Both the Third Hokage and Jiraiya had personally attempted the same test in the past.
Precisely because of that, they knew the truth. They lacked the talent required for the Flying Thunder God. They understood just how brutal the difficulty curve was.
With their level of skill, learning it wasn't strictly impossible. At best, they might manage something like the Flying Thunder God Formation.
But honestly? That technique was an embarrassment to the name. It barely deserved to share the title and wasn't worth learning at all.
And yet.
That talent was limited to a single technique.
But it was the Flying Thunder God.
A strategic, battlefield-defining jutsu personally validated by the Fourth Hokage.
That alone made everything different.
"Ahem," the Third Hokage said calmly. "Jiraiya, if you're too busy chasing prophecies and don't have the time… then perhaps I should take him myself."
Jiraiya froze.
He stared at his teacher for a long moment, searching for even a hint of embarrassment. Finding none, he couldn't help himself.
"Sensei… do you have any shame left?" he said flatly. "You're competing with your own student for a disciple now?"
The Third Hokage's face darkened instantly.
His hands began forming seals.
"Hey, old man, wait—!"
Too late.
Jiraiya was promptly smacked around.
Watching from the side, Tōma sighed inwardly. Even a playful exchange between these two was far beyond anything he could withstand. The gap was absolute.
It was also the first time he'd seen the Third Hokage like this.
Relaxed. Sharp-tongued. Almost… human.
Only in front of Jiraiya would he ever act this way.
He really is old, Tōma thought quietly.
Age made people nostalgic. Careful. Protective of their legacy. More emotional than they'd ever admit.
And yet, even now, the Third Hokage remained cautious to the end. Without Jiraiya present, the Flying Thunder God would never have been handed over so easily.
Tōma had anticipated much of this. He'd believed his performance would be enough. Maybe not instantly, but given time.
Reality corrected him.
The Third Hokage was still the Third Hokage. Older, yes. Softer, maybe. But the calculations never stopped.
Tōma had never counted on Jiraiya as a certainty. The variables were too unstable. That was why his earlier plans revolved around Team Seven, not Jiraiya.
Still.
The result was perfect.
The brief scuffle ended, and in the end, the Third Hokage stepped back.
Tōma quietly exhaled in relief.
He didn't actually have the right to choose. Only to be chosen. If the Third Hokage had insisted, refusal wouldn't have been an option.
Either way, both outcomes benefited him immensely.
"Hmph," Jiraiya said, folding his arms with a grin. "From today on, kid, you're this great sage's disciple."
"Yes," Tōma replied, his excitement genuine. "Thank you, Sensei."
For once, there was no need to pretend.
He even considered performing a formal ceremony, something traditional, but the ninja world didn't bother with such things. Remembering it in his heart was enough.
"Well then," the Third Hokage said casually, "you should leave already."
Jiraiya waved a hand and turned to go. Tōma followed after receiving a final nod of approval.
Once they were gone, the Third Hokage's smile faded.
He tapped his pipe against the desk.
A masked figure appeared instantly.
"Go remind Danzō to behave himself for a while," the Hokage said, his voice shadowed beneath the hat.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
The ANBU vanished.
The Third Hokage gazed into the distance, feeling reassured. Jiraiya was stronger than he'd expected. That eased his worries.
Despite the prophecy, he still wished Jiraiya would stay in the village longer. But he knew better than to hope too much. His student was stubborn to the core.
It had taken over a dozen summons just to drag him back.
Elsewhere.
Danzō stared at the ANBU captain standing before him, face grim. Root operatives lay scattered across the ground, forcibly dragged out and dumped at his feet.
"What does Hiruzen want now?" Danzō growled. "I've already backed off."
"The Hokage says you should lie low," the captain replied flatly.
"I already pulled Root back!" Danzō snapped.
"Then pull them back completely. Also," the captain added, turning away, "Jiraiya-sama has returned."
With that, he left.
Danzō clenched his teeth. After a long pause, he finally said, "Suspend surveillance on the Nine-Tails boy."
The Root members exhaled in relief. Being discovered by Jiraiya would've been a death sentence.
Danzō's thoughts raced.
Why now?
Uchiha? Too late.
Then the report arrived.
A name.
Fujimoto Tōma.
Everything clicked.
"So that's it…" Danzō hissed. "You called him back just to take a disciple."
Anger burned deep in his chest.
Still… it wasn't the worst outcome. Jiraiya wasn't back to take the Hokage seat. That alone was a relief.
Hiruzen could wait. Jiraiya could not.
As for Tōma?
Too young. Not a threat.
Yet the bitterness lingered.