[3rd Person POV (30 minutes prior)]
Hiruzen sat behind his desk, the last rays of evening sunlight spilling through the wide window of the Hokage's office.
He had just finished reading the latest mission report from the Anbu assigned to shadow his precious squad.
The results were enough to make even the Professor lean back and exhale a slow, satisfied breath.
His Anbu's writing was full of praise for how the mission was handled.
Mission completed in record time.
Target group eliminated without casualties. Sound decisions were handled by Jiraiya under field leadership protocol. They properly scouted and safety got information.
'The academy teachings must have been pretty useful for that brat...' Hiruzen mused. 'Although it seems like giving Jiraiya that [Shadow Clone Technique] was worth it. Maybe if he asks for another technique, I'll give it to him.'
Jiraiya's use of the technique was definitely the highlight of the mission.
He reread those lines twice.
The boy who once stumbled through academy drills was now being described as calm, tactical, and decisive. The Anbu even remarked that Jiraiya's command approach was way above his current rank.
He'd used shadow clones to scout and confirm enemy numbers before engaging, repositioned Tsunade and Orochimaru according to terrain advantage.
Hiruzen smiled faintly. 'You've grown so much since you first became my student, Jiraiya. All those extra beat- training must have fixed your head.'
He turned the page, the report continuing in concise detail.
Orochimaru's contribution stood out next. The Anbu had noted that Orochimaru's actions were cold-blooded. He had silently picked off a samurai, then picked off an archer.
'Using Tobirama sensei's criteria for finding potential anbu members in the academy, my student perfectly fit the bill.'
Staring at the page for a while, he was stuck in thought.
Orochimaru was still too young. Twelve would be the earliest he'd even consider letting Orochimaru step into the shadows of the village.
Then came Tsunade's section. She didn't do anything particularly shining besides the Earth technique. But listening to Jiraiya's instructions and successfully executing was good enough.
Setting the report down, and clasped his hands, eyes thoughtful.
While a bit hesitant, Hiruzen didn't want to send them to the Chunin exams too early. Mainly for the fact of Jiraiya.
Of course, Hiruzen had never been worried about Tsunade.
Her lineage alone ensured a high ceiling, and her backing of the Senju was enough to make her a Chunin.
Orochimaru, too, was a given; the boy absorbed every lesson like a sponge, already dabbling in multiple elemental releases with frightening speed.
Anyone would be hard-pressed to deny him a Chunin jacket.
But Jiraiya… he had been the question mark since the beginning of the team. With time, though, broke any expectations.
'The class clown, the underachiever, and the pervert.'
Though Hiruzen coughed into his hand, remembering that last line.
A slow, proud smile crept across his face. Looking at his desk filled with paper he decided to take the closest paper on a stack.
Slowly but surely, his favourite student, who even took after him in some departments, was seemingly the white haired brat.
'Let's look at this.'
He flipped through additional reports clan correspondences, requests for team placements, minor political favors. The Ino-Shika-Cho trio already supported him, as did the Shimura.
The Hyuga had recently gone under his banner already which had surprised him.
Even the Aburame had hinted at future collaboration.
It wasn't hard to see why. The clans saw promise in his students and especially seeing that he became a Hokage directly from the last.
There wasn't much of a debate over who had the right to become the next in line, considering how the past two Hokage were chosen.
A close connection with the past Hokage was key.
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, seeing the other clan's reports. Specifically, the Inazuka, Kurama, and Uchiha.
Soon after sighing at these clan's lack of support, he wanted to rest for a little bit.
'I may as well pick out some potential team members for Jiraiya to entertain myself...' Hiruzen thought with some sweat going down his face, seeing the stacks of papers.
"Chunin for a few years, huh," Hiruzen murmured to himself, a small smile tugging at his lips. "But he wouldn't fit... Maybe this one would pair better."
This lasted a while until a knock could be heard from the door.
...
