Chapter 13

Yes, Jiraiya had indeed graduated successfully!

Although Jiraiya, like Naruto in his youth, was a bit nervous and excited, he was by no means a failure. The reason Naruto seemed like a "loser" in the original story wasn't due to a lack of talent. Rather, it was because he had the Nine-Tails, the Kyuubi, sealed within him, which disrupted his ability to control his chakra properly.

But Jiraiya was different.

There was no Kyuubi sealed inside him, and his natural talent wasn't bad. While he couldn't compare to geniuses like Orochimaru or Tsunade, Jiraiya was far above the average student in his class. He fell into that category of being better than most, but not quite at the top level. Otherwise, how could he have graduated at the age of six and caught the attention of none other than Sarutobi Hiruzen?

What's that you say? Konoha traditionally pairs the top student with the worst one to balance the teams?

That's nonsense!

That reasoning might apply to other teams, but when it comes to the legendary trio of Sannin? Absolutely not! Even in times of war, anyone who graduates from the Ninja Academy at the age of six is considered an undeniable genius.

The fact that Jiraiya graduated alongside Orochimaru at just six years old spoke volumes about his potential.

But back to the story at hand...

Standing on the podium, after showing off his mastery of ninjutsu, Jiraiya proudly raised his chin toward Orochimaru, his provocation obvious.

And then, it was Orochimaru's turn.

With a series of loud bangs, four shadow clones suddenly appeared in the classroom. Instantly, the entire room fell silent. Jiraiya's smug expression was wiped clean as his eyes widened in confusion and disbelief.

"What… the… hell...?"

Even Aizawa, the teacher, was left momentarily speechless. A civilian-born ninja could summon four shadow clones at the age of six? How was that even possible? Aizawa, who was in his twenties and already a Chunin, felt utterly embarrassed.

However, Orochimaru had shown extraordinary potential since the moment he entered the Academy, so even though Aizawa was shocked, it wasn't entirely outside of his expectations. After all, Orochimaru had always been a genius.

"Amazing..." Aizawa muttered before addressing the two. "Jiraiya, Orochimaru, you two head to the training ground and wait for Lord Hiruzen!"

Jiraiya, still trying to make sense of what just happened, raised his hand. "Teacher, aren't we supposed to be divided into teams?"

After all, apart from him and Orochimaru, there were other students graduating today, including Uchiha Shu and a few others. Normally, the teacher would create three-person teams based on their abilities.

"There's no need for that," Aizawa responded curtly.

"Why not?" Jiraiya persisted, clearly confused.

"You'll understand when you get there," Aizawa said dismissively. Truth be told, he didn't know the specific reason either. This was a directive from higher up, and he was simply following orders.

"Uh… okay…" Jiraiya replied, still puzzled, but as he saw Orochimaru already walking away, he hurried after him.

"Hey, Orochimaru, wait up!" he called, running after him.

---

At the training grounds, Orochimaru stood in silence, a rare look of anticipation on his face. Finally, he thought, he could start taking missions and earn some money! In this world where strength was everything, money was still crucial. Without it, even the strongest ninja couldn't conduct research or fund their ambitions.

As Orochimaru reflected on his next steps, Jiraiya, as usual, was chattering away beside him.

"Hey, Orochimaru, did you notice that girl back there? Do you think she was looking at me?"

"Hey! Are you even listening? C'mon, I'm asking you something!"

"Seriously, man, you're no fun. Well, anyway, I bet she was definitely checking me out. I mean, who wouldn't? I'm Lord Jiraiya! I'm suave, handsome, and adored by all the girls. It'd be weird if she wasn't staring at me!" Jiraiya boasted, clearly more interested in girls than anything else.

Orochimaru, for his part, paid no attention to him. Instead, he pondered how Jiraiya could be such a chatterbox at six years old. And not just a chatterbox a pervert too! What kind of six-year-old walks down the street, ogling women?

One minute, Jiraiya was pointing out a girl's legs, and the next, he was commenting on another's figure. Orochimaru found it baffling. How could someone so young be so obsessed with women? What could he possibly do at this age? Could he even… react?

Orochimaru's thoughts were interrupted when a figure suddenly appeared in front of them Hiruzen Sarutobi, their new teacher.

With a smile, Hiruzen greeted them warmly. "Well, you two have been waiting patiently. My name is Hiruzen Sarutobi, and from today onwards, I'll be your jounin instructor. But before we get started, why don't we introduce ourselves?"

Jiraiya's eyes sparkled with excitement as he immediately jumped at the opportunity to speak first. "My name is Jiraiya, and my dream is...."

Once Jiraiya finished his introduction, Orochimaru casually said his name, offering little else. Hiruzen looked at Orochimaru and nodded approvingly. He was just about to say something when a cheerful voice called out from the distance.

"Sarutobi-sensei!"

It was Tsunade, approaching them with a bright, energetic aura. Upon seeing her, Jiraiya's eyes lit up like a predator spotting its prey.

"This is Tsunade," Hiruzen explained. "She'll be the third member of your team. I'm sure you already know her, Orochimaru."

Orochimaru simply nodded. He wasn't surprised to see Tsunade; whether in his memories or in reality, she was always destined to be on the same team as him.

Jiraiya, on the other hand, didn't know this. The moment he saw Tsunade, his face beamed with excitement. In an instant, he rushed over to her like a cat catching the scent of fish.

"Oh, Tsunade! I'm Jiraiya! It's so great to finally meet you. Please take care of me. And, um, if you have any love letters, feel free to give them to me later!" Jiraiya said with a mischievous grin.

Tsunade, raising an eyebrow, clenched her fist. Before Jiraiya could process what was happening, she swung at him with all her might.

"Don't joke around with me like that!" she shouted.

BANG!

Jiraiya flew through the air, crashing several meters away. That punch was Tsunade's special welcome gift for him.

Orochimaru watched the scene unfold and was quietly impressed by Tsunade's raw strength. He had known from his memories that she possessed monstrous physical power, but seeing it in action at such a young age was still shocking.

Tsunade was only six years old, and yet she had just sent Jiraiya, who was bigger than her, flying with a single punch.

Incredible!