Faced with Boruto's undisguised look of contempt, Jiraiya chuckled, waving his hand nonchalantly, deftly steering the conversation away from his own less-than-glorious act of 'passing the buck'.
"Oh dear, don't worry about such small matters." He put away his frivolous smile, his eyes becoming somewhat more serious. "More importantly, there's something more pressing to worry about. That enemy named Otsutsuki Urashiki who appeared in the Land of Waves last time hasn't been heard from for half a month."
At the mention of Urashiki, Boruto and Adult Sasuke's expressions immediately turned serious.
Since the battle in the Land of Waves, where he was driven back by that boy named Menma using a Kama form they had never seen before, Urashiki had completely vanished.
Logically speaking, given Urashiki's coveting of the Nine-Tails' Chakra inside Naruto, he wouldn't have stayed silent for this long.
But now, half a month had passed. This unusual calm was instead more unsettling.
Adult Sasuke furrowed his brow slightly. A flicker of gravity passed through his exposed left eye. "Urashiki's injuries aren't severe, yet he's delayed making another move. He's likely plotting something."
He paused, looking at Jiraiya. "When exactly will the third round of the Joint Chunin Exams be held? The audience will be huge then, a mixed crowd… I'm worried Urashiki will choose that moment to strike."
Upon hearing this, Boruto's expression also changed. He thought of the Chunin Exams in his own timeline.
The sudden arrival of Otsutsuki Momoshiki and Otsutsuki Kinshiki, the catastrophic chaos they caused, and the countless casualties.
If the more cunning and unpredictable Urashiki made his move in the heart of Konoha… the consequences would be unimaginable!
"If that happens, it will cause many innocent casualties!" Boruto said urgently.
Jiraiya crossed his arms, leaning against the utility pole. The fragments of the brief battle between Urashiki and Menma he had observed in the Land of Waves flashed quickly through his mind.
That kind of bizarre ability was impossible to defend against... even he had suffered losses.
If such a monster suddenly attacked during the third exam in Konoha, the destructive power would probably be even more terrifying than the Nine-Tails Attack back then. Moreover, the spectators this time included not only nobles and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire but also nobles from other countries. If not handled properly, it would also be a huge blow to Konoha's prestige.
"Hmm, your concerns are not unfounded," Jiraiya said in a deep voice. "I will immediately report this to the old man and suggest that he significantly strengthen the security level of the third exam venue, increase the number of Anbu and Barrier Corps personnel, and conduct stricter screening of everyone entering the venue. As for Naruto—"
He changed the subject, his gaze falling on Boruto.
"Kid, are you interested in doing some special training together?"
"Huh? Me?" Boruto pointed at his own nose, stunned.
'Do special training with Dad as a kid?'
"Correct, you," Jiraiya affirmed with a nod.
"The third exam is still a few days away. To give Naruto a better chance of protecting himself in a possible crisis, and to prepare for the powerful enemies we may face in the future, I plan to give him some intensive training these next few days. I remember—"
He deliberately drew out his tone: "You've already mastered the Rasengan, haven't you? And you use it pretty well?"
"But that idiot Naruto still only knows how to force it with shadow clones. He can't even get the form stable yet."
Jiraiya's words instantly stirred up the competitive and proud side of Boruto's youthful nature.
Get one over on his younger dad in the 'family secret technique' of the Rasengan?
And have the chance to guide him in person?
'Son… giving father a lesson?!'
Boruto's eyes instantly lit up brilliantly. His previous indignation was immediately cast to the winds. He nodded vigorously, his voice full of excitement: "Alright! I want to come too! I'll definitely… let Naruto see what a real Rasengan looks like!"
Watching Boruto's eager look, Jiraiya's eyes held a deeper smile.
His gaze briefly met that of Adult Sasuke, who had been silent beside him.
Adult Sasuke knew that Jiraiya had most likely guessed the origins of himself and Boruto.
And Jiraiya also understood that this guy had probably long ago seen through his suspicions about their identities.
But neither of them pointed it out.