[POV - Jiraiya (The Present)]
Hiruzen looked up at us with a warm expression. His desks were stacked with bundles of paper, which made me rethink any thoughts of becoming Hokage.
"In two months' time, I will sign you three up for the Chunin exams."
Tsunade blinked, confused. "Already? The academy said typically, Genin aged up to ten took it. What if we get hurt!"
The original Jiraiya does not remember that... In fact, I don't think he knows what the exams were.
Sort of puts into perspective how his physical talent was sort of carrying him. Other than the summoning beast, he was able to get.
The first shinobi war probably made Konoha desperate for shinobi to fill their ranks.
"You're ready," he said, tone calm but absolute. "I'm not saying you have to win, as it won't guarantee you a promotion. I've seen this team's progress over the year, and giving it a shot now wouldn't be bad."
'So he doesn't expect us to win, huh.' I thought, narrowing my eyes. It definitely didn't seem that way. Especially because I don't plan on embarrassing myself.
A shinobi's reputation is not everything, but extremely important in the short run/early to mid game.
So, at least making it to the third round would suffice. But thinking like that might place me at a disadvantage. We will see what I should do at the time and adapt.
"Will the evaluation be team-based or individual?" Orochimaru questions.
"A combination," Hiruzen said. "There will be three stages, but I can't tell you about the first two."
The First Great War had just ended. Most other villages were licking their wounds, which meant this year's exam would be mostly Konoha teams.
Meaning my toughest opponent wouldn't come from another village. It'd come from right beside me.
'Or a clan kid who's been a Genin for years.' I thought with a frown. My mind was already cautious of my own team; who else knew my move set?
I'd need to have a few plans and back-ups for those plans against Orochimaru. Especially because he knows about Gamabunta but not everything about him.
There were options like combination techniques with toad oil, develop other techniquesl.Or getting another summon.
Then Orochimaru asked, "Who won the last Chunin Exams?"
Hiruzen tapped his pipe against the edge of the desk. Looking at the ceiling in thought before talking.
"Three genin were promoted. But the overall winner was the heir of the Hatake clan. Sakumo Hatake. His performance with lightning release was exceptional."
The future White Fang of the leaf.
And Mr.Worldwide's dad...
"Sensei, do you know how old Sakumo and the other Genin were?" I ask now, butting in. My curiosity over this mythical figure was at a high.
We never got too much information about him besides some statements, such as him being stronger than the Sannin combined.
Which probably meant their second shinobi war selves.
So this man was at least low Kage level or close to it. The best way to scale him is probably after the fourth shinobi war, Kakashi.
When he develops purple lightning and finally doesn't have the Sharingan to take his chakra away.
He was already starting to make a name for himself.
Although I could be way off in my comparison, there was no way to really know.
Hiruzen stood then, moving around the desk, robe brushing against the floor. "If I remember correctly, Sakumo was 10, and the other two. Makeno Yamanaka and Shion Uchiha were 13."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "And you're sending us at seven? Thanks."
"If sensei says we can do it, we should do well," Orochimaru says right after.
He smiled faintly, undisturbed by the princess's rebuttal. "Believe in your sensei."
We left the office soon after, our footsteps echoing through the wooden corridor. Orochimaru walked ahead, lost in thought. Tsunade stretched and yawned, already complaining about wanting to jump on her bed.
I followed behind them, hands in my pockets, my reflection flickering across the polished floor.
Two months. That's all I had to prepare.
It's time to grind.
...
Unfortunately, before the grind could happen, the next day, we were stuck posing.
Posing for what?
The camera, apparently.
"Come on, sensei! I want this over already..." Hearing Tsunade's grumbling, I ignore it. At this point in time, letting her rant to herself was the best option, as her hate wouldn't randomly lock on to me anymore.
Not being seen as a pervert and being normal had its perks.
"Give me a second, Tsunade." His slow pace and "elderly" way of talking were practically trying to rage bait her.
"Hmph!"
