Need to be even more cautious

Jokes aside.

Jiraiya had not forgotten the purpose of his visit.

He stepped aside, allowing Lin Mu's gaze to fall upon the two advisors.

"Hahahaha, Lin Mu, let me introduce you."

Jiraiya reached up to scratch his head as he introduced the two high-ranking advisors of Konoha Ninja Village to Lin Mu.

"These two are Advisor Mitokado Homura and Advisor Utatane Koharu; they are both highly respected veterans of Konoha!"

Lin Mu wore an innocent, guileless smile as he immediately turned to welcome Jiraiya and the two high-ranking advisors inside.

He naturally recognized these two high-ranking advisors.

"Please, have a seat!"

Lin Mu pulled over several chairs, placing them beside the two advisors and Jiraiya, and invited them to sit.

When he had free time, Lin Mu would occasionally invite friends over, so there was naturally no shortage of chairs.

Advisor Mitokado Homura's face lacked the sternness he usually displayed toward subordinates, replaced instead by the kindness of an elder.

"Little Lin Mu, don't be afraid. We have come today because there are some things we would like to ask you."

"Okay! Please feel free to ask, Advisor Grandpa. If I know the answer, I will certainly answer truthfully."

Hearing Lin Mu's response, Advisor Utatane Koharu nodded slightly; the child seemed quite good and very polite.

"We heard that you can use Wood Style Jutsu. Could you demonstrate it for us?"

Advisor Mitokado Homura asked his first question.

Lin Mu did not decline; he simply extended his hand.

Chakra gathered in his palm, and a wooden spike slowly emerged from his hand.

"It really is Wood Style!"

When the two advisors saw the Wood Style with their own eyes, they could hardly contain their excitement.

"When did you discover that you could use Wood Style Jutsu?"

"Just a few days ago, during the Chunin Exams. My body changed overnight, and afterward, I learned Wood Style Jutsu."

Lin Mu replied with a serious face, mixing truth with falsehood.

"Awakened Wood Style all of a sudden?"

Jiraiya, listening to their conversation from the side, stroked his chin.

Such a sudden awakening was not impossible; some hidden Kekkei Genkai would manifest after being subjected to external stimuli.

The issue of Kekkei Genkai awakening was not a top secret in the Ninja World, and the two advisors naturally thought of the same thing as Jiraiya.

They nodded secretly, concluding that the chaotic scenes during the Chunin Exams must have triggered the child.

Over the next half hour, the two advisors continued to ask a few more questions, as if they were simply chatting with their own child.

Lin Mu answered them fluently; after all, his mind was not that of a true child in his early teens.

Handling this level of questioning was well within his capabilities.

In fact, one could say he answered quite well.

Every time he answered a question, the two high-ranking advisors would nod slightly, signaling their approval and encouragement.

"Now, I will ask one last question..."

Mitokado Homura smiled warmly, looking like a grandfather from next door, and even reached out to pat Lin Mu on the head.

"Do you have any memories of your background or your parents?"

Upon hearing this question, Lin Mu's body trembled slightly, his small face seemed to turn a shade paler, and his eyes revealed a faint trace of loneliness and sorrow.

"I... I can't remember my parents at all anymore..."

Lin Mu's voice choked with emotion, as if he had recalled something heartbreaking.

"..."

"How could you ask a child such a question?"

Advisor Utatane Koharu looked up and shot a glare at Advisor Mitokado Homura.

After all, she was a woman and more emotionally sensitive; seeing such a young child display such sadness, she felt a pang of sympathy in her heart.

She also reached out to pat Lin Mu's head, her gaze filled with maternal love.

"Don't be sad, little one. We will find a way to help you!"

"Mm! Thank you, Advisor Grandma!"

Lin Mu's eyes were brimming with tears, his voice still slightly choked.

What a sensible child he was!

Utatane Koharu seemed to have softened once again, her gaze toward Lin Mu filled with tenderness.

She stood up and said, "Then let's call it a day for now. You should get some rest, Lin Mu!"

With that, she took Mitokado Homura and left Lin Mu's home.

Lin Mu rose and walked to the door, watching the two high-ranking advisors depart.

When the two advisors looked back, he even raised his hand to wave them off.

Only when their figures had vanished from sight did he close the door and heave a sigh of relief.

Mother of mercy... good thing I can act!

Playing the part of an innocent child in front of two high-ranking advisors had left Lin Mu feeling utterly exhausted!

Suddenly, Lin Mu, whose expression had completely relaxed, stiffened.

He had forgotten that Jiraiya was still in the room.

It was because for the past half hour, he had been entirely focused on the conversation with the two high-ranking advisors.

Jiraiya had been sitting in the corner, listening the entire time without saying a word.

The tension had caused him to completely forget Jiraiya's presence.

No, that wasn't right!

It shouldn't have been like that...

It was Jiraiya!

He must have used some kind of ninjutsu to lower his presence and conceal himself!

Just now, when the two high-ranking advisors left, they hadn't even called for Jiraiya!

"Hiss..."

Feeling Jiraiya's intense gaze fixed upon him, Lin Mu drew a sharp breath.

Now, he truly felt the tension.

"Hahahahahahahaha!"

Suddenly, Jiraiya, who was sitting by the bed, burst into loud laughter.

"What an interesting little brat!"

"Haha..."

Hearing Jiraiya suddenly laugh out loud, Lin Mu felt a slight sense of relief.

He wanted to join in with a few dry chuckles to ease the awkwardness.

But as he looked up and saw Jiraiya's serious expression, his laughter cut off abruptly.

"Jiraiya-senpai..."

His voice trembled slightly, but he still took the initiative to speak, attempting to break the silence.

Jiraiya continued to stare at him, seemingly deep in thought.

After a long while, he finally spoke.

"I don't know what secrets you are hiding, but there is no doubt that you possess the bloodline of the Senju Clan..."

"Since that is the case, how about you come with me for the time being?"

"I am planning to go find Tsunade soon. Perhaps you can learn about your origins from her; after all, she is also a direct descendant of the Senju Clan!"

"If you agree, come find me at Ichiraku Ramen a week from now in the morning, and we shall set off!"

Jiraiya rattled off these sentences in one breath, then turned and left without waiting for Lin Mu's answer.

Watching Jiraiya depart, it was a long time before Lin Mu finally caught his breath.

I still... thought things were too simple. How could someone who became one of the Legendary Sannin and trained powerhouses like the Fourth Hokage and Nagato... ever be simple?

Reaching up to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, Lin Mu realized that he would have to be much more cautious in the future!