"Kid, don't push your luck."
On the border of the Land of Fire, along the road to Kirigakure.
After a full day of rapid travel, the team had stopped to rest.
Each ninja went about their assigned duties. Patrol and reconnaissance squads were sent out in shifts, then returned to report their findings. As for Hakken, the Anbu Commander, he lay leisurely beneath a tree, using Kurama's soft body as a pillow.
Well, what could he do? Back home, he was used to resting on Anko's and Yugito's thighs. Using Kurama as a substitute wasn't quite the same, but it did the trick.
Obviously, the fox being used as a pillow didn't appreciate it and voiced his complaint.
"Shh."
Tilting his head slightly, Hakken raised three fingers toward Kurama.
"Fine, three bottles it is."
With a pleased slap of palms, Kurama obediently lay back down. It was just a kid's head—how heavy could it be? Besides, most of the time, he served as a pillow anyway. Compared to those three bottles of that drink that made tailed beasts feel blissful, this was nothing.
"Is that really the Nine-Tails? It looks more like a dog."
Under another tree, the Night Owl Squad suddenly gained a new arrival—a white-haired man. A strange sight, yet one whose name echoed across Konoha.
He had appeared out of nowhere, declared he was joining Night Owl Squad, and even gave himself the codename "Mr. Porn."
The legendary Sannin, the Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku—Jiraiya!
"It really is the Nine-Tails, though even we find it hard to believe," Kakashi said beside him with a sigh.
Jiraiya was his idol—and like Hakken, also his grandstudent. That made their connection even closer.
"Nine-Tails-sama has indeed changed a lot," Shisui nodded in agreement.
"Nine-Tails-sama". The ears of the living pillow twitched slightly. That title sounded good. With eyes half-closed, Kurama gave a satisfied hum.
And they say he isn't the Child of the Prophecy? Only the Child of the Prophecy could get along with a tailed beast like this.
Jiraiya gave a cold snort and popped a soldier pill into his mouth. The Great Toad Sage had once said that the Child of the Prophecy could even move the hearts of the tailed beasts and free them from hatred. Everything lined up perfectly.
"Does he know the Rasengan?"
Clearing his throat, Jiraiya suddenly had an idea. Though this boy was his disciple's disciple, not a direct student, Jiraiya had found a way to leave his own mark on him.
"Minato-sensei once tried to teach Ken-san the Rasengan, but he didn't want to learn it."
Itachi shook his head. "I'm the one who mastered it."
He gave Jiraiya an awkward smile and extended his hand, forming a ball of chakra. The pale blue glow signified the purest chakra.
The original Rasengan possessed no elemental nature. The Wind Release: Rasengan fundamentally differed from the standard Rasengan. By infusing it with wind-attribute chakra, a weakened version of the Rasenshuriken could be formed.
The one in Itachi's hand, however, was merely an ordinary, element-less Rasengan. Unmarked, an A-rank ninjutsu—only ninjas possessing unwavering resolve and supreme chakra control could master this technique.
"But I might be a bit slow," he admitted. "I can't manage that instantaneous chakra nature transformation like Ken-san does. I haven't fully grasped the technique of infusing fire chakra into the Rasengan yet."
Speaking with a hint of frustration, Itachi slowly infused fire-attribute chakra into the Rasengan before Jiraiya. Yet as the pale blue Rasengan began undergoing Nature Transformation to become a fiery spiral, it vanished with a bang.
You call that clumsy?
Jiraiya's mouth twitched.
"Minato-sensei taught me too, but I was too lazy to learn, so I just copied one."
Kakashi lifted his forehead protector, revealing three tomoe. Then a Rasengan appeared in his hand as he demonstrated its formation.
What the hell is this? Do you have to be so demoralizing?
One doesn't like to study. One is lazy and just copies. The other is even more outrageous—admitting he's clumsy, then casually forming a ball and feeding fire chakra into it.
What the hell? You don't have to be this demoralizing.
"Well, since Jiraiya-sama wishes to join the Night Owl Team, I'm sure Hakken won't object either."
Shisui nodded.
"However, Jiraiya-sama, members of Night Owl Team need to understand each other's basic combat capabilities. Only then can we achieve maximum synergy in battle. Please tell us about your combat style."
Team coordination? Such a young age, and already understanding the importance of synergy.
Recovering from his shock, Jiraiya felt a pang of nostalgia. Back in the day, when he recruited Orochimaru and Tsunade, it was under the guidance of Sarutobi-sensei that they grasped this very principle.
That's why, during the Second Shinobi World War, when he fought against Hanzō of the Salamander, they earned the title of the Konoha Sannin.
But combat prowess?
Jiraiya pounded his chest with a hearty laugh. He hadn't expected to actually join a squad. He even introduced himself with solemn earnestness.
Initially, he'd only intended to blend in and observe whether the youth known as Konoha's Kenpachi possessed the qualities befitting the Child of the Prophecy. Yet sitting here, sharing military ration pills with these squad members, he suddenly felt transported back to the days of fighting side-by-side with Orochimaru and Tsunade.
Though it was an ANBU squad, this particular squad surprised him. Wasn't ANBU supposed to be the darkness that lived in the shadows? Even Sarutobi-sensei had said his personality wasn't suited for ANBU.
But look at that goofball over there, clearly training even while eating, and the ninjas around them chatting and laughing.
It wasn't just Konoha that had changed.
Was this really ANBU?
In this moment, he felt an urge to blend in.
Well, as a temporary team, he'd see what they were up to.
Rising to his feet and glancing at Shisui, Jiraiya cleared his throat.
"Ahem. That's a good question."
"The Toad Sage is merely a name I use to deceive the world. In truth, I am the White-Haired Child, the Toad Messenger—one of the legendary Sannin, renowned far and wide! The handsome guy who can make crying children shut up instantly!"
"Master Jiraiya!"
Rubbing his chin, Jiraiya glanced around at the calm ninjas and felt slightly awkward.
No one's responding? They really don't know how to respect their seniors.
Sighing, Jiraiya's expression turned serious. "If I had to pick, I'm decent at both ninjutsu and taijutsu, but…"
"It's Senjutsu!"
Hmph, never heard of it, right?
"Senjutsu? That natural energy stuff Hakken talked about? Pretty powerful, huh."
Shisui nodded, showing little surprise. It would be absurd if the Toad Sage didn't know Senjutsu.
"I'm more skilled in Genjutsu and Body Flicker Technique, possessing the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"As for Kakashi, he's recently revived his swordsmanship. Once in combat, he'll engage Hakken head-on, creating opportunities for me and Itachi."
"Guy specializes in Taijutsu."
After speaking, Shisui, Itachi, Guy, and Kakashi—along with Hakken, who had been dozing off—approached.
Several hands clasped together. Jiraiya's hand was also pulled into the grasp. A certain furry paw mingled among them.
Voices brimming with passion echoed, making the hero's blood surge slightly.
"Welcome to the Night Owls!"
...
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