Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 65: Jiraiya Sensei
"Hey, Orochimaru! Just because you got Nawaki doesn't mean you're any good. My student's way greater and powerful than yours!" said Jiraiya with his usual boastful grin, puffing his chest with pride. He still hadn't let go of the old grudge, the one that started when Tsunade chose Orochimaru to be Nawaki teacher instead of him.
Now that Hiruzen-sensei had officially allowed him to take Minato as his student, Jiraiya felt like he finally had the upper hand. He couldn't wait to rub it in Orochimaru face. But to his surprise, Orochimaru merely smiled faintly, his golden eyes half-lidded with amusement.
"Congratulations, Jiraiya," said Orochimaru in his usual tone.
Jiraiya froze for a second. That wasn't the reaction he expected. He thought Orochimaru would scowl, maybe throw a sarcastic remark about Minato or mock his teaching methods. But instead, he received a polite and non harmful response from him.
"Didn't you feel jealous?" Jiraiya asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes.
"Kukuku…" Orochimaru chuckled softly, that eerie laugh. "Why should I be jealous, Jiraiya? Having strong shinobi in the village is a good thing. It keeps our enemies trembling at the thought of Konoha strength."
"Erghhh…" Jiraiya scratched the back of his head awkwardly, completely thrown off by the mature answer from Orochimaru. "Fine, fine, whatever you say! Anyway, good luck too, Orochimaru!"
He waved his hand dismissively and turned around, walking off as fast as he could before Orochimaru could say anything else.
Orochimaru watched him leave, his expression remaining unreadable. But deep inside, a mix of curiosity and envy stirred in his chest. His long tongue slipped out for a second as he muttered under his breath, "Jiraiya… you truly are lucky."
Then, a faint grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "But let's see whose student will truly shine brighter in the end."
---Ninja Academy---
Students were surprised to see that only Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Maruku had shown up for the graduation ceremony. The classroom buzzed with murmurs and curious whispers as they glanced at the two red-haired Uzumaki sitting near the back.
Then someone leaned over and whispered, "I heard the other Uzumaki chose to specialize in fūinjutsu instead of becoming shinobi." A few heads nodded in agreement as the rumor spread across the room. It made sense... after all, the Uzumaki clan was famous for their sealing jutsu. Still, many students found it strange that only two from such a large clan had decided to walk the path of a ninja.
Despite the quiet gossip, both Kushina and Maruku remained calm. Kushina fiddled with his origami, pretending not to hear the whispers, while Maruku leaned back in her chair with a confident smirk, clearly unbothered.
A few moments later, the classroom door slid open and Mirae-sensei stepped in, carrying a clipboard under her arm. She was a tall woman and ger presence alone was enough to make the class fall silent.
"Congratulations, everyone," she said with a warm yet firm tone. "Today is the day you step into society as true ninja." Her gaze swept across the room, pride and a touch of nostalgia in her eyes. "From this day forward, you will no longer be academy students. You will face real missions, real challenges, and real danger. But remember — the Will of Fire burns brightest in those who protect their comrades."
When the names for the new genin teams were finally announced, the classroom buzzed with excitement, tension and a few bitter sighs could be heard. Everyone had been waiting for this moment, the moment that would decide who they would fight beside, laugh with and grow with for years to come.
"Team 7," Mirae sensei voice echoed through the room, "Namikaze Minato, Uzumaki Kushina, and Uzumaki Maruku."
A murmur swept through the crowd. Some students glanced at Minato, the golden boy of the academy, then at Kushina, the fiery red-haired girl who often got into fights. And finally, at Maruku, another redhead known for his bold personality and quick wit, often mistaken as Kushina sister.
Kushina blinked in disbelief for a moment before groaning quietly, "Tch… seriously? Him?" Her eyes flicked toward Minato, who smiled at her in his usual friendly manner. But Kushina turned away almost immediately, puffing her cheeks in annoyance. She didn't like Minato and also didn't like him, but she didn't want to go near him because she feel he was hyprocrite.
But when she heard Maruku name announced with her name, her mood shifted instantly. "Wait... Maruku in the same team too?!" Her face brightened with delight. "Hehehe, alright, maybe this isn't that bad!" she said, grinning widely as she gave Maruku a light punch on the shoulder.
Maruku chuckled. "Looks like we're stuck together, huh? Let's make this team the best one in the whole academy!"
Minato smiled softly, watching the two interact. He wanted to say something, perhaps introduce himself properly to Kushina or try to start a friendly conversation, but she was too focused on chatting with Maruku. For the first time, Minato felt a faint twinge of awkwardness. Still, he didn't let it bother him much, after all, he had been chosen to be part of this team, and he was determined to make it work.
As the noise in the classroom continued, Mirae sensei finally left the room and told them to wait for their teacher to come. One by one student were called and 20 minutes later the door slid open with a creak. A familiar voice echoed, yeah they had meet this man for many times, it was Jiraiya. "Team 7! Meet me at the roof in ten minutes."
Everyone turned toward the source. Standing there was none other than Jiraiya, the student of third Hokage. His presence instantly silencing the class. He gave a lazy grin, waving his hand casually before disappearing down the hallway again.
Kushina jaw dropped. "That's our sensei? The pervert Jiraiya" she whispered in disbelief.
Maruku smirked while asking Kushina. "Have you meet him before?"
"Many times, Tsunade nee-chan have introduced me to him before and he was kind of pervert and always getting punched by Tsunade nee-chan."
Minato eyes shone because, Jiraiya had pointed out with him and even teach some ninjutsu to him. "So it's really him… Jiraiya sensei are not kidding when he told me that he will become my sensei after graduating."
Author Notes: To read advanced chapter you can go to my patreon.
-patreon.com/zorojurown