Jiraiya felt his mind go blank for several seconds. He stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi with open suspicion, certain he'd misheard those words.
Understanding his student's confusion, Hiruzen repeated himself slowly and clearly. "I said, now that you've returned, you should take Naruto as your student and train him properly. Isn't that what you've always wanted?"
Although Jiraiya hadn't set foot in Konoha for many years, whenever he'd sent intelligence reports back through his spy network, he'd always included requests to be allowed to train Naruto. Every single time, Hiruzen had refused.
That refusal had been one of the primary reasons Jiraiya had stayed away from the village.
Now, having confirmed what Hiruzen actually said, Jiraiya studied his old sensei's face carefully, searching for any hint of mockery or deception. But Hiruzen's expression remained deadly serious, showing no trace of jest. Finally, Jiraiya let out a bitter laugh.
"Didn't you always refuse to let me train Naruto? What changed?"
"The situation is different now." Hiruzen took a long pull from his pipe, exhaling smoke that curled lazily toward the ceiling. "Naruto has grown up. I feel confident entrusting him to your care at this point. But if I'd let you raise him from infancy?" His lips curved into a slight smirk. "Do you have any idea what kind of person Naruto would have become under your influence?"
The merciless teasing hung in the air between them.
"Yeah, twelve years have passed in the blink of an eye. Time really does fly." Jiraiya deflected the jab smoothly, pretending not to notice the insult. Instead, he sighed with genuine emotion. "By the way, how has Naruto been doing all these years? What's his life been like?"
"Naruto's life is very good. Excellent, actually." Hiruzen's voice carried notes of both pride and something more complicated. "He opened a farm in the back mountain area. He has many friends now. And he's become a qualified chunin."
"Sounds like things turned out well for him," Jiraiya said, nodding with satisfaction.
"So?" Hiruzen fixed his former student with a knowing look, a slight smile playing at his lips. "Will you take Naruto as your student or not?"
Despite already knowing the answer, despite recognizing that Jiraiya couldn't possibly resist this temptation, Hiruzen still asked the question formally.
In truth, he had a calculated plan working beneath the surface. Jiraiya was a ninja who'd thoroughly inherited the Will of Fire. He placed Konoha's wellbeing above all else, even above his own desires. By assigning Jiraiya as Naruto's sensei, Hiruzen was essentially installing a supervisor, a safeguard against potential problems.
If Naruto ever attempted anything that might harm Konoha's interests, Jiraiya would be the first person to intervene and stop him.
"I'll take him. Of course I'll take him!" Joy spread across Jiraiya's weathered face like sunrise breaking through clouds. This was something he'd been anticipating for over a decade. How could he possibly refuse now?
"Good. Since you've decided to train Naruto, find an appropriate time to make contact with him and introduce yourself properly." Hiruzen stood up, clearly signaling the end of their meeting. "Now get out. I have work to finish here."
Even without Hiruzen's blatant dismissal, Jiraiya had no desire to linger. Being in his sensei's presence felt uncomfortable, oppressive even. But his heart's wish had finally been granted, so Jiraiya left the office in high spirits.
After closing the door behind him, Jiraiya encountered Hiruzen's secretary in the corridor. His eyes suddenly gleamed with mischief as an idea struck him. He called out to her, stopping her mid-stride.
"Lord Jiraiya? Is there something I can help you with?" The secretary approached and bowed respectfully.
"Wait here for just a moment. I need to give you something to deliver to Lord Third." Jiraiya's grin turned decidedly wicked. "I'll be right back."
He disappeared down the corridor at a brisk walk.
Several minutes later, Jiraiya returned carrying a handkerchief wrapped carefully around some small object. He handled it with exaggerated solemnity, presenting it to the secretary with both hands like it contained something precious.
"Here," he said, his tone grave despite the mischief dancing in his eyes. "Take this to Lord Third immediately. Tell him he doesn't need to stare at his crystal ball anymore. If he wants to see something interesting, he can just look at this instead."
The secretary was desperately curious about what the handkerchief contained, but her professional principles prevented her from peeking. She could only nod formally. "I understand, Lord Jiraiya. I'll deliver it right away."
