Chapter 47 (Patreon)

“Whoosh—!”

With a single strike—

Yujiro’s blade pierced straight through the wooden wall behind him.

The pitch-black sword stopped just inches away from a white-haired man’s eye.

Jiraiya instinctively swallowed.

If the blade had moved even a little further, one of his eyes would have been gone.

The black blade slowly withdrew.

Jiraiya coughed awkwardly before lightly jumping down into the men’s hot spring area.

At this moment, Yujiro had already changed into his black training clothes. He stood there with the black blade resting in his hand, glancing sideways at Jiraiya.

Jiraiya immediately grinned.

He flicked back his long white hair, then struck an exaggerated pose—jumping left, jumping right, twisting his body dramatically.

“Yo!”

“One of the Legendary Sannin!”

“The great Toad Sage who inherited the senjutsu of Mount Myōboku!”

“Jiraiya-sama!”

“I don’t know you,” Yujiro said flatly, narrowing his eyes slightly. “All I see is some weird old man peeping at hot springs.”

“Guh—!”

Jiraiya instantly froze.

Being exposed on the spot like that was honestly a little embarrassing.

“Ahem… details like that don’t matter.”

Jiraiya crossed his arms and coughed dryly.

“Actually, my true identity is a novelist.”

“Not interested.”

Yujiro casually carried the black blade over his shoulder and walked away without another glance.

Watching Yujiro leave so indifferently, Jiraiya scratched his head.

“What a strange kid…”

Then his expression became slightly thoughtful.

Still…

That reaction speed earlier wasn’t normal.

If he had truly intended to attack, Jiraiya was certain that slash would have landed.

“Guess it’s about time to see the old man.”

After muttering to himself, Jiraiya disappeared instantly.

…

Hokage Office.

Minato was still staring at the reports on his desk, deep in thought.

Emergency requests from the border.

More emergency requests from the border.

Even after sending ANBU reinforcements, the front lines were still demanding support.

Minato’s brows tightened.

Konoha was beginning to run out of manpower.

“Oi, Minato. What’s got you thinking so hard?”

A large hand suddenly patted Minato’s shoulder.

Minato reacted instantly and turned around sharply.

Then his expression changed to surprise.

“Jiraiya-sensei?!”

“It’s been a while.” Jiraiya grinned as he climbed in through the window.

“When did you get back?” A smile appeared on Minato’s face.

“Just now. I even stopped by the hot springs first.” Jiraiya casually waved a hand. “Met an interesting kid there too. Carried a black sword.”

Minato paused.

“A black sword…?”

“Yeah.” Jiraiya nodded. “Black hair. Around six or seven years old.”

“Kid nearly took my eye out.”

Minato suddenly laughed.

“That was probably Yujiro.”

“Yujiro?” Jiraiya blinked.

“He’s my student.”

“What?!”

Jiraiya’s eyes widened immediately.

“That brat is your disciple?!”

Minato nodded.

“My current team consists of Kakashi, Yujiro, and Uchiha Itachi.”

The moment he heard the last name, Jiraiya’s expression shifted slightly.

Kakashi was understandable.

But Uchiha Itachi…

That surprised him.

“Kakashi and Itachi aside,” Jiraiya muttered while scratching his head, “that Yujiro kid didn’t seem all that special at first glance.”

“His swordsmanship was pretty sharp though.”

Minato smiled faintly and quietly pulled out a mission report from beneath the desk.

“Jiraiya-sensei…”

“You should read this first.”

Jiraiya took the report casually.

But as he continued reading, the expression on his face gradually changed.

Shock.

Disbelief.

Then complete astonishment.

“This report is real?!” Jiraiya asked immediately.

“There’s no exaggeration in it whatsoever,” Minato replied seriously.

Jiraiya looked down at the report again.

Yujiro personally killing elite Jōnin-level enemy shinobi.

Breaking assassination attempts one after another.

Protecting the mission target while leading the pace of battle.

And he was only six years old.

“This is insane…”

Jiraiya muttered under his breath.

“Even some Jōnin wouldn’t have a record like this.”

Minato slowly added,

“And Yujiro is a civilian shinobi.”

“No bloodline limit.”

Jiraiya inhaled sharply.

Now that…

That was terrifying.

A genius like this appearing without any clan bloodline?

It was practically unheard of.

After a long silence, Jiraiya suddenly looked around the office.

“Where’s the old man?”

“Third Hokage-sama is currently resting at home,” Minato replied with a smile.

The moment he heard that answer, Jiraiya’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Just from that single sentence…

He understood.

Minato was the one truly handling Konoha’s affairs now.

That definitely did not sound like Sarutobi Hiruzen’s style.

It seemed the village had changed a great deal during the years he was away.

Part of the reason Jiraiya had left Konoha after the war…

Was because he disliked the way the village operated back then.

If things had remained the same, he probably would have left again after returning.

Jiraiya casually picked up another document from the desk.

As he read it, the relaxed look on his face gradually faded.

“Konoha’s really been pushed this far…”

“Jiraiya-sensei…” Minato spoke softly.

After a moment of silence, Jiraiya suddenly touched his chin.

“Minato.”

“Can I meet your team tomorrow?”

There was clear interest in his eyes now.

“Of course,” Minato replied with a nod.

Seeing Jiraiya’s expression, Minato already understood.

Jiraiya had taken interest in Yujiro.

And honestly…

Minato had no objections to that at all.

…

At dusk.

Inside the Uchiha Clan compound.

Uchiha Fugaku stared at Itachi with disbelief written all over his face.

Inside Itachi’s eyes—

The two-tomoe Sharingan slowly rotated.

“Genius…”

“Hahaha!”

“As expected of my son!”

“My son is a true genius!”

Fugaku laughed loudly.

For the first time in a long while, Itachi could clearly feel it—

His father was genuinely happy.

Not because of politics.

Not because of the clan.

But because of him.

However, Itachi himself fell into deep thought.

His Sharingan had awakened during extreme emotional pain.

Did that mean…

The Uchiha Clan gained strength through suffering?

“Father…”

Itachi slowly raised his head.

“Do the Uchiha gain these eyes only through pain?”

His gaze trembled slightly.

“If that’s true…”

“Then I don’t want power like this.”