Tianqi is Out of Jail

"You're going on a mission already? It's not dangerous, is it?" Tianqi asked worriedly. After all, their relationship had grown closer, and he felt he should show some concern.

"It's not dangerous. Orochimaru and I are just going to clear out some bandits. It's simple. You should be out by the time we finish."

"Just the two of you? What about Jiraiya?" Hearing it was just them, Tianqi had a guess.

"Him? Apparently, Sarutobi was teaching him Summoning Jutsu. He started trying it without fully understanding it and ended up being summoned away. We don't even know where he is now."

"Alright, when you're out, you can ask Sarutobi yourself. I'm leaving now, I have a mission to get to." With that, Tsunade picked up her lunchbox and walked out.

His guess was correct. Jiraiya must have gone to Mount Myoboku to learn Sage Mode. Sage Mode, when would he ever get that?

Watching Tsunade's receding back, he thought to himself, Sigh, being a ninja is truly a high-risk profession. Who knows how many more people will die in the upcoming Second and Third Ninja Wars. Isn't it better to just live peacefully?

And so, after being locked up for a month, Tianqi was finally released. Sarutobi himself came to pick him up.

Outside the prison, "Ah, the long-lost sunshine and earth, the fresh air. It's so much more comfortable outside!" Tianqi stretched and said.

"Now you know it's better outside, huh? I wonder if you'll dare to cause trouble again," Sarutobi rolled his eyes.

"Alright, Sarutobi-nii-san, I just got out. Don't say such disheartening things. Come on, let me treat you to a meal," Tianqi grabbed Sarutobi and prepared to leave.

"Wait, don't you see there's someone else here to pick you up?"

Tianqi followed Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze and looked over. " Zhan? Why are you here?" Zhan is the son of Uchiha Elder, with decent strength, at Jonin level. He also moved out of the clan with Tianqi. (Of course, if his father left, his son would too.)

"I heard you were getting out of prison today. My father insisted I come pick you up, otherwise, I really wouldn't want to. I have a lot to do, you know," Zhan said to Tianqi with a displeased look.

"You're already here, so stop complaining. Come on, you and Sarutobi-nii-san have to treat me to a good meal today. My mouth is about to go numb from eating bland food in prison," he said, pulling the two towards a restaurant.

Zhan was the person Tianqi got along with best in the Uchiha clan, besides Elder. He didn't care about Zhan's displeased words at all; they were buddies.

He was very casual with people he got along with. If Danzo or someone else said such things, he'd probably smack their mouths until they were swollen.

Soon, the three arrived at a restaurant. As soon as Tianqi sat down, he yelled, "Boss, bring us everything the best your restaurant has! They're paying."

Sarutobi and Zhan's foreheads were instantly covered in dark lines.

"I say, Tianqi, do you really need one of everything? It's like you've never eaten before. Didn't Tsunade bring you food earlier?"

Speaking of which, Tianqi also looked unhappy. It was better not to mention it; it made him angry. " Sarutobi-nii-san, how dare you bring that up?"

"What did I do?" Sarutobi had no idea what he had done to anger Tianqi, he was completely confused.

"What did you do? How dare you ask? Tsunade only brought me food for a few days before you sent her out on a mission. For the rest of the time, I ate simple meals. You dare say this has nothing to do with you?" Tianqi stared at Sarutobi Hiruzen unhappily.

Uh... Hearing that it was about this, he finally understood. It really did have something to do with him. " Tianqi, I had no choice. Tsunade and the others have reached Chunin strength, and it's time for them to gain some proper experience. After all, a war might break out any day. You wouldn't want them to remain mere decorative pieces, would you?"

"I heard from Tsunade that you lost Jiraiya."

Huh? Hearing Tianqi suddenly say that, Zhan looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen with a strange expression. Jiraiya was a disciple of the Hokage, he knew that. He lost his disciple? Sarutobi Hiruzen had quite the taste.

"Don't misunderstand. He was summoned to another place using Summoning Jutsu. Tianqi, speak more clearly," Seeing Uchiha Zhan's strange gaze, he quickly explained. He couldn't lose all face for the Hokage.

"The food is here. Please enjoy, customers," the boss said and left.

"Right, right, right. How did you teach him? You let him use Summoning Jutsu without a contract? Weren't you afraid he wouldn't come back?" Tianqi said while eating as the food was served.

"Sigh, I also didn't expect this guy to be so reckless. He started trying it right after I finished explaining the hand seals. I don't know where he was summoned to, or if he can even come back." He did make a mistake in this matter, and he felt very guilty now.

"What a scam of a master. With a master like you, when there's no danger, you are the greatest danger. But this time, Jiraiya is fortunate to have turned misfortune into a blessing."

"Hmm? A blessing? What do you mean?" Sarutobi's guilt began to fade as he heard Tianqi say this.

"This time, with the Summoning Jutsu, Jiraiya will go to a sacred land. As long as he returns from that sacred land, I believe that among their three-man team, Jiraiya will become the strongest."

"So, it's not a bad thing, but a good thing? Hahaha, I knew teaching him Summoning Jutsu was the right choice. But Tianqi, how did you know?" Thinking that Jiraiya was fine, his guilt completely disappeared, and then he became a little confused.

"Uh... well, because I've been to that sacred land before. There's an old man there who has the ability to predict the future. He predicted where Jiraiya would go one day." Tianqi made up a reason, or rather, it was a reason because there really was a prophecy.

Predicting the future! Sarutobi and Zhan were both shocked.

"How is it possible for anyone in this world to have the power to predict the future? I don't believe such a thing," Zhan directly expressed his opinion. Sarutobi echoed, "I don't really believe it either. Predicting the future is too miraculous."

"Believe it or not, it's the truth. When Jiraiya returns, you can ask him yourself. And another surprise for you two: this old man is practically half a master to the ancestor of ninjas," Tianqi said slowly while eating.

"Ancestor of ninjas? What's that?" The two were confused again. This was the first time they had heard this term.

"Damn it, don't people pay attention to history anymore? You don't even know the ancestor of the ninja world?" Tianqi covered his eyes, indicating he didn't recognize these two illiterates. He then explained to them.

Sage of Six Paths, known as the ancestor of ninjas. Sage of Six Paths was originally a monk during the chaotic times of the past. He discovered the true meaning of Chakra and wanted to use it to call for peace. Legend has it that all current ninjutsu were created by Sage of Six Paths. Later, due to his outstanding contributions, he was respectfully called 'Sage of Six Paths'. During those chaotic times, rumors were rampant.

Tianqi didn't tell the whole truth, skipping over certain parts. He didn't mention Kaguya Otsutsuki or anything like that, fearing he would scare the two.