"Going by the order we became Jiraiya's students, strictly speaking, I should be your senior brother. At last, we meet, Junior Brother Nagato, Junior Sister Konan."
There was no drawn-sword tension. Minato smiled and greeted them as though he were meeting old acquaintances.
Of course, Minato truly meant what he said.
After all, long ago—even before the Nine-Tails Attack had happened—Minato had thought about meeting his three junior brothers and sister someday.
Unfortunately, that someday had been delayed until now.
And everything had changed beyond recognition.
He himself had died once, while Nagato and Konan had gone through so much that their personalities had changed drastically. Yahiko had passed away long ago as well.
Thinking of this, a trace of melancholy entered Minato's smile.
"Yes, I've always wanted to meet you too, Senior Brother Minato! Today, my wish has finally come true!"
Looking at Minato's sunny smile, Nagato's tone carried a hint of emotion.
If Naruto and Yahiko were thirty percent alike, then at this moment, Nagato felt that Minato and Yahiko were at least fifty percent alike!
Though he did not yet know much about Minato, that was Nagato's instinct.
Minato's smile was simply too infectious, just like Yahiko's had been.
That was Nagato's first impression of Minato!
"When Teacher Jiraiya was teaching us ninjutsu, he mentioned you before. I never expected us to meet under these circumstances, Senior Brother Minato."
Konan's lovely brows lowered slightly, and her tone was complicated.
Because deep down, both Nagato and Konan acknowledged Jiraiya as their teacher.
Naturally, they also acknowledged Minato's identity as their senior brother.
However, their plan would never change because of a teacher or senior brother.
They recognized Jiraiya and Minato's status, but that did not mean they would give up everything because of it.
Those were two different