Jiraiya let out a jovial laugh and patted the ground beside him.
"Sit, sit! This Toad Sage doesn't get to see his old students often these days."
Utakata walked over and sat down beside the man now identified as the toad sage. In the entire ninja world no one except Jiraiya the Gallant can call himself the toad sage.
"Did the old man send you here?" Jiraiya asked.
Utakata shook his head. "No. I became a Jōnin sensei. My team is the First Dispatch Squad, so we were part of the unit handling the infiltrators."
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So you finally became an instructor."
However, after a moment, he frowned slightly.
"But wait, if I remember correctly, it's only been a month or two since the teams were formed. So how come you're already taking them on A-rank missions?"
Utakata didn't answer right away. He simply stared at the sea, watching the waves crash against the shore.
"I wouldn't have brought them here if I didn't think they were ready," he finally said.
Then, after a brief pause, he continued, "Besides, I have Juichi's kid on my team. And I believe... he has talent on Minato's level. A once-in-a-generation talent. The three on my team can handle this mission without any great problem so I agreed."
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed slightly as he turned to look at Utakata.
"It's unlike you to give someone such high praise," he mused.
Then, after a moment of thought, he muttered, "Juichi's kid... and Minato, huh?"
His lips curled into a small smirk as he asked, "And what about his father?"
Utakata scoffed. "He's got it the easiest out of all of us. He just sits with Shikaku every day, complains about any new idea, and brags about his kid."
Jiraiya let out a loud laugh.
"Did you really think Juichi would just sit at a desk and do his job properly?"
Utakata sighed, shaking his head.
After a moment of silence, Jiraiya turned to him again.
"So how are you handling dealing with kids? Remind you of your time as a genin?"
Utakata's response was immediate.
"My situation is much better than yours, at least. I don't have a Minato who was too good of a human when we were under you, nor do I have a Juichi who was too loud. The ones I have are all the quiet types and one of them is an Aburame, so we can actually work in silence."
At this, Jiraiya's face darkened.
He grimaced as old memories resurfaced.
The chaos of training a young Minato and Juichi, two polar opposites, was not something he recalled fondly.
The two continued to talk, sharing stories and reflections, until the first light of dawn began breaking over the horizon.
Utakata suddenly asked, eyes still fixed on the distant sea, "You're not going to join the battle?"
Jiraiya shook his head. "Only if they send the Jinchūriki."
He then hesitated for a moment before asking, "How is Naruto?"
Utakata's expression darkened slightly.
"I don't know," he admitted, voice quieter than before.
"I tried many times, but... I couldn't bring myself to see him. Even from a distance."
Jiraiya sighed heavily.
"I want to tell you it's not your fault, but I already know you wouldn't believe it."
Utakata said nothing.
Instead, he stood up and turned to leave, but then he suddenly paused.
"Sensei," he said, his voice weird.
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"
Utakata hesitated for a moment before finally asking:
"How did you deal with us?"
Jiraiya blinked.
Utakata continued, his expression unreadable.
"How did you handle a team where one person was too good… and the others weren't?"
Jiraiya opened his mouth, ready to dismiss the question with a joke, but
"Sensei."
Utakata's voice held a rare intensity.
For the first time in their conversation, Jiraiya saw a hint of conflict in his usually rational student's eyes.
Jiraiya sighed again, rubbing the back of his head.
"You're going to make me grow old faster than the Third with all these deep questions," he muttered.
Then, after a brief silence, he looked up at the sky and finally answered.
"You can't limit them."
"Just let him run wild. Let him do whatever he wants to."
"Your only job is to be there for him if he ever needs you. I think Juichi already knows it"
"As for the others" Jiraiya chuckled lightly.
"I think you'll do a better job than I did."
Utakata stood there for a moment, taking in his sensei's words.
Then, finally, he nodded.
Without another word, he flickered away, disappearing into the forest.
Now alone once again, Jiraiya let out a quiet sigh, watching the sunrise over the ocean.
"I don't think I did a good job handling the situation back then," he muttered under his breath.
"So I hope you will."
~~~~~~~~
By the time the sun began to rise, the Leaf teams had already cleaned up their campsite and were preparing to depart. Each team had a different destination. Team 1 was heading back to the village, while Team Akira was assigned to another mission, one that Ren wasn't privy to. Meanwhile, the Border Patrol Team would continue their ongoing mission, maintaining security along this part of the eastern perimeter.
As part of their responsibilities, Team 1 would submit their own mission reports, while Utakata would personally brief the Hokage and hand over the enemy bodies for further investigation. There was always the chance that the village could extract useful intelligence from them.
Once the teams exchanged brief farewells, they parted ways, each moving in their respective directions.
Team 1 traveled through the dense forest, making their way back toward Konoha. Unlike their hurried journey before, this time their pace was much slower since there was no longer a need to rush.
As Team 1 traveled through the dense forest, Utakata spoke, "At our current pace, it will take us three days to reach the village. By the night of the second day, we should reach Otafuki Gai Town, where we'll rest before continuing our journey the next morning."
{MAP (I'll add it here don't so don't start spamming question marks if it is not there within minutes)}
The genins nodded in understanding and continued in silence.
By the time they reached Otafuki Gai, the sun had already set for the second day, casting a warm glow over the bustling town. Even though the town was also a civilian only town nlike the civilian village they had visited on their first mission, Otafuki Gai was significantly larger, with well-lit streets and numerous establishments catering to travelers and merchants.
