

However, due to Tatsuma's concern about Danzo's power and his wariness of Sakumo Hatake, Tatsuma easily neutralized Danzo's attack.

However, given Danzo's personality, it is impossible for him to give up halfway. Perhaps in the past few days, he has come up with some other plan, or he is willing to pay the price of having his root authority "tainted" in order to target Hatake Sakumo.

Tatsuma thought both were possible, but if it really was Root's doing, then it would be really difficult for him to find out. Not to mention him, if Danzo really wanted to cause trouble, even Hiruzen Sarutobi, the current Hokage, might not be able to get involved.

"I'll look into it."

Tatsuma Oki Minato smiled, because Minato had absolutely no need to get involved. In fact, in a way, he and Kushina were the "beneficiaries," since what was called protection was actually surveillance.

With fewer people watching, it's definitely a good thing for Kushina, at least from her own perspective. She shared this with Minato and agreed to let him tell Tatsuma, which can be considered doing him a favor.

After leaving Kushina's house, Tatsuma returned to his study. He had planned to write his performance report after finishing the extra talent boost last night, but he accidentally fell asleep and hadn't started writing yet.

In conjunction with Minato's execution log, Tatsuma completed his report very quickly. As the one in control, Minato's understanding of the entire battle situation was even better than Tatsuma's.

Tatsuma's focus was entirely on Genmi in the latter half of the journey, and he was also caught in a genjutsu. As for the situation in other areas, his understanding was certainly not as complete as Minato's.

While writing his performance report, Tatsuma was also reviewing yesterday's battle. As someone who is recognized by others and himself as a smart person, Tatsuma has his own understanding of what a smart person is.

The hard requirement is a high IQ. A person with a high IQ is not necessarily a smart person, but if the IQ is low, they are not even eligible to be selected. Although he does not have the IQ of Orochimaru, Tatsuma has met the standard.

Secondly, and more importantly for Chenma, is to actively use his intelligence, such as through thinking.

Thinking is an incredibly simple thing, but few people can use it well. It's like learning ninjutsu; Tatsuma and Minato always learn faster than others.

It's not just about "talent"; it's also about their ability to think. For example, they can adjust themselves after each failure, and even build a model in their minds, using past failures as simulation data to deduce the correct answer.

However, most people don't do this. They tend to overly rely on the idea that "practice makes perfect" and learn by imitation, completely following the teachings of others or the records in the scrolls.

Tatsuma disliked substituting for Tsunade, not because he was clingy or arrogant enough to think others were too stupid to understand him, but because he hated being around a group of people who couldn't think for themselves.

Not everyone can find a teacher who is perfectly suited to them when learning every subject, and no single teacher is suitable to teach every individual and every subject.

The most important thing in learning is to think for yourself. You can't really learn knowledge if you just passively accept it or learn without thinking.

Reviewing one's mistakes is an important way to reflect on and improve oneself, breaking down and analyzing each of one's shortcomings.

Analyze the causes, then simulate a possible solution, and finally store these in your mind so that you can recall them the next time you encounter the same problem, avoid making the same mistake, and test whether your simulation results are correct.

This methodology applies not only to combat but to almost every field, rather than simply saying "let bygones be bygones," a phrase used to comfort others, not to comfort oneself.

Time quickly passed from noon to evening. Chenma put down his pen, took a few deep breaths, and adjusted his thoughts back to normal. The ink on his pen had just dried. He got up and rolled up a scroll.

Tatsuma, who was about to leave, stopped because he sensed Tsunade approaching.

"Time to eat!"

Without entering the Tatsuma residence, Tsunade simply shouted loudly from the other side of the courtyard wall. This impolite behavior would not have been allowed if Mito Uzumaki were present, but it actually suited Tatsuma's understanding of home.

"good!"

After responding, Tatsuma arrived at her family's dining room before Tsunade. Tsunade returned to the living room, looked at Tatsuma already seated and waiting, and said speechlessly, "There's no need to be in such a hurry. Aren't you working?"

"It's finished."

Tatsuma looked around and asked, "Isn't Shizune here?"

"She's back. We picked her up and took her out to eat."

Tsunade sighed as well. The house, which had finally become a little lively, was now quiet again. Grandma must be very disappointed.

Neither of them inquired about Nawaki's movements. After all, in order to catch up with Tatsuma and Minato, and now also with Hyuga Sento, who was progressing even faster in learning the Eight Gates, Nawaki had been practicing to the point of near obsession.

It's not easy to run into him at breakfast; as for other times, you have to go to the training ground or occasionally bump into him in the village.

Eat more.

While eating, Tsunade, unusually, spoke with concern. Seeing the surprised look Tatsuma gave her, Tsunade rolled her eyes and said, "What are you looking at?! Are you trying to make people think I, your teacher, am abusing my disciple?"

Hearing the unpleasant tone, Tatsuma's eyes calmed down. This was what his teacher should say; showing concern was just too strange.

