"Lord Jiraiya, you're giving me too much credit." Qin Yu smiled casually.
"I only ever meant to be a Salted Fish, writing smutty little books just like you. What a carefree life that would've been. If I hadn't been dragged off to serve as a grunt, I wouldn't have stirred up all this trouble either."
At this, Qin Yu sighed helplessly. "But unfortunately, I'm softhearted and kind. I just couldn't help stepping in."
Jiraiya was taken aback by Qin Yu's utterly unconcerned expression. What Qin Yu had said was much like what Minato Namikaze had told him.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the answer Jiraiya needed.
"Qin Yu, you should understand that once you've revealed yourself, you can't go back to the way things were. Sooner or later, you'll have to make a choice," Jiraiya said gravely.
"I came back this time just to find out what you think will happen to Konoha in this Third Ninja World War."
The decisive battle at Kannabi Bridge was about to begin.
In this situation, the greatest variable was Uchiha Qin Yu.
Judging by the strength he'd displayed, he could take on a thousand men by himself.
If he went on a rampage in Konoha, so far behind the front lines, it would be a massive disaster for the village.
"Don't worry. I was just thinking of heading to the battlefield." Qin Yu smiled calmly. "Konoha will win the battle at Kannabi Bridge."
Jiraiya clearly hadn't expected Qin Yu to agree so readily.
Still, this neatly allayed the concerns he and Konoha had been harboring.
Rather than keeping Uchiha Qin Yu, this unpredictable variable, inside Konoha Hidden Leaf Village,
it was better to send him to the battlefield alongside Minato Namikaze.
At the very least, that would keep the rear secure.
"But I have one condition," Qin Yu suddenly said.
Jiraiya couldn't help pausing. "What condition? As long as it doesn't threaten Konoha's safety, I can agree to it."
"Relax. Stop treating me like a threat. I told you, I'd rather be a Salted Fish than put myself in the limelight. Unfortunately, fame brings trouble, and there's nothing I can do about it." Qin Yu gave an awkward laugh.
He'd been a little disappointed when he hadn't seen Mount Myōboku's Summoning Scroll on Minato Namikaze.
He'd never expected Jiraiya to bring it to him himself.
It'd be a shame not to take advantage of such a generous mark.
"You're after the Summoning Technique?" Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "Minato told me you wanted to form a Summoning Contract with the toads of Mount Myōboku."
"That's no problem, but I have to warn you: don't you dare do anything untoward to Mount Myōboku. Otherwise, I'll revoke your contract."
As a Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku,
Jiraiya had many special privileges.
Being able to travel to and from Mount Myōboku and merge with the two Great Toad Sages were two of them.
"Don't worry, I'm a good person. Let's finish our ramen first, then we can sign the contract." Qin Yu smiled at Teuchi as he came out to serve them.
The aroma of the ramen had already spread through the shop.
Seeing that Jiraiya and Uchiha Qin Yu hadn't come to blows, Teuchi couldn't help feeling relieved.
"The ramen's here, Lord Jiraiya. And here's your sake."
"Why are you giving me sake again? Aren't you worried I'll get drunk and start saying nonsense?"
"Haha, Lord Jiraiya, you've got three kids with you, don't you? They can take you home."
Throughout the meal, Itachi Uchiha and Uzuki Yugao barely spoke, and they ate quickly.
Seeing how eager they looked, Qin Yu knew they clearly wanted to watch the Summoning Contract being signed.
In the Naruto world, very few people could sign a Summoning Contract.
And even when they did, the summoned beasts they contracted with often weren't particularly strong.
They couldn't compare with the three most renowned contract locations: Shikkotsu Forest, Ryūchi Cave, and Mount Myōboku.
Those three places had become famous throughout the Ninja World because of the rise of the Legendary Sannin.
Now Qin Yu could sign a contract with Mount Myōboku. That was proof of a powerful shinobi's strength.
"We're finished. Thank you for the meal," Uzuki Yugao and Itachi Uchiha said in unison.
Feeling their eager gazes, Qin Yu had lost much of his appetite.
Besides, the thought that signing the Summoning Contract might give him a way to obtain Sage Mode later filled him with an inexplicable sense of urgency.
"You three, quit staring at me. You're ruining my enjoyment of the sake." Jiraiya sighed and patted his wallet. "I'll pay this time. It's not every day I come back to Konoha, and I still have to waste money on you brats."
"If only I could spend it on those lovely young ladies instead."
At the thought of the hot-spring girls, a wistful look crossed Jiraiya's face.
"Come on. When we get outside, don't go around saying you're one of the Legendary Sannin. You look like a total letch. It's embarrassing." Qin Yu rolled his eyes and led Itachi Uchiha and Uzuki Yugao out.
"You brat, what are you talking about? You're still too young to understand the adult world. How about I lend you Icha Icha Paradise? It'll open up a whole new world for you. Then you won't have to be a Salted Fish all the time, and your life will have some color." After paying, Jiraiya hurried after them.
Once the four of them had left, a figure slipped out of the shadows and hurried toward Root Division.
Following Itachi Uchiha's lead, Qin Yu finally arrived at a secluded basin outside the village.
There were few people around, but the clearing in the middle was full of straw dummies used for shuriken practice, with signs of attacks scattered across the ground.
It seemed Itachi Uchiha's reputation as the king of skipping class wasn't made up.
"I never expected the Uchiha Clan to produce three geniuses this time. They're not even seven yet, and they've already brought their Shuriken technique to this level." Jiraiya had spent half his life as a dead-last.
But now that he'd mastered Senjutsu, he could absolutely be called the strongest of the Legendary Sannin.
Perhaps this was the comeback of a hard-working genius.
"Kid, why don't I take you on as my student and have you come traveling with me?" Jiraiya asked out of the blue.
Itachi Uchiha was taken aback, then shook his head. "No need. I want my brother to guide me."
"You want this monster to teach you?" Jiraiya glanced at Uchiha Qin Yu. "Stay with a monster like him, and you'll end up with emotional scars. Come with me, and I can give you a different kind of enlightenment."
"You should know, the world is vast, and there are things that feel incredible, like entering heaven. Once you try them, you'll never want to leave."
Watching Jiraiya veer off course the moment he opened his mouth,
Qin Yu rolled his eyes helplessly. "Jiraiya, if you want to corrupt someone, go back and corrupt Minato. Kannabi Bridge is already in danger. Let's take care of the important business first."
"You're such a blockhead, kid. No wonder you even ignore the pretty girl right beside you." Jiraiya pursed his lips.
Still, he promptly took the Contract Scroll from his person.
"Kid, this is Mount Myōboku's Contract Scroll. You can only summon the toads of Mount Myōboku after signing the contract on it." Jiraiya unrolled the scroll.
It bore the names of those who had signed contracts with Mount Myōboku throughout the ages. Among them was Hamura, the son of Kaguya Otsutsuki.
"Kid, if you've already contracted with another summoning beast, break that contract first. The toads of Mount Myōboku have short tempers. If they find out you're two-timing them, you'll be in for a rough time."
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