Kurenai Yuhi was convinced she had unraveled a shocking conspiracy. She tugged at Ren's sleeve and whispered, her voice a mix of suspicion and concern, "Ren, don't you think that white-haired man looks exactly like the peeping tom from this morning? He's actually practicing ninjutsu with Jonin Minato? Do you think Jonin Minato was deceived? He always seems so… trusting."
In her mind, Minato's gentle demeanor and his tolerant smiles when teased by Kushina painted him as the classic 'nice guy'—prime fodder for a cunning manipulator.
Ren offered a noncommittal, slightly blank nod. "Uh… now that you mention it, there is a resemblance…"
What else could he say? On the rare occasion Kurenai's deductions were sharp, he might as well play along. She was, after all, his little sister.
Hearing his tepid agreement, Kurenai's sense of righteous indignation flared. "Hmph! That despicable pervert! Come on, Ren, we have to expose him! Even if Jonin Minato wasn't tricked, we can't let him associate with such a person. He'll be corrupted!"
Inspired by Ren's earlier heroic stand, she felt a duty to uphold justice. She couldn't allow a respected jōnin like Minato to be led astray. Exposure was imperative!
Gripping Ren's hand firmly, she marched toward the training ground with determined, angry steps.
Ren, utterly helpless, could only be dragged along in her wake.
They covered the distance quickly. Kurenai didn't waste a second. She pointed an accusatory finger directly at Jiraiya, her tone sharp and unfriendly. "Hmph! You hateful peeping tom! What are you doing here? Trying to trick Jonin Minato?"
She then turned to Minato, her expression earnest and serious. "Jonin Minato, you mustn't get too close to him! He's a pervert! This morning at the hot spring inn, he…"
She launched into a rapid-fire recitation of Jiraiya's alleged crimes, painting a vivid picture of his "vile and wicked" behavior.
Jiraiya, Minato Namikaze: "..."
Minato couldn't help but raise a hand to scratch the back of his head, a wave of profound melancholy washing over him. He shot a sidelong glance at his teacher, at a complete loss for words.
Sigh… what a mess. Couldn't Sensei try to rein it in just a little? How am I, his disciple, supposed to handle this?
"Ha… haha…" Jiraiya let out a strained, dry chuckle. Being publicly called out on his "hobby" by a child was awkward, even for someone of his legendary thick skin. He was still a younger version of himself, not yet the unflappable sage of later years.
There was no way he would admit to it. Without concrete proof, it wasn't him!
Forcing a genial smile, Jiraiya attempted damage control. "Now, now, young friends. I believe you have the wrong person. I've been here with Minato since this morning, diligently practicing ninjutsu. When would I have had time for such… activities?"
He leaned in conspiratorially. "Besides, you may have heard of me…"
He planned to leverage his "illustrious reputation" to salvage his "tarnished reputation."
Kurenai looked skeptical. "Heard of you?"
"HA! HA! HA!" Jiraiya boomed three theatrical laughs, launching into an impromptu and profoundly embarrassing little dance, shaking his head as he spoke. "I am the Gallant White-Haired Warrior! The Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku! One of the Legendary Sannin, whose name echoes across the north, south, east, and west! A dashing fellow so handsome he can make crying infants fall silent in awe…"
After a string of increasingly abstract self-aggrandizements, he stomped a wooden geta on the ground, flicked his long white hair with practiced flair, and struck a proud pose. "It is I! Jiraiya-sama!"
"..."
Ren couldn't help but lift a hand to cover part of his face. The secondhand embarrassment was physically palpable. He'd thought he had a flair for the eccentric, but Konoha truly was a breeding ground for unique talents, each more gloriously unhinged than the last.
"Toad Sage? Jiraiya?" Kurenai tapped her chin, the name sparking recognition. After a moment's thought, her eyes widened in shock. She pointed at him. "You're that Jiraiya-sama? One of the Sannin, as famous as Lady Tsunade?!"
Her personal idol was Tsunade, so she naturally knew of the Sannin. But this… this peeping tom was one of them? Her worldview teetered on the brink. The Sannin were legendary, powerful, dignified figures! How could they possibly…?
"The very same!" Jiraiya laughed heartily, riding the wave of intimidation. Now to seal the deal. He adopted a coaxing tone. "Do you really think someone of my stature, one of the Sannin, would engage in something as base as… peeping?"
Ren, Minato Namikaze: "..."
Yes. Absolutely. And with gusto.
"Hmm…" Kurenai wavered, her certainty shaken. She instinctively glanced at Ren, seeking confirmation. Part of her didn't want it to be true. She had already mentally convicted the man before her. The idea that a Konoha Sannin could be such a pervert was… unacceptable. Toad Sage? More like Pervy Sage!
"I don't know," Ren shrugged, deftly passing the buck. He looked at Minato. "Jonin Minato, is he really Jiraiya-sama of the Sannin?"
"Uh…" Minato offered two painfully awkward chuckles and nodded. "He is my teacher. And he is indeed Jiraiya, one of the Sannin."
As his disciple, he was obligated to provide some cover. He added, "And Sensei has been here practicing with me since morning. He hasn't left the area…"
What else could he do? If his teacher's… proclivities were officially confirmed, the shame would splash onto him as well.
Jiraiya secretly gave his disciple a grateful thumbs-up and nodded vigorously. "Exactly! I've been right here all morning. Minato is my witness!"
"..."
Kurenai felt deeply underestimated.
Even Ren can't fool me that easily anymore, and you think you can? she thought indignantly. Adults are truly despicable! She muttered under her breath, "I'm not three years old…"
The proof was literally written on his face—the subtle puffiness around the eyes his hasty makeup couldn't fully conceal.
Her mutter was quiet, but Minato's sharp hearing caught it. A flush of embarrassment crept up his neck. He swiftly changed the subject, forcing a bright smile. "So, Kurenai, Ren, what brings you two here? Oh, right, today's Sunday, a day off from the academy. Out for a stroll?"
"Yes, just wandering," Ren replied, seizing the lifeline. "Even we need to relax sometimes."
He then expertly redirected the conversation. "By the way, Jonin Minato, is the ninjutsu you're practicing the one you mentioned before? The new one you were developing?"
A genuine, proud smile touched Minato's lips, relieved to discuss his work. "I'm surprised you remembered. It is that technique. Though it's still just a prototype, far from perfected…"