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"How troublesome."
Jiraiya finished speaking. Orochimaru replied coldly. "I told you before. We should have just killed those three. It would have been a mercy."
"Enough, Orochimaru! I don't want to hear another word of that!" Jiraiya, usually easygoing, exploded in anger.
"Hmph. Suit yourself. Meddling in everything will only get you killed."
Orochimaru lost interest in the conversation. He left a flippant remark, turned, and walked out of the cave.
"…In that case, I have no objections."
She heard there was no danger. Tsunade's finely arched brows relaxed. Then, curiosity got the better of her. "But why the sudden interest in this Chiba kid?"
"Just a hunch." Jiraiya's answer was vague. "I'll tell you after I verify it."
"Fine."
Tsunade nodded slightly. Her eyes drifted to Chiba on the ground, a flash of possessive warmth crossing her gaze.
Damn kid. What I want, I get. Just you wait. I'll have you sooner or later. Hmph!
Tsunade knew the gap in their status was huge. Chiba probably hadn't even considered such a possibility.
But so what? A few years' age difference was nothing. In a few more years, it wouldn't even be noticeable.
…
"What? We're babysitting?!"
Thanks to their Senju blood, Nawaki and Chiba woke up fairly quickly.
He heard the details of the mission. Nawaki shot up, jumping three feet in the air. "This wouldn't even qualify as a D-rank in Konoha! How is this an important mission?!"
Chiba stayed silent, a thoughtful look on his face.
The "three children" Jiraiya mentioned… Could they be Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko? But what was Jiraiya's goal?
The information gap was too wide. Chiba pondered but couldn't figure it out.
"Listen, Nawaki."
Jiraiya ruffled Nawaki's hair with a smile. "Big brother promises you, this is a very important mission. I'll have the village classify it as an A-rank commission. Deal?"
"Hmph, that's more like it… Alright then."
Nawaki pouted, clearly not thrilled, but reluctantly agreed.
Jiraiya then looked at Chiba. Chiba nodded. "I have no objections, Lord Jiraiya. Your orders are my command."
Kosuke remained silent the whole time. He was like a brick, to be placed wherever needed.
Jiraiya saw this. He smiled, satisfied.
"Good. I'll leave those three kids to you. Guide their training when you have time."
…
"There. Just ahead."
Guided by one of Jiraiya's shadow clones, Chiba and the others arrived at an unremarkable hill. On its backside was hidden a small wooden hut.
"Who's there?!"
Someone inside had heard them. A young, slightly nervous voice called out from within.
A moment later, the door creaked open.
A boy with spiky orange hair, looking about six or seven, stepped out holding a kunai, his expression wary.
"Holy shit. The man himself!"
The moment he saw the orange-haired boy, Chiba almost blurted it out.
Yahiko. It was really Yahiko!
The one who founded the Akatsuki, only to die young and be turned into the Deva Path of Pain.
Even though he'd suspected it, seeing the legend in the flesh was still thrilling.
"It's me, Yahiko."
The Jiraiya clone stepped forward, smiling as he ruffled Yahiko's hair. "Already protecting your friends. Well done, Yahiko."
"Hehe, Teacher Jiraiya~~"
Yahiko's face instantly lit up with joy. He turned and shouted into the hut. "Konan! Nagato! Come out! Teacher Jiraiya is here!"
Soon, two more children of similar age emerged.
One was a little girl with blue-purple hair tied in a bun. The other was a shy boy with red hair, his face mostly hidden behind his bangs.
"Konan, Nagato, come here. Let me introduce everyone."
The clone beckoned the two over warmly and began the introductions.
"…"
Chiba wasn't listening. He stared at the three young faces, lost in thought.
Who would think these six- or seven-year-old kids would, twenty years later—at twenty-six, twenty-seven—pfft, become figures who shook the shinobi world!
"What if I killed all three of them right now? Would the future Akatsuki cease to exist?"
The thought suddenly crossed Chiba's mind as he looked at the children.
He quickly shook his head, dismissing it.
"…Forget it."
First, recklessly altering known plotlines into unpredictable directions held no benefit for him. Second, Madara Uchiha likely had spies nearby, watching over and protecting Nagato…
"Big Brother Chiba, can I learn medical ninjutsu from you?"
A clear, youthful voice pulled Chiba back from his thoughts.
"Huh?"
Chiba looked down. Konan had somehow walked right up to him, looking up with bright, expectant eyes.
"???"
Three question marks practically materialized above Chiba's head.
Little girl, you're the future White Tiger of Akatsuki! The one with six hundred billion exploding tags who'll make the heavens weep, who could make a hardened bastard like Kakuzu die and come back to life just to cry in despair!
"…So, why do you want to learn medical ninjutsu?" Chiba forced a smile, genuinely puzzled.
"Because Yahiko and Nagato get hurt a lot! I want to learn so I can take care of them!" Konan answered without hesitation.
"Alright then, sure." Chiba had no reason to refuse and agreed for now.
Meanwhile, Nagato and Yahiko had crowded around Kosuke and Nawaki, chattering excitedly.
Clearly, boys were more interested in the cool, battle-ready ninjutsu.
Nawaki was somewhat dismissive, but the usually silent Kosuke answered every question patiently. He genuinely liked the lively kids.
"Good. Seeing you all get along puts my mind at ease."
The Jiraiya clone watched, beaming.
Teaching these kids was twofold: to help them protect themselves, and to help Nagato control the power of the Rinnegan.
Konan wanting to learn medical ninjutsu seemed good to Jiraiya, too. When she grew up, she might be able to help many more children.
Poof.
Jiraiya knew leaving would be hard. So, while everyone was distracted, he deliberately dispelled his shadow clone.
"Ah! Teacher Jiraiya is so sneaky, leaving like that~~"
Yahiko immediately latched onto Nawaki, wailing dramatically.
Yahiko was the youngest and most energetic of the three. The concept of social anxiety was foreign to him; he was a master of instant familiarity.
"You little…!"
Nawaki's cheeks puffed up with anger. He barely held back the urge to pummel Yahiko.
(Yahiko: 6. Konan: 7. Nagato: 7-8.)
Chiba watched this and snickered.
Finally! All those times Nawaki tortured me… Now someone's here to torture him!
Nagato and Kosuke lapsed into mutual silence. Their sheer lack of presence was so identical they could have been cast from the same mold.
"So, Big Brother Chiba, I'll be in your care from now on, okay?"
Konan reached out a small hand to Chiba, her eyes curving into mischievous crescents like a clever little fox.
"No problem."
Chiba shook her small hand. A new idea quickly formed in his mind.
These three kids were all prodigies with amazing potential. If only he could get rewards from them!
But they weren't injured. He couldn't just beat three kids half to death and then heal them… Or could he?
"Heh heh~"
Chiba narrowed his eyes, studying the three in front of him. He began to seriously consider the feasibility of this plan.
"B-Big Brother Chiba?"
Konan shivered. Chiba's strange gaze was making her nervous.
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