The netizen's sudden encouragement left Sasuke speechless.
At the same time, the system prompt arrived as expected:
[You have received a new suggestion: Find Jiraiya as soon as possible and become his disciple. Adopt and complete this suggestion to receive a C-rank scroll]
C-rank?
Sasuke was shocked. Apart from the outrageous suggestion to "kill Sakura," this was the highest scroll reward that had ever appeared.
Previously, Sasuke had tried to identify patterns in the scroll rewards. At first, he thought the more difficult the suggestion, the higher the reward.
But he quickly rejected this theory.
Take the Orochimaru suggestions, for example—confronting him head-on only gave a D-rank scroll, while hiding yielded a higher C-rank.
No matter how you looked at it, hiding seemed much easier than a direct confrontation.
But now, just by becoming someone's disciple, he could get a C-rank scroll? Sasuke's newly built pride and reservations vanished without a trace.
Social anxiety? What social anxiety? As long as the rewards were good enough, his intentions were pure!
Master, your devoted disciple is here!
——
A good night's sleep had cleared away most of Sasuke's fatigue.
The energy boost from the system's previous reward was really showing its effects now.
Jumping out of bed, Sasuke began today's master-hunting journey.
Early morning in Konoha already revealed the village's vitality. Hardworking vendors had set up their stalls, starting another busy but ordinary day.
Sasuke bought his favorite bonito rice ball from a street vendor and ate while walking.
What he didn't know was that not far behind him, Kakashi followed while reading "Icha Icha Paradise."
As time passed, more people filled the streets—ninjas, merchants, farmers.
With the Chunin Exams ongoing, many new faces had appeared in the village, making it particularly lively.
"Yo! Sasuke!"
A ninja with a horizontal scar across his nose walked over from the opposite direction, greeting Sasuke enthusiastically.
"Ah, Iruka-sensei, good morning," Sasuke responded.
The newcomer was none other than his former academy teacher.
Since graduating, he hadn't seen him in a while.
"Aren't you taking the Chunin Exam? How do you have time to wander the streets? Where's Naruto? Why isn't he with you?" Iruka asked.
"Well, some people haven't finished the second round yet, so we need to wait another couple days." Sasuke was too embarrassed to mention he'd finished early. "That idiot Naruto is probably still sleeping."
To quickly change the subject from the exam, Sasuke hurriedly brought up Naruto.
"Yeah, hahaha, that sounds like him," Iruka laughed as expected.
"By the way, have you seen a ninja named Jiraiya?" After searching fruitlessly for half the day, Sasuke couldn't help but ask.
"Jiraiya? Has that legendary ninja returned to the village?" Iruka's expression shifted, thinking of recent rumors about Orochimaru and the Hokage's notice about heightened security. A storm was definitely brewing.
Sasuke didn't know what Iruka was thinking. Seeing him lost in thought, he prompted again: "Iruka-sensei?"
"Ah! Sorry about that," Iruka said with an embarrassed laugh. "I haven't seen Lord Jiraiya, but I've heard he travels constantly and hasn't returned to Konoha in a long time. Why are you looking for Lord Jiraiya?"
"Ah, it's nothing." Learning that Iruka didn't know anything, Sasuke couldn't hide his disappointment and left after a few perfunctory words.
After walking around fruitlessly for half a day, Sasuke no longer felt as relaxed as he had in the early morning. Sitting on some stone steps, he couldn't help but open the system forum again.
"Can't find him. There's no such person around."
Sasuke left a message under Muddy Waters Konjac's answer.
Moments later, Muddy Waters Konjac replied: "Thank you! Thank you, author, for choosing this route!"
"You're really getting into character, huh?"
Completely baffled by this response, Sasuke thought for a moment before leaving another message: "I've been searching the village for most of the day but can't find him."
Muddy Waters Konjac: "I get it. You need clues, right? Simple—hot spring districts, waterfalls, women's bathhouses. Basically, anywhere a woman might be undressed, you'll definitely find him!"
Sasuke's face flushed at this blunt statement, but he stood up and headed toward the locations the netizen had suggested.
Finally, at dusk, Sasuke spotted a suspicious figure in the bushes next to an outdoor hot spring.
The man was bent over with his rear sticking out, peeping while muttering: "Beautiful, so beautiful. It's like heaven. Hehe, hehehe..."
Witnessing this scene, Sasuke was speechless.
What was the phrase again? After reviewing the system prompt, Sasuke cleared his throat:
"Lord Jiraiya, I wish to become your disciple! My dream is to bring unprecedented peace to the ninja world! I hope to receive your guidance!"
No reaction.
Sasuke reconsidered, then finally made up his mind. He dropped to one knee, lowered his head, and repeated the words.
Still no response.
This time Sasuke lost his patience and shouted: "LORD JIRAIYA! I WANT TO BECOME YOUR DISCIPLE!!"
The volume was so loud that the women in the hot spring shrieked in alarm, clearly startled by the sudden shout.
"You brat!!" Jiraiya's eyes blazed with fury, his nostrils flared, and he whirled around with his palm raised to strike.
Sasuke jumped back in alarm. When Jiraiya saw his attacker was just a kid, he quickly pulled back his hand.
Even so, Jiraiya couldn't hide his anger: "Whose brat are you, coming here to ruin my research material collection!"
Sasuke quickly bowed again: "Lord Jiraiya, I wish to become your disciple."
"Oh?" Jiraiya found this amusing, then noticed the Uchiha fan emblem on Sasuke's back.
This kid was from the Uchiha clan? But five years ago, hadn't that clan been...
With this thought, Jiraiya's gaze sharpened: "That Uchiha Itachi—what is he to you?"
Hearing this, Sasuke's eyes flashed with turmoil, a hint of murderous intent breaking through. Fortunately, with "Steel Will's" help, Sasuke quickly composed himself and responded: "He's my brother."
"The man I dream of killing!"
Sasuke hesitated briefly but decided to voice his true feelings.
"Hmm, another child consumed by hatred." Jiraiya's eyes dimmed. Over the years, he'd seen too many children like this, with those same eyes.
However, Jiraiya soon turned to leave: "I don't want to get involved in Uchiha family matters."
"Now then, time to check out the taverns! Konoha's nightlife is quite spectacular too."
"Wait, please wait!"
Sasuke suddenly panicked: "I—I want to bring unprecedented peace to the ninja world! Please help guide me!"
Hearing this, Jiraiya turned around: "Who taught you to say that?"