Chapter 40

Tatsuya carried the hoe and made his way toward the forehead protector that had been spat out by the ninja dog. As he squinted for a brief moment, suddenly the protector collapsed with a single strike from the hoe still in his grasp, causing it to shatter into pieces in an instant.

"Tatsuya, you—" Jiraiya began, his voice trailing off in astonishment.

There were few occurrences in the world that could surprise Jiraiya to this degree. Yet, within just one month's time, Tatsuya managed to evoke more shock from him than in the entirety of his preceding years.

"Huh? This..." Tatsuya wiped a stain of blood from the farmland's edge with the hoe. "The dogs found a spy a moment ago, and I served him as lunch."

Similar to the insects of the Aburame family and the birds of the Uchiha clan, dogs were the summon creatures among some ninja families. Nonetheless, Tatsuya required no summons to engage in combat.

Though summoning jutsu was among the many jutsu at his disposal, it was primarily utilized for mundane tasks rather than investigation or battle.

"Is that the Gekko Family emblem?" Jiraiya inquired, his gaze fixated on the remnants of clothing clinging to the minced meat fragments.

Tatsuya's surprise was evident as he feigned ignorance, "You can't possibly mistake it, can you? How could the Gekko Family be involved in espionage upon a konoha war hero?"

The Gekko Family specialized in gathering secret intel and were adept at using the Transparent Escape jutsu. They were adept at concealing their investigative activities and primarily operated within Anbu and the Ministry of Intelligence, departments overseen by Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō, respectively.

Consequently, the Gekko Family held a position of trust within the ranks of Konoha's shinobi, courtesy of their close association with the Hokage.

"If you aren't a spy, how did you manage to shamelessly monitor me, the hero who brought victory to Konoha?" Tatsuya's calm smile was swiftly engulfed by the burning flames of Amaterasu, which consumed the remnants of evidence.

"By the way, I detected the presence of surveillance a week ago. Such a person is undoubtedly a spy. It couldn't have been dispatched by Lord Hokage, could it?" Tatsuya's tone was almost cheerful as he delivered this revelation.

Minato, situated beside Jiraiya, found himself drenched in sweat, his anxiety palpable. A week ago? Wasn't that the second day he had been observing Tatsuya?

Glancing at the ninja dogs, their sides still stained with the scarlet hue of blood as they tilled the land with iron plows on their backs, a shiver crept down Minato's spine. He realized that continuing the surveillance mission might well result in his own demise within the belly of one of these ninja dogs.

"A new disciple?" Tatsuya's attention shifted towards Minato, standing beside Jiraiya, prompting him to deduce the newly formed relationship between the two.

Following a series of deep breaths, Jiraiya finally regained his composure, his voice resonating with a solemn depth. "Indeed, I took the initiative to poach him Sensei's anbu."

"Jiraiya, as Lord Hokage's apprentice, and now Minato as well, this connection certainly possesses its intriguing aspects," Tatsuya mused before directing his focus back to his farmland, where he began loosening the soil in preparation for planting.

In truth, Tatsuya devoted much of his time to the study of kendo, regarding farming as a form of relaxation post-training.

...

...

Jiraiya and Minato journeyed back to the village in silence. Upon reaching the village gate, a woman cradling a newborn caught their attention as she passed by, greeting them with a respectful nod.

"Ah, greetings, Lord Jiraiya," the woman offered in greeting.

Jiraiya was taken aback. "And who might you be..."

Spotting the Gekko Family crest adorning the woman's attire, Jiraiya's expression shifted through a range of emotions.

"Allow me to introduce myself. This is my son Gekko Hayate, the child of Azuki and myself, Gekko Hikaru."

The woman bowed slightly in the introduction.

"Ah, Azuki Gekko, if I recall correctly, he is the brother of the head of the Gekko Clan, correct?" Jiraiya's brow furrowed as he sought confirmation.

"Yes, my husband serves under Lord Hokage."

Hikaru's expression darkened, confusion tinging her voice. "However, I'm at a loss. He's been returning home quite late these past few days."

The mention of her husband stirred a sense of realization within Jiraiya, prompting him to connect the dots. " I apologize for any grievances I may have caused when I spoke in front of one of the Sannins. I must take my leave now to prepare dinner for Azuki."

Jiraiya: "..."

Minato: "..."

As Hikaru departed with her son, Gekko Hayate, Jiraiya, and Minato were left in contemplative silence.

After a prolonged pause, Minato's voice quivered as he spoke, "Azuki-san was under Hokage-sama and his brother of the current patriarch of the Moonlight Clan, this couldn't have been a recent development..."

"Enough, Minato!" Jiraiya's stern interruption halted his apprentice's speculations. His countenance paled, and he added, "Return home and rest. I have matters to attend to."

Minato stood bewildered as he watched Jiraiya hasten away, the sympathy he felt for the mother and child weighing heavy on his heart.

If Tatsuya continued to be present until the birth of the child named "Gekko Hayate," perhaps a sense of relief would be afforded.

Truly, a close call; it seemed the reincarnation of a high-level character from the original storyline was nearly jeopardized.

Those four random guys from the Chunnin Exams became unforgettable somehow.

READ THE NEXT 40 CHAPTERS IN ADVANCE ON P*TREON.C*M/MARIONI