Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others turned around.
Asuma instinctively leaned back, but the book he'd stuffed against his stomach stuck out even more. His shirt wasn't loose to begin with, and now it was bulging so obviously you could practically make out the stiff edge of the pages.
"Ha! Hahahahaha!"
Jiraiya laughed without a shred of mercy. "Kid, what kind of book are you sneaking around with? At your age, reading what adults read is absolutely not allowed, you know?"
He held out his hand dramatically. "Come on, hand it over. Big brother Jiraiya's confiscating it. I need material… I mean, I need to critique this filthy trash!"
It was simple logic: if he'd gotten rained on before, then someone else's umbrella was getting snapped in half too.
Back when Jiraiya was a kid, he'd tried sneaking a peek at books like that, and Hiruzen Sarutobi had caught him on the spot. Instant social death.
Tsunade arched a brow. "Asuma, you little brat, learn from me, and from Orochimaru."
"Learning from Jiraiya won't get you anywhere…"
Hiruzen's face went dark. "That's not necessary."
One had a gambling habit. One was obsessed with forbidden techniques.
If not for talent and sheer foundation propping them up, anyone else with Tsunade and Orochimaru's hobbies would've been finished in this life.
Either crippled… or executed.
As for Asuma, Hiruzen's expectations weren't high.
Be a generous second-generation kid. That was enough.
Don't rebel. Don't cause trouble.
If he could be a little more sensible and help smooth Hiruzen's reputation with the new generation, that would be more than fine.
Hiruzen motioned him over. "What are you even bringing to the academy? And why are you sneaking around like that?"
Asuma shuffled forward, dragging his feet.
Jiraiya grinned, quick as lightning, and yanked the book right out of his shirt. "Kid, submit yourself to Lord Jiraiya's righteous judgment!"
The very next second, Jiraiya's expression went stiff. He still flipped through it anyway, like he couldn't believe his own eyes.
Right there on the cover, in bold letters:
"Fire Style Essentials of the Sarutobi Clan."
What the hell?
Was something wrong with this kid?
If it was just studying, why was he acting like a thief?
Jiraiya's face went red, all the way up to his ears.
"This guy's filthy, and his heart's filthy too," Orochimaru said, letting out a quiet laugh. "I knew Asuma wasn't your kind of child."
Then his gaze slid to the book, amused but cautious. "Still… where are you taking that? Don't go losing it."
Asuma's heart sank. He hesitated, weighed it, and finally decided honesty was the only way out.
"Father," he said to Hiruzen Sarutobi, "I started a group with some classmates at the ninja academy. We agreed we'd each bring books from home and improve together…"
Jiraiya almost lost it right there. Tsunade laughed too, unable to hold it back.
A "gang" at the academy?
Honestly… that did sound like the Hokage's son. Showing off organizational instincts this young.
Jiraiya leaned in, teasing. "Hey, Asuma. Do you even know what you're doing?"
"Taking books without permission is my fault," Asuma said, head dropping. "I was scared Father would say no…"
His voice tightened anyway. "But I promised my brothers. I can't break my word."
Even Hiruzen smiled, entertained despite himself. These little brats actually had some street code in them.
"Oh, it's not that simple," Jiraiya said, suddenly putting on a stern face.
He mimicked Danzo Shimura's tone as best he could, all gravel and menace. "This is faction-building. You're planting your own little mountain stronghold inside the academy…"
"I say you're plotting to oppose the Hokage! Old man…"
His eyes flicked to Hiruzen and he immediately corrected himself, "Sensei's not old yet!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, at this point, was built about the same as Jiraiya, with the extra weight of strength that came from being in his prime. Calling him "old man" really didn't fit.
Asuma's head filled with a gigantic question mark. "Me… oppose my father?"
That completely blank expression made everyone laugh.
And objectively speaking, if it hadn't been Asuma's "Azure Dragon Gang," the academy teachers would've called in reinforcements the very next day and crushed that energetic little clique.
Then they'd have made every single member get on stage and read their self-criticism three times.
Because what he was doing really was skating the edge.
The core techniques of the shinobi clans were traditionally never shared outside the family. That included secret arts, tricks for chakra nature and shape transformation, and all sorts of things.
The only reason it wasn't instantly treated as a serious breach was because it was "academy students exchanging study materials," a convenient disguise they'd stumbled into by accident.
