Clan Recognition Underway

"Going to Konoha?"

Yahiko sighed deeply.

"Katsuki, do you know? Konan, Nagato, and I used to have a dog, but not long after, it died because of the war."

The voice was soft, yet so heavy that it left one speechless. With a bobbing of the throat, Katsuki ultimately remained silent, sitting quietly to listen.

"... I've always said I want to conquer the world. I know very well that it's difficult, and to be precise, the possibility is infinitely close to zero. I know this better than anyone else... But I still can't give up. I can't forget the sorrowful faces of Konan and Nagato when Little One died. I'm terrified that one day I'll lose them both, and that's something I absolutely cannot accept... So, I want to end the war, so that the people of the Land of Rain no longer have to cry because of war. Katsuki, I really am an idiot, aren't I?"

Yahiko wore a self-deprecating smile.

"Yeah! You really are an idiot, it's amazing you even have the self-awareness to admit it." Katsuki laughed.

"Hey, shouldn't you be comforting me right now? You're so heartless." Yahiko rolled his eyes and muttered a complaint.

"Why should I comfort you? You're not a cute girl like Konan."

"Ugh!! I knew you were up to no good by refusing to leave, you bastard!" Yahiko exclaimed, looking at Katsuki warily. "Katsuki, you'd better give up now! Konan won't like a pretty boy like you."

While speaking, she deliberately lowered her voice and nervously kept glancing into the room, as if afraid that Konan would hear their conversation.

"Tsk! You make it sound like you have a bad temper..." Katsuki muttered irritably. "Well, well! That's fine. Although you're a hopelessly dense idiot, well... I don't dislike idiots. It's easy to get along with idiots, and the fact that you don't have to use your brain is really great."

"Hey, is this a compliment or an insult?" Yahiko protested, clearly displeased.

"I have a friend who's a lot like you." Ignoring Yahiko's protest, Katsuki continued, "From the first time we met, that guy said he wanted to become Hokage and protect the village. He was so passionate it almost made me sweat!"

"But that guy is much smarter than you, a true genius. Although I'm reluctant to admit it, he's also very handsome and has a gentle personality... There's not a single flaw in him, unlike you."

Seeing Yahiko chuckle, Katsuki immediately added insult to injury, her smile instantly vanishing.

"Is it really that exaggerated? Such a perfect person couldn't possibly exist, right?" Yahiko looked at Katsuki with a skeptical gaze, indicating that he didn't believe it at all.

"Why would I lie to you... Wait, speaking of which, that guy and the three of you should be fellow disciples!"

Katsuki slapped his forehead. He was really confused. Minato was also Jiraiya's student, and he and this clueless kid in front of him were taught by the same master.

"Huh? Huh!!!"

This time, Yahiko couldn't hold back any longer and cried out in surprise.

"Yahiko, what are you yelling about again? Can't you be quiet? I'm trying to practice my Ninjutsu in peace!"

Konan's dissatisfied complaints came from inside the room. Through her soft voice, one could easily imagine the girl's cute pout—but the person being scolded looked completely smug, not at all like she had been scolded.

"Sorry, sorry, I got too engrossed in chatting with Katsuki."

He stood in the corridor and bowed sincerely. Even though Konan was inside the room, couldn't see him, Yahiko still stood up reflexively.

After his confession, Yahiko sat down again.

"Hey, Katsuki, what did you mean by what you just said? Are you fellow disciples... also Jiraiya- sensei's disciples?" Yahiko was a bit of a fool, but not an idiot. He was reliable in crucial moments and his mind worked quickly.

"That should be right. Is there any need to be so surprised about this? Lord Jiraiya- sama is a Konoha ninja, so it's normal for him to take on disciples. What's surprising is that he took the three of you as disciples! It's very rare for a ninja to take on disciples from other villages." Katsuki shrugged.

"Now that you mention it, you're right... But when we told you we were Jiraiya's students, you weren't surprised at all?" Yahiko stared wide-eyed.

Tch! How come this guy has such sharp senses even in insignificant places!

"Really? Maybe it's because I have good self-control!" Katsuki chuckled dryly, trying to brush it off. She couldn't very well say that she was a visitor from another world. "By the way, think about it, in my condition at the time, it was already a miracle that I survived. I didn't have the energy to be surprised."

"... That's true." The reason was weak, but there seemed to be no better one. Yahiko pondered for a moment, then put the matter out of his mind. "Speaking of which, I didn't know Jiraiya had a disciple! I never expected that! No... no, I should say I never even thought of such a thing."

Yahiko stretched and lay down, putting his hands behind his head, his brown eyes gazing at the dark night.

"Speaking of which, I've been meaning to ask, are you and Nagato really from the same clan?"

Upon hearing Yahiko's question, Katsuki's pupils contracted. Sure enough, he asked. He had already said he would be leaving tomorrow, and if he didn't ask now, he probably wouldn't have another chance to ask for a long time.

It's true!

"Not lying?"

"What good would it do to lie to the three of you?" Katsuki sighed helplessly. "My sister and I weren't originally from Konoha. My hometown... our clan's hometown was originally a small country called the Land of Land of Whirlpools, located on the eastern sea of Land of Fire. It was a very small country."

"Our clan has always lived on the island, with a long history and ancient bloodline. Our people are born with powerful vitality and an enormous Chakra reserve, and the best among them are even powerful enough to suppress the Tailed Beast." Looking at Katsuki, who had a puzzled expression, Yahiko added, "Tailed Beast... Jiraiya- Lord Jiraiya must have taught you about them, right?"

"I know that, but Nagato Land of Rain, you can't be mistaken, can you?"

"Ha!! I didn't say that all members of our clan are in the Land of Whirlpools. Because of our clan's innate characteristics, we can suppress the life force and Chakra of Tailed Beast, so there has never been a shortage of people who covet them. Over such a long period of time, it's not surprising that some clan members have been scattered due to wars and the like."

"That makes sense." Yahiko had a look of sudden realization, but it was unclear whether he truly understood.

"In short, our Uzumaki Clan is a renowned and powerful clan throughout the entire Shinobi World. When you have enough exposure to the Shinobi World, you will naturally understand. Or you can ask Lord Jiraiya. There's no skill involved in lying about this kind of thing."