This was an unspoken understanding, based on vigilance against a common threat and the desire to protect Naruto.
Adult Sasuke nodded slightly, acquiescing to Jiraiya's arrangement.
He trusted Jiraiya's judgment and ability. He also remembered that at this point in time, his younger self had gone to Kakashi for special training in Chidori, while Naruto had trained with Jiraiya.
"Then it's settled," Jiraiya said, stretching his arms with a big yawn, his joints cracking softly.
"I'll go to the Police Department first and bail that idiot out. We'll meet at Training Ground No. 7, downstream of the Naka River, in an hour. Bring some food. Training consumes a lot of energy."
With that, without waiting for their response, his form blurred and vanished from the spot.
"Great!" Boruto excitedly punched the air, already imagining the look of surprise on Naruto's face when he saw him skillfully perform the Rasengan.
Adult Sasuke, however, reached out and gently pressed on Boruto's shoulder, his tone flat. "You go to the Naka River first and wait for them. There's still something I need to confirm."
Though curious, Boruto had always trusted his teacher's decisions. He nodded. "Okay! Then, Master, I'll see you at the inn tonight!"
With that, he turned and ran briskly toward the Naka River, full of anticipation.
Adult Sasuke stood alone in the gradually darkening alley, his gaze fixed on the direction of Konoha's center… where the Hokage Rock stood, and where the undercurrents converged.
He needed to confirm a few more things. About the 'anomalies' of this timeline. About the movements of the Uchiha Clan.
On the other side, Menma and his group watched Naruto's exaggerated screams and his figure being escorted by the angry women disappear around the street corner. The atmosphere was momentarily subtle.
Choji stuffed another chip into his mouth and asked, his voice muffled: "Hey, Menma, Shikamaru, is Naruto really going to be okay? They're not going to lock him up, are they?"
Though he was thick-skulled, he could see those women were genuinely furious.
Menma rested his hands behind his head, his face having its usual easy smile, as if the person just dragged away wasn't his teammate but some irrelevant unlucky bastard.
"Don't worry, Choji. That kid once painted the Hokage Rock all over with his pranks and didn't get seriously punished. This time, he's actually the victim. The people at the Police Department aren't stupid."
His teasing tone lightened the mood considerably.
Shikamaru had his hands in his pants pockets, but his brow was slightly furrowed, still pondering the identity of the white-haired man from earlier.
"I feel like I've seen that white-haired guy somewhere before—" He muttered to himself.
As the heir of the Nara Clan, he had been introduced by his father to various aspects of Konoha since childhood, and he had impressions of the portraits or characteristics of some famous figures.
Ino leaned in, asking curiously: "Hinata, you seemed to recognize that guy? Who is he? He looked so scruffy, and he even framed Naruto!"
Hinata blushed and explained quietly: "That was Jiraiya-sama. He is… he is Naruto's… teacher."
When she said 'teacher', her voice dropped even lower, as if she felt the word was a bit contradictory to that buck-passing, fleeing uncle.
"Jiraiya?! Teacher?" Shikamaru suddenly understood. "No wonder! So it was that great figure!"
Jiraiya of the Legendary Sannin was a legendary figure in Konoha, and indeed throughout the entire Ninja World. Although his reputation was somewhat delicate in certain aspects, his overwhelming strength and status were undeniable.
Shikamaru completely relaxed. All that remained was a deep sympathy for Naruto for having such a teacher.
The small disturbance seemed to have subsided. Since the fatigue from the consecutive days of exams hadn't fully dissipated, they decided to head home to rest.
The Ino-Shika-Cho trio said goodbye to Menma and Hinata at the next intersection.
"See you at the exam venue in five days! Menma, Hinata, do your best! If we face each other, we won't go easy on you!" Ino waved energetically.
"Mm, you too," Hinata replied gently.
Choji was still eating chips voraciously, as if trying to make up for all the calories he had burned during the survival exam.
Shikamaru waved weakly, just wanting to go home and lie down flat.
Menma and Hinata walked side by side along the streets, now gradually colored by dusk.
