Jiraiya: You did that on purpose, kid?

After finishing their ramen, Ichiro Matsuyama set off with his caravan in the afternoon.

On the road, he chatted casually with Jiraiya.

The purpose of this trip remained unchanged: to conduct business with Gato. However, according to what he had heard, Gato had been backing several gangs in the Land of Waves and was not exactly known for his polite conduct.

He was worried about being double-crossed.

Koji Matsuyama had mentioned this point previously.

Jiraiya had accepted this job not just for the money or the intensity of a super C-rank mission, but also because he was curious about the Land of Waves and Gato.

"Do you know much about this man, Gato?"

"Not particularly. He rose to prominence only in the last few years, squeezing out many of our old clients."

Ichiro Matsuyama sighed.

He glanced at Jiraiya and couldn't help but ask, "Lord Jiraiya, everyone is fighting for control over the Land of Waves. Haven't you considered sending people there?"

"The Land of Waves..."

Jiraiya truly did not know the situation in the Land of Waves.

Matters of this nature were currently under the jurisdiction of Danzo.

He pondered for a moment.

"Is the situation in the Land of Waves that dire?"

"It's chaotic!"

Ichiro Matsuyama's expression turned serious as he described the current turmoil in the Land of Waves.

"It looks like local gangs are just fighting over territory, but in reality, many of them are backed by the Land of Water and the Land of Lightning, which is why it's such a mess."

"The Land of Water, the Land of Lightning..."

Jiraiya frowned.

The location of the Land of Waves was indeed strategically vital.

It was close to the Land of Fire, yet situated between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water, serving as a buffer zone between the three nations at sea.

He opened his mouth slightly, but ultimately fell silent, saying nothing more.

Entering the Land of Waves...

Given the geographical proximity between the Land of Fire and the Land of Waves, it would certainly be appropriate, but as a proponent of peace, he felt that doing so would be wrong.

Kyohiko did not speak.

Winning over the Land of Waves would certainly be beneficial to the Land of Fire and Konoha, and as the "Hokage," he could also reap some benefits from it.

However.

Theoretically, he was only seven years old and shouldn't know about the affairs of the Land of Waves.

He would go to the Land of Waves and see for himself first.

Once he had taken a look around, he would naturally have some "realizations" upon his return.

After all, he was a genius.

As long as he maintained his persona, anything he did would be considered reasonable!

His previous efforts had not been in vain.

Kyohiko sighed inwardly.

After a period of silence, Jiraiya sighed and said, "Let's wait and see. There are some things I cannot decide on my own."

Sensing that Jiraiya did not wish to discuss it further, Ichiro Matsuyama bowed to take his leave and headed to the back of the caravan to discuss future business matters.

Jiraiya glanced over at Kakashi.

"Since you're just sitting around, why don't you play with a ball?"

As he spoke, he tossed a balloon to Kyohiko. "Do me a small favor and fill it with water, but don't fill it too full."

"Alright."

Without forming any hand seals, Kyohiko easily filled the water balloon.

"Here."

He could refine Water Release chakra this quickly without hand seals...

How many days had it been since he started reading?

He had improved again?!

Jiraiya was stunned for a moment, but quickly handed the water balloon to Kakashi.

"Using only your chakra, find a way to burst it."

"Alright."

Kakashi took it.

Walking while lost in thought, he pondered for a moment before gathering his chakra.

Under his control, the chakra acted like a sharp blade, surging and crashing about, but no matter how he manipulated it, he could not maintain control; the liquid burst through the water balloon.

It seemed...

It wasn't as simple as he had imagined.

He furrowed his brows.

Jiraiya chuckled, cast a glance over, and said, "Kyohiko, do you want to give it a try?"

"Is that allowed?"

"Of course."

Jiraiya nodded.

Kyohiko took the water-filled balloon.

Before long, the water inside began to swirl and crash chaotically, until the surface of the balloon was being battered so violently that—

Bang!

Water splashed everywhere.

It had burst.

Kakashi blinked.

Kurenai Yuhi blinked as well.

Then, she quietly glanced at her companion—

It was fine.

The other party wore a mask, so his expression was unreadable, but Kyohiko was truly impressive; he had managed to burst the water balloon on his very first attempt.

