Minato and Jiraiya

Three days later.

The Konoha Ninja Academy at night was so peaceful under the moonlight, forming a beautiful ink wash painting together with the clouds and the moon in the sky.

Under the beautiful moonlight, Senju Genma—the Wood Clone—left the campus with his little brother Namikaze Minato, only to be stopped by a strange man wearing a mask.

The strange man grabbed Namikaze Minato by the wrist.

"Young man, I see you have extraordinary bone structure; you are a one-in-a-million ninja prodigy. I have a secret ninja manual here, and since we are fated to meet, I shall bestow it upon you!"

Senju Genma crossed his arms and said with disdain, "Jiraiya, what kind of madness are you up to again?"

Jiraiya dodged to the side with an exaggerated motion. "You could even tell that?"

"Don't talk nonsense, you're only wearing a mask; anyone could tell!" Senju Genma said in a dismissive tone.

Namikaze Minato, standing to the side, suddenly realized, "Jiraiya?! Lord Jiraiya, the disciple of the Hokage!"

Jiraiya suddenly took off his mask and struck a bizarre pose, standing on one leg with his hands positioned one in front of the other.

"There is no need to hide it anymore. I am the white-haired boy, the toad messenger who knows no north, south, east, or west; the handsome man who can make even a crying child stop in their tracks; the invincible Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku—I am Lord Jiraiya." Jiraiya shook his head and swayed his body, reciting his self-introduction with great conviction.

"Idiot!" Senju Genma retorted mercilessly.

Namikaze Minato stood frozen on the spot, completely stunned.

Perhaps the sudden realization that a revered ninja of the village was a lunatic had dealt a great blow to his young heart!

Seeing that the two were not buying it, Jiraiya felt a bit awkward. He rubbed his nose, leaned toward Senju Genma, and whispered, "Genma, does that kid have a master?"

Senju Genma raised an eyebrow and asked, "You've taken a liking to him?"

Jiraiya nodded and whispered, "That's right. I was just passing by, and the moment I saw that child, I felt a special connection. I have a premonition that he is very likely the Child of Prophecy, or at least related to him."

"You trust that toad that much?" Senju Genma asked.

"Genma, show some respect to the Toad Sage. Without it, there would be no me today. If I can't trust it, who can I trust?" Jiraiya said hurriedly.

Senju Genma shrugged. "Minato doesn't have a master. As for whether he chooses to take you as one, that's his freedom; I won't interfere."

Jiraiya nodded and walked over to Namikaze Minato.

"Kid, your name is Minato, right?"

Namikaze Minato nodded and replied, "That's right, my name is Namikaze Minato."

Jiraiya got straight to the point. "You already know who I am. I want to take you on as my disciple. I wonder if you are willing?"

Namikaze Minato was still hesitant; after all, although the man was a disciple of the Hokage, his behavior just now was truly too bizarre.

Senju Genma spoke up at the right moment, "I heard from Lady Tsunade that Jiraiya is a dead last."

Jiraiya's face flushed red, and he said excitedly, "Being a dead last depends on who you're comparing yourself to! Don't look at me like that; I became a Genin at six and a Chunin at fourteen!"

Namikaze Minato pondered for a long time. He glanced at Senju Genma, then looked at Jiraiya and replied, "I am willing, Teacher."

Although Jiraiya was strange, it was clear that he was acquainted with Senju Genma, and Namikaze Minato trusted Senju Genma.

Moreover, Jiraiya was a disciple of the Third Hokage and a famous, outstanding ninja in the village; his strength must be formidable. Following Jiraiya to learn would bring him one step closer to his dream.

Having received an affirmative answer, Jiraiya was in a great mood and began to show off to Senju Genma:

"Genma, you've been following Tsunade for so many years, you probably haven't learned much, right? Tsunade only knows a bit of medical ninjutsu and super strength; you won't learn anything there. How about this? When I teach Minato in the future, should I teach you some ninjutsu as well?"

Senju Genma knew that Jiraiya was getting carried away, but he wouldn't indulge him.

He raised both hands. Blue lightning appeared on his right hand, emitting a sound like a thousand birds chirping, while a blue sphere of light appeared in his left.

"The technique in my left hand is called the Rasengan, which I developed by imitating the Tailed Beast Bomb. The one in my right is the Chidori; I once used this move to sever lightning. I wonder which one you'd like to experience?"

"No need, no need. It seems Tsunade has taught you well. I'm in a good mood today after taking on a disciple, so how about I treat you both to some barbecue? How does Yakiniku Q sound? It's an old shop that's been around since I was a kid, and the taste is excellent." Jiraiya shook his head repeatedly, choosing to play it safe.

Whether it was imitating a Tailed Beast Bomb or severing lightning, it all sounded too dangerous.

If his intelligence was correct, Senju Genma wasn't very old this year, yet he had already developed such dangerous-looking ninjutsu.

What was he doing at that age?

He seemed to have just become a Chunin, and then he retired from the battlefield.

Wait, Senju Genma was currently just a student at the Ninja Academy; he wasn't even a Genin yet!

Come to think of it, he seemed to be quite a bit stronger than the boy!

Jiraiya successfully completed his self-hypnosis and, in high spirits, led the two to the barbecue restaurant.

Senju Genma did not leave. Although he was only a Wood Clone, his consciousness could be synchronized; he could just take over the body while eating and taste the food.

Although the three were far stronger than ordinary people, their pace toward the restaurant was very slow, taking a full hour.

This was because the three encountered a bookstore on the way called Shueisha.

Seeing the bookstore, Jiraiya became like a wild horse off its leash, insisting on reading for a while before leaving.

The two couldn't sway him, so they had to stay and accompany him.

At this time, Shueisha did not yet have Icha Icha Paradise, but there were still some books of the same genre, which left Namikaze Minato and Jiraiya blushing.

Senju Genma had absolutely no interest in that kind of book.

After all, it is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to frugality; since he already had Tsunade, he might as well just look at her.

The three of them entered the barbecue restaurant and immediately ran into acquaintances.

"Genma!"

As soon as Senju Genma stepped into the restaurant, he noticed a boy with yellow-brown hair waving at him.

"Nawaki, Orochimaru, you guys are here too!" Senju Genma waved back and said.

Orochimaru gave a slight nod in greeting.

Orochimaru did not mind that Senju Genma addressed him by his first name.

Senju Genma had always been this way; within their "Sannin" trio, he only ever called Tsunade "Sister," while he always addressed him and Jiraiya by their names.

Orochimaru was already used to it.

"And this child is?" Orochimaru looked toward Namikaze Minato.

Jiraiya patted Namikaze Minato on the shoulder and laughed, "This is the disciple I just took in. How about it? Not bad, right?"

Orochimaru nodded, agreeing, "I can't tell what his talent is yet, but he certainly is a fine-looking lad—much better than you, his teacher."