Getting into place in the middle, with Orochimaru to my right and Tsunade to the left. It was time to get our group photo. Hiruzen, who was behind us, had a large smile last time I checked. He wasn't wearing his Hokage robes though but casual clothes which looked cooler to be honest.
Brother quite literally had no drip with that robe.
The photographer, a middle-aged man with an old camera. He was tense because of just who he had to picture. "Just stand still, please. One good smile will do."
*Click.*
The shutter snapped, freezing the moment, the three of us lined up in front of our sensei.
Tsunade's grin was cocky, Orochimaru's had a sly smile, and mine was somewhere between confident and tired.
We wrapped it up soon after, and Hiruzen left to attend a meeting with the council, giving us the rest of the day off. Naturally, that meant "go train" in ninja language.
By noon, I was alone at the clearing behind Training Ground Six, the same place I used to practice tree-walking.
The air was humid, carrying the faint scent of pine and soil. I adjusted my stance, rolled my shoulders, and exhaled slowly.
...
The next few weeks blurred together in a cycle of sweat, bruises, and repetition.
Every morning, I'd meet with Tsunade and Orochimaru for team drills, then stay behind long after they'd left, drilling the same movements until my legs screamed.
The Body Flicker was improving, and finally didn't need any seals to activate anymore. My control would slip, but it was an improvement.
My transitions were tighter. My chakra efficiency was better.
I could feel it.
I was in control.
After one especially rough session, I lay flat on my back in the grass, staring up at the sky. The clouds drifted lazily overhead, mocking me with how easily they moved.
"It's been a while," I mutter to myself. "I should check on Hiruko."
My mind now being made up, my body dragged itself towards his team's training ground. Sensei thankfully told me about where he was located a while ago, but due to my training craze, there wasn't a time I felt the need to talk to him.
But remembering his future...
Yeah, I may need to give him a visit.
I found him at one of the smaller training grounds near the edge of Konoha, sitting on a fallen log with scrolls spread out around him. His pale face was focused on a scroll sprawled out on the floor.
"Hiruko," I called, stepping into the clearing.
He looked up, blinking once with his dead-looking expression. After recognising me, his frown turned into a wide, beaming smile. "Jiraiya! How are you doing!"
Hearing his enthusiasm, it was almost infectious.
"I've been doing good, you?" I said, stretching my shoulders.
"Not too bad, I've finally found something I'm good at." He answers confidently, way different than his old demeanor.
"Are you guys gonna participate in the Chunin exams?"
He shook his head. "Our sensei thinks we're not ready. Wants to wait until my team's average age is ten. Which frustrated Tategawa a lot."
"That's good though," I said honestly. "It's better for you guys as you'll have plenty of time to grow. If I embarrass myself in front of all those spectators, how will I show my face..."
I exaggerate a bit towards the end there.
"Wait, what are you training right now?" I ask, curious.
"I'm currently reading a medical scroll. But I have been allocating some time to Fuinjutsu!"
'Fuinjutsu? Now that's something interesting. Though I can start thinking about that after the exams.' My thoughts are shutting that down.
Distractions in front of the grind are sin.
"Medical ninjutsu? That's amazing, especially if you add fuinjutsu, the ultimate support ninja. Say, after the Chunin exams, you want to study Fuinjutsu together?" My words getting an immediate yes from the kid.
"Yeah! For now, though, my sensei has been sending me to the hospital to learn more. It's been really busy," he said, unrolling one of the scrolls.
"We should have a meal sometime. Sorry if this was a short meeting. For now, I'm diving back into training. Bye!" I say walking off.
"Cya!"
I take my time to walk back to my team's training grounds. Orochimaru was still there, but I wouldn't be bothering him. Right now, I have something to do and a place to visit for training.
'Let's see if I can convince Gamabunta.' I thought a plan was already being put into place for the exams.
Boar → Dog → Bird → Monkey → Ram
[Reverse Summoning Jutsu]
*Poof*