Jiraiya and Orochimaru Arrive

After a day of training ended.

Chishima Chiba and Tsunade went home. After dinner, Uzumaki Mito gave the two of them extra lessons, teaching Chishima Chiba Sealing Jutsu while teaching Tsunade Medical Ninjutsu.

However, Uzumaki Mito did not deliberately exclude Chishima Chiba during the lessons. As an observer, Chishima Chiba was able to pick up some Medical Ninjutsu as well.

Likewise, when Uzumaki Mito taught Chishima Chiba Sealing Jutsu, Tsunade could listen in and learn. Through constant exposure, her understanding of Sealing Jutsu grew deeper and deeper.

But even after the extra lessons, Chishima Chiba still could not rest. Returning to his room, he had to compile the "Will of Fire," completely sealing off every possible loophole that could one day be twisted or arbitrarily altered.

It could be said that Chishima Chiba had packed every day full. Though tiring, it was incredibly fulfilling. Especially as he watched his strength grow by the day and the "Will of Fire" he was compiling gradually improve, Chishima Chiba could not help feeling proud.

His days passed in such a fulfilling manner, and in the blink of an eye, half a year had gone by.

Over the past half year, Chishima Chiba and Tsunade had grown much closer, and their coordination became increasingly seamless. With just a glance, they could usually guess what the other was thinking.

Still, news of the great war breaking out in the Shinobi World could not be kept hidden forever. Fortunately, it did not cause panic. Every Konoha resident trusted Senju Tobirama deeply and believed that victory would surely belong to Konoha.

During this time, the Ninja Academy organized its second examination. Without question, Chishima Chiba, Tsunade, and Hatake Sakumo continued to stand head and shoulders above the rest, leaving Ninja Students of their generation unable to lift their heads.

Among them were Might Duy, as well as Jiraiya and Orochimaru.

Yes, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Might Duy had already enrolled in the Ninja Academy. Though they were roughly the same age as Chishima Chiba and the others, they had started school later.

Naturally, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Might Duy became the younger schoolmates of Chishima Chiba and the others.

This situation was inseparable from factors such as the Ninja Academy's imperfect selection system, the shortage of teaching staff, and the limited number of students it could accommodate.

After all, only seven years had passed since the Ninja Academy was established. It was perfectly normal for so many aspects to remain incomplete.

Still, now that Jiraiya and Orochimaru had finally entered the Ninja Academy, it would be much easier for Chishima Chiba to come into contact with them in the future.

Yet before Chishima Chiba could take the initiative to approach Jiraiya and Orochimaru, Jiraiya noticed Chishima Chiba and Tsunade first.

"That guy named Chishima Chiba is such a show-off!"

Having been eliminated early and now sitting in the stands as a spectator, Jiraiya wore a thoroughly unconvinced expression. As he spoke, he blew at the white hair hanging over his forehead.

He bumped Orochimaru beside him with his shoulder. "Don't you think I'm handsome? Why does that girl named Tsunade keep looking at Chishima Chiba and not even glance over here?"

"Why would she look at you when she doesn't know you?" Orochimaru answered with another question, but his words were razor-sharp, driving straight into Jiraiya's heart.

"Hey, we're classmates. We should be on the same side!" Jiraiya shouted indignantly.

"But that's simply the truth." Orochimaru stubbornly maintained his position with a serious expression. "They don't know you at all."

"Hmph, then I'll make them know me right now!"

As he spoke, Jiraiya stood up from the stands, put his fingers into his mouth, and let out a sharp whistle.

Whee!

The whistle was loud. Chishima Chiba and Tsunade, who were walking down from the Battle Arena, subconsciously looked up toward its source.

Jiraiya, with a head of white hair and red markings beneath his eyes, stood up and waved vigorously at them.

But Tsunade lost interest after one glance. Curling her lips, she withdrew her gaze and continued whispering with Chishima Chiba beside her.

