"Yahiko?" Seiki asked with feigned surprise. "Do you know them too, Master Jiraiya?"
Jiraiya nodded, his expression complex. "They're my disciples! To tell the truth, I felt suspicious from the very beginning when those people with the Rinnegan suddenly appeared back then. But since they called themselves Pain, I just allowed myself to hope for the best."
Minato, standing nearby, exclaimed in shock, "They're also Master Jiraiya's disciples?"
Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief—could this pervert really have trained such powerful disciples?
These were the ruthless individuals who founded the Akatsuki organization and even prompted the entire shinobi world to unite against them!
Jiraiya recalled, "They were orphans left behind by the Second Great Ninja War. I met them in the Rain Country and accidentally discovered Nagato's Rinnegan. I thought he might be the Child of the Prophecy who could bring change to the shinobi world, so I stayed to teach them for three years, hoping to guide them toward the right path."
Naruto couldn't help asking, "Then why did they become like this now?"
"They were good kids. The reason they turned out this way must be because I, as their teacher, failed to guide them properly!" Jiraiya said with a self-deprecating smile. "After all, I'm just an incompetent ninja. With someone like me, it's natural that I couldn't guide them toward the right path."
"As someone also being your disciple, I think I still have the right to speak!" Minato said seriously. "In my opinion, teacher, though you might be somewhat... er... genuinely passionate, beneath that frivolous surface lies a kind and sincere heart, along with an indomitable will that never gives up. These qualities have always inspired my growth!"
Listening to Minato's words, Jiraiya felt deeply comforted, yet he sighed, "No matter what, it's still my fault that my disciples didn't follow the right path..."
"Master Jiraiya, you did make a mistake, but not because you did wrong, but rather because you misjudged!" Seiki said solemnly. "I've seen them back during the Chunin Exams and the Third Great Ninja War. At that time, they were still naïve, believing that mutual understanding alone could bring peace to the world. Even now, they're still striving for the reform you spoke of!"
"Shinobi world reform!" Jiraiya's eyes widened. "You mean Yahiko and the others are still fighting for the ideal I guided them toward?"
"Their methods have changed, but their hearts are still as sincere as ever—they still want to change the shinobi world!" Seiki pursed his lips. "It's just that their actions have become too radical, clashing with this world, thus appearing to have strayed from the right path!"
Jiraiya fell silent. After a long while, he sighed with emotion, "Never thought I, their own master, would understand them less than you do. I failed as a teacher who couldn't truly comprehend, trust, or support them!"
"Is that really the case?" Seiki slightly shook his head. "Back then, Nagato and the others refusing to reveal their names could still be explained as self-protection, but even four years ago, when they had already grown strong enough to challenge the Kage Summit, they still used fake names. This indicates they simply didn't want to expose their identities, fearing that people important to them might feel heartbroken and disappointed after learning about their actions!"
Jiraiya suddenly looked up, "You mean... the person they're worried about is me?"
"Lord Seiki," Yugito said, "I can't be sure, but it's highly possible!"
Jiraiya fell silent again. Not long after he had left Nagato and the others, he received news of their deaths. He felt deeply guilty, believing it was teaching them ninjutsu and introducing them to the world of ninja that had led to their deaths!
But what turned out to be the case?
They were alive and well, yet had never acknowledged him, making him feel as if he had been "abandoned" by his own disciples!
That was precisely why he had lost composure today!
Yet Lord Seiki claimed they had intentionally hidden their identities out of admiration and not to disappoint him!
While Jiraiya remained silent, Kushina grabbed Naruto and, blinking her eyes, asked, "Lord Seiki, what do you think of Naruto?"
Lord Seiki felt a spark of realization but simply replied, "Naruto is cute!"
Kushina pressed Naruto's head and enthusiastically "promoted" him, saying, "He's not only clever, but also cute! Plus, his performance at the Academy is quite remarkable. Without any prior teaching from me and Minato, he still competes with Itachi for the top two spots in the class. Even his teachers call him a genius!"
Naruto listened, baffled. His mom usually just talked about how amazing she was as a kid or how exceptional his dad had been, and how lousy he himself was.
Why was she acting so differently today?
Besides, he used to think his mother was just exaggerating; he had only been pretending not to call her out to avoid embarrassment. These past few days, he had realized the truth: his parents really were amazing, while he truly was lousy!
Kushina herself was somewhat embarrassed. Though Naruto's performance wasn't bad, it depended on who he was compared against.
She and Minato were already considered geniuses, while Lord Seiki went far beyond the definition of a genius. At Naruto's age, he had already developed A-ranked ninjutsu!
To speak of "genius" before Lord Seiki was like showing off sealing techniques in front of a fellow Uzumaki!
But for Naruto's sake, she had no choice but to give it her all!
"So, Lord Seiki, would you consider taking Naruto as your disciple?"
Upon hearing this, Naruto's heart pounded with tension!
Lord Seiki was a man who singlehandedly ended the war, was regarded as a god among ninja, and had even become the leader of the shinobi world!
Among kids like them, he was worshipped like a deity!
If he could become Lord Seiki's disciple, Sasuke and Neji would be green with envy!
Looking at Naruto's tense and expectant gaze, Lord Seiki smiled, "Of course, but... let's wait until Naruto graduates through the proper process. This is the foundational stage, and the Academy teachers are better suited for it than I am!"
"Graduate?" Naruto clenched his fists, immediately having the urge to graduate early. Yet Lord Seiki had already mentioned this was the foundational stage; he should continue training at the Academy for now!
Plus, he had a little idea in mind—to let Sasuke show off his capabilities and aim together to become Lord Seiki's disciples!
Kushina also knew, given Lord Seiki's status, that he wouldn't have time to start teaching from scratch.
So, she simply patted Naruto's head and said in a chilling tone, "You'd better start working hard from now on—or you'll disappoint Lord Seiki!"
Naruto instinctively shrank his neck. Why did it suddenly feel like the temperature dropped ten degrees?
By the way, what did Mom mean just now?
What if he disappointed Lord Seiki? Would he end up with both his butt and palms blistered?
Jiraiya didn't even know his original disciple had vanished. He was still there sighing, "Never thought I'd actually hold such an important place in their hearts as a teacher!"
Thinking about this, Jiraiya suddenly became energetic. He slapped the table and declared, "I didn't fulfill my responsibilities properly as a teacher before. This time, I'll definitely drag them back from the wrong path!"
P.S. Sorry, the third chapter will probably come around two or three o'clock in the morning.
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