Chapter – 20 We will miss you Jiraiya-sama~ (Patreon)

A while later, Tatsumi and Mikoto escaped from Tsunade-hime’s clutches and returned back near the Arena. As they made their way back, they noticed that Minato–who was left behind–had woken up.

Tatsumi approached the little sun, and asked, “Minato, how are you feeling?”

“Huh? Yes… I am fine,” nodded Minato with a smile, and there was nothing serious to worry about.

At the same time, he also noticed that Tatsumi did not look very good for some reason, and couldn’t help but ask out of concern, “Tatsumi, what happened to you? Didn’t you go to the place Tsunade-sama was at for treatment?”

“Huh?” suddenly Tatsumi’s body shivered. Although he had selectively forgotten what happened to him, there was still a lingering dread.

The gentle and considerate Mikoto did not want Tatsumi to recall that terrible and traumatic experience, and quickly changed the topic, “Minato-kun, is the selection for our year completed?”

“Oh, yes… the top three from our year were just announced… The first place is naturally Tatsumi, after that, it’s Mikoto-chan, and then it's me.” Answered Minato, and added, “Nawaki had withdrawn from more than one fight, so he did not make it to the top three.”

The reason Minato ranked third, and not second, is because of his fight with Tatsumi. While Tatsumi and Mikoto did not lose any fight, Minato lost against Tatsumi, hence he ranked third, and not second.

“It’s fine, even if Nawaki did not make it to the top three… Tsunade-sama and the other two members of their team would not object to mentoring him, therefore, he doesn’t really need this opportunity… He should be aware of this and must have intentionally given up several fights to give the three of us the opportunity since we really need it.” Said Tatsumi, analyzing the possible reason behind Nawaki not ranking among the top three.

“I think so too,” nodded Minato, he had reached the same conclusion.

Minato is actually really happy with the opportunity given to him. Even if he ranked third, he is quite satisfied, after all, with people like Uchiha Tatsumi, Senju Nawaki, and Uchiha Mikoto, in the same class it’s a little difficult for him to stand out this early in the game.

“So, the next is the fight against other years, huh?” muttered Tatsumi as he looked at the areas where the trainees of other years had gathered.

Based on the rules announced by Orochimaru, the top three trainees from each year will be selected to form a team, resulting in six total teams for six different years, these six teams will then compete amongst themselves until only three remain, who will have the opportunity to be mentored by the three disciples of Sandaime Hokage.

Minato nodded, “Yes, we have to work really hard if we want to defeat the other years… the team of fifth year, and sixth year is extremely strong!”

Tatsumi smiled, and said, “Don’t worry Minato, we will come out on top, no matter what.”

“You took the words right out of my mouth, Tatsumi!” agreed Minato, and the two performed a fist bump.

“Mikoto-chan, you must not hold back either!” said Tatsumi as he looked at the girl silently standing beside him.

“In order to be able to stand beside Tatsumi-kun, I will definitely work hard!” nodded Mikoto with a determined expression.

“Good,” praised Tatsumi while patting her head who happily received it.

After the three of them had made up their mind, Tatsumi turned to the place where the trio of gambler, pornographer, and pedophile had gathered.

Once the six teams were selected, the different arenas were dissolved, as Orochimaru announced, “Everyone, rest and recuperate for the next hour… The next round will start after that. If the trainees who are not selected for the six teams do not want to stay behind and watch the remaining matches, they can return back to their classrooms.”

Once this announcement was made, Orochimaru stepped down from the stage and left the Konoha Ninja Academy, there’s nothing to do at the academy for the next hour, hence, Orochimaru did not see any point in staying behind, he would much rather spend the hour meaningfully while recording the data he has obtained upon observing these children fight amongst themselves for the report he has to submit to Hokage.

Watching Orochimaru leave, Tsunade-hime also left the Konoha Ninja Academy excitedly, she was going to the nearby casino to try a few rounds of dice game!

As Jiraiya watched Tsunade-hime leave, he suddenly became excited as well, he looked at Tatsumi and showed a thumbs-up, signaling that he was going to try to use the approach taught to him by Tatsumi. Based on his observation so far, Jiraiya felt confident that this time his charm would definitely work upon her, and he would finally graduate from his lonely single life and become a man with a girlfriend.

Tatsumi snickered as he watched Jiraiya secretly following behind Tsunade-hime.

Tsunade-hime is already extremely annoyed, and is not in a particularly good mood, on top of that, if Jiraiya really did what Tatsumi had told him, she would probably explode and murder him on the spot.

‘I wonder if I should follow behind them to watch the show,’ thought Tatsumi, but quickly shook his head, ‘No, it would be too dangerous, I don’t want to be murdered by the flat ogre.’ And sighed with a grin, “It’s a pity.”

Noting Tatsumi’s grin, Mikoto asked, “Tatsumi-kun, did something happen?” Unlike most other trainees, Tatsumi and Mikoto did not leave the training field, rather, they sat under the shade of a tree on the side and decided to rest while having their lunch. After sitting down, Mikoto took out an O-bento she had prepared in advance for Tatsumi from a sealing scroll and handed it to him.

“No, I was just thinking whether something ‘good’ will happen to Jiraiya-sama,” answered Tatsumi with a smile as he received the Bento from Mikoto. His meals are naturally handled by her.

Initially, Tatsumi wanted to refuse, the girl was obviously so young, only seven years old, and he didn’t want to rely on someone so young for food… he thought to himself that even if he were to starve to death, he would never accept… uh… ‘Mikoto-chan’s cooking is delicious.’

