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"Really to protect Naruto?" Jiraiya wouldn't be so easily put off by Hiruzen Sarutobi's words.
"Naturally. You should be aware of how many enemies Minato had before," Hiruzen Sarutobi stared intently at Jiraiya, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
"I know, Teacher Hiruzen... but I also know one thing: who holds greater attraction, the Jinchūriki or the Hokage's son..." As Jiraiya's words fell, the room seemed to fall silent, leaving only the puffing sound of Hiruzen Sarutobi smoking his pipe...
Silence...
"I will give him a better life. But he cannot be taken away by you. How would a rough man like you know how to take care of a child?" After a long pause, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally spoke slowly.
...
"Alright. But I will return regularly to see Naruto. If you cannot take good care of him, I will still take him away." Jiraiya thought for a moment; this might be the better solution for now.
"Then it's decided. Jiraiya, you can hand Naruto over to me now," Hiruzen Sarutobi extended his hand.
"Okay." After Jiraiya finished speaking, a burst of blue chakra suddenly surged from his hand, flowing along Naruto's body and into him.
"What are you doing?" Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. Jiraiya's actions seemed a bit...?
"I'm leaving my chakra inside his body. If anything happens to Naruto, I'll know immediately," Jiraiya controlled his chakra, infusing it into Naruto's body. After a long moment, he handed Naruto over to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Rarely cautious, Jiraiya," Hiruzen Sarutobi looked coldly at Jiraiya. It seemed all three of his students had become estranged from him.
"Naturally."
"By the way, Jiraiya, the war with Kumogakure..." Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly brought up the current war.
"With Hokage Advisor Mitokado Homura there, I believe there won't be any problems," Jiraiya knew immediately what Hiruzen Sarutobi was about to say.
"But..."
"But it's not the critical moment yet, right? The Raikage hasn't even taken the field. Besides, I still need to continue my travels," Jiraiya turned his head and looked calmly at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"It seems your mind is made up?"
"Yes."
"Still searching for the Child of Prophecy mentioned by the Great Toad Sage? Jiraiya, you've been searching for many years," Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe, looking complexly at Jiraiya. His students had all gradually distanced themselves from him.
"Yes, the trail of the Child of Prophecy, I will continue searching. Besides, I now also have the task of finding Orochimaru," Jiraiya chuckled lightly.
"Is that so..."
"Well then, I'll be leaving first, Teacher Hiruzen," Jiraiya didn't look at Hiruzen Sarutobi, but stared at Naruto in his arms, then stepped away and left.
"Lord Hokage?" Just after Jiraiya left, the previous ANBU squad leader appeared beside Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"This place isn't suitable for him anymore. I need to find another place," Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Naruto in his arms.
"Yes!"
...
...
After leaving the nursery, Jiraiya suddenly felt a hand grab his ankle. The next second, Jiraiya vanished directly.
"Boss Shinji." Seeing the familiar scenes in the All-Purpose Shop, Jiraiya breathed a sigh of relief. It really was this elusive Boss Shinji. Space-time ninjutsu was indeed too convenient.
"Lord Jiraiya, please sit." Shinji had been listening to their conversation in the nursery the whole time. Fortunately, it was already past midnight, and the instant teleportation skill back to the All-Purpose Shop had refreshed.
"Indeed, you knew Naruto's situation long ago." Jiraiya looked at the already cold teacup on the table, didn't mind, and drank it down in one gulp.
"I did know. But Lord Jiraiya, your choice was relatively correct," Shinji smiled. He knew Jiraiya alone definitely couldn't take Naruto away. The only reason he let Jiraiya go there was: after this incident, Hiruzen Sarutobi might treat Naruto better. At least... not like before, eating expired food and drinking expired milk, right?
"If only I were stronger, perhaps..." Jiraiya felt some resentment. If he could be stronger, perhaps he could break free from these things.
