Beauty? What Man Isn't Sincere!

Beauty? What Man Isn't Sincere!

Land of Grass.

Konoha Shinobi encampment.

"Haha, Minato, looks like you've experienced the battlefield too. You understand now how ninja warfare differs from ordinary missions."

Sitting atop a large boulder, Jiraiya held a copy of Grit Ninja Chronicle and looked at Minato with a goofy expression as he teased him with a laugh. "Here, Minato. This sage's work—this is the latest issue."

Faced with his unreliable Jonin Leader, Minato Namikaze gave a bitter smile. His usually confident, sunny smile carried a trace of helplessness. "Thank you, Teacher Jiraiya."

After watching Minato Namikaze accept the book, Jiraiya's expression rarely turned serious. He spoke leisurely yet earnestly. "This book is for helping you adjust your mindset in your spare time. After all, this time you've been with ninja from prestigious clans or Kekkei Genkai families. You must have felt the pressure, right?"

Under Jiraiya's meaningful gaze, Minato Namikaze froze for a moment. Then he gave a bitter smile, nodded with a trace of loneliness in his eyes.

After all, he was not yet the future Fourth Hokage. A ninja's mentality had to be tempered through countless trials.

"Teacher Jiraiya, I used to think that as long as I worked hard, I could catch up to everyone. But this operation showed me something different. Nara Clan, Akimichi Clan... they can casually use their clans' powerful secret techniques. Not to mention Kekkei Genkai families like the Hyuga Clan and Uchiha. Even the Aburame Clan and Inuzuka Clan..."

The training Jiraiya and Tsunade had put them through on the way here had indeed worked, allowing them to grow quickly and become familiar with ninja warfare.

But among all these people, Minato Namikaze was the only one from a civilian background. It made him realize that between hard work and talent or pedigree, there seemed to be a deep chasm.

Seeing Minato Namikaze doubt himself, Jiraiya could not help but burst into laughter.

"Minato, you're right. Compared to those ninja from prestigious clans with Kekkei Genkai and secret techniques, that is your weakness. But that doesn't mean you can't catch up. Back when Orochimaru and I faced Tsunade..."

As he spoke of the past, Jiraiya could not help revealing a nostalgic expression. Then he smiled and shook his head, though a rare confident smile appeared on his face.

"But what about now? The gap between Tsunade and Orochimaru and me has grown smaller and smaller. In terms of strength, we each have our own specialties. Neither Orochimaru nor I have Kekkei Genkai or secret techniques!"

With Jiraiya's guidance, Minato Namikaze quickly adjusted his mindset, and a sunny smile appeared on his face.

"Teacher Jiraiya, I understand."

Beneath that sunny smile, determination shone in Minato Namikaze's eyes.

It was only because this time he had been surrounded by Kekkei Genkai and secret techniques that he had felt somewhat at a loss. Even without Jiraiya, he would have adjusted after a few days.

Seeing Minato Namikaze's determined look, Jiraiya immediately let out another goofy laugh.

"Haha, Minato, I believe in you. Your talent is what makes a true genius."

"By the way, Teacher Jiraiya." Minato Namikaze took a deep breath and looked at Jiraiya solemnly. "Before we came here, the Third Hokage summoned me. He told me many things, including some of the village's hidden secrets..."

As Minato Namikaze revealed these matters, Jiraiya's carefree smile remained, but his clear eyes gradually turned grave.

"That old man really trusts you. He even told you about this."

Jiraiya was no fool. The Third Hokage had clearly wanted Minato to tell him about this so that he could make use of Jiraiya's relationship with Tsunade.

After all, in this warped ninja world, the importance of companions—Bonds—carried more than enough weight.

"So, Minato, can you tell me whether your feelings for Uzumaki Kushina come from self-interest or a mission? Or something else?"

Jiraiya looked at Minato Namikaze with a grave expression. He needed Minato's answer now.

Faced with that question, Minato Namikaze froze. Hesitation appeared in his eyes, and finally, he lowered his head and said awkwardly, "Teacher Jiraiya, when Uzumaki Kushina first came to the Ninja Academy, she was very beautiful. But her personality, and the classmates in our class, I..."

Clearly, under those circumstances, Minato Namikaze, who came from a civilian background, had chosen to blend into the larger group and watch from the sidelines. As for Uzumaki Kushina, who had been heavily excluded, he had buried those feelings deep in his heart.

"Later, Kushina only grew more beautiful... I! This mission from the Third Hokage comes from my heart. It isn't for personal gain, and it's even less a mission!"

With a determined expression, Minato Namikaze revealed every secret he had hidden in his heart.

After all, in the original story, although Minato paid attention to Kushina, he had not become friends with her during all those years at the Ninja Academy. From that alone, it was clear that Minato's feelings were like an innocent secret crush.

But after hearing this, Jiraiya's grave expression suddenly broke into laughter, and he even began waggling his eyebrows in a goofy manner.