She went directly to the Hokage's office, knocked, received permission to enter, and placed the wrapped handkerchief on Hiruzen's desk. "This is from Lord Jiraiya. He said if you want to see something, you can look at this instead of using the crystal ball."
Hearing this message, Hiruzen's eyebrows rose with interest. He knew his student's personality well. Could this be a new manuscript from his writing? Perhaps a preview of his next novel?
Thinking this, Hiruzen felt a small spark of excitement. He waved his hand dismissively, gesturing for the secretary to leave. The moment she exited and closed the door, Hiruzen carefully unwrapped the handkerchief.
The instant he opened it, Hiruzen shot to his feet. His chest heaved with barely contained rage.
Inside the handkerchief lay a single, curly black hair. Unmistakably a leg hair. Jiraiya's leg hair.
One Hour Earlier
The Chunin Selection Exam had just concluded. Naruto had gathered an impressive group for a celebration dinner at his farm: Kakashi-sensei, Guy-sensei, and a substantial crowd of friends including Ino, Choji, Shikamaru, Kiba, Sakura, Rock Lee, Shino, Neji, Hinata, and Sasuke.
On the journey back toward the back mountain, Shino proved himself worthy of being the happy fruit of their friend group. While Naruto was engaged in conversation with Kakashi-sensei, Shino moved through the crowd, keeping the atmosphere lively and engaging.
Wherever Shino was, the mood stayed vibrant. Silence never had a chance to settle uncomfortably over the group.
Naruto felt genuinely lucky to have made a friend like Shino. He was like lubricant between people, keeping their friendship operating smoothly, ensuring no one ever felt left out or awkward.
As they walked along the mountain path toward the farm, Sasuke's eyes suddenly flickered with recognition. He'd sensed something. A familiar chakra signature, one he'd marked with Flying Thunder God, lurked ahead under a tree beside the road.
Orochimaru.
What was he doing there? Could he possibly be planning an ambush, trying to attack them?
Sasuke quickly dismissed that absurd notion. With Naruto's strength, Orochimaru would be obliterated. And Orochimaru was many things, but he wasn't stupid. He wouldn't throw his life away on a suicide mission.
So what WAS Orochimaru planning?
Orochimaru's concealment skills were undoubtedly excellent. In terms of raw power, he might not be the strongest in the ninja world. But when it came to stealth, escape techniques, disguises, and hiding, Orochimaru was unquestionably the best.
Therefore, when Naruto and his large group passed along the mountain path, none of them noticed Orochimaru hiding nearby.
None except Sasuke, who'd planted the Flying Thunder God mark on him.
But Sasuke didn't expose Orochimaru's presence. With Naruto there, the legendary Sannin wouldn't dare make a move. Instead, Sasuke felt curious about what Orochimaru was attempting. He decided to watch and wait.
When facing prey, a hunter must maintain patience. Until the prey revealed its true purpose, until it showed its hand, the hunter had to stay calm and avoid startling the target prematurely.
Wait quietly for the prey to bare its fangs.
Sasuke considered himself the hunter in this scenario. And Orochimaru was merely prey.
This was a game of hunter and prey. And Sasuke intended to win.
After Naruto's party disappeared around a bend in the mountain path, Orochimaru finally emerged from his hiding spot. He gazed in the direction they'd gone, his tongue sliding out to lick his lips in that distinctive, unsettling gesture.
Knowing that Naruto would return to his farm after the Chunin Selection Exam ended, Orochimaru had positioned himself along the route early. When Naruto passed by, Orochimaru had planned to implement his carefully rehearsed seduction strategy.
After all, he'd practiced in that hotel room for so long! All that effort was specifically for this moment!
But unexpectedly, Naruto had been surrounded by a massive group of people. The sheer number of witnesses created too many uncertain variables. To successfully hook Naruto's interest, Orochimaru needed privacy, intimacy. So he'd decided not to make his move.
He would wait for a better opportunity.
After standing in thought for several moments, Orochimaru turned and made his way back toward the hotel.
Not long after Orochimaru returned to his room, someone knocked on the door. He was about to answer when he noticed a card being slipped through the crack beneath the door. Orochimaru didn't need to examine it closely to know what it was. An advertisement for a "custom establishment."