As Konoha shinobi, Team 1 had no difficulty entering the town, moving freely under the authority granted to them within the Land of Fire. The town was a common stop for those traveling toward the Hidden Leaf Village, making it a natural resting point for weary travelers.
After a quick assessment, they chose a moderate-priced inn and booked three rooms, one for Ren and Hitoshi, one for Yugao, and one for Utakata.
While sleeping arrangements were flexible during missions, traditional values still dictated that boys and girls should maintain separate rooms whenever possible. The shinobi world held many contradictory social norms, balancing pragmatism on the battlefield with cultural traditions in civilian life.
After checking in, Ren entered his room and changed into a fresh set of clothes his usual sleeveless denim shirt and blue cargo pants. He had seven identical sets, preferring convenience over variety.
Like most people in the ninja world, he had learned early on that practicality always outweighed fashion. He had briefly considered changing his attire after becoming a genin but had quickly abandoned the idea when he imagined the tedium of choosing new outfits from countless options.
After removing his forehead protector and storing it in his storage belt, Ren decided to explore the town.
He asked his roommate Hitoshi, but his teammate declined the offer, likely preferring to rest. When he tried Yugao's room, she didn't even answer. With no other option, Ren ventured out alone, blending into the lively streets.
Otafuki Gai was bustling but ordinary. Despite the lively atmosphere, Ren quickly grew bored, realizing that being a shinobi among civilians made everything feel… underwhelming.
That was when his eyes landed on a large gambling house, one of the most decorated establishments in town. Bright lanterns and extravagant banners adorned the entrance, inviting thrill-seekers inside.
Konoha had its own gambling dens, but they strictly enforced a height requirement, which Ren unfortunately did not meet.
Eiji had once tried to sneak into one using the Transformation Jutsu, but he was caught by a security seal at the entrance that instantly dispelled the jutsu. If a kid got caught, they would either be kicked out or dragged to their parents or teacher, depending on the mood of the staff.
Ren found it ridiculous that children could be trained killers, yet they weren't allowed to gamble or drink.
'This world is so strange,' he thought. 'No wonder Itachi killed his entire clan, they must have discouraged him from gambling and drinking even after he reached the required height.'
Shaking his head as he praised his own dark humor, Ren slipped into a nearby alleyway and activated the Transformation Jutsu.
Instead of changing into a different person, he simply increased his height and gave himself a more mature look which was enough to pass as an adult without attracting attention.
Straightening his posture, he confidently walked toward the den.
As he approached, he saw the familiar height-measuring pole at the entrance. With his new form, he easily passed the requirement and entered the gambling house without issue.
Unlike Konoha, this place had no security seals to dispel his transformation so there was nothing stopping him from trying his luck.
Inside the gambling den, the atmosphere was lively, filled with the clinking of chips, the rolling of dice, and the cheers and groans of gamblers testing their luck. Several tables were set up, each surrounded by eager onlookers. There were games like Blackjack, Craps, Tsunade's favorite dice game, and various card games.
Ren walked over to the exchange counter, noting a sign that stated the maximum exchange limit was 10,000 ryo. Without hesitation, he exchanged the full amount, handing over his money in exchange for a stack of colorful chips.
The cashier, a man with a sly smile, eagerly processed the exchange, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. He had seen many newcomers like Ren, and most ended up losing everything within minutes. Feigning regret, he sighed, "Such a shame our boss set the limit at 10,000 ryo. But I hope you enjoy your time here!"
Ren barely acknowledged the man's words, instead scanning the room. He had hoped to spot Tsunade, but luck wasn't on his side tonight the legendary gambler was nowhere to be found.
If this was a fanfic Ren would've definitely met the sannin here and then she would discover Ren in disguise and when she lost to him eventually she would blackmail him about exposing him instead of paying money. But then she would be surprised by his talent and take him as her student. Later on the two would fall in love not minding the enormous age gap only focusing on the other enormous thing. But alas this was reality something like that won't happen here.
With his chips in hand, he made his way to the dice tables.
Half an hour later, Ren walked out of the casino 40,000 ryo richer, carrying a total of 50,000 ryo in his pockets.
As he had expected, the cashier's expression was priceless when Ren returned to exchange his chips for cash. The man had repeatedly tried to convince him to keep playing, insisting that "beginner's luck lasts even longer" and that he should try for an even bigger win. But Ren wasn't greedy.
Taking too much from harmless civilians would weigh on his conscience. However, since the cashier had been so eager to give him the money of his boss, Ren decided he would definitely visit this casino again whenever he passed through the town.
Feeling satisfied and even more wealthier, he returned to the inn and got some rest.
At 8 AM, Team 1 departed from the inn, having eaten a quick breakfast before heading out. The journey back to Konoha was expected to be uneventful, but just as they had traveled a short distance from the town, a sudden cry of an eagle pierced through the air.
The distinct call was a distress signal, a coded message used exclusively by Konoha shinobi to signal an emergency situation.
Utakata immediately turned in the direction of the sound, his expression sharpening. Without hesitation, he gave a single order:
"Let's go."
And just like that, Team 1 flickered into the trees, moving swiftly toward the source of the distress call.
{We have crossed 50 chapters so take the story to 50 reviews (it's 35 now) and I'll give you an extra chapter}
{What comes next would be very short but very fun.}
{Unfortunately Ren didn't find a sugar mommy but at least he got money.}
{The love interest will definitely NOT be Tsunade. I mean do you guys even see the age difference. Ren is not even 10 years old and she is already in her 50s or 60s.
I know there are two big reasons why people like Tsunade but still be within reason you degenerates.}