The setting sun stretched their shadows long. The air was filled with the aroma of each household preparing dinner, peaceful and warm.
Hinata seemed to have something on her mind. Her pace slowed slightly, her gaze occasionally glancing toward the shops by the roadside.
"Menma-kun—" As they passed a ninja tool shop with a sign reading [Ten-Ten-Ten] in large characters, Hinata gently tugged Menma's sleeve.
"Hmm?" Menma stopped and turned to her. "What is it, Hinata?"
Hinata looked a bit embarrassed, lowering her head, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz: "Um… I wanted to go in and buy some new ninja tools and scrolls. I used up a lot during the second exam. I need to replenish and prepare for the third one."
Menma nodded understandingly, reached out, and ruffled her hair… the motion natural and affectionate. "Yeah, that's a good idea. I've used up quite a few explosive tags and special kunai myself. We can stock up together."
Although the tactics of Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique combined with explosive tags were highly effective, the consumption was also extremely staggering… a true 'pay-to-win' style that ordinary Genin simply couldn't afford.
The two pushed open the glass door of the ninja tool shop. The bell on the door let out a crisp jingle.
The interior of the shop was much wider than it appeared from outside. The walls were hung with various kinds of kunai, shuriken, senbon, and kusarigama. The counter held neatly arranged explosive tags of different grades, smoke bombs, flash bombs, and sealing scrolls. The air was thick with the distinctive mixed smell of metal, ink, and leather.
However, the atmosphere inside the shop was not as usual.
Behind the counter, sitting on a chair, was a girl in a pink training outfit with her hair in two buns.
She bowed her head, quietly sobbing, her shoulders gently heaving. White bandages and a simple splint were wrapped around her left calf... she was clearly quite injured.
Her parents, a kind-faced and unpretentious middle-aged couple, were speaking with looks of concern and gratitude to the two young Ninja standing in front of the counter.
One of them was wearing a green jumpsuit, with a bowl cut and thick eyebrows.
He was currently clenching his fists, tears in his eyes, but still trying hard to stand up straight, attempting to convey positive energy.
The other was a girl with a gentle, delicate, and somewhat frail demeanor, wearing a pale lavender kimono, long brown hair reaching her shoulders, her complexion somewhat pale.
They were Rock Lee and Kurama Yakumo.
"—This time, we really have to thank Lee and Yakumo. Otherwise, Tenten—" Tenten's mother wiped the corner of her eye, speaking to Lee and Yakumo.
"We've caused you trouble, and you even failed the exam because of it—"
Yakumo quickly waved her hand, her voice soft but firm: "Please don't say that, Auntie. It was our lack of strength that dragged Tenten down. If it weren't for Tenten's experience, we might have… and besides, Tenten got hurt protecting me."
She looked at Tenten with apologetic eyes.
"Exactly!" Lee suddenly wiped his eyes, gave Tenten, who was still sobbing, a thumbs-up, flashed his shiny teeth, and spoke loudly in his passionate tone.
"Tenten! Don't cry! The path of Youth is always strewn with thorns and failures! This setback is precisely what will allow us to blossom with even more dazzling light next year!"
"I've decided! Starting today, I will train even harder! First, I'll walk home on my hands, then do three hundred push-ups! If I can't finish, I'll punish myself by doing five hundred sit-ups! That is the vow of youth!"
This declaration of an astonishing training volume left Tenten's parents stunned, their sadness somewhat diluted, replaced only by the helpless sweat of not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Hearing the bell, Tenten looked up, wiped her red eyes with the back of her hand, and saw Menma and Hinata standing at the door.
She sniffled, trying to make her voice sound normal: "Lee, Yakumo, thank you for seeing me home… I'm fine, just a bit frustrated. You've been tired for days too. Go back and get some good rest."
Seeing this, Yakumo knew Tenten needed some time alone. She also noticed the new customers.
She politely bowed slightly to Tenten's parents: "Uncle, Auntie, we'll take our leave then. Tenten, take good care of your injury. I'll come see you again tomorrow."
