Jiraiya: This Kid Is Just Like Me

"This boy is Minato Namikaze, a ninja from a civilian family. His reflexes, combat analysis, and ability to learn are all exceptional. In less than a year at the academy, he's gone from the bottom of his class to the upper middle. He can hold his own even against children from ninja clans." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was full of praise. "Oh, and he's in a league of his own in theory. Perfect scores across the board."

"Perfect scores? Haha! This kid is just like me!" Nothing appealed to Jiraiya more than an underdog rising to surpass the geniuses.

Besides, Minato Namikaze got perfect scores in theory. Wasn't that just like him?

Idiot! Orochimaru shot Jiraiya a contemptuous glance. Like you, my ass. Weren't you at the bottom when you joined our team?

Jiraiya had since proved his potential, but Orochimaru still couldn't understand why Teacher Sarutobi had chosen him in the first place. Back then, the guy hadn't seemed especially outstanding.

Of course, Jiraiya had proven his worth by now.

"Jiraiya, if you're interested, you should keep an eye on Minato Namikaze." An idea occurred to Hiruzen Sarutobi. He had originally intended for Minato Namikaze to take the last spot on Orochimaru's team.

But if Jiraiya was interested, Minato Namikaze could become his student instead.

Of his three students, Orochimaru was the one he thought most highly of, while Jiraiya was the one he liked best.

"He's got a solid foundation. A very clever kid. Look, he's challenging Uchiha Yi now." Jiraiya watched Minato Namikaze knock the Sarutobi Clan child out of the match, then challenge Uchiha Yi. A smile tugged at his lips. The willingness to challenge someone stronger was exactly like him. He loved it!

Minato Namikaze might not have been the most impressive fighter there, but he was the one who appealed to Jiraiya most.

Orochimaru and Tsunade both turned their attention to Uchiha Yi, curious to see what the boy would do.

From what Teacher Sarutobi had said, Uchiha Yi far outclassed his opponent. Would he crush Minato Namikaze and show off his strength like other Uchiha, or give him room to show what he could do?

That came down to personality. Neither choice was necessarily wrong; Orochimaru himself would defeat an opponent without hesitation.

Uchiha Yi stepped onto the field and smiled at Minato Namikaze. "I didn't expect you to challenge me so soon."

"I know my limits. I'm no match for you or our classmate Uzumaki." Minato Namikaze showed no trace of embarrassment as he spoke frankly. "If I fought anyone else first, I wouldn't have enough left to challenge you."

"I see." Uchiha Yi formed the Seal of Confrontation toward Minato Namikaze and waited for him to make the first move.

He and Minato Namikaze got along well. He had no reason to prove his strength by beating him as quickly as possible. Besides, as an inheritor of the Will of Fire, how could he be so heartless?

After returning the Seal of Confrontation, Minato Namikaze closed in as swiftly as ever and launched a kick at Uchiha Yi's face from a tricky angle.

Smack! Uchiha Yi caught the attack with ease. A casual flick of his hand sent Minato Namikaze flying.

Minato Namikaze spun through the air and landed steadily. Then he formed hand seals in a measured rhythm, drew a deep breath, and shouted, "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

A violently spinning gale burst from his mouth and swept toward Uchiha Yi.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique." Uchiha Yi formed his hand seals far faster than Minato Namikaze and breathed out a huge fireball to meet the gale.

"His hand seals are so fast!" Tsunade couldn't help crying out.

She wasn't known for her speed at forming hand seals, and Uchiha Yi had already surpassed her.

He might even have been faster than Jiraiya and Orochimaru.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded approvingly. "The speed of one's hand seals doesn't necessarily reflect a ninja's strength. A truly powerful ninja can even simplify them, like the First Hokage and Teacher Tobirama.

"But Uchiha Yi is already faster than the vast majority of ninja. Seiichiro told me he's been training to form seals with one hand. I haven't seen him do it, so I wonder if he's managed it yet."

Jiraiya picked his nose. "One-handed seals? That's nothing. Let's see him form seals with both feet like me!"

Tsunade's and Orochimaru's expressions darkened at once. What normal person formed hand seals with their feet?

If he was so capable, he could try doing it with his toes!

"Still, Minato Namikaze really is talented. He's done just about everything he could." Orochimaru watched Minato Namikaze with appreciation.

He sensed they were alike. Given an opportunity, Minato Namikaze would seize it and make a name for himself.

With Hiruzen Sarutobi to nurture him, the boy would likely become a formidable ninja.

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Minato Namikaze display everything he had while Uchiha Yi gave him room to do so, and nodded in satisfaction. Uchiha Yi's strength was within his expectations. He even suspected his own son, Shinnosuke Sarutobi, might not be a match for Uchiha Yi, let alone Minato Namikaze.

Yet Minato Namikaze was improving rapidly as he fought Uchiha Yi. That was no small feat.

Perhaps it would be a shame to entrust such a clever child to Jiraiya.

What about Orochimaru?

But Orochimaru clearly had no intention of competing with Jiraiya. Well, he would let things take their course.

Tsunade stared intently at Uchiha Yi. The longer she watched him, the more familiar he felt, as though she were looking at Nawaki. But Uchiha Yi wasn't Nawaki, so she could only attribute it to his unusual warmth.

Tsunade had felt that same warmth from someone else: her grandfather, Hashirama Senju. But Uchiha Yi was an Uchiha!

"Tsunade, what do you think? Yi's impressive, isn't he? Have you decided to become his teacher?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked when he saw her staring at Uchiha Yi.

Tsunade's expression was conflicted. "There isn't much I can teach him. Is it really right to leave a genius like him to me? Jiraiya or Orochimaru would be better suited to him."

"No. You're the best choice. You're a Senju, and he's an Uchiha. It may cause some trouble, but this is what's best for him." Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Tsunade, his voice earnest.