"Alright, alright, it's over on that side too."
Minato stepped in to smooth things over. Indeed, the fight over there had just ended.
Jiraiya carried the two exhausted individuals down from the sea of trees, and Nawaki's Light and Heavy Rock Jutsu had just expired.
The timing was spot-on.
"Kawaki, restore the training ground."
Sakumo gave Kawaki a distant order.
Turning the entire training field into a forest wasn't exactly ideal.
"Got it, Big bro."
Kawaki gave Sakumo full respect. He agreed and immediately got to work.
As he withdrew his Wood Release chakra, the sea of trees quickly withered away.
Eventually turning into dust scattered across the ground, leaving a mess everywhere.
"You handle the rest."
Once done, Kawaki lightly kicked Nawaki as he passed.
"Why'd you kick me for?"
Nawaki brushed off his pants, looking thoroughly annoyed.
[Earth Release - Great Recovery Jutsu!]
He slowly stepped forward, forming hand seals before pressing both palms onto the ground.
As the chakra spread outward, the ground of the training field began to rise from below, flipping over layer by layer.
It buried all the dust and filled every last crater and hole.
Leaving it even cleaner than before Kawaki activated his Wood Release.
The way Nawaki renovated the field was practically an art form.
"You should consider freelancing."
Kawaki glanced at Nawaki, surprised where this kid picked up such skill.
His tone was half-teasing, half-praising.
"That's right—Even without being a ninja,"
"This talent alone is enough to give Misaki a rich, comfortable life."
Nawaki took it as praise from his brother-in-law, proudly puffing out his chest, clearly quite pleased with himself.
You know how expensive hiring a construction company to fix up a training hall is?
"He decided to penny-pinch and invent his own technique instead. How can you even argue with that?"
Minato called Nawaki out directly. This guy simply didn't want to spend money, so he figured it out on his own.
Back then, whenever he did this kind of job, he'd always use Earth Release half-assedly. Nowhere near as clean or efficient.
Looks like he specifically developed this jutsu—not for combat at all. Now that's one-of-a-kind.
"Oh yeah? Mind your own damn business."
Nawaki suddenly turned around, glaring angrily.
Minato, you little jerk, just wait until I report you later.
"Sorry, sorry, Nawaki-bro!"
Minato saw the glare behind Nawaki's mask and immediately apologized.
"If apologies worked, why would we need the Police Force?"
Nawaki refused to let it go, typical know-it-all type—won't back down even when in the right.
"Two troublemakers—quiet down."
Kawaki watched them and was reminded of his childhood days with Sakumo.
Must've been something like this!
Nawaki and Minato both shut up, while Jiraiya began announcing the final selections.
The ten Anbu members, all having received medical treatment, now stood neatly lined up in two rows.
Sakumo stood silently beside Jiraiya.
But quietly eyeing the newly restored training ground, already planning to use Nawaki as free labor again later.
After all, there wasn't just one training field under Anbu jurisdiction.
Unaware that his captain already had him on the hook, Nawaki kept watching the scene with a goofy grin.
"You are truly worthy of being elite Anbu."
"That was quite a match."
Jiraiya started off with praise, as always.
But everyone knew such an opening usually came with a twist.
No one humbly declined the praise; they simply waited in silence for him to continue.
Jiraiya paused briefly before speaking again.
"However, there are some who don't meet my criteria."
"It's not that you're not excellent enough."
"It's just that you aren't quite suitable enough."
"Those I name, please step forward."
Jiraiya didn't call out any names, he simply raised his hand and pointed.
A total of six people stepped forward, and no one could tell whether they had been selected or eliminated.
Nonou Yakushi was among those who stepped forward.
"I apologize for taking up your time."
"If circumstances allow, we'll work together in the future. For now, you may all disperse."
Jiraiya spoke gently to the remaining four—a clear sign of rejection.
From the battle, he had seen that these individuals lacked precise thinking, disqualifying them from deep behind enemy lines espionage missions.
"Yes, Elder Jiraiya."
Though some Anbu may have felt slighted—especially two who had won their matches—they wouldn't dare act disrespectfully in front of Sakumo and Jiraiya. They acknowledged and then departed.
Returning to the familiar crowd on the sidelines, they became just like the other gossips.
"You six will await my message."
"Since the new department is just starting up, you'll be its first recruits."
"Wait until I get Hokage-sama's approval for our base and finish other procedures before officially joining."
"All other questions will be addressed once you're onboard."
"Do you have any doubts?"
Jiraiya put on a stern face; combined with his tall stature, he exuded considerable intimidation.
"No!"
The six responded loudly and cooperatively.
Needless to say, there was a sense of pride in being chosen.
They couldn't help but feel a little superior to those eliminated—at least in one way, they had to be better.
"Good, then it's settled."
"Anything else to add, Big Bro Sakumo?"
Jiraiya turned around, politely asking Sakumo.
"I don't really have anything particular to emphasize."
"Just carry out your duties well in the new department."
"The village won't treat you poorly."
Sakumo offered a few standard words of encouragement, and the six acknowledged before dispersing.
"Thanks for helping today, Big Bro Sakumo."
After everyone had left, Jiraiya smiled brightly.
"Nonsense, it was nothing."
Oh!
If you enjoy *Naruto: Starting from Pursuing Tsunade*, please bookmark it: (m.
"There might still be times ahead where I'll need your assistance."
What Sakumo said was true—the Anbu relied heavily on intelligence.
For future international missions, they'd definitely need support from Jiraiya's Intelligence Department.
"My pleasure, my pleasure."
Jiraiya eagerly agreed—it went without saying.
As the two continued chatting idly, Kawaki planned to leave first.
Otherwise, if Jiraiya caught him later, he wouldn't know whether to go with him to the school or not.
Leaving early also gave him more time to prepare.
"I'll head off first."
He waved goodbye to Minato and the others.
"Aren't you going with Elder Jiraiya?"
They found it a bit odd—he'd come with Jiraiya, after all.
"I just remembered something I need to take care of."
"If he asks, just say I left first."
Lord Kawaki didn't offer an explanation, making up a quick excuse instead.
"Alright then."
After receiving the reply, Lord Kawaki activated the [Flying Thunder God] technique and immediately vanished from the Anbu training grounds.
When he reappeared, he was already at the school. His first action was to find Hidetada Onoda.
"Lord Kawaki, what is it?"
Hidetada was sipping tea in his office when Kawaki's sudden appearance startled him.
During Kawaki's time on staff, the number of times Kawaki had gone out of his way to see Hidetada could be counted on one hand.
"Here's the thing."
"There's a new department being established in the village."
"They want to recruit students from our school to train them as spies behind enemy lines."
"What do you think we should do about it?"
Kawaki sat down beside him and accepted the tea offered by Hidetada.
"Spies behind enemy lines?"
Hidetada frowned—just the phrase itself sounded dangerous.
"That's right."
Kawaki took a small sip, then gently placed the teacup back on the table.
"Hmm... I think we should let the students decide for themselves."
"If they try to force anyone, I won't stand for it."
Hidetada was still reasonable—personal wishes weren't his concern.
But if someone tried to forcibly recruit students from the school, he'd be the first to protest.
If you enjoy Naruto: Starting from Pursuing Tsunade, please bookmark it: (m.