Perhaps it was fate, but every era seemed to produce similar people. Jiraiya was now a notorious dead last at the Ninja Academy, just as Obito Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki would be in the future. Leaving aside their later achievements, Jiraiya truly was not very strong at this age. He was the polar opposite of Orochimaru, the prodigy Hiruzen Sarutobi held in such high regard.
Beyond their abilities, certain aspects of their personalities were remarkably alike—stubborn, tenacious, and hot-blooded—as though they had been cast from the same mold. Of course, their different experiences would lead them down different paths as adults, but Kazemori Masaki was the only person who knew that now.
After Heizo Hattori agreed to spar with Jiraiya, the two walked toward the center of the Training Ground. No one stopped them. Tsunade, naturally, was delighted at the prospect of seeing Jiraiya get beaten up. Although Hatake Sakumo felt a little uneasy about it, Jiraiya had issued the challenge himself and apparently touched a nerve with Heizo Hattori. Heizo was his fellow student, after all, so Sakumo kept quiet.
Among Jiraiya's fellow students, Orochimaru had no intention of intervening. He had always found Jiraiya noisy and annoying, so he could do whatever he liked. Asumi knew how strong Jiraiya was, and she could also tell that Heizo Hattori was no pushover. She was worried, but she understood that Jiraiya would not back down because of anything she said. That was simply how he was: the more people doubted him, the more determined he became to defy them.
If things go wrong, I'll pull him back right away.
That was Asumi's only option. Unless Jiraiya was beaten fair and square, nothing anyone said would get through to him. All she could do for him now was cheer him on