The training ground bore countless marks from past sessions.
Just looking at it sparked ideas.
Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina leaned against a wooden training post, having waited since morning until noon.
"Grrr..." Kushina clutched her stomach—she hadn't eaten anything at all.
"Why the hell aren't those two here yet?"
Minato rubbed his own belly. Though he was starving too, he could endure it. But Jiraiya and Uchiha Kin were nowhere to be seen.
Just as Kushina began violently kicking the training post in frustration—
"Poof!"
A cloud of smoke erupted, and a massive toad materialized before them. A figure stood atop it, announcing in a dramatic voice:
"The Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku, the Gallant Jiraiya, has arrived!"
Striking an exaggerated pose, Jiraiya swayed with theatrical flair.
"Get down here, you idiot!"
Kushina suddenly appeared behind Jiraiya and launched a kick. Jiraiya glanced sideways, sidestepped left to dodge, then gave her back a light push, sending her tumbling down.
Kushina flipped midair and landed gracefully.
Jiraiya grinned. "Heh, these kids really aren't slouches in taijutsu."
"Poof!" The giant toad vanished in another puff of smoke as Jiraiya landed lightly beside Kushina.
"Don't underestimate me. Last time, I was going easy on you."
Last time, he'd only been testing them—and ended up getting beaten black and blue. Where was the justice in that?
"But where's that brat Kin?"
He scanned the area but saw no sign of Uchiha Kin. "Did that kid bail?"
Jiraiya's expression darkened. If Kin had skipped out, he had every right to send him back to the Academy—no matter how much Orochimaru favored him. Talent didn't excuse arrogance.
"I'm here."
A pile of dry leaves rustled as Kin emerged, yawning, from a leaf-covered pit. Unless someone stepped on it, the hidden depression was nearly invisible.
Jiraiya and the others hadn't expected this.
"Ahem." Jiraiya cleared his throat. "Using the environment is part of being a shinobi."
"You totally didn't see that coming!" Kushina called him out, never one to let anyone save face. She'd caught his surprised look earlier.
Realizing he couldn't bluff his way out, Jiraiya changed the subject.
"Alright, time for your official shinobi evaluation."
"Didn't we already pass the exams?" Minato asked, puzzled.
Jiraiya smirked. "The Academy tests just mean you're eligible to become shinobi. My test decides if you're fit to be genin. Fail, and I'll send you back for another year."
Minato hesitated, wanting to ask about other graduates, but held his tongue.
"Enough scaring the kids. Look, Kushina's face is white. Just tell us the test already," Kin interrupted, dispelling the tension.
"Who's pale?!" Kushina roared, her face indeed pale with anger.
"Heh." Kin scoffed.
Kushina's temper flared. "I'll kill you, damn Uchiha!"
"Hold it!" Jiraiya stepped between them before blood could be shed.
He hadn't even started the test, and these two were already at each other's throats. Did they not realize this was his show?
"Save the grudge for after the test."
He pulled out two bells and tied them to his waist.
"Your task is to take these bells. One bell means one of you passes as a genin."
Kushina pointed at the bells. "But there are only two."
Jiraiya's smile vanished, his face turning stern.
"Which means only two of you will become genin."
Before Kushina could protest—
"Begin!"
The moment the word left his mouth, Kushina and Minato vanished. Only Kin remained, leaning against a post and tilting his head at Jiraiya.
He asked an unrelated question:
"Jiraiya-sensei, is anyone else here besides us?"
His sharp senses told him the hidden observers had left after Jiraiya's arrival.
Jiraiya didn't understand the question but nodded. With him present, all ANBU—even Root—had withdrawn. Even Sarutobi Hiruzen's surveillance via the barrier was inactive.
No one was watching.
"Good."
Kin clapped his hands and stepped forward. After some thought last night, he'd decided: as Jiraiya's student, he could afford to show his true abilities. With Jiraiya and Orochimaru's backing, and as Kushina's teammate, he'd be safer.
It was time to shed his "failure" label.
Status and connections allowed for some boldness—assuming Jiraiya spread the word. If not, he'd happily keep hiding his strength a while longer.
"Jiraiya-sensei, I'm going all out."
Kin crouched low.
"Try not to die."
Jiraiya chuckled. "An elite jōnin like me, hurt by a fresh graduate? Even a genius couldn't—"
Kin moved.
Shave!
He appeared behind Jiraiya.
"Ninja Art: Needle Jizo!"
Jiraiya's silver hair hardened, encasing his body completely.
Kin landed and retreated with Shave.
Jiraiya's next technique was already forming.
"Ninja Art: Lion's Mane Barrage!"
His hair elongated, lashing out like whips. Kin dodged rapidly, hands weaving seals.
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed. "He's performing jutsu? I thought he couldn't—"
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire!"
Kin spewed flames in all directions, igniting Jiraiya's hair.
As Jiraiya retracted his mane, Minato struck from behind.
"Now!"
His finger aimed for the bells. Jiraiya caught his wrist—then widened his eyes. Minato's strength was overwhelming.
Before Minato could grab a bell, Jiraiya "poofed" into smoke, reappearing behind him—
Only for Kushina's roar to cut through:
"Die a hundred times!!"
A fist wreathed in golden chains descended from above. Jiraiya twisted, grabbing Kushina's wrist and hurling her at Minato.
The two tumbled together in a heap.
Jiraiya barely had time to react before kunai clashed midair, redirecting toward him from all angles. He leaped aside, barely avoiding the barrage.
Minato and Kushina vanished again.
Kin was gone too.
"Finally, you're acting like shinobi—fighting dirty."
Wait—
Jiraiya spun around.
Kin was right in front of him.
"Self-Pushing Technique: Serpent Strike!"
Kin's arms blurred into black streaks, vanishing and reappearing like striking snakes. Jiraiya blocked frantically, but the phantom blows landed, each bite agonizing.
A shadowy hand reached for his bells.
"Ninja Art: Shedding!"
Jiraiya's body shriveled into a husk, torn apart by the onslaught.
Kin jumped back just as a hand erupted from the ground where he'd stood.
Jiraiya emerged, grim-faced—then leaped again as three chains shot up, coiling around his legs.
Minato sprinted along the chains, hurling a kunai.
Jiraiya dodged, hands flying through seals.
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
His cheeks bulged like a toad's, spewing fire.
Minato "poofed" into smoke.
"Behind me!"
Jiraiya whirled—but Kin was already in front of him.
Shave! ×2
Two blurs crossed paths at Jiraiya's center.
"Damn, they're strong!"
He glanced at the chains on his legs and the wounds on his body.
"Since when are Academy students this strong?!"
"Poof!"
Jiraiya dissolved into smoke. The bell in Minato's hand crumbled to dust.
Silver hair erupted from the ground, ensnaring Minato and Kushina before they could react.
"Ninja Art: Lion's Mane Barrage!"
Only Kin escaped, darting away at blinding speed.
Jiraiya's true form rose from the earth.
"It's over."
"Not yet!"
Kin clasped his hands into a gun shape, aiming at Jiraiya. A blue energy sphere spiraled at his fingertips.
"What is—?"
"Spirit Gun!!"
A beam of blue light pierced straight through Jiraiya's chest.
(End of Chapter)