Chapter 26: First Meeting with Jiraiya
The following day.
Minato Namikaze took Kamishiro and gathered at the gate of Konoha.
Kakashi, Obito, and Rin Nohara came to join them. They were very surprised to see Kamishiro.
Judging from Kamishiro's situation, it seemed that he would act with them.
In their view, Kamishiro was an undercover agent. They should have kept him under surveillance in Konoha, given him false information, and let him inform the Third Kazekage of Sunagakure Village through that ninja hawk.
Minato Namikaze said to the three of Kakashi with a smile, "The Third Hokage has already agreed. From today on, Kamishiro will act with us. Because I've decided to vouch for Kamishiro. As long as Kamishiro makes contributions to Konoha later, then he will join Konoha and truly become a part of us in Konoha."
"Although Kamishiro was a ninja from Sunagakure Village before, I hope you guys can treat him as a real comrade."
The three of Kakashi nodded. They thought that Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze must have some special arrangements for Kamishiro, which was why they brought him along.
"Then let's set off."
Kamishiro, Kakashi, Obito, and Rin Nohara followed Minato Namikaze to the Land of Hot Water.
Six days later.
Kamishiro and his group arrived at Konoha's camp in the Land of Hot Water.
In Konoha's camp in the Land of Hot Water, the commanders were Orochimaru and Jiraiya.
Actually, Tsunade was also there. However, due to her hematophobia, she couldn't fight directly, and she was also afraid of blood, so she couldn't perform treatments.
So Tsunade was mainly here to guide the medical ninjas in treating the wounded.
As the commanders, Orochimaru and Jiraiya didn't participate in the minor battles directly.
After all, the current minor battles with the ninjas from Kumogakure were just small fries, and it wasn't time for them to join the battles directly yet.
Moreover, in their view, the Third Ninja World War was just around the corner, and Konoha was very likely to be targeted by multiple ninja villages.
So now the Sannin of Konoha were just temporarily gathered together. Once the full - scale war officially broke out, they would separate and fight on their own.
When Jiraiya saw his favorite disciple come back, a smile immediately appeared on his face. He walked up to Minato Namikaze and patted him on the shoulder, "Minato, you're finally back. Those guys from Kumogakure got excited and counterattacked us as if they had taken stimulants after they found out you were gone."
Minato Namikaze apologized, "Something happened, which led to the exposure of my mission in The Land of Rivers. I'm really sorry for causing you guys trouble, Jiraiya - sensei."
Jiraiya waved his hand, "It's okay. Orochimaru led a group of ninja troops to launch a surprise attack on the Kumogakure camp, forcing them to defend their base. The enemy's offensive has been defused."
While Minato Namikaze was talking to Jiraiya, Kamishiro was also curiously sizing up Jiraiya.
Kamishiro thought Jiraiya was kinda perverted, but unexpectedly, he looked quite handsome at first sight.
Jiraiya also turned his gaze to Kamishiro and asked Minato Namikaze, "Yo, Minato, who's this kid?"
Minato Namikaze explained to Jiraiya, "I saved this kid when I was in The Land of Rivers. Originally, Sunagakure Village and Iwagakure planned to form an alliance. They wanted to sacrifice this kid with Kekkei Genkai to exchange for some military supplies from Iwagakure. This would be used as proof of the alliance.
However, our comrades in The Land of Rivers learned about The Plan in advance. Coincidentally, I was also there then, so I intercepted the kid.
Now the kid is with me and will act with Kakashi and the others."
Jiraiya looked at Kamishiro in surprise. "Oh? Kekkei Genkai... Sunagakure Village is really generous, using Kekkei Genkai to form an alliance with Iwagakure."
Kamishiro timidly greeted Jiraiya. "H, hello, Lord Jiraiya."
Jiraiya was surprised. "Oh? You recognize me?"
Before Kamishiro could answer, Minato Namikaze helplessly addressed him as "Teacher Jiraiya..."
Jiraiya felt a bit embarrassed.
Right, Minato Namikaze had just addressed him as Teacher Jiraiya.
Minato Namikaze said to Kakashi and the other two, "You guys take Kamishiro to find an empty tent to stay in. I'll have a private chat with Teacher Jiraiya."
Kakashi and the other two led Kamishiro away. Jiraiya stared at Kamishiro's retreating back and asked, "Minato, is it okay? Is there any Mondai?"
Minato Namikaze naturally knew what Jiraiya was asking. He didn't answer immediately but said, "Teacher Jiraiya, let's talk in your tent."
Jiraiya immediately realized that there might be something wrong with Kamishiro. So he went to his tent with Minato Namikaze.
Minato Namikaze said to Jiraiya, "Teacher Jiraiya, that kid is an undercover agent sent by Sunagakure Village to our Konoha."
Jiraiya wasn't surprised because he had already guessed this possibility on the way to the tent.
Jiraiya asked, "Since you brought this kid here, you should have told the Third Hokage about this when you were in Konoha, right? Did the Third Hokage tell you to bring this kid here?"
Minato Namikaze shook his head. "No, I applied to the Third Hokage."
Jiraiya was confused. "You applied on your own? Why? Is this kid special?"
Minato Namikaze told Jiraiya the whole story.
After hearing it, Jiraiya showed an interested expression. "So that's how it is. If a highly talented ninja with the Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai joins Konoha, it'll indeed be a good thing for us. But Minato, are you sure you can make that kid accept Konoha?"
Minato Namikaze showed a gentle smile. "I believe I can do it. The biggest Mondai with Kamishiro is that he lacks a sense of security. As long as we treat him well, make him feel the warmth he never felt in Sunagakure Village, and give him a sense of security. I believe Kamishiro will accept Konoha."
Jiraiya saw how confident Minato Namikaze was and firmly believed that he could achieve it. At the same time, he felt a little proud because Minato was his outstanding disciple.
Minato Namikaze asked, "So, Jiraiya-sensei, what's the current situation in the Land of Hot Water?"
Jiraiya told Minato Namikaze, "Although the Cloud Ninjas launched an attack while you were away, after Orochimaru defused it, they've been much better - behaved. But how long they'll stay like that, I don't know."
"This war is the stage for your young generation. Now, in the eyes of the Cloud Ninjas, your name, Minato, represents an invincible existence. Maybe after this war, your title of the Yellow Flash could even outshine that of the Sannin."
Minato Namikaze sighed. "Actually, it'd be nice to be unknown, as it means peace."
Hearing Minato Namikaze's words, Jiraiya sighed and said, "That's true. After all, our titles were earned through battles."