"Don't say that, Senior. Every village envies Konoha for having you," Ebara said quickly. "You live to a hundred, and Konoha stays strong."
"Always the sweet talker," Mito said, smiling. "No wonder Tsunade likes you."
After chatting with Mito a bit longer, the Third and Ebara took their leave.
"Here, take a look," the Third said outside, handing Ebara a file.
Ebara glanced at it—definitely Kushina.
She was hiding in a small village.
Her father died recently.
Now living with her mother.
The file was brief; Ebara skimmed it in seconds.
But why was the Third showing him?
He looked up, puzzled.
The Third read his confusion. "You're going to bring her back."
Ebara's eyes widened. "What! Me, a genin, on a mission this dangerous?"
Kushina was tied to Konoha's future.
If Mito passed without Kushina secured, Konoha would lose the Nine-Tails forever.
The file also mentioned other villages hunting her.
They'd send more than genin.
If Ebara ran into them, he'd be toast.
"You, a genin?" The Third smirked. "Shimura Maya and those two bedridden Anbu (Chapter 32) might disagree."
After seeing Ebara's strength (Chapter 39), the Third wanted him out of the ninja school.
A genin teacher was fine for a genin.
But Ebara wasn't just a genin anymore.
A shameless, vile guy like him belonged on the battlefield.
"If it's just me, I'm not going," Ebara said, shaking his head. "That's suicide."
"Don't worry, I'll send others with you," the Third said, staring.
Ebara had barely seen combat—a perfect chance to grow.
Plus, the Third planned to put Kushina in Ebara's class.
As Ebara said, it was the "elite class, experimental class, rocket class" (Chapter 41).
Konoha's future pillars were there.
Kushina belonged in that environment.
Despite the Third's assurance, Ebara was ready to refuse.
Then, three options popped into his mind.
[Option 1: Refuse the mission! Reward: 10 agility points!]
[Option 2: Accept the mission! Reward: Ninjutsu—Lightning Storm!]
[Option 3: Tell the Third you'll go if he pays more! Reward: 1000 chakra points!]
Option 3 blinded him to the others.
A thousand chakra points?
Jonin chakra ranged from 1000 to 10,000.
With his prior jonin-level taijutsu (Chapter 35), he was touching jonin territory.
Barely.
His ninjutsu arsenal was pitiful—two techniques.
Minato knew more.
Against a jonin, he'd be running.
Ebara pivoted. "I'll go, but…"
The Third squinted. "Conditions? Spill."
Ebara grinned. "You get me. First, I need strong teammates. Second, you want me to go? Pay up."
"Pay what?"
"Teach me some ninjutsu. I'm not picky—First and Second Hokage's signature moves will do."
The Third didn't snap. Instead, he nodded. "With your talent, normal ninjutsu won't cut it. How about the First's Thousand Hands and Buddha Statue, or the Second's Multi-Shadow Clone and Flying Thunder God?"
Ebara's jaw dropped, practically drooling. "That's perfect!"
Few ninjutsu in the world topped those four.
Master them, and he'd be dancing with the stars.
"You're dreaming!" the Third scoffed. "The First's techniques need Wood Style or sage mode. Got those? The Second's need massive chakra. Got that?"
Ebara nodded earnestly. "Not yet, but I will."
"In your dreams?" the Third mocked.
Spending time with Ebara had rubbed off—his speech was getting cheeky.
"Believe it or not," Ebara said, pouting.
The Third sighed. "Come on."
Ebara was his student.
After hearing about Ebara's Anbu fight (Chapter 32) and questioning the victims, the Third knew his strength.
Jonin-level taijutsu.
Decent chakra reserves.
Just two measly ninjutsu.
Even without Ebara's request, the Third planned to teach him some.
Since he asked, perfect timing.
"You're teaching me new ninjutsu?" Ebara grinned.
"Didn't I teach you before? Too busy messing around with Jiraiya to learn Shadow Clone," the Third said.
"Heh, I was young then."
"And now you're old?"
"Big enough to scare you!" Ebara shot back.
"…"
Trading barbs, Ebara followed the Third to his home.
Sarutobi Biwako, the Third's wife, was there.
So was a snotty one-year-old, toddling around with glistening boogers.
Sarutobi Asuma.
"Ebara, you're here," Biwako said, smiling.
"Yeah, Senior. Came in a rush, no gifts for you or Asuma," Ebara said.
"No worries. We're just happy you're here. Look, Asuma loves you," Biwako laughed.
Asuma spotted Ebara, arms outstretched, toddling over.
"Grandpa, Grandpa…" he babbled.
The room froze, faces dropping.