"Asuma," Hiruzen said, still smiling, "it's not that I disapprove. But there are a few things you need to keep in mind."
"First, know your limits. Verifying techniques together is fine, but if you run into trouble, you must ask an adult for help. High-level forbidden techniques do you no good and can only harm you."
"Second, confidentiality. You need rules. Write them down, and report your group to the academy teachers."
"Third," he added, "you should also help bring along the other kids."
Hiruzen's tone stayed light, but there was steel underneath it. "The best way to master a jutsu is to teach it. You review it again through instruction. Remember to pull up the classmates behind you."
As Hokage, he couldn't only focus on the talented ones.
Start at the academy. Let it spread slowly and properly.
And as for the existing genin and chunin in the village, dumping a bunch of clan "essentials" into their laps all at once wouldn't accomplish much either.
Talent decided how much they could absorb. Most of them simply wouldn't be able to take in much.
That was why Hiruzen had selected Kosuke Maruboshi among the Konoha Commissioners. He wanted him to serve as a researcher, someone who could identify needs from the ground level.
A man who'd stayed a Genin for so long understood what genin and chunin actually lacked better than anyone.
If the village made targeted improvements based on that… it would land much cleaner.
Asuma nodded so fast his head nearly bobbed off.
"Father, I understand!"
"Don't worry. We'll definitely unite, and we'll show Minato-sensei what we can do!"
Jiraiya blinked. "Minato-sensei?"
"Kakashi said Minato-sensei is coming to test us," Asuma said, completely earnest.
Jiraiya chuckled. "Then you'd better work hard. I'm sure you'll win…"
He had faith in his student.
If a bunch of academy brats could actually take Minato down, Konoha's future would be so bright it'd be terrifying.
Asuma sprinted off toward the academy, practically bouncing.
Hokage Dad supported his Azure Dragon Gang. Asuma was going to cut Minato down in battle, no mercy!
After Asuma left, Hiruzen spoke again, calm as ever.
"Jiraiya. Take Minato to apply for Flying Raijin."
"Huh?" Jiraiya stared. "Isn't that a little much?"
"What do you mean, 'a little much?'" Hiruzen said, righteous to the core. "I simply saw Minato's talent. It has nothing to do with that brat Asuma."
Then he added, almost casually, "Although that 'gang' name is… a bit too distinctive."
"Tell Minato to have them change it to a study group."
Jiraiya let out a long sigh.
Poor Asuma. Did he really think he could run from his teacher?
"If you've got free time lately, go to the academy and keep an eye on them. Make sure they don't go too far."
"And remind Minato to give them some confidence."
Jiraiya nodded. "Yeah, sure. I don't have any missions right now anyway. I was thinking about writing a novel."
"That novel of yours…" Hiruzen's eyes shifted, something sparking in his head. "Come see me in a few days. I'll give you some outlines."
Jiraiya rolled his eyes. "Sensei, you know how to write novels?"
Hiruzen waved it off like it was nothing.
He didn't really know how to write…
But he knew how to copy.
A shinobi-world version of "The Legend of the White Snake," "The Butterfly Lovers," twist them up a little, and slip in some soft promotion for the Sage Land Pill. That wasn't hard at all.
And if Jiraiya actually had talent…
Then once Konoha's support systems were in place, he could write other kinds of stories too.
Like "Saving Konoha's Genin Ari," or "The Tragedy of the Hidden Mist."
"Among Minato's peers…" Hiruzen murmured, already thinking about the next problem, "it really is hard to find someone who can grow alongside him."
The thick bonds between shinobi often came from sparring.
A good rival could push both people's potential further. Hiruzen Sarutobi himself knew that well. His own growth alongside Danzo had been proof.
But Minato Namikaze, at this age, was simply too exceptional.
And if he mastered Flying Raijin… it would only get worse.
Hiruzen suddenly smiled. He'd thought of a candidate.
If it was that person…
That person really could train Minato properly, push him hard, and have the two of them "improve together."
The only problem was the identity angle. He'd have to think carefully about how to arrange it.
And then, the next day—
The man who always assigned sparring targets to others found himself being challenged instead.
Danzo Shimura came to him, straight to the point.
"Hiruzen… spar with me?"