As soon as Gu Jie heard this, he understood. He crouched down and smiled kindly at the three children. "Once we reach the Land of Grass, I do know a relatively safe and secluded route. Why don't you... let me lead the way... Ha! Ha! Ha!"
Yahiko happily jumped up. At that moment, he no longer dared to look down on the dark-skinned old man. Instead, he grabbed Gu Jie's hand and said, "If Uncle Gu Jie is here, we'll get to eat delicious game! Hahaha... Also, please teach me how to use Water Tornado! Uncle Gu Jie, Water Style must be really powerful..."
Gu Jie smiled and gestured with his hand. "No, no, it's nothing. Compared to the Second, my Water Style ninjutsu is nothing... It's like comparing a tiny star to a great moon. They aren't even on the same level!"
Mirai knew Gu Jie was not being modest, because the Second's Water Style was indeed incredibly powerful. He had heard from Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, that the Second's Water Style was practically the strongest in the world—utterly unmatched! The range and power of his water techniques far exceeded ordinary people's imagination.
Yahiko did not know much about the Second. He had only heard Mirai mention him a few times before. Now that he heard Uncle Gu Jie say that the Second was so amazing, he grew doubtful. "Hey! Hey! Uncle Gu Jie isn't lying to me, right? Could there really be such a powerful ninja in the world? Or is Uncle Gu Jie deliberately making up stories to fool us kids? Let me say this first—we three aren't children, so please treat us like adults, Uncle Gu Jie. Don't keep telling stories to trick children..."
"Ha! Ha! Ha!"
Gu Jie's uniquely slow laughter made Yahiko feel