After a while, Jiraiya looked at Yuki Seisui with a strange expression.
"This ability is really powerful."
Based on Minato's description, Jiraiya now had a rough understanding of the power.
It could be used for training, honing real combat skills, and had another mode, a full battlefield on its own.
If they were on an actual battlefield, Jiraiya couldn't even imagine what heights his student could reach.
"A truly remarkable genius," Jiraiya murmured.
"But hey, he is my student, hahaha!"
"Now Orochimaru can't compare to me!"
Jiraiya laughed loudly with hands on his hips.
Seisui glanced around the empty bandit camp, then looked at Jiraiya and asked helplessly, "Jiraiya-sensei, should we head back now?"
"Ahem, ahem." Jiraiya suddenly cleared his throat, covering up his embarrassment.
"I was thinking of taking you to the capital of the Land of Fire, but if you want to return, then let's go."
Haru Uchiha's eyes lit up. She'd been waiting to hear that.
She and Seisui had already planned to have some fun for a couple of days since the mission got cut short.
Minato wanted to visit the Land of Fire's capital too, but remembering they were still on a mission, he dismissed the idea, duty first.
Seisui was indifferent. The capital of the Land of Fire might be prosperous, but could it ever compare to a modern city? Impossible. He'd seen everything by now and was beyond such simple pleasures.
==========
One day later.
In a small town, Seisui watched Jiraiya exit a bookstore empty-handed.
"Jiraiya-sensei, didn't you say you were going to buy books?"
"Books?" Jiraiya coughed lightly, unusually serious.
"Kids shouldn't pry."
He glanced up at the sky. It was already dusk.
"It's getting late. Let's rest here for the night."
"Alright!" The three of them nodded.
Jiraiya started walking, waving back at them, "Meet here tomorrow morning."
"Jiraiya-sensei, what's he up to?" Minato asked, puzzled.
Seisui shrugged helplessly.
"Probably off to some… welfare thing."
"What welfare?" Haru asked, curious.
"Kids shouldn't ask."
Seisui ruffled Haru's hair.
Minato recalled their last hot spring encounter and muttered disdainfully while watching Jiraiya's retreating figure, "Jiraiya-sensei really is perverted."
His voice was so low Haru didn't hear it, but Jiraiya stumbled, nearly falling.
What do you mean perverted?
I was just helping out some girls in need!
Ignoring his three students, Jiraiya quickened his pace until he disappeared.
Seisui looked at Haru enjoying the hair ruffle. Oddly, it didn't bring the same joy anymore.
He noticed a floating "riled up hair ruffle" emoji above his own head, the one he hated most.
Every time he lost in the Duel Arena, that expression popped up like clockwork.
Seeing Minato's discomfort, Seisui sighed.
"There's no way it doesn't feel good."
"Ah, I've just been doing it wrong."
==========
The three wandered the streets, and Seisui eyed a nearby inn.
"Let's stay here."
"Why does this small town only have one inn?" Haru grumbled as they headed inside.
The inn was nearly empty. The owner hurried out, wearing a fawning smile at the sight of the three ninja.
"Three honorable ninjas, looking for lodging?"
For some, ninja were just tools, but for ordinary people, ninja were intimidating, ruthless figures. That's why the owner was so sycophantic.
Even though the three were still young and barely reached his chest height, he wasn't about to take risks. Having run this inn for years, he recognized that these three had just killed recently.
He didn't even dare mention prices, afraid they'd die right here.
Minato was uncomfortable with the owner's groveling, but Haru was used to it and smoothly requested, "The three best rooms."
"Right away!" the owner said and hurried off to prepare.
As a captain in the police force, Uchiha Haru was strict and not popular in the village. But here, ordinary villagers bowed respectfully at the sight of ninja, just like the innkeeper.
Haru was already used to such treatment.
Soon, the three were settled in the finest rooms, no prices mentioned.
Haru took the initiative to hand over 3,000 ryō.
"Is this enough?"
The owner nodded eagerly, "More than enough."
"Thank you, honorable ninja!"
Watching Haru, Seisui couldn't help but think, How can women be two-faced from such a young age?
Cold and cute, how do those mix?
He had no clue how female minds worked, so he gave up trying and locked himself in his room.
Sitting on his bed, Seisui looked at the 30-draw summon on the recruitment panel.
"I wanted to save for a hundred draws, but I just can't resist," he muttered.
Friends, who understands? The temptation of the lottery is just too strong.
==========
Just as Seisui was about to start the draw, he suddenly remembered the last time.
He pulled out two pieces of paper and wrote four characters on them.
Placing them on the table, he bowed respectfully.
"I was wrong last time."
"Lord Kizaru, Lord Fujitora, please don't be angry."
"May the magic cube bless us both!"
After this prayer, he exhaled slowly.
"Let's see the limits! Summon!"
==========
The summoning interface flickered.
A fiery Konoha emblem slowly appeared.
[Uchiha Sasuke (Eternal Mangekyo) Fragment x1, Might Guy Fragment x1, Hyuga Neji (Ninja World War) Fragment x1, Akatsuki Fragment x1, Uzumaki Naruto (Ninja Academy), Illusionary Stones x5]
[Existing Uzumaki Naruto (Ninja Academy) automatically converted into fragments.]
[Uzumaki Naruto (Ninja Academy) 10/20]
=============
95+ Advance Chapters Available on Patreon.com/Veltoria
100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
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