Birthday Gift

Mito Uzumaki watched the interaction between the four with a smile, as if observing children at play. "It's fine. This is the first time I've seen Nawaki speak so much in front of outsiders. I'm sure you will all become great friends."

She was very satisfied with Nawaki's performance just now. Seeing the ninja-like qualities he displayed under the pressure of killing intent, she forgave Orochimaru for his somewhat rude behavior.

"However, what Orochimaru said just now makes sense. Nawaki really isn't simple." Jiraiya hopped around Nawaki in a distracted manner, looking him up and down. "Kid, do you want to become my disciple? I will train you into a great ninja!"

The hall fell silent, everyone waiting for Nawaki's answer.

Unexpectedly, Nawaki said calmly, "No! Please stay away from me. I've heard that idiocy is contagious."

"Thud!" Jiraiya suddenly face-planted onto the floor. "Tsunade! Your brother's personality is too nasty! He's even more annoying than you and Orochimaru combined!"

"What did you say?" Tsunade's face darkened, and she stepped on Jiraiya's head, grinding her heel down with force. Jiraiya, face pressed against the floor, was unable to resist and could only twitch his limbs on the ground.

Nawaki, watching from the side, felt the pain himself and spoke up to stop her. "Sister, that's enough."

Jiraiya had just begun to feel a flicker of gratitude, but upon hearing the next sentence, he realized he had been too naive.

"He's already stupid enough. If you crush him into a brain-damaged mess, it will drag down the whole team, and you'll lose face."

What do you mean by losing face? What do you mean by dragging down the team? And what the hell is 'brain-damaged'? I am an eleven-year-old genius Chunin, the Gallant Jiraiya! Since when did even a one-year-old brat start looking down on me? Jiraiya roared silently in his heart, but unfortunately, with his face pressed against the floor, he couldn't make a sound.

However, Tsunade couldn't hear his inner voice and said with a look of agreement, "That makes sense. This idiot is usually enough trouble as it is." She then retracted her right foot with a leisurely air, looking as if she were saying, "Consider yourself lucky."

In the original story, Jiraiya was actually a qualified teacher. His three disciples, Nagato Uzumaki, Minato Namikaze, and Naruto Uzumaki, all achieved astonishing accomplishments.

If Nawaki were from an ordinary family, he would have gladly agreed. But he was now the spiritual symbol of Konoha, the young clan head of the Senju Clan, the inheritor of the Will of Fire, and the most legitimate heir to Konoha.

Anyone who took him as a disciple had to be at the level of the Hokage to bring him more prestige. Jiraiya had not yet earned the title of Sannin and was merely a somewhat famous genius ninja; clearly, he was not qualified.

Nawaki's most desired master was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, as this would bring him a huge amount of prestige. Learning ninjutsu was secondary; given his status, he could ask Mito to teach him ninjutsu at any time, and even the techniques in the Scroll of Sealing were accessible to him, as he was the grandson of the Second Hokage, and inheriting their legacy was a matter of course.

Time passed in play, and soon it was evening. After the cake was cut, everyone brought out their gifts for Nawaki.

Jiraiya gave a doll, Orochimaru gave a kunai and shuriken, and Tsunade, knowing her brother liked to collect various materials, gave him a small piece of Chakra Metal. As for Mito Uzumaki, she promised to fulfill one small wish of Nawaki's as a gift.

Mito looked at her grandson with maternal love and asked, "Tell me, Nawaki. What do you want? Is it those strange materials?" Clearly, she knew of her grandson's peculiar hobby of collecting odd things, simply viewing him as a clever and curious child full of thirst for knowledge about the world.

Just a moment ago, Nawaki had even collected the hair Jiraiya dropped on the floor and the saliva Orochimaru dripped on the ground in front of everyone.

Mito and Tsunade were used to it, while Orochimaru felt that Nawaki was very similar to himself. As for Jiraiya? Who cared about his thoughts?

Nawaki pondered for a while, then shook his head. "No, I don't have any materials I really want right now. Grandmother, will you agree to any request I make?"

Although Nawaki spoke logically and acted maturely, his voice was still very childish because his vocal cords had not fully developed, and his baby-talk tone created a huge, adorable contrast that made people unable to help but smile.

"Yes, as long as it is within Grandmother's power." Mito, this kind elder, did not laugh at him but made the promise with a serious look in her eyes.

"I want to learn the Chakra Extraction Technique. Can Grandmother agree to that?" Nawaki looked at Mito with anticipation.

No one present expected him to make this request.

Tsunade objected first: "No, Nawaki! You are only one year old. Extracting chakra will harm your body. Wait two more years, until you grow up, and then Sister will teach you, okay?"

"But didn't you start extracting chakra at age three and graduate from the Ninja Academy to become a Genin at age six, Sister? The clansmen say I look like a three-year-old, and I am smarter than they were!" Because he had exchanged for the Asura Bloodline, combined with Nawaki's intentional training and the sufficient nutrition from his daily diet, his body was relatively large and he looked like a three or four-year-old child.

"But you are only one year old. This is very dangerous, what if..." Tsunade was still worried and tried to continue persuading him.

"Alright, Tsunade." Mito interrupted her, then looked at Nawaki and said, "Nawaki, you are a smart child and have always had your own opinions. Can you tell Grandmother why you are in such a hurry to learn chakra extraction? Is it out of curiosity?"

Nawaki knew that if he used curiosity as an excuse again, Mito would definitely not agree to his request today. This concerned his survival plan; if he could practice two years early, he would definitely be able to gain more power and make more preparations. Two years was enough for him to do many things, so he could not miss this opportunity.

Nawaki took a deep breath and said with a serious face, "No, Grandmother! It is not because of a shallow emotion like curiosity! It is for power! I want to gain power and become a ninja!"

The people present had different reactions to his answer.

Jiraiya frowned, Tsunade looked worried, and Orochimaru's eyes gleamed as he stuck out his tongue, looking as if he wanted to devour Nawaki.

Upon hearing this, Mito stopped smiling and became serious, her tone becoming stern involuntarily. "Nawaki! Why do you want to gain power? And what do you intend to do with that power?"

Nawaki knew that the critical moment had arrived and the success of his plan depended on this. He looked at Mito with firm eyes and said, "Because this village is Grandfather's treasure! I must protect the village for Grandfather! I must become the strongest ninja—the Hokage—to protect Grandfather's treasure!"