The name Nawaki stirred ripples in Orochimaru's placid heart.
His first student. His most beloved. Nawaki had always held a place there.
Orochimaru's change went unnoticed by Jiraiya, who pressed on. "Your teaching skills are still top-tier. I heard about Qianyu's fight with the Taki leader, Kuroiwa Tatsuji. Truly something else. He's what, twelve? Thirteen? Same age as Minato, right? To go toe-to-toe with an Elite Jonin, force a serious injury, and walk away with just scratches? Color me impressed."
A faint smirk touched Orochimaru's lips. "Qianyu's talent is considerable. Real combat… excites his potential far more than drills ever could."
Jiraiya grinned. "My student's no slouch either. How about a bet, Orochimaru? We see who grows stronger, faster in this war. Your Qianyu or my Minato."
Orochimaru shot him a sidelong glance. "A pointless wager. Your student has passable talent. That is all."
"Oh, come on!" Jiraiya huffed. "Minato's gifted! Seriously gifted! Not worse than your kid. Bet's on, then!"
Orochimaru crossed his arms, meeting Jiraiya's gaze head-on. "Your stake?"
"I'm writing a book," Jiraiya said, smile widening. "You get the first read when it's done. How's that?"
"Boring."
Orochimaru turned and walked toward the tent flap.
"Hey! Your stake, Orochimaru!" Jiraiya called after him.
"I won't lose," Orochimaru tossed back without stopping.
Jiraiya stood, muttering "Tsundere" under his breath before leaving himself. The battle had left even him bone-tired. And the worst was yet to come. Rest was a luxury.
Back at his own tent, he found Minato's neighboring quarters empty.
Lost again, Jiraiya sighed. Needs his wise old teacher.
He found the boy sitting on a hilltop, staring into nothing.
"What's up? Qianyu's prowess got you doubting yourself?"
Jiraiya plopped down beside him.
Minato's expression was heavy. "Sensei… I am. Doubting if my choices… are even right sometimes."
"Oh? How so?"
"He's so… rational. To a terrifying degree." Minato looked down at his hands. "He gave a defeated comrade explosive tags. Told him to take the Cloud ninja with him. 'Maximize the gains,' he said. I thought it was wrong. You don't treat a comrade's life as a tool. But when I confronted him… his logic left me speechless. Made me feel like the one who was wrong."
Jiraiya's brow furrowed slightly. So Qianyu had done that in Taki. Then again… Orochimaru's student. Made sense. Orochimaru would've done the same.
Before he could respond, Minato continued, voice tighter. "I watched his whole fight with the Taki leader. I'm not on his level. Not even close. I thought I'd caught up these past years… but the gap's only widened. He's the real genius. I'm… not.
"What eats at me most… when Qianyu was in danger, I froze. That memory flashed—Dai with the tags, charging the Cloud nin. For a second… I didn't want to save him. I want to help my comrades. But in that moment, I betrayed my own heart."
Jiraiya let out a long breath. "Qianyu's really gotten under your skin, huh? You're human, Minato. You have people you like. Naturally, you'll have people you dislike. You and Qianyu are opposites. Clashing is normal. So that thought? Not your fault. Everyone has a selfish streak. Me included. Don't dwell on it.
"What Qianyu did… can't call it right, can't call it wrong. It was war. But your desire to help your comrades? That's always right. Never doubt that heart of yours.
"The kid is a genius. Orochimaru trained him well. But Minato—you can't doubt yourself. The moment you do, you slam the door on getting stronger. If you don't believe in you, how can you grow? How can you ever catch up?"
Jiraiya nudged him. "Let me ask you something. Am I a genius?"
Minato glanced at him. "Of course, sensei. You're the Hokage's student. One of the Legendary Three."
Jiraiya laughed, shaking his head. "Nah. I was the dead-last. Total dunce."
"…What?"
"No lie. It's the truth. Back then, I was always chasing him. Orochimaru—the acknowledged genius. And I hated it. I refused to believe I was any worse. That stubborn belief… it kept me running after his shadow. And in the chase, I got stronger. Strong enough to stand where I am now.
"So, genius or not? What does it matter? Believe you're not weaker than anyone. Pair that with hard work. You will become strong."
Minato exhaled, a long, slow breath. The shadows cleared from his eyes. "I understand, sensei. I'll work harder!"
Jiraiya grinned, ruffling his hair. "Such a troublesome student. I actually made a bet with Orochimaru, you know. That you'd grow stronger than Qianyu in this war."
Minato's eyes widened. "Huh? That's—"
"What? No confidence?"
Minato straightened his back. He took a deep breath. "I have confidence!"
"Good." Jiraiya stood, brushing off his pants. "Get some rest. Busy days ahead. Oh, and some good news. We're requesting reinforcements from Konoha. I'll have the old man send along the training methods for the Flying Thunder God Technique."
After Jiraiya left, Minato's gaze turned resolute. He had to train harder. Much, much harder.
He would not fail his teacher's trust.