Jiraiya's Instructions Before Departure
Jiraiya crossed his arms, looking at the two before him with a more serious expression than usual.
"Next, I need both of you to follow me for… two months."
Satoru and Eren simultaneously raised their heads.
"Two months?" Satoru frowned. He hadn't heard Jiraiya mention this before.
Jiraiya nodded, his gaze flashing with an unreadable expression. "After that, I'll be taking on a classified mission from the Hokage and leaving the village."
A gentle breeze passed through, carrying the scent of wood and the crisp night air from the distant trees.
Jiraiya suddenly smiled, but unlike his usual carefree grin, this one held a quiet understanding.
"A ninja can never promise to meet again tomorrow. Because we never truly know if we'll still be alive when that time comes."
His words left both Satoru and Eren silent.
Eren felt a deep resonance with that statement. In his previous world, this was a truth he had lived by. One day you stand side by side, and the next, your comrade is nothing more than a cold corpse.
Satoru understood too, but he disliked dwelling on such heavy thoughts.
Jiraiya suddenly burst into laughter, scratching his head as if to lighten the mood. "Haha! I just said that to make sure you two don't slack off! Alright, starting tomorrow, you'll enter a grueling training period!"
He planted his hands on the table, voice full of energy.
"Make sure you settle everything before we leave! Satoru, go ask the Hokage for a two-month leave! Just tell him the Great Perverted Sage demands it!"
Satoru felt a shiver run down his spine. "What kind of hellish training are you planning?"
Jiraiya didn't answer, only flashing a mysterious grin.
Eren remained silent, but deep inside, he felt something stir.
Training…
Perhaps this was his chance to grow stronger.
Jiraiya clapped both of them on the back. "Go home! We meet at sunrise!"
Satoru and Eren bowed before leaving the small house in the bamboo forest.
---
**Returning to Konoha – The Thoughts of Two Brothers**
Walking down the village streets, the moonlight filtered through the trees, stretching their shadows along the dirt path.
Satoru folded his arms, looking up at the sky with distant eyes.
Eren walked beside him, hands in his pockets, gaze locked forward, but his mind was swirling with thoughts.
The battle with Yashiro earlier had opened his eyes.
The fights in this world were completely different from what he had known. Here, it wasn't just about raw strength—it was about tactics, precision, and rules he had yet to understand.
He wanted to grow stronger.
Not for fame.
Not for power.
But because he refused to lose those he cared about ever again.
Eren clenched his fist.
Satoru… my brother…
My family…
---
**At the Inn Entrance – Friends Waiting**
As they neared the inn, an unexpected sight greeted them.
Three small figures crouched at the entrance.
Kakashi, Obito, and Gai.
Obito was the first to notice them, jumping up and waving excitedly.
"SENSEI! SENSEI! We've been waiting for you and Eren!"
Kakashi and Gai also smiled, their eyes filled with anticipation.
Satoru blinked. "You were waiting for me? What's going on?"
Obito grinned, pulling out a bag beside him.
"We couldn't let Sensei go hungry! We knew you wouldn't be satisfied with just eating out, so we brought food over!"
Gai nodded enthusiastically. "Sensei! The fire of youth must be fueled with good food!"
Kakashi crossed his arms, his usual calm tone carrying warmth. "No matter how busy you are, Sensei, don't forget to stop by. We always save a meal for you."
Satoru stood still for a long moment, feeling an unfamiliar warmth spread through his chest.
He looked inside and saw the table already set—rice, steamed wild chicken, and salt-grilled chicken.
A simple yet heartfelt dinner under the warm glow of lantern light.
---
**Eren and the Memory of a Loved One**
Eren stood beside them, quietly observing everything.
His brother…
He was truly loved here.
Unknowingly, he thought of Mikasa.
A girl who had always waited for him, always cared for him, always looked after him—even when he had refused to acknowledge it.
Eren tightened his fist.
Perhaps… he had been too used to doing everything alone.
But in this world, he wasn't alone anymore.
---
**A Warm Dinner**
Satoru hesitated, then chuckled lightly, about to refuse.
"You guys shouldn't waste time bringing me food. You should be training instead—"
Before he could finish, his stomach let out a loud *grumble*…
All three students turned to stare at him.
Satoru's face turned red. He had only eaten three bowls of ramen today!
And as a teacher, he was still broke, now responsible for feeding his jobless older brother, Eren.
Tears welled up…
Satoru dramatically embraced his three students.
"You guys… are too good to me!!!"
Only Gai hugged him back, while Obito and Kakashi quickly dodged as if avoiding a plague.
Obito yelled, "Sensei! That's too much! I'm reconsidering having you as my teacher!"
Kakashi nodded solemnly. "I agree with Obito."
Despite their protests, all three genuinely cherished Satoru.
Eren, standing a little to the side, felt the cold walls around his heart soften just a little.
A small, almost imperceptible smile formed on his lips.
---
**A Peaceful Night Under the Moonlight**
Under the soft moonlight, the five of them gathered around the meal, enjoying the warm taste of home-cooked food.
This world was vastly different from the one Eren had left behind.
But…
The one thing that remained unchanged was the warmth of family, the strength of friendship.
At times, Satoru would glance up at the sky, his gaze deep in thought.
He still couldn't understand…
Why did a world so rich and peaceful still have to be drowned in conflict?
**END OF CHAPTER 65.**