Yakumo walked to the door, passing right by Menma and Hinata as they pushed it open.
Her footsteps paused slightly. Her gaze lingered on Menma's face for a moment.
In that instant, deep within her pupils, something seemed to tremble slightly.
'That boy—'
'The aura on him—'
Yakumo's fingers unconsciously tightened, gripping the edge of her sketchbook.
That aura reminded her of a person.
No, not a person.
It was a monster named 'Ido'.
The monster that had been born from within her heart, that had once killed her parents!
But it was only an instant.
Menma nodded to her, giving a simple greeting.
Yakumo snapped back to reality, managed a forced smile, nodded back, and then hurried out.
"Oh! This is Youth! Parting is also for an even more passionate reunion!" Lee shouted again, immediately performing a neat handstand right there in the shop, his hands firmly planted on the ground.
"So, Tenten, Uncle, Auntie, I'm off! See you tomorrow!" Then, maintaining that handstand, he 'walked' out of the ninja tool shop with astonishing balance and speed, drawing stares from passersby on the street.
Tenten's parents watched these two young people, vastly different in personality yet equally sincere, leave. A complex expression appeared on their faces… gratitude for their daughter's teammates, mixed with regret over the exam results.
They then noticed Menma and Hinata and quickly put on their professional sales smiles: "Ah, welcome. Dear customers, what can we get for you? Kunai, shuriken, or explosive tags? Our shop recently got a shipment of special senbon with excellent Chakra Conductivity—"
Menma's gaze withdrew from the shop entrance and fell on Tenten, who was behind the counter with red-rimmed eyes, trying to put on a brave face.
Many years ago, when he had just recovered some of his strength, he had 'borrowed' various ninja tools worth over fifteen million ryo from Tenten's family shop.
Although he had later secretly returned an equivalent amount of money to the shop's underground warehouse…
Still, the quality of Tenten's family's ninja tools was indeed excellent, and they were very comfortable to use.
So, after graduating, he had often come here to purchase supplies... he was a regular customer.
He glanced at Tenten's injured leg, then thought of Lee and Yakumo, who had just left.
Lee's Taijutsu was undisputed, and Yakumo's Kekkei Genkai had terrifying potential, even capable of interfering with reality.
A team like that, logically speaking, should not be weak. How had they been eliminated in the second round?
But on second thought, there were many strong teams this year. Their team's original core, Hyuga Neji, had long since defected from Konoha with his father, Hyuga Hizashi, and gone to the Land of Stars.
Without that genius's Byakugan and calm team command ability, and with the replacement Yakumo, though powerful in Genjutsu, having a weak body as a shortcoming, the teamwork and tactics might also be problematic.
In the complex environment of the Forest of Death, encountering a strong enemy or being hard-countered, leading to failure, was not surprising.
"We'll look around ourselves first," Menma said to Tenten's parents with a smile, gesturing for them not to hurry.
He took Hinata to browse slowly among the shelves, but his gaze occasionally drifted toward the girl behind the counter.
Hinata also noticed Tenten's low spirits. As a fellow female, and both Genin who had experienced the brutal exam in the Forest of Death, she could understand the bitterness of giving it their all and still failing.
She quietly tugged Menma's sleeve, her eyes inquiring, as if asking whether they should comfort Tenten.
Menma shook his head slightly. They had no prior connection. Going over might instead make Tenten feel more awkward.
When Menma and Hinata had bought their ninja tools and walked out of Tenten's family shop, the sky had already darkened.
And a few streets away, inside a courtyard used to accommodate foreign guests, Shisui was in his study, listening to reports from Karin, Gaara, and the others about the second exam.
"Alright, go get some good rest now. No matter which team you draw in the third exam, they will all be strong opponents," Shisui encouraged the few.
Watching the six young people leave, Shisui sighed, picked up the scroll on the table, and began to read.
After a while, Shisui put down the scroll in his hand and said softly, "They've all gone far away. Come out."
In the darkness, a figure gradually emerged… it was Adult Sasuke, with his single arm.