Part 4 : Jiraya, Tsunade and Orochimaru
I was racing through the village of Konoha. I made the ferns rustle as I leapt from tree to tree. Finally, I reached a large clearing, where they were waiting for me.
— Master! You're late again!» someone exclaimed.
— Sorry... I've been really busy...» I replied.
I jumped down from the top of the tree I had climbed, then joined those who were waiting for me. They were my students, three genin who had only just graduated from the Konoha Ninja Academy.
The first one, who was tapping his foot and had just shouted at me a moment ago, clearly impatient, was none other than Jiraya Hagoromo. He was one of the last remaining members of the Hagoromo clan, a solitary clan that had formed an alliance with ours because it had become too weak to survive against Kiri, its neighbour.
Jiraya was a boy who could be described as hyperactive. He wasn't at all cut out for the ninja world, both in terms of his character and his rather limited potential, in my opinion, but he had a big heart, and I was in the best position to know that that made all the difference.
The second was none other than the granddaughter and grandniece of the two previous Hokage, Tsunade Senju. I had sworn on the grave of the First Hokage that I would do everything in my power to keep her safe. It was therefore my duty to train her personally.
Originally, as Hokage, I wasn't supposed to have any students. But Master Tobirama had passed a law a few years earlier requiring one to have been a teacher in order to be appointed Hokage. This made sense, as it ensured a certain level of experience with the ninja world. But I had never been one. So we had to find a way around it.
But the other main reason for this was simply that I wanted to teach Tsunade, in keeping with the promise I'd made to myself. So I had no choice, and besides, it was what I wanted anyway.
Tsunade was a fairly sociable young woman. She had lots of friends. This was largely down to her convictions. She had always been able to say out loud what everyone else was thinking to themselves. A real go-getter and a true leader. I sensed she would be the next Hokage, just like her ancestors.
And the last one, standing a little further back, was none other than Orochimaru. He didn't belong to any particular clan. In fact, he had always lived alone. His parents had died in all those wars, and as a result, he had never really known them and had never been able to belong to a clan.
He was a quiet boy, always lost in thought. You'd think he couldn't care less about anything. Yet, I can assure you, there was no one more curious than him. He was constantly asking questions whenever he spoke. Clearly, apart from this curiosity about the world around him, the rest mattered little to him.
— Master! You're daydreaming! We're waiting!» Jiraiya exclaimed.
I snapped out of my thoughts and resumed my usual teaching manner.
— Right, today we're going to practise using kunai properly. I've noticed that some of you are struggling in this area, so this will be a chance to iron out a few flaws.» I announced.
Orochimaru and Tsunade turned to Jiraiya. He shot me a dark look. I think he knew who this training concerned most...
— It's pointless. This training is utterly useless... Can't we learn some new ninjutsu techniques instead?» Orochimaru replied calmly.
— Yeah! That suits me better too!» Jiraiya exclaimed.
— No wonder, apart from ninjutsu, you're rubbish at everything else!» Tsunade sneered at her comrade.
— Nonsense! I'm very good at taijutsu!
You mean your childish 'karate holds'? They're more ridiculous than anything else.»
— I'm going to kill you! You're lucky you're a girl!»
— What difference does that make? What's the difference…?»
— Well…» Jiraya didn't know what to say «Anyway! You're a pain!»
— A real kid…» she snapped.
— Bitch!»
— Idiot!»
— Eh...»
— Retard.»
— Moron!»
— Are you talking to yourself?»
— That's enough!!!» I shouted «Are you two done bickering?! You'll end up in detention if this carries on!»
They both fell silent. Jiraiya stared at the floor, furious, whilst Tsunade continued to glare at him with disdain. Meanwhile, Orochimaru stood there calmly, arms folded, as if nothing had happened.
Honestly... They were truly incorrigible. I certainly hadn't been given the easiest kids to handle... But then again, I was bound to get the hang of it eventually...
— Right. We'll do as I said. And the next person who opens their mouth to complain will be tied to a post and won't get a snack.»
All three of them agreed anyway.
I set up the training ground so they could practise. Then they started training. Orochimaru was sparring with Tsunade using kunai, whilst Jiraiya was practising on his own against a post.
— That's not fair! he protested.»
— Hey, remind me what I said earlier?» I replied.
