Chapter 15: Mysterious Smile
Konoha Village, Ninja Academy.
The Third Hokage chuckled lightly. "Yamaki… this child is in your care as well."
After saying this, he looked at Jiraiya and Tsunade. "Meet promptly tomorrow. This time, Orochimaru will lead the team."
Then the Third Hokage slowly walked out of the principal's office, and everyone else watched him leave.
With the Hokage gone, the atmosphere shifted.
Jiraiya immediately complained, "The old man is so biased! Orochimaru leading again—my skills are just as good!"
Tsunade ignored Jiraiya's complaints. Among the three of them, Orochimaru's intelligence was the highest; he could make the best arrangements. Though a bit ruthless at times, Orochimaru could also be reliable.
Ruofeng didn't care about any of this and simply looked at Jiraiya. "Strange… How did the Third Hokage know my name? What did you say to him?"
Perhaps most Konoha ninja would be thrilled that the Third Hokage knew their name. Ruofeng, however, preferred to stay low-key; accumulating power quietly was wiser.
Jiraiya scratched his head and laughed. "It's because your recovery was too fast. The old man asked me a few questions."
Tsunade then looked at Ruofeng. "Yes… his recovery was far too fast. I knew Jiraiya's injuries well. Even with precious herbs, it should take him half a month to recover. But he healed in just three days—this speed is unusual. Does your family have some powerful medical ninjutsu or rare herbs?"
Ruofeng quickly shook his head. "No… just some herbs my grandfather collected. Perhaps their age enhanced their effects."
He didn't want his "beast meat" revealed. Those meats were his personal training resource; if Tsunade discovered them, she might confiscate them for research. Even Jiraiya, always trying to freeload meals, could be a problem. After all, there were several tons of the meat—more than he could eat alone.
Tsunade smiled teasingly. "Oh… I see. Very well then."
She then looked at Yamaki. "Yamaki… take good care of this child, as well as these two little girls. If I hear any inappropriate words, I will come to 'inquire' myself!"
With a mysterious smile, Tsunade turned and left. Jiraiya, about to protest, was struck on the head with a punch, grabbed by his clothes, and dragged away.
With Tsunade and Jiraiya gone, the spacious principal's office was left with just Ruofeng and three others.
Yamaki was in a tough position. Though responsible for the Ninja Academy—essentially the vice principal—he couldn't confront the likes of the Third Hokage, Tsunade, and Jiraiya.
He looked at Ruofeng, Uzumaki Kushina, and Uzumaki Reiko with helplessness. Perhaps the school hated students with connections the most. Unfortunately, these students were well-connected, and their backgrounds were far from simple.
Yamaki said, "Complete your registration today. Tomorrow, come directly to school for classes!"
Ruofeng smiled lightly. "Thank you, teacher!"
He then looked at Kushina and Reiko. "I'll take you two to play!"
Ignoring Kushina's slight shyness, he took her hand and ran out of the principal's office.
Reiko followed closely behind, a smile on her face.
Yamaki watched them leave with a faint sense of desolation, then muttered, "Uzumaki clan members… recommended by Jiraiya… Looks like this year's students might include some remarkable ones."
His words carried a hint of contemplation.
Through the window, Yamaki watched the trio disappear into the distance, a subtle smile on his face.
⸻
Night soon fell.
Ruofeng waved goodbye to Kushina. "See you tomorrow!"
"Mm… see you tomorrow!"
They left together, and Ruofeng turned to head home, silently exhaling. Finally… that feeling of being watched is gone. Someone must have been monitoring us.
He murmured, a hint of annoyance in his tone. While playing in Konoha with Kushina and Reiko, he always felt a faint sense of surveillance. Perhaps his dual-life experience gave him unusually strong spiritual perception.
Ruofeng sensed it, but knew it was likely Konoha's protection. Kushina and Reiko's importance meant they weren't ordinary children. In the story, Kushina's appearance in Konoha would foreshadow the death of Mito Uzumaki, the weakening of the Nine-Tails' seal, and Kushina becoming the second jinchuriki.
Though aware, Ruofeng still wondered: "Kushina's arrival makes sense, but what about Reiko? Are they appearing as a precaution?"
He shook his head. Though curious, the Nine-Tails jinchuriki issue was not something he could interfere with. Even if he knew the plot, revealing it publicly was out of the question.
When a few attendants appeared, Ruofeng said, "Let's head home."
The attendants had already arrived, and with night falling, Ruofeng naturally returned home.
⸻
Not long after, Ruofeng returned to his bedroom.
He carefully retrieved the jade box, removed the red hair, and placed it in a frame for safekeeping—a token, a keepsake.
He then reached into his pocket to return the Kirin Essence to the jade box.
Carrying the Kirin Essence was a precaution, in case of serious injury. Last time in the hot springs, Tsunade had nearly harmed him. Bringing the Kirin Essence was essentially a safeguard.
But as he checked his pocket, his eyes widened. "Impossible… I clearly put it here… where did it go?"