A Coincidence

So, if he teamed up with Nawaki, wouldn't he end up becoming Orochimaru's student too?

Just thinking about that slippery snake and the crazed look in his Sharingan made Uchiha Nagi feel a chill.

Even though Uchiha Itachi—the brat who would slaughter his entire clan—hadn't been born yet, and Orochimaru hadn't become as unhinged as he was when the story began.

Still, Uchiha Nagi refused.

Given Orochimaru's personality, his pursuit of ninjutsu would eventually lead him down that path. It was only a matter of time.

"Big Sis Tsunade, I've decided who I want to team up with," Uchiha Nagi said outright.

"Oh? Who? As far as I know, you still have one spot open on your team, don't you?" Tsunade asked curiously.

She hadn't gone out of her way to look into Uchiha Nagi's school life, but thanks to Kushina, she knew him fairly well.

"Uchiha Mikoto. She's a younger girl from my clan who my sister asked me to look after." Uchiha Nagi made no attempt to hide it.

"Someone from your clan, huh?" Tsunade rubbed her temples. She hadn't intended to force him to team up with Nawaki, but...

"Isn't team assignment supposed to be random?"

"In theory, yes. But I've studied the pattern. The random assignments only apply to ordinary people, not to certain special cases."

"For example, the children of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans. The heirs chosen in each generation are always put on the same team."

"You've observed things pretty closely." Tsunade raised an eyebrow. She knew all the ins and outs, of course.

"But, Nagi, have you considered that this year is different? Because of the war, a lot of students who normally wouldn't have graduated will be graduating. That means there'll be far more random assignments this time."

Uchiha Nagi smiled at Tsunade. "That's why I came to you, Big Sis Tsunade."

"You little rascal. Are you so sure I'll help you?" Tsunade leaned back in her chair, looking at him with amusement.

"I think you will, Big Sis Tsunade." Uchiha Nagi's smile faded, and his expression turned serious.

"Why?" Tsunade asked curiously.

"Because I know what my talent means, and I know you must be worried about me. But I can promise you that I won't become the person you don't want to see."

With that, Uchiha Nagi stared straight at Tsunade, and the two met each other's gaze.

Tsunade knew he had probably guessed a few things.

After Uchiha Nagi's problems had more or less healed, she had wondered what reason she could use to keep an eye on him.

But he hadn't said a word and had continued to maintain their relationship. That was when she became certain.

Neither of them had spoken openly about it, though. She hadn't expected him to bring it up now.

Tsunade gave a quiet laugh. "You really do know how to make things difficult."

"And besides, Big Sis Tsunade, I haven't picked a teacher. So you can choose a jonin you trust to lead our team," Uchiha Nagi said.

"You little schemer. You've thought this through, haven't you?" Tsunade found it amusing. Anyone she trusted wouldn't be an ordinary person.

Uchiha Nagi scratched his head and laughed, looking rather sly.

Tsunade shook her head. Truthfully, even if Uchiha Nagi hadn't said anything, she wouldn't have assigned their team just any teacher.

After all, through Kushina, she knew how talented Uchiha Nagi and Namikaze Minato were. Giving them an ordinary teacher would be a waste of talent.

Now, with Uchiha Nagi's request added to the equation, a rather unreliable face suddenly came to mind.

He might be a bit unreliable, but he was the only person she could trust who was also qualified for the job.

After Uchiha Nagi left, Tsunade stretched and stood up.

Now that she'd agreed, she needed to act right away. Team assignments would probably be finalized soon, and it would be troublesome to make changes once the teachers had been assigned.

The izakaya.

"Well, if it isn't Tsunade! What brings you here to see me today?"

Jiraiya looked at Tsunade in surprise.

"Something came up. The teacher wants you to lead a team, right? I have three people I'd like to recommend." Tsunade got straight to the point.

"Who could be so special that you'd recommend them yourself?" Jiraiya asked curiously, then shook his head. "Unfortunately, I've already picked someone."

"You've already chosen someone?" Tsunade frowned. This was more complicated than she'd thought.

"Yeah. His name's Namikaze Minato. He's a civilian, and his talent was among the best in the assessment. He's got the same flair I had back in the day!" Jiraiya said, then burst into laughter.

Hearing Namikaze Minato's name, Tsunade froze. What a coincidence.

Then she heard the rest of Jiraiya's boast, and a dark line appeared across her forehead. "You just got lucky, didn't you?"

"Hmph! Luck is part of strength." Jiraiya wasn't angry in the slightest. If anything, he sounded even more pleased with himself, and he let his guard down as he spoke.

"Unlike you, losing every bet you make. If someone weren't keeping an eye on you, I bet you'd have gambled away your entire fortune by now."

"Bam!!!"

Jiraiya stared at the table smashed to pieces in front of him. He gulped and looked at Tsunade, who seemed to have dark smoke rising behind her.

"Uh, Tsunade, I was only joking just now. You believe me, right?"

"What do you think?" Tsunade said with a cold smile.

Just as Jiraiya thought there was no escaping a beating, three scrolls came flying his way.

"Didn't I say I'd already picked someone?" Jiraiya asked, puzzled. He opened one scroll and saw Namikaze Minato's information.

"Good timing. Namikaze Minato, the one you mentioned, is one of my three recommendations," Tsunade said.

Jiraiya didn't answer. He opened the other two scrolls.

Then his expression turned strange. "Tsunade, are you sure you're not joking with me?"

"Do you think I joke around like you?" Tsunade shot back.

"That's ridiculous! They're both Uchiha! If I submit this, I won't know how to explain it to the teacher." Jiraiya gave a wry smile.

Tsunade fell silent for a moment, glanced around, and then told him about Uchiha Nagi.