Jiraiya was inwardly stunned, but as a qualified jonin leader who had spent years roaming the streets and alleys, his skin was thick enough that he managed not to show his emotions.

"If you grasp the knack of it, it doesn't seem that difficult."

Kyohiko clapped his hands, wiping away the water and balloon scraps.

Jiraiya calmly handed over another balloon: "Well done. You don't need to try again; make one for Kakashi."

Kurenai Yuhi stifled a laugh.

Unfortunately.

"Pfft—"

She failed.

Noticing the gazes of Jiraiya and Kakashi, her face flushed slightly, and she hurriedly explained, "I didn't mean to laugh; I just thought of something funny from the past."

Kyohiko fought hard to hold back his own laughter.

Clearly.

Her explanation failed to convince Jiraiya or Kakashi.

Kakashi was thin-skinned, but with his mask covering his face, his expression remained hidden, though his eyes were quite gloomy, appearing far from sunny—

Kyohiko had done it with ease, while he had failed, dealing him a significant blow.

Jiraiya was a veteran of a hundred battles and feared no one's gaze.

He remained calm and composed.

"Then you move on to the second stage. You practice that, and Kakashi, you keep working on the balloon."

Kyohiko filled the water, handed it to Kakashi, and took the rubber ball Jiraiya had brought over.

"As for Kurenai, hehehe..."

Jiraiya let out a strange laugh.

Kurenai Yuhi was initially a bit timid, but she soon resigned herself to it—

She had already laughed, and there was no taking it back.

Whatever he had in store, bring it on!

She had assumed she would have to practice the same thing, but Jiraiya tossed a large parcel at her.

"Carry this on your back; consider it weight training."

Kurenai Yuhi quickly strapped on the parcel.

Kakashi stared at the balloon, his gaze like a blade.

In the past, he had always been the genius in everyone's eyes, learning everything quickly as if he didn't need to practice—

Though only he knew how much effort he had put in behind the scenes.

But!

Ever since the team assignments, he'd felt looked down upon by the other Chunin, and then being grouped with Kyohiko, he felt like he was living in his shadow, as if he were one of the people who had gawked at him in the past.

Kakashi clenched his fist.

It's fine!

I'll be able to do it soon!

After a while.

"Bang!"

Kakashi calmly brushed the debris off his hands and looked at Jiraiya and Kyohiko, but thinking that they had already completed the balloon test, he felt he had nothing to brag about.

He was immediately frustrated and lowered his head.

"Teacher, I'm done."

"Mm, you can start practicing with the ball too. This also requires you to break it with chakra. Its hardness is a hundred times that of a balloon. You guys can play with this for a while."

Jiraiya threw a ball over.

Kakashi caught it and immediately tried. The ball deformed rapidly, but it couldn't be broken at all. After trying for a long time...

"Pfft!"

A strange sound.

A small hole appeared in the ball, and air slowly leaked out. Then the entire ball deflated.

He had failed.

Kakashi was unwilling, but he knew the ball was indeed difficult.

He thought of several methods.

For example—

Shadow Clone.

But.

His chakra wasn't enough to support such an attempt, and that incomplete usage didn't meet his needs.

Jiraiya threw another one over.

Kakashi didn't act immediately. Instead, he pondered in his mind. Just then, a violent sound came from the ball beside him.

Bang!

The ball in Kyohiko's hand exploded.

Kakashi's hand, which had just received the ball, instantly stiffened. He stared intently at the ball in Kyohiko's hand.

At this moment, even his mask couldn't hide his expression.

He was very surprised.

How could this be?

Jiraiya finally couldn't hold back.

This kid...

He seemed to be deliberately going against him!

As soon as he finished speaking, he broke the ball. Couldn't he have waited a little longer?

He looked down.

The ball in Kyohiko's hand had exploded, shattering quite severely, not just with a few holes.

This guy had really done it!

Jiraiya was shocked.

How did he do it?

"How did you do it?"

Compared to Jiraiya, Kakashi was more straightforward.

Since he couldn't understand...

He'd ask!

Otherwise, he felt he wouldn't be able to sleep at night.

Everyone was just starting out, so why could Kyohiko master it so quickly?