June tenth.
Lock and Kakashi parted ways in front of the Hokage Building, both freshly assigned to their new teams.
Lock had assumed they might be paired together, but the village had other plans. Their paths, for now, diverged.
"Kakashi, take care," Lock said.
Kakashi's reply was cold and direct. "Lock, I'll become a chūnin faster than you."
The challenge wasn't surprising. Back at the Academy, Lock had beaten him more times than either cared to count. Kakashi rarely spoke of it, but the sting had never left. Now, no longer students, the rivalry could be declared openly.
Lock sighed inwardly. This kid finally shows his edge.
"Chūnin, huh? You'll find it's not that simple to outpace me."
Kakashi's eyes gleamed with pride. "We'll see. Don't regret those words."
With that, the two split—one to the west, one to the south.
Lock's instructions directed him to the southern training grounds, where his new squad awaited. Not daring to dawdle, he quickened his pace.
When he arrived, he nearly froze on the spot.
"...Jiraiya? Namikaze Minato?"
Sure enough, standing there was one of the Legendary Sannin himself, alongside the blond prodigy who would one day shake the shinobi world.
Lock wasn't the only one surprised—Minato blinked at him, brows raised. "Sensei, is this the teammate you mentioned?"
Jiraiya chuckled. "That's right. Old man Hokage's decision. And there's one more on the way—you'll be even more shocked then."
Lock forced his steps forward and bowed respectfully. "Master Jiraiya. Minato-senpai."
"Hah!" Jiraiya barked out a laugh, puffing out his chest. "Didn't expect me to be your squad leader, did you? Life's full of surprises, brat!"
Truth be told, Jiraiya himself hadn't expected it either. As one of the Sannin, he preferred roaming, writing, and—well—research. Babysitting rookies wasn't on his list. But after a long talk with Hiruzen, here he was.
Still, the awe in Lock's face was enough to soothe his irritation.
So it's Jiraiya after all… Lock mused. Strange. The Hokage favors Orochimaru more. If this were about special training, wouldn't he have sent me there?
Puzzling, yes—but also a relief. Orochimaru's mind was a labyrinth. Jiraiya, for all his eccentricities, was far easier to deal with. And his disciples… well, their futures spoke for themselves.
"Fujiwara-kun," Minato greeted warmly. "I didn't expect you to be joining us."
Lock nodded, smiling. "Please guide me, Minato-senpai."
Their respect was mutual. Minato remembered well the assessment spar, and Lock already knew what heights Minato would one day climb. To have him as a comrade—and even a teacher of sorts—was no small fortune.
"Alright, enough chatter," Jiraiya grumbled. "You're both too talkative. Blame that old man for ruining my peaceful days."
In the past, guiding Minato alone had been easy—just a nudge here and there, and the boy grasped the rest himself. Now? Two more mouths to feed, two more kids to wrangle. Jiraiya could already feel his free time evaporating.
Minato, still curious, asked, "But sensei… who's the last teammate? Why aren't they here yet?"
Jiraiya sighed dramatically. "Another headache, that one. Though you might be happy, kid."
Lock and Minato exchanged puzzled looks. Who could make Jiraiya, of all people, sound so conflicted?
With no answer forthcoming, they passed the time talking. Lock seized the chance, peppering Minato with questions about ninjutsu. To his delight, Minato explained with patience and clarity, breaking down concepts better than most instructors. By the end of half an hour, Lock felt as though he had learned more than he had in weeks. His respect for Minato only deepened.
Then, at last, the final member appeared.
Lock blinked, taken aback.
Long, flowing red hair. A confident stride. A presence that instantly changed the air around them.
Minato's face went slack, his lips curling unconsciously into a foolish smile.
Lock's thoughts raced. That hair… that look… wait. No way. This woman—
His eyes widened in disbelief.
—can't be her?
---
A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
Support: patreon.com/Narrator_San