Chapter 67: Jiraiya's Choice

"I'll be straight with you. Tatsuma and Minato are both brought up by you. You choose one first."

A few days later, Jiraiya returned from a mission and was invited by Tsunade. Upon hearing Tsunade's question, Jiraiya fell into contemplation. After a while, he spoke, "I'll take Tatsuma. Minato is easier to handle and more suitable for you, what do you think?"

"I don't want you to do what's best for me. Choose whoever you truly want to take as your disciple," Tsunade looked at Jiraiya with dissatisfaction, commenting on his apparent reluctance and presumptuous sacrifice. Jiraiya's words made it sound like she was certainly not fit to be a sensei.

Upon hearing this, Jiraiya looked at Tsunade with some suspicion, wondering if Tsunade had set a trap for him to fall into. However, seeing Tsunade's serious expression, Jiraiya couldn't help but start contemplating. Both Tatsuma and Minato were very intelligent, and regardless of what they learned, they picked it up very quickly.

However, if one must say who truly suits being his disciple, Jiraiya's inner answer is not the "like-minded" Tatsuma but Minato.

Because between a sensei and a disciple, they should complement each other. Tatsuma is too much like him. If he were to mentor Tatsuma, it might result in bringing out another Jiraiya.

Jiraiya believes that even if he doesn't mentor Tatsuma, with Tatsuma's talent and temperament, he can reach a level not inferior to his..

But if Tsunade mentors Tatsuma, perhaps she could change the flaws in Tatsuma that resemble Jiraiya's. Maybe this Tatsuma, even if not surpassing Jiraiya, could receive the necessary guidance to further grow.

And Minato is actually the same. Minato is too soft-tempered. If he meets Tsunade, Minato will only gradually lose the sharpness that a ninja should have if he doesn't get corrected at all times.

If Tatsuma needs to polish off all his thorns, then Minato needs to transform from a water-smoothed pebble back into a sharp, cutting stone. The risk is that both might fracture during the process of this reconstruction.

But if a sensei doesn't aim to cultivate disciples who surpass themselves, then what is the purpose of taking on students?

With the answer in his heart, Jiraiya looked at Tsunade again and said, "Minato Namikaze, I'll take him. I will Sakamoto Tatsuma to you, Tsunade. Make sure not to waste his talent."

Seeing Jiraiya finally state his decision, Tsunade nodded and said, "That's settled then. Go talk to those two kids and make it official. Orochimaru has already informed me about the matters outside the village, so there's no need to drag this out any longer."

Jiraiya nodded and then added, "I just returned from sensei's place, and there's some confirmed news. Sakumo-senpai's mission is set to happen, possibly right after the new year."

"I understand. I can depart at any time."

Tsunade stood up, waved her hand, and left. Jiraiya remained seated, sipping on the sake Tsunade had just bought.

The next day, on the way to the Senju clan's territory, Tatsuma and Minato encountered each other. Tatsuma looked at Minato's somewhat hesitant expression and said, "Jiraiya-sensei talked to you too, right?"

Minato nodded and said, "Yeah, but I didn't expect that we'd be disbanded after being in the same team for less than a year."

Hearing Minato's melancholic words, Tatsuma smiled, patting his shoulder, and said, "We'll always be comrades, just not in the same squad anymore. Or are you going to abandon your old teammate now that you've hitched a ride with Jiraiya-sensei?"

"I wouldn't," Minato retorted, then smiled and added, "Let's continue training together whenever we have time. It would be even better if we get the chance to go on missions together."

"That's more like you, Minato. You're not suited for pretending to be contemplative."

The footsteps of the two became light again, and Minato laughed, saying, "Oh, by the way, Jiraiya-sensei mentioned that he would hold a simple apprentice ceremony before the new year and invite some friends."

"You can tell Tsunade-sensei that if you're also planning to hold an apprentice ceremony, just make sure the timings don't clash."

"Yeah, once it's confirmed, I'll let you know."

And so, a month later, as the new year quietly approached, many ninjas returned to Konoha. Tatsuma also received an invitation from Minato, inviting him to attend his apprenticeship ceremony.

In the preceding days, after Jiraiya returned from another mission, Minato once again followed Jiraiya for training. Tatsuma, on the other hand, continued to stay in the Senju clan's territory, learning from Tsunade.

After another day of training, Tatsuma, dragging his aching body, played cards with Tsunade. After winning two rounds and gaining some talent points, Tatsuma noticed that Tsunade's expression was starting to change.

In order to divert his sensei's attention, Tatsuma took the initiative to shuffle and deal the cards, simultaneously changing the subject, "By the way, sensei, how about holding an apprentice ceremony as well?"

"I heard Jiraiya sensei invited quite a few Jonin, he might receive a lot of gifts. After the new year, those Jonin will be out on missions, and there won't be such a good opportunity to receive gifts. You, too, are a genius ninja on par with Jiraiya-sensei, so taking on apprentices surely can't be done casually, right? Oh, I've got a good hand; I might win."

Originally, Tsunade was somewhat indifferent when she heard about the apprentice ceremony. However, when she heard about receiving gifts, her eyes lit up. She hasn't been on a mission for a whole year, and her funds are quite tight. Otherwise, after the lifting of the homestay ban, she wouldn't still be playing cards with Tatsuma; if she had money, she would have gone to the gambling den long ago.

Tsunade took the cards, but before looking at them, Tatsuma had already revealed his blackjack cards.

"Ding~ [Strength+3], [Spirit+2]. Would you like to claim?"

"Claim."

Tatsuma silently thought in his mind and then started shuffling the cards again. Tsunade spoke up, "When is Jiraiya formally taking on apprentices?"

"Tomorrow. I heard there's a barbecue party all afternoon."

While shuffling the cards, Tatsuma shared the information he had learned from Minato with Tsunade. Tsunade gritted her teeth and muttered to herself, "He's really loaded, that Jiraiya."

Tatsuma flipped the cards again. Although there was no praise and no reward this time, he wasn't in a hurry for these one or two rounds. He asked, "I've bought a new set of ninja tools. I won't be eating tonight, aiming to recover the cost in tomorrow's barbecue."

"Why did you prepare ninja tools?"

Tsunade's question caught Tatsuma off guard for a moment. Then he said, "Uh, a gift? It's for Minato."

"Forget it, you don't need to give a gift tomorrow."

As if thinking of something, Tsunade, who had lost two more rounds, surprisingly didn't get angry. Instead, she smiled. Tatsuma was a bit puzzled and said, "Minato and I are friends after all. If he's taking on a master, it wouldn't be right if I don't give a gift, right?"

"Cancel it. As for why, you'll know tomorrow."

Tsunade waved her hand, then sat up straight, rubbed her hands together, and said, "I feel like my luck is here, no more nonsense!"

"As expected of you, sensei. You can even sense the elusive existence of luck. Anyway, blackjack."

"Ding~"

"Are you cheating?!"

As for why no gift was needed, Tatsuma understood the next day when he arrived at the barbecue place. Tsunade, looking at the sign at the entrance that read "Jiraiya's Apprentice Ceremony," pulled out a pen.

Then Tatsuma's eyes widened because Tsunade jumped forward, deftly wielding the pen, and the banner transformed into "Tsunade and Jiraiya's Apprentice Ceremony"!

"As expected of you, sensei."

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