"Some things you cannot change now. But Lord Jiraiya, I hope next time you see Lord Orochimaru, you can help me give this to him." Shinji placed a sealing scroll in Jiraiya's hand. This scroll was specially made by Orochimaru before; only his chakra could open it. Therefore, Shinji put some things he specially prepared inside.
"For Orochimaru?" Jiraiya took the scroll in his hand. Though doubtful, he didn't ask.
"Yes, for Orochimaru."
"I understand. I'll give it to him next time I see him," Jiraiya put the scroll into his robe.
"Lord Jiraiya doesn't ask what's inside?" Shinji looked into Jiraiya's eyes.
"No need to ask. Anyway, I owe you a favor for this matter. Consider this the payment," Jiraiya was straightforward and readily agreed. The main reason Shinji trusted Jiraiya so much was also because Jiraiya's reputation was very good.
"Then thank you, Lord Jiraiya." Shinji replaced the tea in the teacup, pouring a steaming hot cup for Jiraiya. After drinking a cup of hot tea in winter, Jiraiya felt warmth spread throughout his body.
For the next hour, Jiraiya and Shinji chatted about other things, after which Jiraiya left.
"Really... getting more and more interesting," Shinji played with the teapot in his hand, his gaze turning towards the distant Hokage Rock. Under the moonlight, Hiruzen Sarutobi's Hokage Rock seemed to reveal a trace of eerie feeling.
"Hah~ Lord Shinji, aren't you sleeping yet?" Karin, who had just been woken up by the chat between Jiraiya and Shinji, rubbed her eyes and came out.
"Going to sleep soon, Karin. Did we wake you?" Shinji turned his head and saw Karin holding a pillow, looking sleepily at him.
"No, no~ Lord Shinji, I've warmed the bed for you~" Karin looked at Shinji with a blush.
"Eh... Karin, you should go back to your room to sleep~" Shinji put a hand to his forehead, feeling somewhat helpless. Karin's enthusiasm was simply...
"But I want to be with Lord Shinji..." Karin looked expectantly at Shinji. She had been planning this for a long time.
"Dame yo~ Go back to your room and sleep~"
"Okay..." Hearing Shinji's words, Karin returned to her room somewhat dejectedly.
Watching Karin's disappointed back, Shinji smiled. Still just a little girl~ He stood up, turned off the lights, and then returned to his own room. Mmm, Karin went back to her own room. Confirmed.
Konoha Year 49, Spring arrived. Today, Shinji brought Deidara and Karin to the Konoha Ninja Academy. Today was Itachi Uchiha's entrance ceremony. Since Shisui hadn't returned to the village yet, according to the previous agreement with Shisui, Shinji would accompany Itachi to the Ninja Academy for enrollment.
"Boss Shinji, Deidara, Karin, morning~" Shinji had just arrived at the entrance of the Konoha Ninja Academy when Itachi, holding Sasuke, immediately spotted him. Holding Sasuke, Itachi flashed directly in front of Shinji.
"Morning, Itachi. Enrolling today," Shinji smiled at Itachi Uchiha. Itachi, enrolling at age 6, would probably apply for graduation next year. This was one of the few school life experiences Itachi would have.
"Itachi, who is this?" Beside Itachi, a rather stern-looking man walked over.
"Father, this is the owner of the All-Purpose Shop, Boss Shinji. Shisui asked Boss Shinji to come along for enrollment today," Itachi turned his head and said respectfully.
"It seems this must be the Uchiha clan head, Lord Fugaku Uchiha," Shinji looked smilingly at Fugaku Uchiha.
"My, my, isn't it Boss Shinji? Long time no see~" Before Fugaku Uchiha could speak, Mikoto Uchiha also saw Shinji and walked over, holding a little girl's hand.
"Morning, Boss Shinji," Izumi Uchiha looked timidly at Shinji, a trace of gratitude in her eyes. Over this period, Izumi Uchiha had also gained Mikoto Uchiha's approval. Mikoto even often declared externally that Izumi Uchiha was her daughter-in-law~
"Morning, Miss Mikoto, Izumi," Shinji greeted them one by one.
"Boss... Shinji, my son Itachi has received your help often," Fugaku Uchiha wasn't as aloof as rumored, directly expressing thanks. Fugaku Uchiha was actually aware that Itachi often ran off to the All-Purpose Shop. As the eldest son of the Uchiha clan, Itachi Uchiha's every move was closely watched. Of course, under Mikoto's influence, Fugaku Uchiha hadn't specifically sought out Shinji. So, all things considered, this was really the first time Fugaku Uchiha had met Shinji.
"Lord Fugaku, it's just a small matter," Shinji said with a smile.
"Sister Izumi, are you enrolling today too?" Karin bounced over to Izumi Uchiha's side, looking at her with excitement in her eyes.
"Yes, Karin. But based on age, Karin will also attend school next year, right?" Izumi sometimes ate with Itachi at the nearby Three Color Dango shop. Over time, she became quite familiar with Karin, and the two sometimes ran off to play outside together.
"Yeah, next year. I really want to go to school with you all," Karin pouted.
"Next year is the same. It's a six-year system; graduation isn't that fast," Izumi comforted Karin, seeing the pouty expression on her face. Of course, besides Shinji, no one knew that Itachi was already planning to graduate early next year...
Ding dong ding~ The school bell rang. It was time for enrollment. Fugaku Uchiha and Mikoto Uchiha led Itachi and Izumi inside. New students needed to sit on the playground below to listen to Hiruzen Sarutobi's brainwashing, while parents listened from above.
"Where leaves dance, fire will also burn incessantly..." On the podium, Hiruzen Sarutobi was vigorously giving his speech. As long as someone agreed with his views, then that person was suitable to be developed into his own subordinate.
"Boss Shinji, you don't seem particularly impressed by Lord Hokage's speech," Fugaku Uchiha glanced sideways and could clearly see the amusement in Shinji's eyes.
"Lord Fugaku, you can't say things like that. I hold deep admiration for Lord Third Hokage," Shinji smiled and leaned back directly into his seat.
"Sly old fox. Guess if I believe you?" Fugaku Uchiha smiled, but his smile didn't make people feel warm; instead, it added a strange feeling. Truly worthy of 'Wicked Eye Fugaku'. Even his smile carried killing intent.
"Ah, unfortunately, there's no tea here. Otherwise, I could have had a cup with Lord Fugaku," Shinji looked down at Hiruzen Sarutobi still giving his speech energetically. Most people's eyes shone with excitement and admiration; these were the ones who would later be successfully brainwashed by Hiruzen Sarutobi. The remaining few maintained their rationality, like Itachi Uchiha.
"That's easy. After this is over, come sit at my place?" Fugaku Uchiha turned to look at Shinji. He had a feeling that this Shinji before him was definitely no ordinary person! Moreover, towards Itachi, or towards the Uchiha clan, he held no strange intentions. This kind of person was worth trying to contact. Besides, his intuition was usually not wrong.
"Alright. Then I'll impose on Lord Fugaku's home later... Karin, do you want to enroll?" Shinji ended the topic and turned to ask Karin in front. He could already see the envy in Karin's eyes almost overflowing.
"I want to! I want to go to school with Brother Itachi and Sister Izumi!" Karin turned her head and nodded heavily. More than attending school, she wanted to attend school with friends.
"Tch, what's so fun about school? I attended for two years and graduated early!" Deidara said dismissively. Ever since Shisui started teaching him, a kind of competitive relationship seemed to have formed between him and Itachi. Whether in training or other aspects, both sides felt somewhat unconvinced by the other. However, graduating two years early was the point Deidara used most often to attack Itachi.
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> Check my: [email protected]/ShixT9 for extra 60 Chapters
> Each 50 Spirit Stones I will release an extra chapter
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