Grouping

At the end of the meeting, the Third Hokage and the others chose to adopt Mito's suggestion. Early the next morning, the major clans in the village received word that Kumogakure had requested a ceasefire.

This internal news spread through every corner of the village within three days as if it had grown wings. For a time, all of Konoha was filled with cheers and laughter.

Families with ninjas on the front lines were already looking forward to the arrival of Kumogakure's delegation, because once the delegation arrived, it would mean they could finally reunite with their loved ones.

Danzo on the front lines also received Hiruzen's reply. When he read it, his expression darkened like storm clouds, and in fury, he flipped the table on the spot. Yet there was nothing he could do. He knew perfectly well that Mito was most likely behind the failure of his plan.

But there was nothing he could do to Uzumaki Mito. As he was now, he had no right to challenge her. With just a few words, Mito could condemn him to eternal ruin.

Still, he was not discouraged. An old fossil with one foot already in the grave would not be able to throw her weight around for many more years. At worst, he would endure for a few more years. Once that old woman was buried, he refused to believe there would be anyone left in Konoha capable of stopping him.

When that time came, he would not give up a single thing that should have been his.

He would prove through his actions that his teacher's choice had been wrong. He was the one most like his teacher. He was the one who should have inherited Konoha.

Have you ever seen Konoha at four in the morning? Hoshi had.

At that moment, he rubbed his eyes and stared speechlessly at the grinning Jiraiya in front of him. To be honest, he felt like strangling Jiraiya to death.

Jiraiya seemed completely oblivious to Hoshi's glare. He continued shaking him excitedly as he said, "Hoshi, why are you still asleep? Today's the day we get assigned to teams! It's our first day meeting our Jonin instructor, so we have to make a good impression!"

Hoshi forced out a smile and looked at Jiraiya. "Do you know what time it is?"

Jiraiya scratched his head. "Huh? Isn't it six in the morning? What's wrong?"

Hoshi grabbed the guy and dragged him in front of the clock in his house. Pointing at its face, he gritted his teeth and said, "Look closely. It's four in the morning. Four!"

Jiraiya scratched his head awkwardly and gave a textbook goofy grin.

"Hehe, sorry. I was so excited that I woke up early. I didn't even know it was four o'clock. I was wondering why it was so late and the sky still wasn't bright yet.

So, how about you go back to sleep first? I'll catch up on some sleep with you too?"

Hoshi glanced at him without saying much, then returned to his room and flopped straight into bed. Jiraiya followed in very naturally and lay down beside Hoshi.

"Hey, Hoshi, do you think we'll be assigned to the same team?"

"Do you think our instructor will be a man or a woman? It'd be great if she were a gorgeous beauty. Hehehe."

"Hey, Hoshi, can you share half your blanket with me? It's a little cold."

Aaaaaah, I can't take this anymore! Hoshi kicked off the blanket, grabbed Jiraiya by the back of his neck, and hauled him up like a chick.

Jiraiya still asked in confusion, "Hey, why are you awake?"

Hoshi said, "I changed my mind. Let's start morning training."

Jiraiya said, "Not going back to sleep for a little longer?"

Hoshi (▼皿▼#): "Quit talking. Run five laps around Konoha first. If you're slower than me, just wait and see whether I beat you to death."

Nine in the morning, Training Ground 6.

Sakumo, Tsunade, and Orochimaru arrived at the training ground after breakfast, only to find Hoshi looking as if his body had been hollowed out and Jiraiya covered in bruises.

Tsunade asked curiously, "What happened to you two? Why does Jiraiya look like that?"

Hoshi forced out a smile and said to Tsunade, "Jiraiya just told me you were flat as a washboard, but don't worry, I already taught him a lesson for you."

"Huh? A washboard? What washboard?"

Tsunade froze for a moment and subconsciously looked down at her chest. Then... the following five hundred words of Jiraiya getting beaten up have been omitted.

When Hiruzen Sarutobi walked in and saw Tsunade violently pummeling Jiraiya, he was rather startled. Hadn't they seemed to have a good relationship during the Graduation Exam two days ago?

How had they become bitter enemies after only three days? The Third Hokage's arrival did save Jiraiya's life. In the end, Tsunade angrily said, "If you dare call me a washboard again, I won't let you off," before sparing Jiraiya.

At that instant, Jiraiya looked at the Third Hokage as if he were seeing his own biological father. At that moment, he did not need some beautiful big-breasted female instructor anymore. As long as the Third Hokage was willing to be his teacher, that was enough! Under Jiraiya's expectant gaze, the Third Hokage cleared his throat and said, "Due to reforms in ninja team organization, since last year, the standard formation throughout the Ninja World has been one Jonin leading three Genin in a mission team.

Therefore, I will be no exception. I will take three of you as my disciples, but the other two need not be disappointed. The village has also arranged very capable Jonin instructors for you."

Hearing this, Hoshi knew that today's team assignments should be no different from the Original Story. Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade would still be on one team, while Hoshi and Sakumo would form another team with one other person.

Sure enough, the Third Hokage smiled and announced his team roster. "My students are Jiraiya, Orochimaru..."

At that moment, Jiraiya felt as though he were the Sage of Six Paths' favored child. Lord Third had truly become his teacher, and Orochimaru was even on the same team as him. If Hoshi could join them too, wouldn't his future days be absolutely wonderful?

Even if it were not Hoshi, he could accept Sakumo instead. As long as it was not Tsunade, that violent woman, anyone would do.

"The final member is Tsunade."

Crack. At that moment, it was as if a bolt of lightning struck straight from the top of Jiraiya's head down to his heels, instantly turning his entire body to stone.

Heavens had no eyes! Why did that violent woman have to be on the same team as him? How was he supposed to live from now on?

On the other side, Tsunade also felt somewhat unsettled. For some reason, a thought had unconsciously flashed through her mind just now: It would have been nice if Sakumo had teamed up with Jiraiya and Orochimaru instead.

She glanced at Hoshi, who was still speaking quietly with Sakumo beside her, and unconsciously pouted. When she turned back, she saw Jiraiya's look of utter disgust, and a vein immediately bulged on her forehead. "I'm not even disgusted by you, and you dare be disgusted by me?"

The following 500 words detailing Jiraiya getting brutally beaten were omitted once again.

The Third left with Orochimaru, Tsunade, and a pig-headed—ah, no, a Jiraiya.

Before leaving, he smiled at Hoshi and Sakumo and said:

"Don't be too anxious. Your teacher is very capable; his strength is no less than mine. It's just that he's a bit... You'll understand when he gets here. Don't worry, he's very easygoing."

After the Third left, Sakumo and Hoshi waited for over ten minutes, but their guiding Jonin still had not arrived. Hoshi, who had gotten up at four in the morning, was getting sleepy again. He gestured for Sakumo to wake him once their teacher arrived, then lay down on the grass and happily went back to sleep.

The nap was quite comfortable, but Hoshi was startled the moment he opened his eyes.

Because as soon as he opened them, he saw a tall figure looming over him, staring down at him.

"Oh? You're finally awake."

A new week had begun, and Ye Zhi still needed everyone's support. Feel free to shower Ye Zhi with recommendation votes and bookmarks.