While missing her, Jiraiya was also worried about how to explain everything to Nawaki when he returned to the village. He felt that he had not been fulfilling his responsibilities as a teacher.
"Another disciple?"
Over the past six months, the three future members of the Akatsuki organization had begun to recover from the pain of losing their loved ones and homes. Jiraiya, with his talent for teaching and his knack for inspiring hope, played a crucial role in their healing process.
"Teacher, what kind of person is he?" Konan asked curiously.
Jiraiya chuckled. "He... well, he's a lot like me," he said with a fond smile.
Reflecting on Nawaki, Jiraiya realized just how similar they were. Nawaki had a carefree personality, loved mischief, was often forgetful, and had a tendency to blurt out things that sometimes got him into trouble, earning him a few playful reprimands.
"Then, Master, will you abandon us?"
Mentioning Nawaki brought out Konan's insecurity. She feared Jiraiya might leave them behind and return to the village.
Nagato and Yahiko grew tense as well. Nagato even risked revealing his Rinnegan by looking up, a sign of just how anxious he was. He did not know that Jiraiya was already aware of the secret of his eyes.
"No." Jiraiya's smile was warm and reassuring. "Just study hard and leave the rest to your teacher."
Although he longed to return to the Land of Fire and Konoha, Jiraiya knew he couldn't leave yet. The children were still too young. Without him, surviving in the war-torn Rain Country would be nearly impossible, as it was rife with dangers.
Even though the war had officially ended, the Rain Country remained a chaotic and dangerous place. Rebel ninjas, war deserters, and rogue elements from various parts of the world gathered there, seeking refuge or trouble. The area had become a haven for outlaws.
Due to the early outbreak of war, Konan, Nagato, and Yahiko were younger than in the original timeline. Thus, Jiraiya needed to stay longer to ensure their safety.
It was a pity for Nawaki, who hadn't been receiving much guidance from his teacher. By the time Jiraiya returned, Nawaki might no longer need a teacher.
That was not an exaggeration. Nawaki had already passed the Chunin Exams successfully and, according to Shinki's plans, would likely take the Jonin Exam in three to four years. The Special Jonin level was skipped entirely due to its ambiguous nature, and Shinki felt it was unnecessary.
While the average person might not receive such treatment, Nawaki was far from ordinary.
There was a clear path set for Nawaki, but when it came to Minato Namikaze, Shinki wasn't worried at all. Judging by Minato's rapid growth, he would probably take the Jonin Exam alongside Nawaki, or even sooner. Minato's potential and dedication were unmatched, and once he found his rhythm, he was unstoppable.
This spurred Nawaki on. He couldn't deny his envy when he saw how fast Minato advanced. While Nawaki could accept that Minato's talent was exceptional, he couldn't bear the thought of being overtaken by someone younger.
To keep up, Nawaki restrained his playful nature and started to focus more seriously on training. Even Kushina, who had been more relaxed about her progress, was influenced by the competitive atmosphere. She had previously accepted that catching up to Shinki was impossible and had eased her efforts, but seeing Minato and Nawaki working tirelessly changed her mind.
Kushina, realizing her complacency, gritted her teeth and threw herself into training. Minato welcomed her newfound determination, but Nawaki felt a surge of anxiety. It was already tough competing with Minato; with Kushina joining in, maintaining his standing would be even more challenging. Determined not to fall behind, Nawaki pushed himself harder.
The competition between them resulted in all three growing stronger at an extraordinary pace, surpassing their peers by leaps and bounds. Shinki was more than happy to see this rivalry, as it eased his workload.
"My lord, the Hokage requests your presence."
It was early in the morning when Shinki was approached by a member of the newly formed Hokage Guard as he stepped out of his home.
After the restructuring of the Anbu, the Third Hokage had established the Hokage Guard to oversee his security and act as messengers. The Anbu had vacated their former posts within the Hokage's office building, leaving it under the guard's watch.
Shinki approved of this change. With the Anbu gone, there was less need for covert surveillance within the building. Whether or not the Hokage Guard could protect the office was not Shinki's concern—that was the Third Hokage's decision.
"Did he say what this is about?" Shinki asked as he headed toward the building.
The guard shook his head. "No, sir."
"Alright."
Shinki made his way to the Hokage's office. Upon arriving, he walked directly to the second floor, opened the door, and entered.
"Hokage-sama, you called for me?"
The Third Hokage, who preferred efficiency, wasted no time and handed Shinki a scroll. "This is a request for protection from the daimyo's mansion. This mission might require Anbu support."
"Protection? The daimyo's mansion should have sufficient forces for that."
Konoha had stationed a contingent at the daimyo's residence, and the daimyo himself had hired additional ninjas. Attacking the daimyo was practically unheard of, as it would provoke a severe response.
"It's not about the Fire Country; it concerns the Rain Country," the Third Hokage clarified.
The Rain Country?
Shinki's eyes narrowed as he opened the scroll. With Hanzo's death, the war had ended, and Konoha had withdrawn its forces. But the Rain Country, left in the aftermath of battle, had descended into even greater chaos. It had become a hub for dangerous outlaws and rogue ninjas.
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Up to Chapter 340 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
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