"Shirayuki, don't be rude."
Sakumo Hatake reprimanded her with a slight frown.
"Why are you being so harsh? I was just joking! There's no way the Hokage's disciple would peep at the bathhouse—it must be a malicious rumor," Shirayuki said, pouting playfully.
"My sister's spoiled because of me. Don't take it to heart."
Sakumo sighed, rubbing his temples.
"I'm not that petty," Jiraiya said with a laugh.
"Has there been any news about my application to join the Anbu?" Shirayuki suddenly changed the topic, her tone curious.
"The Anbu is directly under the Hokage's command. Joining requires thorough evaluation and approval—it doesn't happen overnight. You'll need to be patient," Sakumo explained.
"Come on, you're already an Anbu squad captain. Don't tell me you can't pull some strings to get me in! You just don't want me in the Anbu, do you?" Shirayuki said with a hint of frustration.
Jiraiya glanced at Sakumo, surprised to learn he had already become a squad captain.
It seemed Hiruzen Sarutobi had started grooming the new generation for leadership. Sakumo Hatake was undeniably one of the most gifted shinobi of his era, someone Sarutobi would naturally focus on developing. After all, securing the loyalty of talented young ninjas only solidified Sarutobi's power.
Though Jiraiya couldn't help but feel a pang of pity, knowing that in the future, Sakumo would be driven to his death by the very comrades he sought to protect.
"Shirayuki, even though I'm a squad captain, I have no authority to bypass protocol. Every Anbu recruit must be approved by the Hokage. I can't just place you in the Anbu," Sakumo said helplessly.
His sister clearly overestimated his influence.
"You want to join the Anbu?" Jiraiya asked. His team was still short a few members, and if Shirayuki's abilities met the standard, he could propose adding her to his squad. With his recommendation, Hiruzen would likely agree without hesitation.
"Of course! The Anbu is made up of the village's elite shinobi, and they answer directly to the Hokage. My goal is to become the Anbu Commander one day!" Shirayuki declared, her eyes shining with determination.
Jiraiya chuckled. "Well, I might be able to help you with that."
"Really?!" Shirayuki grabbed Jiraiya's arm excitedly, her eyes brimming with hope.
"If your skills impress me, I can guarantee your entry into the Anbu," Jiraiya said with a nod.
He had plans to build his own network of allies, and both Sakumo and Shirayuki were promising talents he couldn't ignore.
"You'd better be sure, or my sister will hound you to the ends of the earth if you can't deliver. She's quite the handful," Sakumo whispered into Jiraiya's ear, his tone both amused and resigned.
"Don't worry. I'm also an Anbu squad captain now—same rank as you. If she's got the skills, I can definitely get her in," Jiraiya said confidently.
"Why is there such a big gap between you and him, even though you're both captains?" Shirayuki asked, giving Sakumo a pointed look that carried a hint of playful disdain.
"He's the Hokage's disciple. How could I possibly compare? It's not even a contest," Sakumo said with a wry smile, shaking his head internally.
"When are you taking me for the assessment?" Shirayuki clung to Jiraiya's arm and swayed it slightly, her tone wheedling.
"We can do it right now. But if your skills don't meet the mark, no amount of pleading or pouting will get you into the Anbu. The standards are strict, and the Anbu doesn't take weaklings," Jiraiya said seriously.
Though he wanted to recruit Sakumo and Shirayuki into his circle, he wouldn't bend the rules for anyone. Letting someone unqualified join the Anbu would not only endanger the squad but also put that person's life at risk.
The Anbu's missions were dangerous—often life-threatening. Among all of Konoha's units, the Anbu had the highest casualty rate. It wasn't due to a lack of skill but rather the nature of their perilous tasks.
"Don't worry, Jiraiya-sama. I'll pass your test—I guarantee it. My skills aren't that far behind my brother's!" Shirayuki said with a serious expression, even switching to a more formal tone.
Sakumo raised an eyebrow. "Shirayuki, you've gotten bolder since your last mission. I wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't just said that."
He couldn't help but chuckle. Did she really think she was on his level? If that were true, her application would've been approved ages ago.
Truthfully, Shirayuki's skills were up to the Anbu's standards but weren't remarkable enough to stand out. Since Sakumo's squad was already full, he couldn't recommend her to the Hokage unless she truly excelled.
"All right, let's test your skills. Use your strongest jutsu or kenjutsu against me. If I'm satisfied, you'll join the Anbu no later than the day after tomorrow," Jiraiya said, drawing his Lightning Flame Blade with a flourish.
"Come at me," he said, gesturing for her to begin.
"Jiraiya-sama, don't underestimate me. You might regret it!" Shirayuki said confidently, unsheathing her own blade.
Her sword was pristine white, with intricate snowflake patterns engraved on the blade. Its design resembled the White Fang Blade but was noticeably longer.
"Shirayuki, don't waste time with ordinary jutsu. Use your strongest technique," Sakumo reminded her.
Before his training at Mount Myoboku, Jiraiya could already defeat a jonin on his own. Now, having completed his time at the mountain, his strength had grown even further.
Shirayuki, though skilled, had only recently reached the level of an elite chunin. Using anything less than her best would be futile and make her look foolish.
Nodding, Shirayuki took a deep breath and steeled herself. She had to give it her all.
With a sharp cry, she darted around Jiraiya at high speed, her blade slicing through the air. Countless snowflake-shaped slashes filled the space around him, each one hanging motionless in the air like real snowflakes.
At first glance, they seemed fragile—like a mere gust of wind could scatter them.
But Jiraiya could feel the immense danger emanating from each one. These delicate-looking snowflakes carried deadly power.
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I have a new fanfic about a transmigrator reborn as Yagura Karatachi from Kirigakure. It's quite unique in terms of setting, so I highly recommend checking it out! The title is Naruto: Reborn as Yagura Karatachi, or you can find it through my Webnovel profile.
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