Early the next morning, Aburame Shigeo arrived at the Ninja Academy right on time, as always. He stepped into the classroom, the same one he had entered countless times before.
But this would be the last time he walked in as a student.
His classmates trickled in one after another. When the last student finally entered, the teacher, who had been waiting outside, followed suit.
Behind the teacher were several ninjas wearing Konoha forehead protectors and clad in green flak jackets.
It was clear—they were the Jonin mentors assigned to lead each newly formed squad.
Seeing the gathered Jonin, the students couldn't help but feel excited. Even the usually composed Namikaze Minato showed a flicker of anticipation.
Shigeo smiled faintly at the sight.
"Still just kids, after all."
Unlike the others, Shigeo already knew who Minato's mentor would be—being a fan of the Hokage had its advantages. His excitement was tempered, as long as the story didn't deviate.
One by one, the groups were called, and their Jonin mentors took them away. Soon, only Minato, Shigeo, and Akimichi Kimaru were left in the classroom.
At that moment, a distinctive ninja entered.
Unlike the others, he wasn't wearing a flak jacket but a simple black outfit. However, his striking white hair immediately caught the eye.
The moment Shigeo saw him, he recognized the man and couldn't help but smile.
It was him.
Jiraiya!
Jiraiya grinned brightly at the trio.
"Key characters always make a grand entrance. Hey, kiddos! I'm your Jonin mentor, Jiraiya. Let's get going!"
With that, he led the three out of the classroom to a training ground outside the village. Once there, he turned to them with a smile.
"Alright, kids. Let's start with introductions. Tell us your name, dreams, hobbies—whatever you like. I'll go first!"
He patted his chest confidently.
"I'm Jiraiya. My dream is to become a great author, and my hobby? Hmm, let's just say I appreciate all beautiful things in life. Now, your turn!"
"Yes, sir!"
Minato stood up immediately.
"My name is Namikaze Minato. My dream is to become a Hokage recognized by all the villagers and to protect my comrades. My hobbies are reading and cooking at home."
"Good, good!" Jiraiya nodded approvingly and then looked at Shigeo.
"What about you? Do you want to become Hokage too?"
"No, not at all," Shigeo replied without hesitation.
"I'm well aware of my abilities, and becoming Hokage isn't one of them. But I believe Minato can do it, and I hope to support him in the future. My name is Aburame Shigeo, and my hobby is insects."
"Interesting!" Jiraiya nodded again before turning to Kimaru.
"And you, last but not least?"
Kimaru jumped up excitedly.
"I'm Akimichi Kimaru! My dream is to become the strongest ninja in the Akimichi clan, and my hobby is enjoying all kinds of delicious food!"
"Hahaha!" Jiraiya laughed heartily, nodding in approval.
"Great dreams, all of you. Now that I know more about you, let's begin!"
He pulled two small bells from his belt and dangled them in front of the trio.
"These are your test. Before noon, you must grab these bells from me. Use any method you like. Those who get a bell pass. As for the ones who don't…"
He pointed to the wooden stakes on the edge of the training ground.
"They'll be tied to those stakes and won't get lunch. Now, let's begin!"
"…"
Shigeo smirked. It was the classic Hokage's direct mentorship test.
Reluctantly, he followed Minato and Kimaru, who had already rushed in.
"Parasitic Insects!"
Shigeo raised his hands, sending a swarm of insects toward Jiraiya, intending to block his movements.
But Jiraiya's speed was extraordinary. He evaded the insects with ease, dodging both Minato and Kimaru's attacks, all while laughing gleefully.
"Hahaha! Is this all you've got? At this rate, none of you are getting lunch!"
Just as he gloated, a familiar voice called out.
"Hey, Jiraiya!"
He turned to see a blonde woman standing at the training ground's entrance.
"Tsunade?" he exclaimed, leaping out of the battle zone.
"What brings you here?"
"I wouldn't be here if I had a choice," Tsunade retorted, irritation plain on her face.
"Sarutobi-sensei needs you. Go see him."
She turned on her heel and walked away without waiting for a response.
Jiraiya, accustomed to her attitude, chuckled nervously and waved at the trio.
"Alright, take a break. We'll continue when I get back."
As he turned to follow Tsunade, she suddenly snatched the bells from his belt and leapt aside.
"Wait, Tsunade! What are you—"
Before he could finish, Tsunade vanished in a puff of smoke, revealing not Tsunade, but a boy in dark sunglasses.
"Transformation Jutsu?" Jiraiya blinked, then quickly looked back at the "Shigeo" in the training ground, only to see it dissolve into a swarm of insects.
"Bug Clone?"
Holding the bells, Shigeo offered a sheepish smile.
"Sorry, Jiraiya-sensei. I don't have the strength of Minato or Kimaru, so I had to rely on this method. Please don't be mad!"
Jiraiya burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Clever boy! No need to apologize—I said you could use any method. Well done!"
His expression grew thoughtful as he continued.
"Now, you have both bells. You can give one to a teammate. Who will you choose?"
Shigeo didn't hesitate. He handed both bells back to Jiraiya and spoke firmly.
"Sensei, we're a team. Neither Minato nor Kimaru would accept the bell if it meant leaving someone behind. So, please take them back."
"…"
Jiraiya looked at him in silence for a moment before his lips curled into a smile.
(Chapter End)