He gave me a dirty look and carried on throwing kunai at the post, missing every single one.
It has to be said that Jiraya probably didn't like me very much… I punished him very often for his insolence, and, being by far the weakest in the group, he felt rejected.
Unfortunately, with all my work as Hokage, I didn't really have the chance to help him. We really need to find a way.
The battle between Tsunade and Orochimaru seemed to be going well. Tsunade was able to throw her kunai with immense force, making her throws extremely fast. Orochimaru, on the other hand, threw his kunai with greater precision, with pinpoint accuracy.
Both were highly skilled and each made the most of their strengths. Eventually, Orochimaru managed to hit Tsunade.
— 3-0!» Orochimaru said calmly.
— It's fine! Don't make a big deal out of it! I'm not in the best of form today!» protested Tsunade.
At the start, Tsunade was by far the strongest in the group, but gradually, Orochimaru seemed to be gaining the upper hand. He was making rapid progress.
— That's one!» Tsunade exclaimed.
— 3-1.» Orochimaru announced calmly.
I turned away from the two fighters to look at Jiraiya. He'd managed to land a kunai in the meantime, but it still wasn't right. I could see him throwing his kunai with all his might, shouting "Raaah!!!" and missing every time. He was trying too hard.
I walked over to him. He turned around and looked at me, frowning.
— I can't take it anymore! It's never-ending! I hate kunai!» he groaned.
— You're not doing it right.» I explained to him.
— I just don't think I'm cut out for this.» he protested.
— Come on... You'll never pass the genin exams if you don't get the hang of this.»
— It doesn't matter! I'll become the most powerful ninja anyway!»
— I'm not so sure about that... But I can help you.»
I moved closer to him and picked up one of his kunai that was stuck in the ground.
— You're holding it wrong.» I explained «showing him the correct stance. You're holding it as if you're about to throw a punch. But you need to make a quick, precise throw. What's more, you're putting far too much force into your attack, without paying much attention to where it's going. You need to concentrate more, and then you'll get better results. Take a leaf out of Orochimaru's book. You don't have Tsunade's strength, so there's no point in overdoing it.»
He was looking at me strangely.
— Didn't you understand what I said, then?» I muttered.
— It was too long!» he complained.
— If you don't make an effort... you'll never get there... Right, I'll explain it to you again, more simply.»
I twirled the kunai in my hand, then got into a throwing stance to show him. If he was struggling to find the right words, it was better to demonstrate with gestures.
Suddenly, I came to a sudden halt. I'd sensed a presence very close by. Then, all of a sudden, I heard a scream.
— Master! There are men over there!» cried Tsunade. «They're not from around here!»
I leapt in the direction from which the new chakra signals were coming. Crossing the clearing from tree to tree, I came to a halt facing the enemy. Judging by their chakra and their headbands... it was the village of Ame.
Them again! It just wouldn't end... They'd already attempted a coup against me with the help of certain members of the Shimura clan, and now they were invading the village once more...
Despite everything, I kept my cool. I didn't want to make matters worse. I'd rather not provoke a war unnecessarily. Especially knowing that the village had been weakened since the First Great Ninja War and the death of the Second Hokage.
— What brings you here?» I asked them.
A ninja stepped forward. He was a young man, clad in silver armour, which made him stand out clearly from the others.
— Who are you?» I snapped at him.
— I am Hanzo the Salamander, the new Amekage of the village of Ame. I have come to reclaim what is rightfully ours.» he growled.
He didn't look like someone to mess with... Great... I now understand why Ame had attacked me. They'd changed their leader, and consequently, their objectives.
But why so much hostility? Especially as they weren't in a good position; given recent events, it wasn't the best choice...
— What are your motives?» I asked.
— We want revenge for what the new Hokage has put us through. We'll kill as many of your men as you've killed of ours.»
I finally understood... But it was ridiculous... They were the ones who'd attacked first... I found myself in a very difficult situation.
— It was you who attacked us... And you're lucky we didn't fight back.»
— That's right... Stop with your lies. If you didn't fight back, it's because you're weakened. And that's why you killed our men, to wipe us out. So, we're going to wipe you out!» shouted the man called Hanzo.
And then, as if in response to his shout, a horde of Ame ninjas charged towards me, determined to kill me.
📖To be Continued...📖