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"Just wait. When the Hidden Mist Village makes its move, even if we don't sound the alarm, the other villages will be on guard. Nobody's a fool—what we can deduce, they can too."
For now, Konoha had no choice but to maintain the status quo.
"You're right. Let's keep things as they are for now."
Matters involving two villages couldn't be resolved with just a few words. If they could, wars would never break out in the first place.
"Alright, quit looking so grim. Go check on Naruto—that brat's getting more unruly by the day."
Having said her piece, Tsunade shooed Jiraiya away with a warning:
"I sent you to look after Naruto to guide him, not to go gallivanting around. If I hear from the ANBU that you've been sneaking off to "certain places", you're dead."
"..."
Damn it!
Those ANBU gossips—can't keep their mouths shut about anything.
Grumbling internally, Jiraiya left the Hokage's office in exasperation. On his way out, he shot a few glares at the ANBU on duty, leaving the poor ninja utterly baffled.
'Did I offend Lord Jiraiya? No way—I haven't seen him in ages. So... why's he glaring at me? And with such resentment, too!'
Since it was almost dismissal time, Jiraiya decided to head to the ninja academy to observe Naruto in secret.
In the past, he might have found Naruto dozing at his desk, daydreaming, or sneaking glances at that pink-haired, broad-foreheaded girl.
But this time, Jiraiya saw none of that. Instead, he saw Naruto—studying. Seriously studying.
Did this kid have a change of heart?
Rubbing his eyes hard, Jiraiya wondered if he was seeing things.
"Stop rubbing. You'll turn into an Uchiha at this rate."
Kazuki emerged from the trees.
"Knew it was you," Jiraiya muttered.
Walking up beside him, Kazuki glanced at Naruto, who was engrossed in his books, and explained:
"The kid's pride took a hit after I called him out. That's why he's putting in effort now. Speaking of which—how did you teach him before? Not only did he fail to learn anything, but his attitude was terrible. Open a book, and he couldn't even recognize half the words."
"Enough, enough."
Jiraiya clutched his chest in mock agony.
That little punk's laziness was making him look bad by association.
"Here. Take a look at what he's been up to since you left."
Kazuki handed Jiraiya a scroll. Unfurling it, Jiraiya immediately covered his face in shame.
Too embarrassing. Can't even look.
Good. At least he knows it's shameful.
Patting Jiraiya's shoulder, Kazuki said,
"I've got nothing against the kid. In fact, I think he's got talent—at least on par with Sasuke. But his attitude toward learning is a problem, and his thought process is... unique. Always obsessing over that Sakura girl. Before, it was whatever. But he's not a little kid anymore. In my day, kids their age were already out on missions, fighting enemies—not sitting in school acting like fools. Besides, if not for his special status, the stunts he's pulled would've gotten his legs broken multiple times by now."
"I'll do my best to correct him and teach him properly."
Jiraiya knew how crucial education was. Naruto was old enough—frankly, he'd had enough time to mess around.
Whether it was Kazuki, Tsunade, the village's ninja, or even the civilians, everyone's patience had limits.
If Naruto kept this up, nobody would tolerate it.
"Good."
Kazuki nodded, acknowledging Jiraiya's promise.
"By the way, the kid's been training in taijutsu with Kakashi lately. Decent progress, and his attitude's improved. Still a disaster at ninjutsu, but at least he's taking it seriously now. Knows more words, too."
"..."
Jiraiya broke into a cold sweat.
Sure, he'd been a handful as a kid too—but not this bad.
He could learn simpler jutsu, and he'd picked up basic literacy and knowledge. Otherwise, keeping up with Orochimaru and Tsunade would've been impossible.
"Originally, I wanted Kakashi to teach him that move of Minato's."
Kazuki mimed the hand sign for the Rasengan, then sighed.
"Too bad Kakashi only knows the flashy part. Teaching Naruto like that wouldn't work, so he stuck to taijutsu training."
"Ahahaha..."
Jiraiya laughed. "Guess the kid takes after me—"
"His father's name was Minato Namikaze, not Jiraiya."
Kazuki coughed pointedly.
Rein in the narcissism. Push it too far, and even you won't be able to explain some things.
"..."
Still as brutally blunt as ever, huh?
Of course his dad was Minato, not Jiraiya.
I wouldn't dare even if I had ten lives to spare!
"I'm heading out. Got a lot on my plate—still need to check on Sasuke's progress at Orochimaru's lab. Hope he hasn't fallen too far behind, or Orochimaru will mock you for it."
Orochimaru and Jiraiya had never gotten along.
Now, their respective pupils—Naruto and Sasuke—were just as contentious.
Knowing Orochimaru and Sasuke's talent...
"Sssss—"
Jiraiya sucked in a sharp breath, single-handedly advancing global warming.
If Naruto didn't step up his game, the gap between him and Sasuke would widen.
And if Naruto embarrassed himself, Jiraiya would too.
Sasuke might not outright mock Naruto, but one look—the kind reserved for idiots—would be enough to drive the boy mad.
Worse yet, if Orochimaru gave him that same look...
Yeah, no. Time to get serious.
All thoughts of "gentle guidance" or "taking it easy" flew out of Jiraiya's head.
Right now, he had one mission: drag Naruto out and drill him until he improved.
"Lord Jiraiya!!"
The students were mid-lecture when the classroom door swung open. Their teacher immediately abandoned the lesson to bow respectfully.
"Ahaha, sorry for the interruption! Mind if I borrow Naruto for some special training? Won't disrupt your class too much, right?"
"Not at all! Please, take him with you, Lord Jiraiya!"