The group walked to a nearby town and entered a lodging house.
They casually ordered some yakitori and tempura.
"Tell me! What happened on your mission this time?" Jiraiya's expression was unusually serious.
Orochimaru fell into thought as well. After a moment, his hoarse voice sounded. "Nawaki and I completed the mission quickly. On our way back through here, I sensed that something was wrong..."
Orochimaru then recounted every detail of his encounter with the suspected Hidden Rock forces.
Mirai listened from the side, a flood of doubts surfacing in his mind.
The younger Orochimaru had not yet fallen into darkness, so his intelligence should have been reliable.
But that was precisely why it was even stranger!
First, Orochimaru's mission route had been top secret. Even Tsunade only knew that their final destination was the Northern Border. Saying they had run into Hidden Rock by coincidence was far too far-fetched.
Second, this was the heartland of the Land of Fire, only about a hundred kilometers from Konoha.
What Hidden Rock unit would be bold enough to infiltrate this deeply and launch an attack? Were they not afraid of starting a war?
Although the old Third Hokage was weak and soft toward outsiders, Hidden Rock should not have experienced that yet. They should not have known.
Thus, they all came to the same conclusion—
Jiraiya's face darkened as he stated, "The Hidden Rock unit was probably disguised by someone else!"
At once, the atmosphere became even more silent.
The answer was actually simple. A ninja attack had occurred in the heartland of the Land of Fire, and it had been carried out by a sizable, powerful force.
Then it definitely could not be unrelated to Konoha!
Only Konoha could assemble enough people to intercept Orochimaru!
But precisely because of that, the three who would later be known as the Sannin remained so silent, not daring to think too deeply about it.
Only Tsunade's gaze sharpened. Old man, could it really have been you?
Nawaki had nearly died. He was my only blood relative in this world!
Why would you do this?
Of course, it was for researching the Senju Bloodline! If Mirai Uzumaki knew what Tsunade was wondering, he would have blurted it out immediately.
That old schemer Danzo had coveted the power of the Senju Clan for far more than a day or two.
Did you think all those Senju Clan ninjas who had abandoned their names and become civilians had simply disappeared?
For now, though, those doubts had nothing to do with him.
Kushina Uzumaki had tightly linked her arm through Mirai Uzumaki's, allowing him to faintly experience the soft touch of a budding young flower.
He sighed inwardly. Sigh! It was nowhere near as good as Tsunade's.
Kushina, when would you finally grow up?
Sitting across from Kushina was Izumi Uchiha.
The two girls locked eyes. Naori's expression was calm, as though she had not been the one who had shed tears of blood for Mirai Uzumaki earlier.
Kushina, meanwhile, glared at Naori through clenched teeth, unconsciously tightening her grip around Mirai's arm.
Minato Namikaze sat beside them, taking small sips of tea. He felt that something about the atmosphere seemed off.
Whatever. This tempura was fried so well!
So good! Chomp, chomp, chomp!
And this show was great too.
Feeling Kushina's grip growing tighter and tighter, Mirai Uzumaki sighed inwardly and placed a piece of grilled eel into her bowl.
"You two have been staring at each other ever since you sat down. Are you practicing Dojutsu? Eat something first!"
"Hmph!" Kushina was completely satisfied after receiving food from Mirai Uzumaki.
She picked it up and put it into her mouth, then cast a smug glance at Izumi Uchiha across from her. Deliberately raising her voice, she said, "It's so good! Thank you, Mirai."
Izumi Uchiha still looked utterly calm. She picked up a piece of tempura and placed it on Mirai's plate.
"This tastes good. Mirai, try it. You worked hard saving everyone just now."
Bang!
Kushina exploded!
What did this mere Naori think she was doing, putting food on my boyfriend's plate? Did she want a duel?
Ah! Give him back to me!
In her mind, Izumi Uchiha had already been beaten to death by Lady Kushina hundreds, if not thousands, of times.
But in reality, Kushina timidly did not dare to make a move, because over the past three years, it was not as if she had never challenged Naori.
Unfortunately, she had not won even once.
"Mirai, don't eat the food she gave you, okay?" Unable to fight back, the puffed-up Kushina could only act cute toward Mirai Uzumaki.
This was also something she had figured out over the past three years: how to deal with Mirai Uzumaki.
She only needed to soften up a little and act cute, and Mirai would treat her gently. It was really far too easy.
Sure enough, this time was no exception.
"Alright, alright, alright. This piece is for you." Mirai Uzumaki moved the tempura into Kushina's bowl. "You two should stop being so hostile toward each other. Eat Naori's food, and make up!"
"Hmph!"
Kushina picked up the tempura and took a fierce bite, saying nothing more.
Izumi Uchiha's eyes dimmed slightly. She lowered her head, seemingly lost in thought.
After a while, a piece of grilled eel was placed into Naori's bowl.
She hurriedly looked up and met Mirai Uzumaki's gentle smile. He motioned for her to eat quickly.
Kushina Uzumaki was busy stuffing herself and noticed nothing.
Izumi Uchiha's eyes lit up at once.
They sparkled brightly!
She took a bite of the grilled eel, joy filling her heart. So good!
Jiraiya, who had already finished discussing matters, saw this scene.
The corner of his mouth twitched slightly!
That brat Mirai Uzumaki was eating from the bowl while eyeing the pot?
Had he been planning to have beauties on both sides since childhood?
Really... damn it!
Lord Jiraiya was still single to this day!
Every time, he could only take advantage of missions to visit taverns or dance halls, finding comfort for his lonely heart among the pretty ladies.
And incidentally looking for inspiration for writing books.
Though he had not started writing one yet.
But that brat Mirai was simply too infuriating!
At that thought, Jiraiya glanced at Tsunade, whose face was gloomy but who was still absurdly beautiful.
He sighed inwardly. Sigh! I don't dare!
He did not even dare to look at her too much, afraid that Tsunade would beat him half to death.
After dinner, everyone returned to the village together.
The attack on Nawaki and Orochimaru seemed to have ended without resolution.
But Orochimaru and Tsunade both intended to investigate it secretly. Once they discovered any connection to Konoha's upper ranks...
No one knew what the consequences would be.
Jiraiya, meanwhile, told Mirai Uzumaki and Izumi Uchiha to go home first, while keeping Minato Namikaze behind alone.
Kushina Uzumaki happily left while holding Mirai Uzumaki's hand, while Naori's retreating figure seemed somewhat lonely.
Still, having eaten the grilled eel Mirai Uzumaki had served her, she was just as delighted inside.
"Jiraiya-sensei, I wonder why you kept me behind?" Minato Namikaze asked with a gentle smile, slightly puzzled.
Jiraiya gave Minato Namikaze a complicated look. He somehow felt that this child was very much like himself.
He meant their experiences.
Both had been born civilians, with a genius Mirai Uzumaki by their side, as well as Izumi Uchiha, a member of Konoha's current greatest clan.
He had been the same back then. He was a civilian, Orochimaru had been the genius, and Tsunade had been a member of the Senju Clan!
Minato! To keep up with the geniuses, you must have suffered greatly while desperately striving to catch up, right?
But if Minato Namikaze knew that this was what Jiraiya's meaningful gaze meant,
Then he would definitely have retorted—
No, Jiraiya-sensei, I was actually doing fine.
After all, who wasn't a genius?
Before you continue