Jiraiya didn't know whether he counted as a good teacher, but he had plenty of experience teaching disciples.
He had taught the mediocre Akimichi Yoshimaru, the genius Namikaze Minato, and, during those three years in the Rain Country, Nagato, who possessed the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths.
He had become their teacher while they were still weak.
As he taught them his skills, Jiraiya had also passed on the beliefs he held dear.
But Youhu was different. He was already strong enough to stand on his own, and he had his own Will of Fire. There wasn't much more Jiraiya could teach him when it came to passing on knowledge and principles.
Even the Sage Mode he kept as his trump card required help from Mount Myōboku before he could teach it.
But if he took Youhu on as a disciple, could Youhu one day become Hokage? If the Uchiha really did produce a Hokage, could that heal the divisions within the village?
Jiraiya wasn't politically naïve. He knew that Teacher Hiruzen had asked him to stay in Konoha this time.
Besides protecting Naruto from an attack by the Masked Man, Obito, it was also to keep the Uchiha Clan in check and prevent the risk of a potential Civil War.
Nearby, Kakashi looked at Youhu with a complicated expression. "Congratulations, Youhu. You've completely surpassed me. Aside from the older generation of Ninja, there's probably no one in the village who can beat you."
"So Captain Kakashi considers himself the best of the younger generation?"
Youhu never passed up an opportunity to tease Kakashi.
Faced with Youhu's teasing, Kakashi gave a wry smile. "Stop making trouble for me. There are others my age in the village who are about as strong as I am. Guy and Asuma are