Seeing Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yuhi, Might Guy, and many other familiar faces whose names he couldn't immediately recall, Jiraiya noticed how upbeat they all were. They looked like they were already preparing to bring souvenirs for a get-together, so he chose not to mention the two missions Naruto had just received.
The person he really needed to find was the original proctor for the second stage of the Chūnin Exams, Anko Mitarashi.
At that moment, having just heard the news about Rin, Anko—one of the only three girls from their Academy year—was completely overwhelmed by emotion. She was crying uncontrollably, shoveling dango into her mouth at more than three times her usual speed.
Kurenai Yuhi tried to comfort her, but it was completely useless.
The sight of her crying while eating was so intense that even Jiraiya, who always fancied himself a "gentleman," couldn't help feeling a bit put off.
Still, what needed to be said had to be said. Jiraiya gestured for Anko to wipe her tears.
"I heard Orochimaru once placed a special cursed seal on you."
The moment he brought it up, the tearful Anko's expression twisted into something fierce.
"When you see Minato, make sure you have him check it for you," Jiraiya continued. "Also, according to reliable information, Orochimaru has set his sights on a new target in Konoha to place a cursed seal on. We'll need you to share what you know about cursed seals. That shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Anko snapped the bamboo skewer in her hand.
The betrayal by the mentor she had once respected was still painfully vivid in her mind. Every time she thought of it, it hurt just as much as before.
"If he dares to come back to Konoha…"
The surge of rage in her eyes made her killing intent unmistakable.
Jiraiya warned her solemnly, "I hate to say this, but that guy is far beyond what you can handle. Don't overestimate yourself."
He swept his gaze over everyone present.
"You're all Konoha's most important young combat strength right now. The task of nurturing the next generation still rests on your shoulders. Don't let impulse make you lose sight of the bigger picture."
Anko nodded.
When the perverted old man in front of them got serious, he really was one of the three people they genuinely respected most—Jiraiya-sama.
Of course, that respect didn't apply when running into him near the women's bathhouse.
"Speaking of which, Jiraiya-sama…" Genma Shiranui, who had once served as a bodyguard to the Fourth Hokage, hesitated for a long time before finally asking, "That Naruto Uzumaki… is he really Minato-sama and Kushina-sama's child?"
Jiraiya was instantly at a loss for words.
"Are you all idiots?" he said bluntly. "He already has the Uzumaki surname, the same blond hair and blue eyes as Minato. Don't tell me none of you ever even considered that possibility."
It was practically a roundabout admission.
Raidō Namiashi, Aoba Yamashiro, Genma Shiranui, and everyone else present all looked a little stunned.
Aoba Yamashiro sighed helplessly. "But the Third Hokage said he was a newly discovered orphan of the Uzumaki clan…"
Jiraiya wanted to say they should only take half of the old man's words seriously, but considering that the old man was still the Hokage, he decided to spare him some dignity.
Ibiki Morino and Anko Mitarashi, as the chief examiners for the first two stages of the exams, also found themselves recalling that blond kid who had left such a strong impression on them.
Ibiki Morino pressed a hand to his forehead.
"That kid left a very strong impression on me. Out of all the examinees I've ever proctored, he's the only one who handed in a completely blank test and still passed."
"A blank sheet?" Kurenai Yuhi froze. "The written exam is always difficult, but not to the point where you can't answer a single question, right?"
"It's really hard to imagine he has the Fourth Hokage-sama's genes," Asuma Sarutobi said. "That kid kind of reminds me of Obito Uchiha from our class back then. I heard from Shikamaru that he's also an idiot who keeps shouting about becoming Hokage all day long."
Ebisu, who had once looked down on Naruto Uzumaki and had been torn up about it ever since, pushed up the small black sunglasses on his face.
"You can't say that, Asuma-sama! Naruto Uzumaki is the biological son of the Fourth Hokage-sama! How could he possibly be compared to that dead-last, bottom-of-the-class Obito Uchiha?! They're not even on the same level in terms of status, hahahaha!"
The moment Ebisu finished speaking, everyone else felt a wave of nausea, as if they had just swallowed something vile.
Asuma covered his face.
Why had he ever thought it was a good idea to invite this guy along?
But there was nothing to be done. They were all from the same generation. If you invited some and not others…
What a pain.
Wait. When did he start talking like Shikamaru?
Must have been infected by that kid's constant "what a drag" from all those chess games and conversations.
Seeing that no one responded, Ebisu looked even more awkward and tried to say something else to draw attention.
At that moment, Might Guy's voice suddenly rang out from behind him.
"I'd advise you not to say things like that in front of Kakashi…"
"Huh?" Ebisu adjusted his sunglasses again.
Might Guy warned him with unusual seriousness. "I'm terrible at remembering faces, so I don't even remember who you are. But the name Obito Uchiha holds special meaning for Kakashi."
"If you dare repeat what you just said in front of Kakashi, I guarantee you'll regret it…"
After a brief pause, as Kakashi Hatake's closest friend and lifelong rival, Might Guy spoke again, his tone firm and familiar.
"Actually, don't say it even when Kakashi isn't around. No matter what Obito Uchiha was like before, his name is engraved on the Memorial Stone. He was a hero who sacrificed his life to save Kakashi!"
He struck an intensely passionate pose.
"I, Might Guy, the Green Beast of Konoha, will not allow you to slander the honor of such a hero!"
"Ugh…"
Ebisu staggered back and immediately backed down without another word. One leg sweep from this muscle-brained maniac and he'd be lying in Konoha Hospital for at least a week.
