First Meeting with the Three Sannin

The next morning, Beichen Haotian had just finished breakfast and was about to head out when he heard a knock at the door.

Slightly puzzled, Beichen Haotian went to open it. Click. A familiar figure appeared before him.

"Huh? Teacher, why are you here? I was just about to head to the training ground to gather."

"Is that so? You don't need to go today. Completing yesterday's mission was equivalent to several days' worth of our previous missions. You have three days off. I'll teach you a few things during those three days, too, otherwise I'd be failing as your teacher. Here, Chakra Paper. Give it a try," Kitada Junichi said with a smile.

"Okay." Beichen Haotian took the Chakra Paper as instructed and sent a trace of Chakra into it. The paper immediately wrinkled and became damp.

"Looks like your Chakra natures are lightning and water. Not bad. Take these scrolls and train well."

With that, Kitada Junichi pulled more than twenty scrolls from his ninja tools pouch in one go and placed them on the ground.

Hearing this, Beichen Haotian crouched down, randomly picked up a scroll, and opened it. What he found inside was actually an A-rank ninjutsu training scroll—Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique.

This... Beichen Haotian was truly surprised now. After calming down and thinking it over, he immediately understood.

"Teacher, this must have been ordered by Lord Hokage." Though phrased as a question, his tone was utterly certain.

"Haha, you really are smart, kid. You even figured that out," Kitada Junichi laughed.

"What does this have to do with being smart? How could such a large number of ninjutsu be given to me without Lord Hokage's approval? My contribution isn't worth this many rewards," Beichen Haotian said with a wry smile.

"As long as you understand. Just don't forget Lord Hokage and Konoha's efforts in nurturing you."

"I understand."

"Good. Put these scrolls away. I'm going to the back mountain to guide those two boys. As their teacher, I can't play favorites. Oh, there's one scroll in there containing some of my insights on Water Style. I hope it helps you."

"Thank you, Teacher," Beichen Haotian said sincerely.

"Alright, that's enough. Take these things inside first, memorize them, then burn them. Remember, you must not pass them on to anyone else without permission. If you need us, come to the back mountain waterfall."

"Got it. Goodbye, Teacher."

"Mm." Kitada Junichi responded, then left using the Body Flicker Technique.

Beichen Haotian carried the scrolls into the house in several trips, then sat on a cushion and muttered to himself, "Interesting. Trying to win people over? If an ordinary kid ran into something this good, he'd probably decide to devote everything to Konoha. Too bad they ran into me. Devote everything to Konoha? Impossible. Still, you can't take someone's gifts and then turn your back on them. I'll do what I should."

With that, he took out two scrolls and opened them. They recorded the Water Clone Technique and Lightning Style: False Darkness, respectively.

Just like that, Beichen Haotian spent nearly the entire day memorizing all kinds of ninjutsu. Fortunately, his Observation Haki had awakened, greatly strengthening his mental power and giving him an excellent memory. Though he was still short of photographic memory, reading something twice was enough to remember it. The more complicated ones took three readings at most.

The next day, Beichen Haotian trained by the waterfall with his teammates and teacher. He did not practice anything else. Whether it was swordsmanship, Haki, Geppo, or Kami-e, none of them could be mastered in just two days. He planned to use those two days to properly train some relatively simple Water Style and Lightning Style ninjutsu.

On the second evening, after parting ways with his teammates and teacher, Beichen Haotian walked alone through the bustling streets. He had trained for too long and was rather tired, so he did not feel like cooking. He planned to find a slightly better tavern and treat himself.

"Can't Go Back Tavern? That's an interesting name. I'll eat here." He stepped into the tavern, and a waiter immediately came over.

"Bring out some of your specialties, and a pot of good wine," Beichen Haotian shouted casually.

"Sir, the food is no problem, but perhaps forget about the wine. You're too young."

That line again. Damn it, every time. I can't hold it in today. I have to drink tavern wine—when I can finally have some, they won't let me, Beichen Haotian thought irritably.

"You're being far too unreasonable, sir. I risk my life for Konoha and protect your peace, yet now I can't even have a drink? Heavens, is there any justice left in Konoha? I'm a ninja, so stop treating me like an ordinary child!" Beichen Haotian shouted miserably, putting on an injured expression.

His shout immediately drew the attention of the other customers. Everyone began voicing their opinions. Some supported Beichen Haotian drinking, while others opposed it. However, there were more supporters. In their eyes, he had a point. What was the big deal about a ninja drinking?

Hearing the customers' opinions and seeing that Beichen Haotian's words made some sense, the waiter began to waver and was just about to agree. Suddenly, the door to a private room on the second floor opened, and two people walked out.

One was a young man with an oil character on his forehead protector, white hair styled like a kabuki performer's, a red outer robe, dark trousers, and wooden sandals. The other was a youth in a white high-collared coat, with pale blond hair and a gentle smile on his face.

"Huh? Haotian, why are you here?" Minato Namikaze shouted. He had no choice but to speak loudly; the first floor was incredibly noisy.

"Minato, you're here too? Perfect, come down and judge this. I'm making contributions to Konoha at such a young age, but now someone's stopping me from having a drink. Is there any justice in Konoha? Any law?" Beichen Haotian said angrily, accidentally blurting out lines from a movie.

"Alright, don't argue about it. Come upstairs and join us," Minato Namikaze said with a helpless smile. The young man beside him also looked amused. He found this kid rather interesting.

