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Iwa Battlefield
The pressure here had eased significantly due to the deterrent power of Sakumo.
After all, they were also wary of White Fang suddenly descending upon them, so they naturally didn't dare to push too hard.
Although whether they pushed or not, the result would be the same.
With some downtime, Jiraiya began to teach Minato and Kushina.
A training ground was set up in the camp, with some wooden dummies for practicing projectile techniques.
Jiraiya sat cross-legged on a rock.
Minato was leaning against the rock, reading a ninjutsu scroll, while Kushina was working out nearby.
No matter how Jiraiya looked at the two of them, something felt off.
It was very strange.
He couldn't quite put his finger on what exactly was wrong.
"Jiraiya-sensei."
Kushina, having finished her handstand push-ups, looked at Jiraiya with curiosity.
"Who's stronger, you or Sakumo?"
After all, they were both elite shinobi leading the frontlines.
Minato also perked up his ears at this, clearly interested in the answer.
"Me and Sakumo, huh?"
Jiraiya rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"If we compared our strength from before, it was probably about a seventy-thirty split."
Jiraiya wasn't too sure; they had done missions together but never actually fought each other.
"You only had a thirty percent chance of winning?"
Kushina was a bit surprised.
What if she wanted to change teachers now?
She wondered if White Fang would take her as a student.
"Are you underestimating your teacher?" Jiraiya shot a glare at Kushina.
He was quite strong, after all.
"I meant I had seventy percent, and he had thirty. It's hard for him to beat me."
Although Sakumo was proficient in ninjutsu, he wasn't quite on Jiraiya's level.
"And if it were a life-and-death battle?" Minato asked curiously.
"Probably ten-ninety."
Jiraiya mused.
"You're that strong in a life-and-death battle?"
Kushina was thrilled, maybe changing teachers wasn't necessary after all.
"No." Jiraiya shook his head. "I would only have a ten percent chance of winning."
"Tch!" Kushina clicked her tongue. "That's weak."
How does one go about changing teachers? She glanced at Minato, who probably knew.
"Don't be so disrespectful to your teacher."
Bonk!
Jiraiya raised his fist, veins bulging on his forehead.
Kushina clutched her head, looking aggrieved.
What did she do wrong? She just wanted a stronger teacher.
"Jiraiya-sensei, why is there such a big difference between a spar and a life-and-death battle?"
Minato was curious.
With their similar levels of experience, the difference between a spar and a life-and-death battle shouldn't be that large.
"Because Sakumo and I are not the same type of shinobi."
"I'm more of a versatile shinobi, while Sakumo is a speed-type assassin. I specialize in ninjutsu, and Sakumo specializes in killing."
In a life-and-death battle, the one better at killing would naturally have the upper hand.
Right now, Sakumo was definitely stronger.
A single slash that could cleave through mountains was beyond comparison.
"I see." Minato seemed deep in thought.
"But." Jiraiya stroked his chin, looking at Minato. "Minato, you're actually following the same path as Sakumo. If you get the chance, you should let Sakumo guide you."
"Both of you are on the speed-assassin path."
The difference was that one used a family sword technique, while the other focused on ninja and body techniques.
"If I get the chance."
Minato looked hopeful but then suddenly remembered something.
"Didn't Sakumo-sama take Jin under his wing?"
Jiraiya nodded, not knowing what Sakumo was thinking, but he had indeed taken Jin under his wing.
"Then Jin must be quite happy." Kushina chimed in.
After all, it was Sakumo-sama's guidance.
Indeed.
A very happy Jin was currently chasing Sakumo with a sword.
"You bastard! Haven't you had enough!?"
He slashed down with his sword.
Sakumo sidestepped with ease.
No matter how desperately Jin swung his sword, he couldn't even graze Sakumo.
Jin even used Shunpo, but still couldn't land a hit.
The gap between them was simply too vast.
Suddenly, Sakumo got distracted, and Jin landed a hit.
Poof!
Sakumo turned into smoke.
At that moment,
Jin's hair stood on end as he shivered and instantly used Shunpo to retreat without looking back.
There, Sakumo was forming a tiger seal, ready to strike.
"You sneaky..."
Jin gritted his teeth, barely maintaining his dignity.
"Your reflexes are sharp, Jin."
Sakumo casually released the seal.
"What exactly do you want!?"
Jin demanded. He had already applied for a transfer back, but this bastard had blocked it, and now he was officially part of Sakumo's squad.
Which meant he was now a member of White Fang's squad.
Just him and Sakumo, with Mushihime temporarily joining, but she had returned to her own squad now.
Following Sakumo on dangerous missions? He'd rather eat the dog food of being the third wheel with Minato and Kushina.
"Jin, don't use that abandoned lover's tone. You're supposed to be a man, and a man should make women use that tone instead."
Sakumo said something outrageous with a straight face, and then added,
"A man shouldn't make a woman cry easily, except in bed."
"Die, you filthy-minded jōnin! Spirit Balls!"
Jin's fingers flicked in the air, forming multiple blue spirit balls.
They turned into beams of light, shooting towards White Fang.
White Fang's sword appeared in his hand at some point, and with a light movement, all the spirit balls were split in half and dissipated.
Just as Jin was about to launch another attack, intent on killing this filthy-minded White Fang who kept putting him in danger,
Poof!
A masked ninja in gray clothing appeared between them.
Jin frowned.
Was this an ANBU or a Root member?
The ninja turned and knelt before White Fang. "Sakumo-sama, by order of the Hokage, please hand over command of the River Country defense to Tsunade-sama."
This posture was typical of ANBU.
Root didn't have such manners.
Moreover, Root had no authority over frontline personnel.
"Return to the village immediately."
Sakumo expressionlessly took the scroll.
Poof! The ANBU figure disappeared.
Only then did Sakumo, with a complex expression, open the scroll and confirm the Hokage's seal on the order.
"They're really throwing you out after using you, Sakumo-sama. Shouldn't we rebel?"
Jin had somehow crept up beside him and also saw the contents of the scroll.
Sakumo shot him a side glance, letting his eyes do the talking.
Jin nonchalantly reclined, looking up at the sky.
Wasn't this outcome expected? With such power, yet not being one of their own, naturally, he would be targeted.
But Sakumo was looking into the distance, towards Sunagakure.
Once he left, Sunagakure would surely dare to attack.
Why did the Hokage make this decision?
"You're coming back to the village with me."
"Huh!?"
(End of Chapter)