Likewise, Chishima Chiba had no interest in Jiraiya at this point. More importantly, Jiraiya's whistling was frivolous and attention-seeking, and his intentions were clearly impure. How could Chishima Chiba possibly give him a pleasant expression?

Ignoring him, Chishima Chiba and Tsunade left while chatting and laughing, while the disregarded Jiraiya sat back down in a huff.

"Damn it!" With a miserable face, Jiraiya's mood plunged to rock bottom.

"Don't waste your effort. They're geniuses. Why would they notice you?" Orochimaru added from the side. "And what you did just now... was really annoying."

"If I didn't whistle, how else was I supposed to get their attention?" Jiraiya argued, then dragged the somewhat unwilling Orochimaru away from the stands.

"Jiraiya, where are you taking me?"

"To meet Chishima Chiba!" Jiraiya was brimming with Fighting Spirit, though whether he was truly going for Chishima Chiba was hard to say.

"But why are you dragging me along?"

"I might not be his match alone."

"But even with me, we still won't be his match."

Jiraiya did not respond. By then, he had already dragged Orochimaru over to where Chishima Chiba and Tsunade were.

"You're Chishima Chiba, right?" Jiraiya opened with that.

"Yes, that's me." Chishima Chiba gave Jiraiya and Orochimaru beside him an amused look. "Do you two have business with me?"

Without making a sound, Orochimaru pulled free from Jiraiya's grip. Wearing his usual expressionless face, he said, "I was just passing by. Jiraiya is the one looking for you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Orochimaru naturally found an empty seat and sat down, leaving Jiraiya standing alone before Chishima Chiba.

After glaring irritably at Orochimaru, who was pretending nothing had happened, Jiraiya steadied himself and regained his courage.

"That's right, I'm the one looking for you." Jiraiya wore the expression of a little delinquent. "Chishima Chiba, listen up. Sooner or later, I'll surpass you and defeat you!"

After finishing what he believed was an imposing declaration, Jiraiya gave Tsunade beside Chishima Chiba a meaningful glance, his intentions plain in his eyes.

Bang!

Before Chishima Chiba could answer, Tsunade shot to her feet in fury and punched Jiraiya on the head.

It was heavy and painful, but it would not leave any serious injury or endanger his life. Tsunade had held back.

Even so, Jiraiya could not withstand Tsunade's iron fist. He staggered for a moment, then dropped onto the ground on his backside.

"You rude brat!"

Tsunade scolded him before sitting back down in a huff. "Watch your words, and your eyes!"

"Don't be angry." Chishima Chiba raised a hand and rubbed Tsunade's lovely hair, quickly smoothing down her ruffled temper before turning to Jiraiya.

"You're Jiraiya, right? I'm happy to accept your challenge, but don't bring your bad habits toward Tsunade. Otherwise..."

There was a warning in his eyes. Just one look robbed Jiraiya of anything further to say.

Glancing at Tsunade, who had turned her head aside, Jiraiya rubbed his aching head and climbed to his feet. Determination filled his eyes as he dashed away in a flash.

At the same time, Orochimaru immediately stood up, gave Chishima Chiba and Tsunade a small apologetic bow, then ran off after Jiraiya the next second.

"The two of them seem quite close," Hatake Sakumo suddenly remarked. "And I think those two are unusual. Chiba, you should be careful."

"Sakumo, have you awakened your Insightful Eye this early?" Chishima Chiba joked, though he did not pay it much mind. "Everything is under control. Besides, I'd be more than happy if those two suddenly burst forth."

Watching Jiraiya and Orochimaru disappear from sight, Chishima Chiba shook his head and stopped paying attention, turning back to chat with Tsunade.

Before long, Tsunade's bell-like laughter rang out, and her earlier displeasure vanished without a trace.

But Jiraiya could not calm the anger in his heart. He secretly plotted something with Orochimaru, making Orochimaru frown deeply and smile bitterly again and again...

Jiraiya, you're playing with fire!