"Thank you for the compliment."
Minato chuckled. Chiharu had been more sensible than her peers since she was very young, so compliments like this were common.
"I have to prepare a sumptuous meal tonight!" Kushina said enthusiastically.
"That's really exciting," Jiraiya replied. Although he often ate out, he had not yet found any restaurant whose food could be better than Kushina's.
"Come in," Minato stretched out his arms and welcomed the Third Hokage and Jiraiya.
"Minato, I've told you many times, you don't have to be so formal," the Third Hokage smiled and waved his hand.
Kushina and the others all walked toward the courtyard.
Minato stood at the door, and when Naruto approached, he turned around and walked into the house with him.
"How was your day at the ninja academy?" He glanced sideways at Naruto, whose eyes were much calmer than when he first came home from school yesterday.
This made Minato feel relieved. It seemed that his son had quickly found a way to adjust.
"Everything is fine," Naruto laughed, then scratched his head a little embarrassedly. "It's just that I can't remember most of what the teacher said in class, hehe."
Minato knew that it was impossible for the ninja academy to teach these students advanced techniques like chakra refinement right after the start of the school term. Instead, they would begin with theoretical classes.
Naruto wasn't good at theory, just like Kushina. After a day of lectures, just the content alone would probably make him dizzy. Adding those extra social pressures to the mix, Naruto's school day wasn't actually easy.
"Everyone has things they are good at and things they are not good at. The key is to do your best."
Minato smiled as the two walked to the front of their home, and he reached out and ruffled Naruto's hair.
"Dad," Naruto was stunned for a moment, then said, "Compared to you having to shoulder the responsibility of the entire village, my little bit of pressure is really nothing."
He gave Minato a bright, genuine smile.
Naruto's smile gave people a warm and comfortable feeling, just like basking in the sun. This was exactly the same as Minato's smile.
"What are you two talking about, father and son? Come in quickly." At this time, Jiraiya urged from the entrance.
"Oh, right!" Minato replied, closing the door behind him.
Jiraiya's eyes remained fixed on Naruto. When Naruto came closer, Jiraiya squatted down, looked at him and said, "You should know who I am, right?"
Although they hadn't spoken yet, from his observations so far, Jiraiya realized that Naruto and Chiharu, despite being siblings, gave people very different impressions.
"Yes, you're my father's teacher," Naruto nodded and looked at Jiraiya curiously.
His father had said more than once that it was thanks to the teachings of the person in front of him that he became a true ninja and later succeeded to the position of Hokage.
Naruto had also learned through his parents and the lessons at the ninja academy how powerful this ninja was, who along with two others bore the title of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha.
However, he had only learned from his father that Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade were two of the three Sannin. The third Sannin was someone his parents and teachers rarely mentioned, and Naruto had never heard anything about this person in the village.
After meeting Jiraiya, Naruto had something in his mind that he needed to ask.
"Since you're my father's teacher, please tell me how to become a good ninja like my father!" Naruto said, staring at Jiraiya with expectant eyes.
Jiraiya was stunned and looked at Minato beside him.
"Naruto, ask about these things later," Minato patted Naruto's shoulder and said.
"Oh, okay," Naruto responded.
However, Jiraiya was struck by the determination in Naruto's eyes. He smiled and replied, "You asked me how to become a good ninja like your father."
Seeing that Jiraiya was willing to answer his question, Naruto's eyes lit up.
"To be honest, although I am indeed your father's teacher, he has already surpassed me. So how to become as good and powerful as him? I don't know the method either."
Jiraiya explained that he hadn't actually taught Minato for that long after accepting him as his disciple. Although he couldn't say that Minato's ability to reach his current level had nothing to do with his teaching, Jiraiya at least believed that his influence wasn't as significant as others might think.
"How can that be?" Naruto looked a little disappointed.
"Although I don't know the specific method, I have just confirmed one thing," Jiraiya changed the subject, looked at Naruto seriously, and said, "Your father is the most talented and accomplished ninja I have ever seen, which is why he became the Fourth Hokage and a legend in the ninja world today."
"And the only one who can surpass him is you, Naruto!"
Naruto's expression trembled when he heard this, and he said in complete disbelief, "You and Dad both said that, but you're just saying it to comfort me, right?"
"Do you need comfort?" Jiraiya suddenly asked back.
Naruto was stunned, and Jiraiya smiled and said, "From what I know, your father would not lie to you with such words even if he was trying to comfort others."
As Minato's teacher, Jiraiya was also the one who had received the prophecy of the Great Toad Sage before him. He certainly knew that Minato had re-sealed the Nine-Tails in Naruto's body and that Naruto might be the child of prophecy.
Of course he trusted Minato's decision, but Jiraiya still had some doubts about this matter. After all, this concerned the future, and just a few words in a prophecy didn't represent everything.
But today, after learning about Naruto's childhood from Minato and actually meeting him, Jiraiya understood why Minato had made this decision.
For a ninja as experienced as Jiraiya, Naruto held no secrets. So, even though it was only a brief meeting, he saw something in the child's eyes that he couldn't find in most people.
He still remembered the look in Minato's eyes when he first accepted him as a student. That look was full of confidence and persistence, just like Minato's personality.
Naruto was different. He didn't have the natural confidence that Minato had. He even had some self-doubt. However, even with that uncertainty, there was no trace of surrender in his eyes just now.
The look in the eyes of a five-year-old child, who would never give up no matter what kind of setbacks he encountered in the future, surprised Jiraiya more than any talent could.
This is what he believed to be the most important quality a strong ninja needed to possess.
So, facing the somewhat uncertain Naruto in front of him, he laughed and said, "In fact, I was not an outstanding person when I was young. I even held my team back."
"What I said just now was not meant to comfort you at all. I'm not quite sure why your father said similar things to you."
"But if you really want me to explain it, it's because I gave you your name, so I believe in you!"
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