Teacher

Konoha Village's streets.

Still covered in the dust of travel, Jiraiya wore a helpless expression. As soon as he returned to Konoha Village, his teacher summoned him over, then immediately and forcefully demanded that he lead a team of brats who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy. He flatly refused, only to be rendered speechless by his teacher's arguments.

To look after Nagato and the others, Jiraiya had spent the past three years staying outside the village. This period also happened to be when the village was in desperate need of manpower. For that reason alone, no matter how unwilling he was, Jiraiya could only accept the mission. Compared to becoming a team leader, however, he would much rather take on a few more missions.

If Jiraiya had been forced into it, Orochimaru had volunteered. When his teacher mentioned that Orochimaru would also be leading a team of students, Jiraiya was so shocked that his jaw dropped. He even blurted out, "Tsunade isn't leading a team too, is she?"

Fortunately, the answer was no. However, Hiruzen's next words left him rather speechless.

Tsunade had originally been assigned to lead a team of students as well, but training medical ninja was more important, so she had not been sent to lead a team.

The original plan had been...

Orochimaru would lead Ye Zi's team.

Jiraiya would lead Minato's team.

Tsunade would lead Kushina's team.

All three students had exceptionally outstanding talent, and Kushina was also the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

"How did that guy Orochimaru agree to something like this?"

Jiraiya scratched his head as he walked toward the Ninja Academy. He truly could not imagine that cold-blooded bastard agreeing to such a thing.

As he passed an Izakaya, the aroma of wine drifting out immediately reached his nose, easily rousing the wine worm in his belly.

Smelling the wine, he stopped in his tracks. He looked up at the still-early sky, then turned toward the Izakaya and chuckled. "There's still plenty of time. Why not have a few drinks first?"

Only six students remained in the classroom: Minato's team and Ye Zi's team. The other students had already been taken away by the Jonin who had come for them.

Minato's teammates were a boy and a girl. The boy had a simple, honest face, darkish skin, and small eyes that seemed almost closed. The girl had delicate features and extraordinarily bright eyes. She looked like a very gentle-natured girl.

The three members of each team all seemed to be quiet by nature, and none of them grew angry at their tardy team leaders.

Ye Zi had learned two days earlier that Orochimaru would be in charge of his team. After spending three years with Orochimaru, he understood him to some degree. He knew there had to be a reason Orochimaru had not arrived yet. Even if Orochimaru waited until evening to come, Ye Zi would not find it strange. As for Bei Xingye, she was so introverted that she would not get angry over something like this—or rather, she would not dare get angry over something like this.

Unlike the two of them, Kushina was different. She immediately showed her impatience and complained several times.

Bei Xingye merely wore a timid smile off to the side, while Ye Zi stared blankly at the training field outside the window.

Slap.

After waiting for a long time, the door suddenly opened.

A handsome, pale-faced man walked in.

The moment Orochimaru entered the classroom, he saw the three people in the corner. He walked straight toward them.

"L-Lord Orochimaru!" Bei Xingye widened her eyes. She had never expected her team leader to be one of the Sannin, Orochimaru. Even she could not tell whether the emotion that erupted within her at that moment was fear or excitement.

"Come with me."

Orochimaru gave Kushina and Bei Xingye a brief look, then coldly tossed out those words and turned to leave.

Kushina had been somewhat unhappy before, but the moment she saw Orochimaru, all her displeasure was forgotten.

Her team leader was Orochimaru, one of the Sannin. That alone was a rare opportunity, and even waiting a long time had been worthwhile.

Bei Xingye and Kushina followed Orochimaru excitedly, while Ye Zi showed no reaction, having known from the start that Orochimaru would be their team leader.

As Ye Zi and the others followed Orochimaru toward the classroom door, Minato's two teammates wore expressions of envy.

Slap!

Just as Orochimaru reached the doorway, the classroom door was forcefully pulled open, making a loud bang.

As the door opened, the first thing that drifted in was the faint smell of alcohol. Orochimaru's brows creased slightly. When he focused on the person who had arrived, a trace of helplessness and indifference passed through his eyes.

"Jiraiya." His slightly hoarse voice was calm, as though he was not surprised in the slightest by Jiraiya's appearance. In reality, Orochimaru had not known that Jiraiya would return today, much less that he would be leading this year's graduates.

"Oh? Orochimaru." Jiraiya was slightly stunned when he saw him, then smiled. "What a coincidence." As he spoke, however, his gaze drifted toward the three children behind Orochimaru. When it landed on Ye Zi's cold expression, it lingered for quite some time, leaving him slightly dazed.

This child really did look rather like Orochimaru.

Jiraiya withdrew his gaze from Ye Zi and asked curiously, "Why did you agree?"

Orochimaru knew what Jiraiya was asking about and replied indifferently, "I don't need to answer you."

With that, he strode forward. Jiraiya instinctively moved aside, allowing Orochimaru to pass, with the three students following closely behind.

Jiraiya stood in the corridor, stroking his chin as he watched Orochimaru's back, his face filled with thought.

"Um... are you Lord Jiraiya?" A crisp voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Jiraiya's thoughts.

He looked toward the source of the voice and saw a timid-looking girl.

"That's right." Jiraiya nodded, making no attempt to make a fuss over his reputation. He was nowhere near as frivolous as he would become in the future.

At Jiraiya's answer, all three students brightened.

They had envied Ye Zi and the others for having Orochimaru as their team leader, but they had never expected their own team leader to be Jiraiya.

Looking at Jiraiya, Minato's eyes shone with longing.

Noticing Minato's gaze, Jiraiya pretended not to see it, but his thoughts turned to what his teacher had said before he came.

Minato Namikaze... a rare genius, and his future student.

He knew very well that his teacher wanted him to train Minato into one of Konoha's pillars, someone who would become an existence like him.

Then what about Orochimaru...

Was it that cold-faced child, whose bearing somewhat resembled Orochimaru's in his childhood?

With this question in mind, Jiraiya began the routine test with Minato and the others.

At the same time, Orochimaru brought Ye Zi and the other two to a training ground in Konoha.

"Give a brief self-introduction: your name, your hobbies, and your dream for the future." Orochimaru looked at the three children before him. Originally, he only needed to know their names, but he was somewhat interested in Ye Zi's future dream, so he did not abandon this tradition.

Ye Zi, what is it that you truly want...?