"Sure, that's what friends are for. No wonder you're more popular with girls at the Ninja Academy than I am. I can't even beat you at acting cool."

Uh...

Everyone immediately broke out in cold sweat. There was no need to say something like that out loud.

Beichen Haotian seemed somewhat cold and distant around people he did not know well, but around those familiar to him, he could be quite goofy. The more familiar they were, the goofier he became. As Beichen Haotian's classmate and peer, Minato Namikaze was both his rival and his friend. They were very familiar with each other!

With a light jump, Beichen Haotian arrived beside Minato Namikaze and greeted the familiar person next to him. "This must be Lord Jiraiya. You certainly have the bearing of a refined and handsome gentleman."

Jiraiya—he had known him very well in his previous life.

"Good kid. I've heard Minato mention you before. The only opponent at the academy who could compete with Minato. I didn't quite believe it before, but after hearing you talk today, I know Minato wasn't exaggerating. Ahahaha!" Jiraiya laughed smugly.

Putting those two together seems like a bad idea, Minato Namikaze thought.

"Come on, honest kid. Come inside with me. I'll introduce you to two people."

Jiraiya grabbed Beichen Haotian and headed toward the private room, with Minato Namikaze hurriedly following behind.

The moment Beichen Haotian entered, he saw two people seated at a low table. One was a pale young man with light yellow pupils, wearing a Konoha Jonin Vest. His entire body radiated an aura that warned strangers to stay away.

Orochimaru! That name immediately surfaced in Beichen Haotian's mind.

The other wore a short-sleeved white T-shirt. She had light yellow hair, fair skin, and delicate features. What drew the most attention, however, was her impressive chest, utterly unlike that of anyone her age.

Tsunade!

"Come, let me introduce you. This kid is Beichen Haotian, a very honest young man." Jiraiya pushed Beichen Haotian forward with a broad smile.

"Idiot. Did you think we didn't hear any of that just now? Right, Orochimaru?" Tsunade said boldly, slamming her fist on the table.

Orochimaru said nothing. He merely nodded lightly, indicating that he agreed Jiraiya was an idiot.

Uh... Jiraiya was instantly embarrassed.

"These two must be Lord Orochimaru and Lady Tsunade. Meeting you truly lives up to your reputation. One look at Lord Orochimaru tells anyone that he is an expert. Calling Lady Tsunade the number one beauty in the Ninja World might be a little exaggerated, but the number one beauty in Konoha is absolutely well deserved."

The corner of Orochimaru's mouth twitched slightly. Tsunade was stunned at first, then slapped the table and laughed. "You smooth-talking brat, but I like you."

Well, who did not like hearing nice things? When someone greeted you with a smile, would you really slap them in the face? Besides, Beichen Haotian was not even ten years old yet. In many people's eyes, he was still a child, making his words all the more believable.

"Alright, sit down. Let's talk while we eat," Jiraiya said.

The five of them sat around the low table, which was covered in exquisite dishes. The fragrance of food mingled with the scent of wine.

Though he already had a guess, Beichen Haotian still asked, "Minato, you and these lords gathered together for something, right?"

"Yes. Today is the day I became a disciple. You could call this a celebration for taking a master," Minato said with a smile.

"Oh, so that's it. Lord Jiraiya is a very good teacher."

"Huh? How did you know Minato became Jiraiya's disciple instead of mine or Orochimaru's?" Tsunade asked curiously.

"It's simple. Setting everything else aside, just looking at the three of you, Lord Jiraiya is the one whose temperament best matches Minato's," Beichen Haotian said seriously.

"Just that? Since when does taking a master have anything to do with temperament?" Tsunade asked in confusion.

"Uh... you could also call it style. I heard some things about the three of you from my own supervising teacher. The path Lord Jiraiya follows is the one most suited to Minato," Beichen Haotian explained with a smile after taking a sip of wine.

"Kid, you're pretty smart," Orochimaru's hoarse voice sounded.

"Thank you for the compliment. It's only a small trick. I'm still far from Lord Orochimaru's level. Speaking of which, since this is a celebration for taking a master, Minato, did you drink?"

"No. I'm not of age yet, so I'll use tea in place of wine."

"Is that so? What a shame. Minato, do you know one famous saying?"

"What famous saying?" Minato asked in confusion as he took a bite of food.

"A man who doesn't drink is wasting his walk through life. A man who doesn't smoke is wasting his time in this world. So you should at least do one of the two."

Everyone fell silent...

"Which famous person said that? Why don't I remember it at all?" Minato responded with a bewildered look.

"Me!" Beichen Haotian said with a grin.

"You... count as a famous person?"

"Of course. At the Ninja Academy, aren't I second only to you?"

Finally, Jiraiya and Tsunade could not hold it in any longer. They burst into wild laughter. Even Orochimaru tugged the corners of his mouth into a slightly stiff smile. Perhaps it had been too long since he had smiled, and he was unused to it.

Seeing this, Minato could not help laughing as well. That night, four people whose names would one day resound throughout the Ninja World sat at the same table and laughed heartily together. The atmosphere was exceptionally harmonious.

Although Beichen Haotian had spent most of his time on Earth practicing swordsmanship, browsing the internet was still an indispensable part of life for a young person in the twenty-first century. Thus, he knew quite a few jokes, both proper and improper, and the atmosphere throughout the meal remained excellent.

Thanks to the brother who sent the recommendation ticket. It was the first one I'd received, and thinking about it was a little exciting. It wasn't that I didn't want to say your name—it was just that I really didn't recognize those two characters...