He walked over and picked up the card, glancing at it with mild distaste. It featured a woman showing strategic amounts of skin, along with text advertising various services: "ordinary civilians," "female ninja," and an address.
Orochimaru looked at it for exactly one second before tossing it into the trash can. After all, he'd already transcended such vulgar interests. He had no need for that sort of thing. His pursuits were far more refined now.
Just as the card hit the bottom of the trash can, another knock sounded at the door. Orochimaru paused. Another advertisement? Were these people really so persistent?
"Lord Orochimaru, it's me." Kabuto's voice came from outside, muffled by the door.
Orochimaru opened it immediately and allowed Kabuto to enter.
"Lord Orochimaru, I have information." Kabuto adjusted his glasses, his expression serious. "Tomorrow morning, Naruto will be at the village entrance. He plans to intercept people from other hidden villages there. He wants to make friends with them."
"Oh? Make friends?" Genuine curiosity flickered across Orochimaru's pale features. Naruto was going to block people at the village entrance just to make friends? How interesting. It just so happened that Orochimaru also wanted to become friends with Naruto. Except his definition of friendship involved becoming boyfriend and girlfriend.
All to obtain Naruto's DNA, of course.
Naruto's body was invulnerable to blades and weapons. Orochimaru had no way to extract cells through force. Violence was completely off the table. His only hope lay in making Naruto experience certain... physiological reactions. Responses that would cause him to produce fluids naturally.
Hence the seduction strategy.
"Understood. Thank you for this intelligence." Orochimaru nodded, already calculating how to use this information.
"Lord Orochimaru, I won't be able to meet you directly going forward." Kabuto's voice dropped to barely above a whisper. "I believe I've attracted attention from certain parties. In the future, we should use dead drops to exchange information. It's safer."
"Very well. Be careful. Don't get exposed." Orochimaru's warning carried genuine concern. Kabuto was an extremely valuable chess piece in Konoha. Orochimaru couldn't afford to lose him.
Kabuto bowed and departed, closing the door quietly behind him.
Orochimaru sat on the edge of the bed, mentally preparing himself. Tomorrow morning, on the path to the village entrance, he would finally demonstrate his refined acting skills.
The sun in the western sky seemed pulled by invisible ropes, descending rapidly. Soon sunset painted the horizon in brilliant oranges and purples. Night gradually fell across Konoha.
In Naruto's yard, a massive bonfire blazed cheerfully, casting dancing shadows across the gathered friends.
Because there were so many guests tonight, and only two sheep had conveniently died of "heatstroke," which wasn't nearly enough to feed everyone, Naruto had been forced to select two additional sheep that HADN'T died of heatstroke and slaughter them as well.
The result was a feast: mutton soup, braised mutton, and roasted mutton on skewers.
The yard filled with the mouthwatering aroma of cooked meat, punctuated by the cheerful sounds of clinking cups and genuine laughter. Naruto raised his cup and clinked it against Guy-sensei's enthusiastically.
Kakashi-sensei initially hadn't wanted Naruto to drink alcohol. After all, Naruto was still a child. But Naruto was so obviously happy today, so excited to have all these friends and mentors gathered together. One drink wouldn't hurt anything.
Besides, Naruto had an ulterior motive. He wanted Guy-sensei to drink more, to build up liquid courage. When Naruto eventually proposed a "youthful duel," maybe Guy's alcohol-addled brain would agree before his survival instincts could object.
The dinner stretched on for three full hours. It was late into the night before the banquet finally began breaking up.
Choji had eaten until his stomach was so full he could barely stand. He felt from the bottom of his heart that making friends with Naruto was the most worthwhile decision he'd ever made in his entire life. His only regret was failing to convince his father, Choza, to also become Naruto's friend.
If he'd managed that, everything would be perfect.
One by one, the guests began saying their goodbyes.
Naruto caught Hinata's arm gently before she could leave. "Hinata, wait a moment. I'll walk you home. It's dark, and the road isn't safe."
Hinata's face flushed crimson, but she nodded, unable to form words.
