Becoming Jiraiya's Disciple

At the funeral, In the center of the gravestone was a photograph of a man with golden hair and a gentle smile, as if he were a sun capable of warming people's hearts.

This was the gravestone of Minato, a man whose speed was unrivaled in the ninja world, a man whose very name would cause enemies to abandon their missions during the Third Great Ninja War.

He was also the youngest Hokage Konoha had ever seen, but starting today, he had become history.

Naraku's expression was downcast, but he quickly recovered. "I will make history repeat itself."

Compared to him, Kakashi, standing to the side, was in a state of deep despair. Naraku could understand; he had lost too many people close to him—his father, his comrades, and his teacher.

"Kakashi, the Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself for the village. He protected the village with his life. As his student, you should carry on his will."

Just then, the Third Hokage, dressed in his Hokage robes and looking slightly aged, walked over.

Kakashi's expression shifted, and he bowed slightly. "Lord Third Hokage."

In contrast to his respect, Naraku stood motionless, acting as if he hadn't seen the Third Hokage at all.

Naraku hadn't held any particular opinion of the Third Hokage before; in his past life, he simply hadn't liked the character much, but he didn't think that way anymore.

He had developed a sense of resentment toward the Third Hokage.

Just as in the original story, the Third Hokage had concealed Naruto's identity and ordered that no one be allowed to see him. It had been three days since Naruto was born, and aside from the first day, Naraku—his uncle—had not been allowed to see him even once.

During this time, he had tried to find the Third Hokage, but he was blocked by various excuses and couldn't even get an audience with him.

Jiraiya was equally shocked by this, even getting into a heated argument with the Third Hokage over it, but in the end, nothing changed.

Although Naraku felt deep resentment, he dared not show it—at least, not yet.

Naraku believed that since the Third Hokage dared to keep him from seeing Naruto, he would just as easily dare to take action against him.

Naraku's situation in Konoha was currently precarious; Minato was dead, Kushina was in a coma, and he himself was still just a child.

In these past few days, ninjas from Root had already come to "invite" him several times, all in an attempt to force him to join their ranks.

This was within Naraku's expectations. With his special Uzumaki Clan constitution, Danzo had been eyeing him for a long time. Previously, Danzo had held back because Minato was around, but now...

Naraku pondered his future path in his heart.

"Sigh!"

The Third Hokage let out a sigh and began to speak, "Wherever the leaves dance, the fire will burn. The shadow of the fire will illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout."

"Naraku, Kakashi, do you understand?"

"Lord Jiraiya, I request that you take me as your disciple," Naraku said inside the hospital, bowing to Jiraiya.

Jiraiya was slightly taken aback by the request, then replied in a casual tone, "Oh? You want to be my student?"

"What is it you wish to achieve?"

"I want to possess great power. I want to become a ninja as strong as you."

Hearing this, Jiraiya's expression shifted slightly, and his gaze turned serious. "Why do you want to possess great power?"

As he asked this, he stared intently at Naraku, as if hoping to hear a specific answer.

"Only with great power can I protect those I cherish, and only with great power can I prevent tragedy from occurring."

"Peace—I also want to use my own power to pursue peace."

Naraku said with a firm gaze, though he kept one thought locked away in his heart: Only with great power can I take back my nephew.

As for the Third Hokage, he would have to deal with him sooner or later.

However, he couldn't tell Jiraiya any of this; otherwise, forget about being taken as a disciple, he might be struck down on the spot.

Upon hearing Naraku's desire to pursue peace, Jiraiya's eyes lit up. The legend of the Child of Prophecy surfaced in his mind once again. He had always believed Minato was the child, but now Minato was dead.

In truth, there was another candidate in Jiraiya's mind, though he had begun to harbor doubts about that person.

"Could it be him?" Looking at Naraku, Jiraiya finally nodded. "From today on, you are the disciple of the Toad Sage."

"Thank you, Master Jiraiya."

Afterward, Jiraiya took Naraku to see the Third Hokage. While confirming that Naraku was now his student, he also took the opportunity to warn Root to back off.

Upon hearing that Jiraiya had taken Naraku as a disciple, the Third Hokage appeared very pleased. He turned to Naraku with the kindly expression of a grand-teacher and even agreed that he could visit Naruto at scheduled times, though he was forbidden from revealing Naruto's identity or acknowledging their relationship.

In the Third Hokage's eyes, Naraku becoming Jiraiya's student meant he was now part of his own faction.

"Thank you, Lord Third Hokage," Naraku said in the Hokage's office, feigning gratitude after the Third Hokage gave him permission to see Naruto.

"Sigh, Naraku," the Third Hokage sighed. He then gestured for the Anbu to withdraw and spoke in a tone of earnest persuasion.

"Although Naruto is your nephew, he is also a jinchuriki. If he were to be exploited by those with ill intentions, it would be a catastrophic disaster for the village. Do you understand?"

As he spoke, his gaze sharpened, and an invisible pressure radiated from him.

"Old man," Jiraiya frowned, about to say something, but he was silenced by a single look from the Third Hokage.

Although Jiraiya's strength was likely no longer inferior to the Third Hokage's at this point, the man was still his teacher, and Jiraiya maintained a sense of respect for him.

Nevertheless, he felt deeply disappointed in the Third Hokage he saw today.

This is a warning—no, this is a threat against me, Naraku thought to himself.

However, his face remained expressionless as he lowered his head and said, "Yes, Lord Hokage, I understand."

Seeing him like this, the Third Hokage said nothing more. "Very well, you may both withdraw."

"You may visit Naruto once a week," the Third Hokage added as a final note.

After leaving the Hokage's office, Naraku and Jiraiya went to see Naruto together.

They arrived at a central district within Konoha Village.

Patterns consisting of three crescents could be seen everywhere here; it was the crest of the Sarutobi Clan.

Naruto was currently being cared for by members of the Sarutobi Clan, and Naraku soon caught sight of him.

Inside a small room, Naruto lay curled up in his swaddling clothes. Since no one had yet revealed that Naruto was a jinchuriki, the people here did not harbor any hostility toward him, nor did anyone harm him.

Seeing this, Naraku breathed a sigh of relief. He did not step forward to reveal himself to Naruto, choosing instead to watch him from afar.

Of course, Naruto probably wouldn't remember him anyway.