Chapter 6: The Attention of Legends
"Is that… the Body Flicker Technique?"
Inside the main teaching building of the Ninja Academy, two men stood before a large, floor-to-ceiling window, observing the distant training grounds with keen interest.
But when Liumu suddenly appeared beside Obito and defeated him with the infamous "technique," one of the men took a surprised step forward.
Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled softly and shook his head at the exclamation from behind him.
"But just now, that movement…"
Before the man could finish, Hiruzen turned and interjected, "You are mistaken, Minato."
"Mistaken? Didn't that boy just use the Body Flicker?" Namikaze Minato asked, his brow furrowed.
"That boy was not using ninjutsu just now, but pure, unadulterated taijutsu," Hiruzen stated, stroking his chin beard. He pulled out his pipe from his robes and continued, "There were no hand seals, and I sensed no surge of chakra. Those two facts alone prove it wasn't ninjutsu. For his physical body to achieve speed comparable to the Body Flicker… Minato…"
A pleased smile spread across the Third Hokage's aged face. "First the little Hatake boy, and now this… This year's Academy class is truly full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers."
As the Third Hokage of Konoha, known as the 'Professor' throughout the shinobi world for his vast knowledge, and possessing all five basic chakra natures, Hiruzen was particularly sensitive to the flow and usage of chakra.
Watching the boy named Liumu being surrounded by chattering classmates in the distance, Hiruzen struck a match and slowly lit his pipe. He then turned his head and asked the man behind him with sudden gravity, "Has Jiraiya returned yet?"
Minato nodded respectfully. "Lord Jiraiya returned to the village last night, along with Lords Tsunade and Orochimaru."
Hiruzen nodded, a flicker of helplessness passing through his wise, clouded eyes. He spoke calmly, "The unrest in the Land of Rain has deeper causes. The three of them alone cannot control the situation there."
He let out a heavy sigh, the smoke from his pipe swirling. "Tell Jiraiya to wait for me in the Hokage's office."
...
...
...
In the Hokage's Office.
Jiraiya sat slumped in a chair, his large frame looking somewhat dejected as he stared silently at Hiruzen Sarutobi across the desk.
"Nothing to report?"
After the Second Great Ninja War, particularly following their encounter with the 'Demigod' Hanzo of the Salamander in the Land of Rain, even Jiraiya, one of the famed Konoha Sannin, felt a profound sense of frustration toward the current state of the shinobi world.
Hiruzen took a long draw from his pipe. Immediately, a cloud of white smoke billowed out, slowly diffusing between them, adding a layer of somber gravity to the room.
"I believe… I have found the Child of the Prophecy."
"Oh?"
At the mention of the 'Child of the Prophecy,' Hiruzen's expression shifted to one of profound shock. "You truly found the person the Great Toad Sage spoke of?"
Hearing this, Jiraiya replied with a serious frown, "Yes. I was astounded by his talent. Whether it's learning ninjutsu or his innate chakra reserves, he is worthy of the title. Moreover, the powerful bonds he shares with his companions… it seems the Will of Fire is already deeply engraved in his heart."
Listening to Jiraiya's words, a look of deep caution settled on Hiruzen's face. "You understand, according to the Great Sage's words, this Child of the Prophecy will one day save the entire shinobi world. Are you certain your judgment is correct?"
Jiraiya fell into deep thought. But remembering the boy's striking, strange eyes—those Rinnegan—he finally gave a firm nod. "I believe in him."
...
"Liumu! Why on earth did you not complete your homework?!"
Back at the Ninja Academy, the Chunin instructor stood on the podium, his expression one of utter exasperation as he criticized the students standing before the class.
"You all know that your former classmate, Hatake Kakashi, has already graduated and become a glorious shinobi of Konoha! And what about you? Now you can't even be bothered to complete a simple assignment!"
Liumu stood in the front row, watching the teacher's spit-flecked tirade. He offered an innocent shrug. "The homework was too simple. I really didn't feel any motivation to do it."
Teacher: "..."
Classmates: "..."
Not only the teacher, but even Rin, standing nearby, was momentarily stunned. The usually gentle and modest Liumu had just said something incredibly—and uncharacteristically—arrogant.
Knock, knock, knock…
Just then, a sharp rap came from the classroom door. Immediately, a man with slicked-back hair and dark sunglasses entered. He walked over to the Chunin instructor and whispered something in his ear for a moment.
"Really?!"
After a long pause, the Chunin teacher suddenly exclaimed in surprise, his voice echoing in the quiet room.
The man in sunglasses nodded and urged, "Quickly. That… person has been waiting."
"Right, right away." The Chunin teacher quickly agreed with a nervous smile, then turned to where Liumu was standing. "Liumu! Follow this teacher immediately."
"Me?" Liumu hadn't expected to be singled out.
"Don't dawdle! Go, now!" Seeing Liumu's lazy posture, the Chunin teacher looked like he wanted to grab Liumu by the collar and physically toss him out the door.
...
...
It's him.
My idol!
In the faculty office, as soon as Liumu stepped inside, he saw the man with the spiky, needle-like white hair. He was intimately familiar with the portrayal of Jiraiya from the anime in his past life. Since then, he had regarded the man as nothing short of a legend, an idol.
What was Jiraiya most famous for?
His powerful ninjutsu?
No!
His sage mode?
Not that either!
That's right… it was his masterpiece, the Icha Icha Paradise series!
Even a stoic like Kakashi had a soft spot for those books. How could Liumu, a healthy young boy in the prime of his restless years, not be intensely curious about their contents?
"What are you spacing out for? Greet Lord Jiraiya at once!"
Seeing Liumu stand motionless for so long, the stern man in sunglasses beside him subtly nudged Liumu's leg with his knee.
"It's quite alright."
Jiraiya looked at the boy before him, whose face bore a weird, somewhat star-struck smile. He leaned forward slightly, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "You are Liumu?"
"Ah? Y-yes! That's me!" Liumu stammered, snapping to attention.
"I've heard that during today's assessment, you achieved speed rivaling the Body Flicker Technique using only taijutsu. Is this true?" Jiraiya asked, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to peer into Liumu's very soul.
"They're exaggerating way too much," Liumu replied with a casual wave of his hand. "Compared to my classmates, I'm just a little bit faster, that's all."
The Body Flicker was an ultimate high-speed movement ninjutsu pioneered by Konoha's Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Its speed was legendary. For a five-year-old child to match that velocity using only physical prowess was… well, it was supposed to be impossible.
Jiraiya shook his head slightly, a wry smile touching his lips. The old man must have been exaggerating.
(End of Chapter)
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