"Ahh! Yoshino, you are too kind!" Jiraiya said, smiling wide and big with his eyes closed, entering the house as Shikaku closed the door behind.
"Hmph. Save it, Master Jiraiya." Yoshino said and stood up and went to the kitchen to grab another plate for Jiraiya.
"She still hasn't changed, huh, Shikaku?" Jiraiya asked and looked at Shikaku who had now returned to his seat.
"Not a bit, come on, Master Jiraiya, sit down, have something to drink. I've got a pretty good sake here." Shikaku said pointing at the space beside him, while pouring a cup of sake for Jiraiya.
"Ahh, thank you." Jiraiya smiled and sat down beside Shikaku, making Shikaku look like a small child beside him. He looked at Aelira, "So, you are the girl. Hmm..."
Jiraiya picked up the cup of sake, drinking it whil observing Aelira quietly.
He stopped and looked around at Kai and Shikamaru, "Hey, you two. What? You scared of me or what, instead of acting amazed and in awe, you two have been awfully quiet! Come on, where are your manners, introduce yourselves to me!" He said playfully.
Kai raised his eyebrow first, and so did Shikamaru, but Kai decided to speak up first, "Uh, my name's Kai, but you probably know everything about me already, no need for introductions."
Jiraiya's eye twitched, "Well, yeah, i do know everything about you, but it's basic courtesy to introduce yourselves!"
"I know you are not talking about courtesy and manners." Shikaku said quietly, chuckling.
"Hey- You lot still wouldn't understand, my work is art!" Jiraiya said proudly, and then looked at Kai, "So, you are the kid who somehow was able to withstand and even use natural chakra, huh?"
"Yeah." Kai nodded.
"Hmm." Jiraiya said, observing Kai, looking him up and down, and then finally focusing on his right eye.
For a split second, Kai's eyes widened, and he thought, 'So he knows too, huh?' and then relaxed again.
After all, it wouldn't be that shocking if Jiraiya knew about Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan, he was.... Jiraiya, afterall.
"So, how did you do it? Did you feel anything? Did you do something to manipulate the incoming natural chakra? Anything?" Jiraiya asked curiously, his gaze intent on Kai.
Kai shook his head, "No, it just... happened. At first, it felt like I was just hit by a ocean of energy, but then it felt like something inside my body shifted, and it felt like... I don't know how to describe it... Let's just say 'gates', the 'gates' inside me opened and seemingly let it in. But it felt like it was too much and then I passed out."
Jiraiya sighed and scratched his head, "Yeah, well we need to know WHY that happened. Normal people can't just 'accept' natural chakra, i get the case with her, but with you? Aside from your innate bloodline, there's no factor in your body that's makes you different from any regular Nara."
"About that." Shikamaru said, "Did the Hokage not tell you what we discussed in the office with him?"
Jiraiya nodded, "He did. It's just.... not very believable, you know? But the more I look at him, and the more I think about, the more it seems like that's the only logical reason behind it."
Jiraiya looked at Kai, "If one of those summons of yours really is related to natural chakra, let's summon it tomorrow, you need to defeat it in order to tame it, right? I'll do it for you."
- Kai's POV -
Huh?
Wait a minute, could Jiraiya take on Mahoraga though? If he could, taming Mahoraga this early on could really just change everything.
But as far i knew about both, and from the small amount of information regarding all my summons that was ingrained in my head when I awakened the Ten Shadows, it felt that Mahoraga was likely stronger than Jiraiya at base power without any adaptation, even if not by a margin.
Also, summoning Mahoraga could probably kill me from chakra exhaustion, or just completely crush my chakra coils.
Looks like I'll have to pass on for now.
"Well... Master Jiraiya... I am afraid that's gonna be impossible." I said.
Jiraiya raised his eyebrow, "Why? Is something wrong with it?"
I shook my head, "No, it's just that summoning 'it' would probably just kill me from chakra exhaustion, or just completely crush my chakra coils." I said.
Jiraiya raised his eyebrow, "How would you know that? If you've never summoned it before, how do you know how much chakra it will drain?" He asked, suspicious now.
"Because, when I awakened my technique, my brain, or more like my chakra, already got some information about each of them, it's like a feeling, and the feeling i got about each of them is like how much chakra it would drain from my body. Like when someone uses a jutsu for a long time, and eventually their brain remembers just how much chakra it takes each time to do that jutsu properly." I said.
"Is that so?..." Jiraiya said calmly, continuing to observe me, while everyone listened intently. Shikaku looking straight into my eyes, as if looking for any lies that I might've said.
"Hm, if anything, your abilities are far more dangerous and stronger than they are right now. We'll be working to get you to reach the full extent of those summons as soon as we can." Jiraiya said and then looked at Aelira, "And you, young lady, your abilities are as equally strong and dangerous, you both hold the same value. So I'd suggest being careful, about everything. "
"Don't worry, those two may be small in age, but they know what to do and what not, they can keep secrets. All we've gotta worry about is this information not leaking to Danzo, and preventing them from hurting themselves or others." Shikaku said.
"Enough interrogation, it's time to eat." Yoshino said firmly, placing a plateful of food infront of Jiraiya, "You lot can discuss this tomorrow morning, these children need to eat and go to sleep, otherwise how will they grow properly?"
Jiraiya grinned at the food, "Ahh! Thank you, Yoshino! This looks delicious! I always knew you had many qualities beyond your beauty-"
Yoshino's hand twitched.
Just once.
But that was enough.
THWACK.
A perfectly aimed chop landed on the top of Jiraiya's head.
"Eat," Yoshino said flatly. "Or leave."
Silence.
Shikamaru slowly lowered his chopsticks, staring.
I blinked.
Shikaku covered his mouth, clearly trying not to laugh.
And Jiraiya—
Jiraiya froze mid-smile, eyes wide, before rubbing his head with a sheepish chuckle.
"Ahaha… still as fierce as ever…"
"Eat."
"…Yes, ma'am."
And just like that, one of the Legendary Sannin obediently picked up his chopsticks and started eating.
I leaned slightly toward Shikamaru.
"…She just hit Jiraiya."
"…Yeah."
"…And he listened."
"…Yeah."
We both quietly turned back to our bowls.
Not a word more needed to be said.
The rest of the dinner passed peacefully, Jiraiya quickly left after finishing the food, saying that he'd come early in the morning for me and Aelira.
As for Aelira, she was given the guest room, which was of course covered in all kinds of seal by Shikaku.
Me and Shikamaru had both been sent to bed before it was too late by Yoshino.
And before it was too late, I was already asleep.
- Next morning, 5:35 AM -
I was woken up by the shaking of Yoshino.
"Hey, Kai, wake up sweetie. Master Jiraiya is here for you and Aelira." She said in a soft voice, which was very rare.
"Hmm.... It's alright morning already?" I said and sat up straight on the bed, stretching and yawning.
"Yeah, quickly change your clothes, I've prepared breakfast. Also, if Jiraiya does anything that you think might be inappropriate to Aelira or any other lady, or teaches you something inappropriate, you tell me right away, okay?" Yoshino said firmly.
I raised my eyebrow but didn't protest, "Alright... I'll tell you if he does something." And got off the bed.
Looks like it's gonna be a long day.