As Hokage, you get your own exclusive training ground. After all, even a Hokage needs to train occasionally to keep their skills sharp.
This was where the First Squad held its daily practice. Quiet, secluded—perfect for training.
The Third Hokage studied the three young ninja in front of him and rubbed his cheeks tiredly.
Tsunade looked distracted, as usual. Hiruzen knew it was because of Mito's teachings—Tsunade often lacked rest and would drift off mid-lesson. Still, she didn't really need him to teach her any flashy techniques. She already had her own path and ambitions. For her, his lessons were more about gaining experience and polishing the basics, like the Shadow Clone Technique.
Orochimaru, on the other hand, was brilliant. He had the potential to inherit Hiruzen's mantle, master all five chakra natures, and become a complete shinobi. Unfortunately, he already had his own summoning contract, which meant Hiruzen couldn't pass down the Sarutobi clan's signature Monkey King summon to him.
That left only one candidate for the clan's summoning technique—Jiraiya.
Hiruzen's gaze settled on the sulking boy. "Today," he said, "I'll teach you a powerful ninjutsu."
Jiraiya perked up. "Really?"
"Yes. The Summoning Technique." Hiruzen pulled out a contract scroll. This was no small matter—this would be the first time the Sarutobi clan's monkey summon was taught to someone outside the family.
"Summoning?" Tsunade blinked back to attention, unimpressed. "I thought it'd be something big. I already have a summon. I don't need it." She thought fondly of her slug—cute, gentle, obedient. She had no interest in replacing it.
"Same here," Orochimaru added, glancing at Jiraiya. His tone made it clear who the lesson was really for.
Jiraiya stared at them both. "You guys already have summons? What about me?"
Hiruzen's face darkened. "Enough talking. Watch closely—the hand signs for the Summoning Technique."
Jiraiya leaned in eagerly as Hiruzen deliberately slowed his movements.
"Summoning Technique: Monkey King—Enma!"
He bit his thumb, slammed his palm to the ground, and with a puff of smoke, a tall, muscular ape appeared.
"Sarutobi… are we fighting again?" Enma asked.
"No… just a demonstration for my students."
"It's a monkey. So ugly," Tsunade said bluntly.
"Agreed," Orochimaru added with a smirk. Snakes were far more elegant, after all.
Hiruzen and Enma both looked like they'd just swallowed something sour.
Jiraiya's eyes, however, gleamed with envy. Ugly or not, it's still cooler than me!
"The Summoning Technique is easy! I can do it too!" Jiraiya declared, forming hand seals.
"Idiot," Orochimaru muttered. "You don't even have a contract. You'll summon air."
Hiruzen sighed. "You need a bond with a summoned beast before—"
"Summoning Technique!" Jiraiya bit his finger, slammed his hand down… and in an instant, with a swirl of smoke and distorted air, he vanished.
"…???" Hiruzen froze, reaching out as if to grab him.
A reverse summoning? But that wasn't in the plan! Jiraiya hadn't messed up the seals, either. And since when could Jiraiya pick up a jutsu on the first try? That was Orochimaru's talent, not his!
"Sarutobi-sensei!" Tsunade snapped to attention. "Where's that idiot Jiraiya?!"
Hiruzen frowned. Where could he have gone?
…Probably to that place.
"Hiruzen, maybe it's those shameless toads. Something's up with that kid," the Monkey King said in a deep voice.
That confirmed the Third Hokage's suspicion.
Something was wrong—but what?
Hiruzen couldn't figure it out. His eyes grew serious as he stared off into the distance, unsure if this was good or bad news.
"Don't worry. Maybe it's a good thing," he finally said.
If Sarutobi-sensei said so, then it must be fine—at least, that's what Tsunade and Orochimaru told themselves, feeling a little more at ease.
Far away, in her home, Maki's expression grew serious beneath her mask. She had just seen something incredible.
Was that really what she thought it was?
If so… what kind of prophecy would the Great Toad Sage make?
The thought lingered in her mind.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya crashed hard onto the ground from mid-air. Groaning in pain, he stood up, still dizzy from the fall. When his vision cleared, he found himself staring at a massive toad glaring right back at him.
"It's so ugly!" Jiraiya blurted out honestly.
The toad, looking like a ruffian with a cigarette in its mouth, silently drew a large knife.
Their eyes locked.
In the very next instant, Jiraiya spun around and bolted.
The toad gave chase.
"Stop! Let's see if I can't cut you down, you brat!"
"Help! Somebody! The toad's trying to kill me!"
One man and one toad sprinted wildly through the forest.
Back at Konoha's training grounds, the Third Hokage sighed.
"Since that boy Jiraiya isn't here, today's training is over."
"Great!" Tsunade's energy returned instantly. Without a word, she turned and dashed away.
"Sarutobi-sensei! See you tomorrow!"
Orochimaru was about to leave too, but Hiruzen stopped him.
"Orochimaru."
The pale shinobi turned, curious.
"Be careful of Ryūchi Cave. Those cold-blooded snakes aren't easy to deal with."
Orochimaru's lips curled into a faint smile. Snakes are adorable.
"I understand, sensei," he said, humoring him.
But Hiruzen could tell from Orochimaru's tone that he wasn't taking the warning seriously, and it gave him a headache. Among the three great summoning realms, the Slug Sage of the Senju Clan was the most gentle. The other two were far less welcoming.
"If you can, learn as much senjutsu as possible," Hiruzen advised.
"Senjutsu?" Orochimaru asked, puzzled.
"If you don't push forward, Jiraiya will overtake you," Hiruzen warned gravely.
Orochimaru raised a brow. That idiot?
"You've felt it, haven't you?" Hiruzen continued. "At first, you could beat him with ease. But now, it takes more effort. What about in the future? Time waits for no one, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru thought carefully, and a small sense of urgency crept in.
That fool was catching up to him.
"What exactly is senjutsu?" Orochimaru asked.
"It's a powerful force only the truly strong can master," Hiruzen replied.
"Can you use it, sensei?"
"I can't," the Third Hokage admitted. "But my father could—one of the strongest warriors of the Warring States Period! Even the First Hokage respected his power."
That caught Orochimaru's interest.
"Tsunade is certain to master it. Even Jiraiya has been given the chance. If you don't hurry, you'll be left behind."
At that moment, Hiruzen's tone was less like a teacher and more like a father.
"What about Maki?" Orochimaru asked.
"I don't know," Hiruzen said. "Maybe she can, maybe she can't. But she's a powerful kunoichi—you won't be able to defeat her without senjutsu."
"I understand, sensei." Orochimaru bowed.
"You don't have to be so formal, Orochimaru," Hiruzen smiled.
But Orochimaru's eyes were already distant, his mind turning.
It seemed a trip to Ryūchi Cave was in order. He had to learn what this senjutsu was all about.
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