Jiraiya, were you lying?

"Hiruzen, put it away."

Hiruzen Sarutobi put away the crystal ball as asked and turned to Mito Uzumaki.

After hesitating for a few seconds, he voiced his confusion. "You don't seem surprised at all?"

"You didn't expect Ruyun to win, did you?"

Mito Uzumaki smiled.

"That's right." Hiruzen Sarutobi thought for a moment, then spoke as tactfully as he could. "From what I could see, his abilities were... somewhat below Minato's. But this time, he displayed some rather unusual strength..."

"Oh, you. Just say what's on your mind."

Hiruzen Sarutobi cleared his throat. "In your opinion, how much of his strength has he been hiding?"

That was the question that concerned him most.

How much strength was he hiding?

And why was he hiding it?

From the very beginning, when the ANBU reported on whom Kushina Uzumaki had been in contact with, Moonlight Ruyun's file had landed on his desk.

According to that file, aside from passable Konoha-Style Swordsmanship, everything else about him was unremarkable.

He hadn't thought much of the "bond" between the two.

As the next candidate for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, everything involving Kushina required extreme caution. Ideally, she would form a bond with a true genius. That would be the most secure arrangement.

But while he was debating whether to intervene, Mito Uzumaki had stepped in to stop him, telling him to let things take their course.

Yet within just a few days, the boy had first displayed impressive ninjutsu, then strength far beyond Minato's...

He had defied Hiruzen's expectations twice in a row.

It left him unsure what to make of the boy.

Mito Uzumaki gave him a meaningful look.

"Hiruzen, you place too much importance on so-called strength. The truth is, ever since Kushina told me about that child, I've been willing to trust him."

She paused briefly before continuing, "A kind heart matters more than strength. Hiruzen, you are the Hokage. Don't forget the Will of Fire."

Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent.

The woman before him might have been the only person in Konoha who could tell the Hokage that his Will of Fire wasn't firm enough.

"Are you still worried about that child?"

"I'm afraid you've seen right through me."

Mito Uzumaki shook her head. "You're the Hokage. It's your duty. Don't worry. Kushina will be bringing Ruyun over for dinner in the next few days."

At that, Hiruzen Sarutobi breathed a sigh of relief.

As the First Hokage's widow, Mito Uzumaki loved Konoha every bit as much as he did as its Hokage.

Only once the boy passed Mito Uzumaki's scrutiny would he be completely reassured.

The Ninja Academy's training ground.

Minato Namikaze looked at the shallow cut on his arm and sighed softly. "I lost."

He knew perfectly well that it looked like an insignificant injury. The wound was already almost healed.

But on a real battlefield, that instant of distraction would have been enough for an enemy to slit his throat.

"Minato, you really are strong."

Moonlight Ruyun sheathed his sword and offered his heartfelt praise.

It was the truth.

He couldn't figure out why Minato had lost focus during the fight, either. It was a mistake he had never made before, leaving Ruyun with no chance to use the rest of his plan.

He absolutely wasn't getting back at Minato for saying, "Ruyun, you really are strong," every time he beat him.

Minato Namikaze: "..."

By now, the watching students had erupted into an uproar.

They chattered excitedly, watching Ruyun with eager eyes and calling his name over and over.

Even those who had supported him before the fight hadn't expected him to beat Minato Namikaze.

At most, they had hoped he could hold out a little longer and show Minato Namikaze: Hey, don't get too cocky! Class 3-A still has someone who can take you on!

That was how formidable Minato Namikaze was during his Academy days.

"That was amazing!" Kushina Uzumaki bounced up and down, cheering nonstop.

Under Kushina's excited gaze, Ruyun started toward her.

"Wait." Minato Namikaze called him back.

"What is it?"

Minato Namikaze looked hopeful. "Can we have another match during the next practical combat test?"

"Uh..."

What kind of role reversal was this?

Didn't this scene seem a little familiar?

Only now, Minato was the one asking for a rematch.

He readily agreed. "Of course."

"Great! I'll work twice as hard!"

Ruyun's expression shifted. Why did this feel a little odd? Hmm... surely I wasn't going to push Minato into becoming even more of a monster?

Watching the two return to the group, the teacher recording their scores forgot all about calling up the next pair of students.

His eyes held nothing but joy, while he kept glancing at the stands nearby out of the corner of his eye.

Inside, he was already bursting with delight.

As a teacher, his greatest achievement was producing a genius.

Of course, if possible, the more geniuses, the better.

Sure, geniuses were geniuses to begin with, and how their teachers taught them didn't have much to do with it.

But producing one genius was good luck. Producing two... didn't that prove he was an excellent teacher?!

In short, as long as a genius emerged from his class, he could get a promotion and a raise.

Was there anything better in this world?

The teacher screamed inwardly, Yes!

He didn't even need to write a report. The Hokage's three disciples were right there.

They had witnessed the performance of the two geniuses in his class firsthand!

It was like having his boss's boss's boss witness his accomplishments. No one could steal the credit.

He was so happy he nearly fainted. This was the most exciting day he had experienced since he began teaching at the Ninja Academy.

In the stands.

Orochimaru glanced at the dumbstruck Tsunade and Jiraiya, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

He teased Nawaki, who had been dazzled by the fight beside him. "Nawaki, it looks like I won't get the chance to treat you all to Yakiniku Q this time. Wouldn't you agree?"

Tsunade came back to her senses, her feelings complicated.

Her own student had won. She ought to have been happy.

But she didn't feel all that pleased.

There was only one thought in her mind:

Wasn't this supposed to be a sure win???

How could I lose a bet even on a sure thing???

How was that fair???

Minato Namikaze, you can summon Gamabunta, so summon him! Why wouldn't you use him?

"Jiraiya, were you lying?"

"Ugh." Jiraiya let out a heavy sigh, his whole face scrunching up.

"No, I really wasn't lying to you. Minato really can summon Gamabunta."

Tsunade pursed her lips, unconvinced.

If you could summon him but didn't, how was that any different from not being able to summon him?

"Sis, who's Gamabunta?"

Nawaki asked curiously from beside her.

"A big toad."

Jiraiya couldn't even spare a thought for Tsunade's tone. He was lost in deep confusion.

Was Minato not the Child of Prophecy?

Or could the Child of Prophecy lose, too?

A moment later, his resolve returned, and he declared with absolute certainty, "Minato just didn't use him. As long as he summons Gamabunta, he'll definitely win!"

Tsunade snorted. "I believed what you said and bet on Minato winning along with you, and look what happened..."

Jiraiya hurriedly said, "You heard them, didn't you? They've agreed on their next match. Minato will definitely win next time."

"Not necessarily."

Jiraiya turned to Orochimaru. "Hmm?"

Orochimaru watched Moonlight Ruyun, who was surrounded by a crowd, with a look of interest.

"If I remember correctly, Ruyun still has ninjutsu he hasn't used, doesn't he?"

Jiraiya thought for a moment. "...I'll start teaching Minato ninjutsu right away."

Orochimaru turned toward Jiraiya, who had become competitive for some inexplicable reason.

He smiled. "Remember to invite me to their next match. I'll bet on Ruyun again."