After seeing off several other groups, Guy-sensei prepared to leave with his three students. But Naruto stopped him at the gate.
"Guy-sensei, please wait a moment!"
Tenten's heart dropped into her stomach. No. It can't be. The thought flashed through her mind with horrible clarity: Naruto probably wants to make friends with me now, right?
"Naruto, what else do you need? You can tell your brother anything!" Guy was obviously drunk, his speech slightly slurred. He threw an arm around Naruto's shoulders companionably. The shoulder-hooking wasn't particularly notable, but the fact that Guy had just called Naruto "brother" definitely was.
"Guy-sensei, let's have a match!" Naruto's smile was bright and eager. "It's been such a long time since we had a friendly competition. I've really missed it!"
Hearing that Naruto wasn't trying to make friends with HER but instead wanted to spar with her sensei, Tenten breathed a massive sigh of relief. Her tensed shoulders relaxed.
Standing beside her, Neji observed Tenten's relief with an internal smirk. Hehe, Tenten, you're celebrating too soon, he thought darkly. After Naruto finishes with Guy-sensei, it'll be your turn.
This is a difficult hurdle in life. Not just for you, but for everyone. Neji's understanding was crystal clear.
"Okay, okay! Let's do it!" Guy agreed enthusiastically, his words noticeably thick.
Success! Naruto felt joy surge through his chest. It seemed that drunk Guy-sensei was no longer afraid to compete with him. The alcohol had overcome his survival instincts beautifully.
"Then let's begin, Guy-sensei." Naruto gently removed Guy's arm from around his shoulder and took a proper fighting stance.
Half an hour later, Guy lay sprawled on the ground, his face swollen and bruised beyond recognition. Taking advantage of the alcohol still in his system, his body had decided sleep was the best option. He was out cold.
Naruto felt thoroughly satisfied after his discussion with Guy-sensei. Half an hour of continuous sparring! Really enjoyable!
Neji and Rock Lee stepped forward to help Guy up, supporting his unconscious weight between them. Then they just stood there, waiting.
Tenten was puzzled by this. If they were helping Guy-sensei home, why were they still standing around? Thinking this, she spoke up with confusion. "Why are you just standing there? Let's go. It's gotten so dark already."
But Neji and Rock Lee remained unmoved. Instead, they looked at Tenten with expressions that could only be described as excited anticipation.
Tenten's heart stuttered. Could it be...?
She turned slowly to look at Naruto. He was smiling at her with that bright, enthusiastic expression he always wore. "Tenten, let's be friends now!"
His voice carried genuine warmth and happiness. "I heard from Neji and Rock Lee that you really wanted to be friends with me!"
No. I don't want to. The words screamed through Tenten's mind, but she couldn't force them past her lips. She was terrified that if she spoke her true feelings, she'd only get beaten harder later. Looking at that cheerful smile on Naruto's face, Tenten desperately wanted to run.
Her legs refused to cooperate.
Naruto observed Tenten's hesitation with concern. "Tenten, what's wrong? Are you so happy about becoming friends with me that you're speechless? You look dazed."
"Hehe..." Tenten pulled what she hoped resembled a smile onto her face. It felt more like a grimace. "Happy. Very happy. So happy I want to cry..."
"In that case, Tenten, let's begin!" Naruto was genuinely pleased seeing Tenten so emotional. This was approval from a friend, recognition of his worth. Of course he felt happy about it!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Ten minutes later, the sounds finally stopped.
"Goodbye, Guy-sensei! Goodbye, Tenten, my new friend!" Naruto called out loudly, waving at the four figures retreating into the darkness. "Rock Lee, Neji, thank you so much for introducing me to Tenten! I really appreciate it!"
Neji supported Guy-sensei's unconscious weight on one side. Rock Lee supported Tenten's barely conscious form on the other. They left slowly, moving carefully to avoid jostling their battered companions too much.
Stealing a glance at Tenten's swollen face as Lee helped her along, Neji finally felt a weight lift from his heart. A stone that had been pressing on his chest for months suddenly disappeared.
At last, in their entire class, from the sensei down to every single student, no one had been left out. Everyone had gone through the process.
This was true equality. The equality of all people!
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