"Alright, alright, let's drop this topic," Asuma said, cigarette in his mouth like his father's. He clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention. "Let's hurry up and get going. If we're too late and everyone's already done eating, what's the point of getting together?"
"It's just a shame the Fourth Hokage-sama showing up in Konoha would be a bit too eye-catching… cough, cough… Otherwise we could've booked out Yakiniku Q… cough…"
Hayate Gekkō, who looked sickly as ever, sounded like he might pass out just from speaking a few sentences.
"Give me a break," Asuma said. "If we gather at Yakiniku Q, we'll probably run into those brats from our class. Then our students will start showing up one after another. Who's paying the bill? You?"
Hayate tugged at the corner of his mouth and smiled faintly. "I've got a girlfriend to support. I'm not paying."
"Bastard! Don't I have a girlfriend too?!"
Watching the two of them show off like that, the rest of the ninja from their generation could only suffer in silence.
"Why didn't I see Iruka Umino?" someone asked.
Ninja who were within four years of age and had reached the rank of Chūnin or above were generally considered to be from the same generation, since they often carried out missions together after graduating from the Academy.
"He said he had lessons to prepare and declined," Asuma replied.
"What's with that? Even lesson prep doesn't have to be done today, does it?"
"He's always been like that. Shy like a dolphin."
"That's not youthful at all! He looks older than us!"
Might Guy made a decision on the spot.
"You all go ahead! I'll drag him over myself!"
"Fine."
...
A large group of Konoha's current pillars set off together toward Kakashi Hatake's old family home.
From far away, they could already see the old house sitting at the edge where forest met farmland.
"So this is Kakashi's childhood home?"
"None of us have ever been here before."
"That building next door looks brand new. It must've been built not long ago."
"The style kind of resembles the jōnin apartments in Konoha. Is Kakashi's place too small now?"
They were all a little confused.
If there were only four extra people, it shouldn't be that crowded. Did they really need to build such a large new residence?
"Could it be that Kakashi is planning a side business? Like opening a guesthouse or something?"
Kakashi's old family home was located beside the farmland outside Konoha. Even if he wanted to run a guesthouse, all he needed to do was report it to the Hokage. It wasn't directly under Konoha's jurisdiction.
As they chatted, the group carrying gifts arrived near the estate.
Before they even reached the house, they spotted ordinary civilians working in the fields.
A long-haired young person with delicate features noticed them and gave them a gentle smile.
"Wow, what a cute girl."
"Huh? Isn't that a boy?"
"A girl… right?"
"No way. Someone this cute can't be a guy."
Several single Konoha ninja exchanged looks with one another.
They watched as the young person lifted a watermelon out of the field and spoke to them.
"Are you here to see Kakashi-san? Everyone's here already. You can just go inside. Captain Yamato will bring the watermelon over later."
Huh?
Everyone froze.
Had Kakashi's guesthouse already started operating?
Or did Kakashi's rumored girlfriend actually exist?
But judging by her age… wasn't she a bit young? She looked only fifteen or sixteen at most.
Standing in front of the Hatake family home, the Konoha jōnin and special jōnin looked at one another in confusion.
Just then…
Captain Yamato, who had been working hard in the fields using Wood Release, walked over.
Beside him was Zabuza, with Haku following along.
"Kakashi-senpai is in the forest training his students for the third stage of the Chūnin Exams," Yamato said politely. "Are you here to see him?"
Asuma and the others, who had been confused from start to finish, stared at the man in front of them. He wore a mask and standard jōnin attire. Standing next to him was a man with no eyebrows and a perpetually fierce-looking face.
Especially Asuma. He felt like he had seen that intimidating man somewhere before.
"What are you staring at?" Zabuza snapped impatiently. "If you're not going in, then move. Why are you blocking the road?"
As he spoke, a mouthful of jagged teeth, characteristic of the Land of Water, was exposed.
"!!!"
Anko immediately drew her kunai.
"You're a ninja from Kirigakure?!"
The atmosphere instantly tensed. Genma Shiranui and Hayate Gekkō both went on alert as well.
Zabuza didn't even bother looking at them. Instead, he calmly asked Haku whether they should grab a few more watermelons. If they didn't eat them soon, they'd rot in the field.
Yamato, as the leader responsible for former missing-nin, quickly stepped between both sides and presented the document personally approved by the Hokage.
"They actually approved this?!" Asuma exclaimed, inspecting the document carefully. "Is the old man… alright?"
After confirming that it was genuine, Asuma sighed.
"Shouldn't the old man just retire already, go home to grow flowers, and hold his grandkids?"
"Hey, isn't Konohamaru already his grandson?"
"You and Kurenai should hurry up and give the Third Hokage another grandson. Then he really should step down."
Two voices came from behind Asuma and the others.
One clearly belonged to Naruto Uzumaki.
But the second voice…
Asuma and the others thought they were hearing things.
That calm yet proud tone.
That sharp, cutting way of speaking.
"Kakashi?!!"
Everyone turned around.
Dressed in a dark-blue, youth-style ninja outfit, wearing a mask, with silver-white hair sticking up like a broom, and standing not even chest-high compared to them…
Wasn't that Hatake Kakashi as a teenager?!
And beside him—
"Yo!"
A black-haired boy in a navy tracksuit, orange goggles worn over his Konoha forehead protector, raised his index and middle fingers to his temple before flicking them forward.
"Genma, Hayate, Aoba, Raido, Asuma… and… Kurenai and Anko!"