Chapter 308: The Child Of Prophecy
“In the place where Konoha’s leaves dance! The fire shall burn endlessly!”
Yoru heard this phrase again, feeling somewhat emotional, not knowing if Hiruzen Sarutobi truly believed it himself.
In a crisis, Hiruzen Sarutobi would die for Konoha, that was beyond doubt.
But to say how much benefit he could bring to Konoha in normal times, that was hard to say.
The Ninja Academy students listened drowsily, swaying unsteadily where they stood.
Many truths could not be understood without practice.
Only in war would these genin understand what the Will of Fire was, comprehend its brightness, and also learn its darkness.
All around were school teachers and Anbu, so the students didn’t dare do anything.
In the first row, Minato Namikaze looked up, listening seriously to the Third Hokage’s speech.
Minato Namikaze was very curious about everything the Third Hokage said, trying hard to absorb it and pondering deeply.
Beside him, Kushina Uzumaki wasn’t listening properly; her thoughts had long flown elsewhere, her face full of expectation for her own graduation.
As long as she graduated, she would be a ninja and could do many things.
She would start helping the Senju Clan, gathering information to investigate the truth of the Uzumaki Clan Annihilation.
She always felt that on the night of the Uzumaki Clan Annihilation, many things were full of strangeness.
After the Third Hokage finished speaking, the students from each class dispersed and, under the teachers’ command, returned to their respective classrooms to wait for class assignments.
Yoru suddenly turned his head and looked toward the entrance of the side school building.
A toad jumped out from the flower bed at the entrance.
A large amount of chakra appeared on the toad’s body.
Boom!
A burst of thick white smoke appeared.
Nearby students all looked toward the white smoke, thinking it was some special graduation firework.
In the white smoke, the clacking sound of wooden clogs stepping rang out.
“Mount Myōboku Toad Sage Fukasaku! Commonly known as Toad Sage!
Fated master and disciple! Disciple from the prophecy!
I shall follow the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy! And take away my fated disciple!”
The white smoke dissipated, revealing Jiraiya dancing about.
Yoru had heard Jiraiya had run out of the village, so why had he come back?
Not only was Yoru puzzled, the Third was also puzzled.
The Third looked at Yoru, and Yoru nodded, using the Body Flicker Technique to leave.
He landed abruptly beside Jiraiya, and Jiraiya’s smug expression instantly vanished.
Hm?
Hiruzen Teacher’s Anbu?
Something’s up, that Body Flicker Technique is pretty fast.
Yoru said, “Lord Jiraiya, the Hokage requests your presence.”
Jiraiya looked toward Minato Namikaze on the side and said, “You all leave me be. I received the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy, and I must take away the Child of Prophecy.”
Yoru followed Jiraiya’s line of sight to Minato Namikaze, thinking that if Minato Namikaze were given to the Third’s lineage, how could Konoha be changed later?
Yoru shifted his steps, blocking between Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze.
“Lord Jiraiya, the Hokage requests your presence.”
Seeing the Anbu Captain so resolute, Jiraiya had no choice but to head to the Third’s side on the high platform.
As soon as Jiraiya landed, he immediately said:
“Teacher, quick, give me a class. While I was doing hardship cultivation on Mount Myōboku, the Great Toad Sage told me a prophecy.
A blond kid is about to become a ninja, the Child of Prophecy who will change the Ninja World.
Among this year’s graduates, blond, with infinite potential, it can only be Minato Namikaze.
Teacher Hiruzen, quickly assign Minato Namikaze’s class to me.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi unusually did not favor his disciple, instead saying with frustration like hating iron for not becoming steel:
“After the Second Ninja War ended, the village formulated rules: all jonin must serve as guiding jonin for genin.
All jonin responded to this rule and came to the school to select students.
And you?
Where have you been these past two years? What have you been doing?
You’d rather go to the Land of Rain to teach three kids from enemy nations—one of whom has an unclear relationship with Uchiha Madara—than return to the village.
The Minato Namikaze you mention has visible talent.
Sakumo Hatake took a liking to him long ago, intervened early, and has been training him for over a year.
Sakumo Hatake specifically named Minato Namikaze as his disciple, proving with action that he will seriously teach Minato Namikaze.
The Ninja Academy class assignment meeting was completed half a month ago; which jonin leads which class was already assigned.
The student Sakumo Hatake is leading is precisely Minato Namikaze.
Now you suddenly come back and expect changes on a whim?
I won’t rashly alter long-decided matters just because you’re my disciple.”
Yoru also thought that while Minato Namikaze was a genius, there were many geniuses at the Ninja Academy. There was no need to create conflict with Sakumo Hatake over a freshly graduated genin.
Sakumo Hatake was the village’s Kage-level combat power; he deserved this much face.
The Third couldn’t make Sakumo Hatake lose face in front of so many people.
In the classroom, class assignments had already begun.
Tsunade pushed open the door. She didn’t use much force, but unexpectedly the door panel was so light and slammed heavily against the wall.
The students were startled.
After entering, Tsunade looked toward Kushina Uzumaki.
In the original plot, Tsunade had already left Konoha at this time and was wandering the Land of Fire.
Now that Tsunade was still in the village, for Kushina Uzumaki’s guiding jonin, Tsunade was the natural choice.
After taking three students, Sakumo Hatake entered the classroom.
Minato Namikaze still didn’t know he had just nearly lost Teacher Sakumo.
Sakumo Hatake selected three civilian ninja including Minato Namikaze and left the classroom.
From afar, Jiraiya watched Sakumo Hatake chatting with the three students on the school building rooftop, feeling very dejected.
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Jiraiya and deliberately stimulated him:
“Jiraiya, you must participate more deeply in village affairs.
If you had stayed in the village, always held a position, or always carried out missions, I would have had the opportunity to arrange for you to meet Minato Namikaze early.
You should reflect on whether you’ve invested too little in the village.”
Jiraiya was nearly thirty, of course he wouldn’t accept this level of pua.
He said, “Stay in the village forever? I’ve gotten tired of the scenery at the Konoha bathhouse, unlike you—such a small village, and you’ve looked at it for decades.”
“When did I ever look!” Hiruzen Sarutobi denied repeatedly: “I was only led astray by you once, going to the back wall of the women’s bathhouse!”
Jiraiya waved his hand and said:
“Call me during wartime, Teacher Hiruzen. I’m leaving.
But in the meantime, help me collect Minato Namikaze’s growth trajectory.
When Minato Namikaze becomes a chunin, stands on his own, and is no longer Sakumo Hatake’s student, I’ll contact Minato Namikaze.”
The Child of Prophecy was Jiraiya’s obsession.
The Third said, “Jiraiya, in the second half of the year, a batch of promising people will enroll.
My youngest son Sarutobi Asuma, Sakumo Hatake’s son Kakashi—you can try observing them early, and when they graduate, take them as disciples.”
“Sakumo Hatake’s son sounds impressive just from hearing it; yours can be skipped.”
Boom!
Jiraiya turned into white smoke and headed to Mount Myōboku.
“Jiraiya! You…”
Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to curse a bit, but the person was gone.
Several Anbu tacitly turned their heads away.
That night, Yoru suddenly opened his eyes; he received a notification from the contract chakra.
Yuka was calling him.
