Jiraiya's approach to Minato Namikaze was a test, albeit one he hadn't pinned much hope on—not that he needed to. He could already sense the truth.
After all, no matter how you looked at it, the boy was just a fresh-faced academy student. Sure, he showed promise—he had the basics of a genin down—but in Jiraiya's eyes, that didn't mean much.
Back in his own youth, he and the other two had become real shinobi by the age of six. At Minato's age, they'd already tasted the bitter edge of life-or-death battles.
And yet, the trial he had designed—one that would've stumped even most newly minted genin—Minato had seen through it. Not only that, but he'd picked up on subtleties that even someone like Uchiha En, a prodigy from a clan of elites, had completely missed.
All in all, Jiraiya had to admit—Hiruzen had chosen well.
Today's lesson had been his own idea, a convenient excuse to assess Minato firsthand. He'd had more elaborate tests in mind, but clearly, there was no need anymore.
In the short time he'd observed him, Minato had displayed everything a true shinobi should possess: a keen eye for detail, razor-sharp judgment, and—most importantly—a calm, grounded demeanor.
With those qualities, he could've graduated from the academy right then and there.
Still, Jiraiya noted that Minato had been concealing his strength within the school. At an age when most kids would be eager to show off, Minato kept to himself. That could only mean one thing—he had a reason.
A mindset like that... didn't belong to a seven-year-old child.
Eventually, Jiraiya's gaze drifted away from Minato and settled on another figure—Kushina.
From the moment he stepped into the room, he'd sensed her. Her chakra was powerful—more so than even Minato's or Uchiha En's. But it wasn't just raw strength. There was something different about it. Something... unnatural.
It wasn't chakra a normal person should have.
That was why he'd deliberately gotten close to Mikoto and Kushina earlier—to confirm his instincts hadn't misled him.
"That's it for today's demonstration. I've got other matters to attend to—see you around," Jiraiya said before vanishing from the room in a blur, leaving the class momentarily stunned.
Shirata and the other instructors exchanged puzzled glances before ushering their students back into the classrooms. Jiraiya had shown them the basics of the Clone Technique, Body Substitution, and Transformation, but most of the students were still confused, needing their teachers to explain in more detail.
Before one could master ninjutsu, it was crucial to understand a jutsu's nature and the hand seals involved. Jiraiya had slowed down the seals during his demonstration, but still, many students had failed to keep up.
Among them was a very frustrated Kushina.
...
The Hokage Tower stood at the heart of the Hidden Leaf Village. Its uppermost wall bore a bold, unmistakable kanji: "Fire." This was where the Hokage conducted his work—an office that symbolized both his authority in the village and his place within the Land of Fire.
Jiraiya's figure appeared in front of the tower. A few swift leaps later, he landed at the main entrance and strolled in like he owned the place, navigating the halls with practiced ease.
Soon, he stopped in front of a particular door—just as it swung open.
Walking out was a handsome man with long, pale purple hair.
"Jiraiya," the man greeted with a smile. "Here to see the Third?"
His name was Dan Katō, a fellow jōnin.
"Yeah," Jiraiya replied with a nod. The two passed each other in the doorway, Dan exiting as Jiraiya stepped in and shut the door behind him.
The first thing Jiraiya saw was a massive desk buried beneath a literal mountain of paperwork. Being the Hokage came with admiration—but also crushing responsibility.
If it were up to him, Jiraiya thought, he'd rather take on an S-rank mission than deal with all that crap.
The Third Hokage glanced up briefly before returning to his work. "You're here."
Jiraiya took a seat by the desk without ceremony, waiting for the old man to speak.
"You met the boy?" the Third asked.
Jiraiya nodded.
The Hokage scribbled a few more lines on the scroll in front of him and added it to the towering stack on his left. He let out a long sigh, then looked up.
"So, what do you think of the disciple I picked for you? Satisfied?"
The Hokage wore a faint smile. Jiraiya raised a white eyebrow.
"He's a solid pick. Not quite on my level at that age, but close enough."
The Third just chuckled. "Good. I'm leaving his training to you. Teach him however you see fit."
"Don't need you to tell me twice," Jiraiya said, smirking.
But then his expression shifted. His eyes narrowed.
"You're hiding something, aren't you?"
The Hokage paused mid-motion, caught off guard.
"There's a red-haired girl in Minato's class. Her chakra... it's not normal."
Jiraiya's voice was calm, but there was steel behind the words. He couldn't pinpoint exactly what clan she came from, but one thing was clear—Kushina's origins were anything but ordinary.
A flicker of emotion passed over the Third's face—subtle, but Jiraiya didn't miss it.
"So, you noticed after all…"
The Hokage had even ordered the ANBU to pull back from Kushina's side just to avoid drawing attention—but it hadn't been enough. His student had grown sharper than expected.
The Third rose from his chair and reached for his pipe, lighting it with a flick of fire. Smoke drifted lazily upward, curling into the still air of the Hokage's office.
After a moment's silence, he spoke.
"Technically, this is information you shouldn't even have access to. The implications are too serious. It could affect not only the stability of the Leaf, but even the balance among the Five Great Nations."
His voice was low and heavy. Jiraiya's usual carefree air faded.
"But since you're my student... and a true inheritor of the Will of Fire... I'll tell you."
He looked Jiraiya straight in the eye.
"The girl's name is Uzumaki Kushina."
Jiraiya blinked. "Uzumaki? From the Uzumaki Clan?"
Shock flickered across his face. The Uzumaki Clan had once been a powerful ally of the Leaf. Its members were known for their incredible vitality and massive chakra reserves.
No wonder her chakra had felt so... different.
But the Uzumaki were long gone. Their mastery of sealing jutsu had made them targets. Feared by the other nations, they'd been hunted down and destroyed.
Scattered survivors were all that remained.
Now it all made sense. Jiraiya had suspected—but hearing the confirmation still made his pupils contract ever so slightly.
"And she," the Third said quietly, "will be the next Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails."