Unfairly criticized, Jiraiya remained silent.
At the moment, he was pondering how to restore his image in Tsunade's eyes.
There was still some time before she would meet Dan Katō.
If he wanted to stop her from falling for Dan, he'd have to change her opinion of him.
"Jiraiya, we graduated from the Academy at the same time and trained under the same teacher. So why is there such a huge gap between you and Orochimaru?"
Tsunade didn't hesitate to aim her criticism at Jiraiya again.
"Orochimaru's the genius Sensei always talks about. Of course, there's going to be a gap between us," Jiraiya replied, this time deciding not to bicker with Tsunade and instead going along with her words.
Orochimaru glanced at Jiraiya, surprised. He hadn't expected such self-awareness from him. Usually, whenever Tsunade or Hiruzen Sarutobi praised Orochimaru, Jiraiya would grumble in frustration, loudly proclaiming he would surpass him one day.
'Has Jiraiya already been on the receiving end of Tsunade's punches? Looks like I'll have to watch my words from now on. I definitely don't want her fists landing on me,' Orochimaru thought to himself, imagining that Jiraiya's sudden change of attitude must be because Tsunade had beaten him into submission.
"If you're aware of the gap, why don't you train harder?" Tsunade pressed on.
"If hard work alone could surpass a genius, what would be the point of being a genius?" Jiraiya shot back. "You'll see after today's sparring match who the real genius is."
"I'm looking forward to your performance today," Orochimaru remarked coolly.
"Orochimaru, if you want to see Jiraiya get beaten, just say so. Why play coy? Honestly, I'm pretty curious to see it too," Tsunade teased.
Jiraiya felt another wave of exasperation. He slammed the table and said, "You'll both be disappointed, I guarantee it."
"Your ramen is ready," the server announced as bowls of steaming noodles were brought to their table.
"This is delicious!" Jiraiya exclaimed after taking a bite. While it wasn't as good as Ichiraku Ramen, the flavor was still excellent.
After finishing their meal, Tsunade paid the bill, and the three headed toward the training grounds behind the Hokage Tower.
Their teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi—the Third Hokage—was waiting for them. Though not in his Hokage robes, his presence was commanding. He stood there puffing on his pipe.
"Good morning, Sensei!" they greeted him respectfully.
Sarutobi nodded slightly. He was in his prime, exuding an aura of authority.
"For today's sparring matches, you don't need to win, but you absolutely cannot get injured. Understood?" Sarutobi instructed.
"Understood, Sensei," the three responded in unison.
"Jiraiya, are you nervous about the upcoming spar?" Sarutobi asked, glancing at him.
"Not at all, Sensei," Jiraiya replied confidently.
"You're not nervous?" Sarutobi asked, clearly surprised.
"Should I be nervous?" Jiraiya asked, puzzled by Sarutobi's reaction.
"With your skill level, you're bound to get beaten pretty badly. Isn't that worth worrying about?" Sarutobi teased.
Jiraiya was speechless for a moment before responding, "Sensei, this level of sparring? I'll be the one doing the beating. You just wait—I'll surprise you!"
"That's the spirit! If you can last three minutes without losing, I'll teach you the Water Release: Water Mirror Technique," Sarutobi said with a puff of smoke.
The Water Mirror Technique was a sensory-type jutsu that required water to perform. By channeling chakra into water, the user could create a mirror-like surface that reflected images within the water. It was a highly situational technique but invaluable for reconnaissance.
Sarutobi, renowned for his mastery of sensory jutsu, often used such techniques for surveillance, even after becoming Hokage. His infamous crystal ball jutsu allowed him to monitor Konoha's ninjas, uncovering any who harbored ill intentions toward the village. Those individuals often disappeared the next day, courtesy of the Anbu.
"Sensei, Jiraiya's already notorious as a huge pervert. If you teach him that jutsu, who's going to feel safe bathing anymore?" Tsunade interjected, clearly alarmed.
"Tsunade, why are you so worked up? Do you really think Jiraiya can last three minutes?" Orochimaru asked dryly.
"Not with his current skills. He'll be down in under a minute," Tsunade scoffed.
"Then why are you so worried?" Orochimaru pressed.
"...Good point," Tsunade admitted, nodding.
Jiraiya was speechless yet again.
Just wait—I'll blow all of your minds.
"Sensei, Elder Danzo and his students won't arrive for a while. Could you teach us a new jutsu in the meantime?" Orochimaru suggested, his ambition showing.
"I appreciate your eagerness, Orochimaru, but if I teach you something now, you might lose focus during the spar. Let's save it for after the matches," Sarutobi replied, pleased with Orochimaru's initiative.
Among his three students, Sarutobi was most impressed with Orochimaru. He already considered him the most likely candidate to succeed him as Hokage, viewing him as a rare genius.
If Orochimaru hadn't defected later, he would have been a strong contender for the Fourth Hokage's position. During Orochimaru's defection, Sarutobi, at the peak of his strength, could have easily killed him but ultimately couldn't bring himself to do so.
"Orochimaru, have you learned any new jutsu recently?" Sarutobi asked, taking another puff of his pipe.
"Yes, Sensei. I've mastered a family B-rank jutsu," Orochimaru replied.
Orochimaru's clan, though once prominent, had been nearly wiped out during the First Great Ninja War, leaving him as the sole survivor. The family techniques, however, remained a legacy only he could carry forward.
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For each 100 Power Stones +1 Chapter