"Hehe, let me tell you, Minato. Men start looking for women because of beauty. The fact that you can face your own heart already makes you very strong."

When faced with beauty, what man wasn't sincere?

"Minato, don't worry. As long as you're serious and responsible, go ahead and do it. You don't need to worry about anything else."

Jiraiya patted his chest as he made the promise. He was no fool; naturally, he could see what the Third Hokage meant.

The matters of White Fang, the Hokage, and the Senju Clan had already created problems between the Senju Clan and the current Third Hokage's faction. The Third Hokage clearly wanted to send a signal of goodwill.

As for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, your Senju Clan can decide—but you can't stop the Minato I've arranged, can you? It was like a political blind date and marriage alliance.

It was perfect for Jiraiya to approach Tsunade about this matter.

It had to be said that, in this matter, the Third Hokage's scheme had been invincible from the very beginning.

If the match succeeded, he would lure away the Jinchuriki. If it failed?

Kushina's lack of any sense of belonging to the village alone was enough to disqualify her from becoming a Jinchuriki.

Regardless of victory or defeat, the final say rested with him.

After Minato Namikaze respectfully departed, Lord Jiraiya could not help but let out a sigh of relief. Looking at the tree trunk beside him, he teased, "Well? My disciple's not bad, is he?"

As Lord Jiraiya spoke to the tree, a cold snort rang out. Captain Tsunade appeared, with Uchiha Yoru behind her.

"Hey, hey, Tsunade, you're not seriously taking this brat along, are you—"

The moment he saw the murderous look in Tsunade's eyes, Lord Jiraiya hurriedly shut his mouth, secretly curling his lips.

With a ninja's powers of observation—and considering that he and Tsunade had once been teammates—he could plainly see what was going on between Tsunade and Uchiha Yoru. Even the Third Hokage could see it.

Tsunade was not looking for some young boy toy. She was clearly using the Uchiha as a bargaining chip.

"Tsunade, I know Minato well."

Clearly, Lord Jiraiya had known about it long ago when the Third Hokage had Minato prepare to approach Kushina.

After all, Minato was merely a pawn at present, while Lord Jiraiya was the Third Hokage's disciple.

Having watched everything from beginning to end, Tsunade understood the signal the Third Hokage had sent all too well. Politics had always been the art of compromise.

"Brat, what do you think?"

Faced with Lord Jiraiya's question, Tsunade did not answer directly. Instead, she raised a brow and turned to Uchiha Yoru.

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Yoru was stunned for a moment. Then, under Tsunade and Lord Jiraiya's gazes, he grinned with utter sincerity.

"Shameless."

Pfft!

Tsunade instantly burst into laughter, while Lord Jiraiya stared with wide eyes.

"Hey, hey, brat, if my disciple is shameless, doesn't that make you even more shameless?"

In response to Lord Jiraiya's antics, Uchiha Yoru merely shrugged and laughed casually.

"Of course I'm shameless too. Kushina's fiery red hair is beautiful—ninety points. Her status and influence as a Jinchuriki make up the remaining ten. If Kushina's appearance were only worth ten points, then if Lord Jiraiya had asked me just now, I would have said it was for the village."

Even as he spoke such shameless words with righteous conviction, Uchiha Yoru showed not the slightest embarrassment. Instead, he was perfectly open about it.

That was simply how it was. If Minato Namikaze truly liked Kushina that much, why had he not taken the initiative back at the Academy? This had not been a matter of one or two days, but several years.

Likewise, he knew himself well enough. Human nature pursued profit, and beauty was a form of profit too.

What he meant was that, in his eyes, Kushina's beauty accounted for ninety points. As for how many points she was worth to Minato, he had no idea.

"You brat!"

Lord Jiraiya was left speechless by Uchiha Yoru's words. He could only nod helplessly. Men really were just like that.

Forget all that nonsense about inner beauty being the most beautiful. People always looked at appearance first, regardless of gender. Without looks, who the hell would ever get to see your inner beauty?

Tsunade, meanwhile, laughed so hard she nearly choked. "Brat, by your logic, you really are both shameless."

"Tsunade, look."

Lord Jiraiya rubbed his hands together with a mischievous grin. Tsunade merely snorted coldly, and Lord Jiraiya understood at once.

"Haha, Tsunade, I'll go inspect the camp first."

Lord Jiraiya scratched his head and laughed. Tsunade's lack of objection was tacit approval, naturally making him happy.

It was not merely for his disciple Minato's sake, but for the village's as well. After all, he did not want to see the rift between Tsunade and their teacher, between the Senju and the village, grow any wider.

"Captain Tsunade, I'll take my leave as well."

Uchiha Yoru respectfully chose to leave together with Lord Jiraiya.

After the two vanished from sight, Tsunade calmly spoke toward the forest.

"You heard everything just now, didn't you?"

Amid the rustling leaves, Kushina, with her head of red hair, obediently stepped out. A faint blush still lingered on her cheeks.

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