"Making that little girl the jinchuriki... does that mean Lady Mito..."
Jiraiya's pupils shrank, his face turning pale with shock. His concern wasn't just because he learned from the Third that Kushina would become the next Nine-Tails jinchuriki.
The Lady Mito he mentioned was not only the daughter of the former head of the Uzumaki clan but also the wife of Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage who founded the Hidden Leaf Village.
Back then, during the great battle at the Valley of the End between the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha, Madara had controlled the Nine-Tails. It was Lady Mito who sacrificed herself by becoming the living prison for the Nine-Tails, helping Hashirama win the final victory.
Madara died on the battlefield, shocking the entire ninja world at that time.
A jinchuriki dies when their tailed beast is removed. This means... Lady Mito wouldn't live much longer.
That's why the village elders spared no effort in bringing back Kushina Uzumaki, a surviving member of the Uzumaki clan, to Konoha, concealing this information so completely that even Jiraiya hadn't been allowed to know.
The reason for keeping this secret was simple—if any of the other ninja villages discovered Lady Mito's impending death, they'd see it as an opportunity to strike.
After all, the tailed beasts were the ultimate weapons every hidden village sought to control.
Hiruzen nodded solemnly, saying, "About half a year ago, Lady Mito came to me herself. She told me her life force was feeling weaker and weaker, and she probably had no more than three years left..."
At this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face revealed a sorrowful expression. He had once been apprenticed to the First Hokage, while Mito was his master's wife—a great predecessor who had sacrificed herself as a vessel to seal the Nine-Tails for the sake of the Hidden Leaf Village.
"So the village secretly mobilized immense resources. More than a month ago, we found Kushina in a small village on the outskirts of the Land of Fire, where both her parents had died. We brought her back to Konoha. Fortunately, Kushina has an extremely strong life force, strong enough to make her the second-generation jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails."
As he spoke, the Third looked at Jiraiya and continued, "This matter is highly classified, with only myself and the three elders knowing about it. The reason I'm telling you everything today isn't just because you noticed Kushina's unique Chakra..."
"I wanted you to take Minato Namikaze as your student, and strangely enough, he cares greatly about Kushina. This kid is really clever—even if we didn't tell him, he'd eventually figure it out on his own. Plus, on the day he met Kushina, he already detected the Anbu I had assigned to watch over her."
Jiraiya immediately showed alarm, raising his white eyebrows as he said, "He actually managed to detect Anbu directly under your command? That's... unbelievable."
He knew exactly how powerful the Anbu were, those entrusted with guarding the Hokage. Could a seven-year-old Minato Namikaze really have detected their presence?
Sarutobi smiled slightly and said, "That's not all. He not only discovered the Anbu but also followed them secretly until reaching Kushina's residence. Even after being detected by the Anbu, he still managed to escape using the Transformation Jutsu as bait."
"This kid is really only seven years old?"
Jiraiya suddenly found himself momentarily speechless. If he had felt slightly surprised that Minato Namikaze passed the test, after hearing The Third's words, he was now genuinely shocked.
"Therefore," Sarutobi continued, "you must properly train him. With the right guidance, this child will become yet another peak powerhouse for Konoha!"
At this, The Third's eyes lit up with conviction. Jiraiya understood exactly what he meant by a 'peak powerhouse'—a level even he himself hadn't reached yet.
A ninja comparable to the Hokage (Shadow Leader) – the highest rank in the village!
"If things truly develop as you described," Jiraiya replied, "then I believe he really could become someone extraordinary."
Yet his expression gradually darkened, as though there were something difficult he needed to say.
The Third noticed and asked, "Any further questions?"
"If it goes as you say," Jiraiya hesitated slightly, "Minato truly cares for Kushina Uzumaki. Once he learns how the village treats Kushina as a jinchuriki (human vessel for tailed beasts), who knows what actions he may take..."
That is, love might turn into hatred. If Minato cannot accept such an act from the village, nurturing him might not be a good thing after all.
Upon hearing this, The Third looked at Jiraiya approvingly and nodded. "You've indeed matured... no longer that hotheaded young boy from before."
"As for your concern," he added, "I naturally considered it already. However, perhaps this child's way of thinking will surprise you."
"He personally told his teacher, Moto Kouda, that the reason he became a ninja was to gain the power to protect his family... and the family in his mind includes everyone in Konoha village."
Jiraiya's heart quivered slightly. For Minato's way of thinking...
was exactly the same mindset as the Hokage himself!
...
The morning swiftly passed, giving way to lunch break.
Over the past week, his classmates had started treating Minato a little more warmly. Naturally, this was because he remained as kind and approachable as ever—a personality hard to dislike.
He also started getting along better with Mikoto and Kushina. At lunchtime, the three sat together in their classroom seats, sharing a meal.
A group of students entered through the back door, surrounding a familiar figure who made his way straight toward Minato.
Minato briefly lifted his gaze, glancing at him indifferently. Mikoto and Kushina, seeing Minato ignore the newcomer, continued chatting cheerfully amongst themselves.
Being so openly disregarded, Yan Uchiha's handsome face quickly filled with anger.
But soon, mockery flickered across his features. In a deliberately exaggerated tone, he sneered, "Minato Namikaze! This morning, how much of the [Three Basic Ninjutsu] techniques taught by Jiraiya-sama have you actually mastered?"
His tone carried arrogance and provocation, clearly indicating that he himself had completely grasped them.
Minato frowned slightly, lifting his eyes calmly to meet Yan's gaze.
"Jiraiya-sama is a respected senior. Even if you're from the Uchiha clan, you should still show proper respect..." Minato stated evenly.
"As for how much I've learned?" His calmness turned icy. "That... is none of your business."
Yan Uchiha immediately flew into a rage, slamming both hands heavily on the desk. His black eyes locked onto Minato as he snapped, "Shut up! You're not the one to lecture me. Fight me and I'll prove I have every right to say this!"
"Yan Uchiha, that's enough—don't cause trouble in someone else's classroom."
Mikoto was already somewhat embarrassed by his words. Jiraiya was a major figure—even the head of the Uchiha clan treated him with respect. Although Yan's father was a clan elder, that still didn't justify such rudeness.
"Uchiha Mikoto, you shut your mouth instead! How dare you side with outsiders when you're part of the Uchiha yourself!" Unexpectedly, Yan turned his anger toward Mikoto and glared at her fiercely.
Mikoto wanted to argue further, but Minato held her back. He shook his head calmly and said, "Let him talk."
"Hmph, what a coward—you actually let a woman fight your battles while hiding behind her like some scaredy-cat," Yan mocked, but Minato's expression remained unchanged, unaffected by his taunts.
However, Kushina, who had a bit of a fiery temper, could no longer hold back. She leapt up and shouted, "What are you bragging about? If it's a fight you want, then I'll fight you!"
In Kushina's heart, Minato had quietly become someone very important to her, so she couldn't stand Yan verbally attacking him either.
Yet Yan ignored Kushina completely. Instead, he turned his gaze back to Minato, still seated calmly, and said, "You really don't bite… But I know your weakness now. For her sake, you will fight me."
Minato's eyebrows slightly furrowed. The moment Yan finished speaking, he suddenly threw a punch—his target being Kushina, who hadn't fully reacted yet!
...
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