Kyojiro sighed for the fifth time in the last half an hour. His figure rested against the walls that covered the Leaf Village.
The smooth yet grainy texture slowly but steadily built up his irritation. He turned towards his left—his eyes locking onto the figure of the white-haired brat. "Kakashi, how long has it been since we have arrived?"
Kakashi looked at him with a deadpan. "One hour, Kyojiro." He too folded his hands while leaning against the wall.
Currently, the both of them were outside the Leaf Village, the gates merely ten meters to their right—waiting for their squad leader who was supposed to arrive an hour ago.
However, before the two of them could voice out any complaint—
The ground shook under them.
Kyojiro raised an eyebrow; shivers ran down his back as he immediately deployed his katana from its sheath.
His ears twitched, picking up the sound of wind over him. His eyes widened as he looked up—only to find two sandals coming for his head.Without even thinking, he jumped from where he was sitting, his heart pounding in his chest.
BOOM
A loud explosion rang off behind him. His fiery hand swung in the wind as he raised his sword, gazing cautiously at the cloud of dust in front of him.
Beside him stood Kakashi, his hands raised in a sign of preparation. Whatever came out of that cloud of dust would have to face two of the geniuses of the Leaf.
"Hahahaha, man, I should have done this in the middle of the village!" A loud booming voice erupted from within the dust.Soon, a silhouette emerged.Kyojiro's eyes widened as he recognized the man that exited the dust. 'Jiraiya?' His mouth hung open in a wide O.
Jiraiya immediately caught that look in a second before laughing it off. "I see that at least one of you knows me."
Turning towards Kakashi, "For you, brat—I am the amazing, extremely handsome, and one of the strongest of the Leaf," he smiled brightly as he pulled out his scroll, bringing it on the ground with a thud. "The Toad Sage, the famous Jiraiya of the Sannin!"
Kakashi couldn't help but play it cool. However, both Kyojiro and Jiraiya caught a flicker of shock on the little kid's face.
Everyone had grown up on the stories of this beast—the three legendary disciples of the Third Hokage.The man who mastered Nature Energy.
Kyojiro nodded in respect. 'I have no idea how Hiruzen made this possible—but Jiraiya,' he brought his hand forward, 'he was truly someone I looked up to once in a while.'
Jiraiya immediately grabbed his hand in a firm handshake. "Hahahah, it seems my reputation precedes me." His eyes sharpened in an instant. "As for why I am here—I am your proctor."
Pointing at himself, "Basically, I decide if you both have the capabilities of a Jonin or not," his voice boomed in the air.
Kyojiro and Kakashi nodded. 'It seems the test has already begun.'...
Jiraiya swung from tree to tree, his body barely a hindrance among the vegetation. "Tell me, do the both of you know where we are headed?" His voice was curious.
Kyojiro and Kakashi both nodded. The answer was plainly simple—anyone with even basic capability could tell their destination. "The border close to Kumogakure."
Jiraiya nodded. "Good." He turned forward. "Well, your first task in this test is to acclimatize yourself to the camp without me."
Kyojiro nodded, his fiery hair swinging in the wind. 'Of course—with his level of fame... if the camp notices that a Sannin has just entered for two young brats and would go soon, it would affect their morale.'
Kyojiro's grip tightened on his katana. 'Especially now that I know the price of a mistake on the battlefield.'
It took him a few more hours, but the moment they reached closer and closer to the camp, Jiraiya disappeared, blending into the vegetation.
However, Kyojiro knew for a fact that the man was watching. Even now, he could feel the eyes on his back.
Reaching the gate, Kyojiro immediately handed in the scroll the Hokage had provided for them. "Scout team, last ones sent by the Hokage."
The man—a Leaf ninja in his forties—nodded before letting them enter. "The scouts usually stay at the left corner of the camp... and at times on the tower there," he said, pointing at the tall structure near the borders.
It was wooden architecture, made for noticing any disturbance in the forest before they could reach the camp.
Kyojiro nodded gently. "Thank you."
Both of them moved without hesitation, their forms flickering through the ground...It was nothing new to Kyojiro—the similar camp, the buildings, the occasional chatter, the medical tents.
There was just one difference. 'Nobody knows me here, unlike when they called me a hero...' He picked up his pace, his focus heightening. 'It's better that way anyways.'...
Jiraiya occupied a spot on a faraway tree, overseeing the entire process of the boys entering and meeting with the rest of the scouts.His eyesight could capture the way their lips moved, immediately understanding what they were talking about.
'North side... so these two brats will be closer to the border, huh?' A small smirk appeared on his face.
Jiraiya knew Hiruzen—while kind and hopeful—wasn't a fool. If he had sent him to overlook these two brats, 'that means they have some potential.'
Jiraiya couldn't help but turn towards the horizon. The sun seemed to be at its brink. 'Nighttime, huh... let's see what these two are made of.'
His heart kept pounding in his chest from excitement. Jiraiya wasn't just a really strong ninja—he was an excellent spy.'And Kumo... they won't sit still after what Iwa did.'
His eyes sharpened as he looked at the horizon with a twinkle in his eyes. 'You sly sensei, you sent me here not only to overlook these two... but to protect this camp in case Kumo launches their offense.'
Even as a master spy, Jiraiya knew—
Hiruzen Sarutobi always planned one step ahead.