Seeing Tatsuma's change, Tsunade was so angry that her teeth itched. It was infuriating! She finally showed concern for him, only to be looked at with suspicion as if he were possessed by a demon. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

"I'm stuffed."

After clearing almost all the food off the table, Chenma felt a little unsteady on his feet and his fingertips were numb when he stood up. These were symptoms of oxygen deficiency.

"By the way, teacher, I have no experience going to the Hokage's residence to discuss serious matters. Is there anything I should be aware of?"

While tidying up the table with the housekeeper, Tatsuma asked, "What should I be careful about with that old man? Oh, don't break their cups, those were all bought by Director Biwako."

Tatsuma silently noted this important point. If it were before a meal, he could go to the Hokage's office, but Hiruzen Sarutobi had already left work by then.

As for waiting until tomorrow to give your performance review, the boss's message to you to rest well is that you should get back to work quickly and not let your illness affect your work. It doesn't mean you should actually rest until you're completely satisfied before going back to work.

Although going to work overtime with the boss at night might cause trouble for the boss, it depends on the situation. For example, Tatsuma only plans to send over the performance review report first, and whether or not to talk depends on Hiruzen Sarutobi's wishes.

Given Hiruzen Sarutobi's cultivation level, if he didn't want to talk about it, he would definitely say something like, "Okay, I'll take a look tonight, and we can discuss the details tomorrow."

Or a more sophisticated approach: "Didn't I tell you to rest properly? Why did you send the report in such a hurry? Go back and rest now."

These are all good ways to avoid subordinates talking to you about work after get off work hours. Of course, they don't work for superiors. If a superior talks to you about work after get off work hours, that's a topic for another study.

Of course, if Hiruzen Sarutobi is willing to chat, Tatsuma won't refuse to work overtime. After all, he's not a 9-to-5 office worker anymore, but more like a pieceworker. The more he completes, the more he earns.

After resting for a while at Tsunade's house, and waiting for the blood to return to the whole body from the digestive organs, Tatsuma set off for the Hokage's residence.

"Knock knock knock~"

Because it was a residence, not a "public place" like the Hokage Building, Tatsuma didn't go in directly, but instead knocked on the door and waited patiently.

"Tatsuma-senpai!"

The two children opened the door, and Tatsuma greeted them with a smile and a nod, saying, "Shinnosuke, Asuma, it's been a long time."

"Please come in."

Shinnosuke politely welcomed Tatsuma into the house. Asuma was a little unfamiliar with Tatsuma, so he simply followed behind Shinnosuke, constantly observing him.

"Sit down. Coming over so late? Is there something important?"

Unlike the two brothers who only realized who they were after opening the door, Hiruzen Sarutobi was much calmer. He poured Tatsuma a cup of tea, gestured for him to sit down, and then looked at his two sons, saying:

"You should go back and do your homework, otherwise your teacher will come to complain to me again."

"Yes"

Asuma lowered his head, looking somewhat unhappy, while Shinnosuke forced a smile and said, "Father, I've graduated."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face stiffened, momentarily forgetting that Biwako had just walked over and said, "Even after graduation, there's still homework. Have you mastered the Palm Healing Technique I taught you last time?"

As she spoke, she patted Shinnosuke on the shoulder, signaling him to leave. At the same time, she smiled and looked at Tatsuma, saying, "You two talk first. If you're not in a hurry, I also have something to discuss with you later."

I've roughly looked through the materials you brought today, and they have great potential. Nonoyu alone probably couldn't handle it.

Tatsuma instantly understood Biwako's subtext: she was planning to build a team and share profits. However, since she had already brought it out, she didn't mind others taking a share, since those things couldn't be converted into cash in her hands.

Nodding, Chenma said with a smile, "Okay, I was just afraid of disturbing your rest."

"No, you guys chat all you want, stay for a late-night snack later."

Biwako smiled and left with Shinnosuke, leaving Tatsuma and Hiruzen Sarutobi alone. Hiruzen Sarutobi took a sip of tea.

"Wasn't this kid supposed to be off today? And he hasn't even finished his performance review report yet, so why is he off working on a project again?"

A ridiculous thought suddenly popped into Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind: Could it be that for geniuses, a day isn't 24 hours? Or is it 48 or 72 hours? Otherwise, where would they get so much time?

Chenma turned around and took a sip of tea first. This was a polite response to the host's hospitality. He had to have a sip of tea before talking about anything else, otherwise the host would have wasted his time making the tea.

He then took out a scroll, placed it on the table, and gently pushed it toward Hiruzen Sarutobi, saying, "Hokage-sama, this is the closing report of this mission. There are too many details, and recounting it verbally might miss some key points."

"Hmm, let me take a look first."

To Tatsuma's disappointment, Hiruzen Sarutobi was in high spirits at work that evening.

(End of this chapter)