Mikoto was perfectly aware of the ‘suggestion’ Tatsumi had given to Jiraiya earlier, therefore, she knew the kind of ‘good’ treatment he was talking about, so while handing the bowl and chopsticks to Tatsumi, she complained, “Really Tatsumi-kun, it was not a good thing to give such a suggestion to Jiraiya-sama… what if Tsunade-sama gets angry at you too?”

Tatsumi had to say that Mikoto while complaining looked really cute, so cute that he suddenly had the urge to pull her cheeks, but he resisted the urge and focused on the food before him.

“Crab and chicken meatballs?” muttered Tatsumi excitedly as he unceremoniously picked a piece using his chopsticks and put it into his mouth while beckoning the little sun sitting beside him to try as well, “Minato, this one’s really good… try this!”

Although the exterior was crispy, the juicy texture of the chicken meat inside was carefully preserved.

One of the things about this world that surprised Tatsumi most was the fact of how different people of this world are compared to his previous world. Back on Earth, children as young as six or seven couldn’t even understand how crops are grown, but here… not only do they perfectly understand these things, but they are also able to perform complex tasks such as cooking.

Even among these children, Uchiha Mikoto just like Uchiha Itachi seems to be a cut above all else, despite being only seven years old, she is exceptional at everything she does, and that’s not all, her emotional intelligence is also way beyond any child her age should possess, its as if, she is not a child, but a…

‘I wonder, could she also be?’ thought Tatsumi as he looked at the cute little loli from the corner of his eyes, but his thoughts were soon taken over by the delicious food in his mouth, “Yes, perfect… Mikoto, your cooking skills are amazing, words can’t describe them… it’s simply Marvelous, isn’t that right Minato?!”

Initially, Minato was extremely reserved about eating the food prepared by Mikoto, after all, he was a commoner, meanwhile, Tatsumi and Mikoto were from the Uchiha Clan, and had shown extremely high talent, with Tatsumi always being the top rank, and Mikoto remaining in the top three.

To be honest, Minato never once thought that he would get along so well with Tatsumi and Mikoto, the two of them looked like noble, and high-class people, meanwhile he was just a commoner but it was Tatsumi’s insistence that allowed him to open up and become good friends, and often join them during the lunch.

As an orphan, Minato is obviously unable to eat such a delicious home-cooked meal, therefore, he really cherishes the fact that Tatsumi and Mikoto were kind enough to invite him. Not to mention, all the Wind Style ninjutsu that Tatsumi had shared with him a few months ago, he can’t express how grateful he is to the two friends of his.

He was so happy, that tears almost streamed down his cheeks, which he quickly wiped away, and happily chowed down the rice while nodding, “Yes… I have never had something so tasty, every time Mikoto-chan makes something, it's so good!”

Receiving Tatsumi and Minato’s praise for her cooking, Mikoto smiled shyly, and after taking her portion, she sat beside Tatsumi and gracefully ate her fill while sneaking glances at Tatsumi from time to time.

Watching Uchiha Mikoto’s little movements, Minato smiled and thought to himself, ‘If I could also have someone like Mikoto-chan, someone who would always support me, it would be so nice.’

…

While the trio of Tatsumi, Mikoto, and Minato spent their afternoon peacefully, the trio of Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya were not so peaceful.

Somewhere else in Konoha

“Jiraiya, you bastard… die!” roared Tsunade-hime as she ran after Jiraiya with the intent to kill.

“I am sorry Tsunade-chan… I am really sorry!” Jiraiya begged for mercy as he ran for his dear life.

“Apologize with your death and go to hell!” once again Tsunade roared furiously as she leaped high into the sky to deliver the most painful death to Jiraiya.

All the onlookers watching the scene could sense Tsunade’s fury.

A certain Jonin by the name of Yūhi Shinku–who is about three to four years senior to Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru–happened to be passing by, and couldn’t help but mutter, “Did Jiraiya-sama once again provoke Tsunade-sama?”

It was as if everyone in the ninja circle of Konoha was aware of Jiraiya and Tsunade’s dynamics, and particularly no one was surprised when Tsunade suddenly felt like killing Jiraiya.

“Calm down Tsunade-chan, you are misunderstanding! Orochimaru, hurry up and stop her, otherwise, she will really kill me today!” Jiraiya begged not only Tsunade but also Orochimaru. He had no other choice if he didn’t, he might really end up dead!

“Orochimaru… don’t you dare interfere! If you do anything, I will kill you too along with that bastard!” shouted Tsunade-hime all while intense killing intent was released by her. It was so dense, that even Orochimaru was frozen in fear, and didn’t dare to help Jiraiya.

.

.

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After a few seconds, another roar resounded through the village, “Go to hell Jiraiya, Heavenly Foot of Pain!’

BOOM!

“Someone save me, Tsunade-chan has gone berserk! Sarutobi-Sensei… come and save me otherwise, I won’t be able to survive today!” shouted Jiraiya in a feat of struggle as his soul tried to leave the world of living and tried to step on the Soribashi in order to cross the Sanzu river to move to the pure land.

BOOM!

There was another attack, and this time, the vibrations spread through the village. Even the trio of Tatsumi, Mikoto, and Minato who were far away at the academy could feel the ground shake.

‘Jiraiya-sama, I will remember your sacrifice, and will definitely visit the Konoha Memorial Stone in the future to pay my respect to you,’ thought Tatsumi with a smug smile.

And noting his smug smile, Mikoto also connected the dots and understood everything. It can’t be helped, having grown up with him, Mikoto can read Tatsumi like an open book, therefore, she also knew that at this moment, he was extremely happy.