"I don't get it. A genius like Minato, paired with a genius like me—how the hell did we still lose?!"
Jiraiya was fuming. This should've been an easy win. He couldn't comprehend it.
"Jiraiya-sensei," Minato said seriously, "please give me another chance. Next time, I swear I'll defeat Hikaru."
This wasn't about pride.
It was about reclaiming his honor.
Jiraiya's frustration melted into admiration. He looked at Minato and saw a mirror of his younger self. Back then, he'd always chased Tsunade and Orochimaru's shadows—refusing to give up, clawing forward step by step until he could stand beside them.
That same determination burned in Minato's eyes.
Maybe that was why, a month ago, Jiraiya had wandered through the academy after finishing a mission. Just a trip down memory lane, he'd thought. Until he'd stumbled upon a live training session—and saw a boy named Hikaru tearing through an entire class alone.
The kid reeked of Orochimaru energy, and that alone had annoyed the hell out of him.
But standing beside that creep was one student who caught Jiraiya's eye for the right reasons: Minato.
Right then, a brilliant idea struck him.
He'd personally train Minato. Refine his taijutsu, hone his instincts, teach him to fight—and then have him crush that smug little brat.
Would that count as a symbolic victory over Orochimaru?
He wasn't sure.
But it sounded satisfying.
And so he'd started training Minato, focusing on close combat and body flicker techniques—the very same methods Hikaru had used to dominate their first match.
To his delight, Minato had absorbed everything like a sponge.
A fast, intelligent sponge.
One who reminded him a little too much of himself.
Jiraiya had proudly taken him as a student.
But now, even after all that training… Minato had still lost.
Again.
Damn that kid.
"Hmph! If taijutsu and body flicker aren't enough, then I'll teach you something else." Jiraiya slapped Minato's shoulder. "Next time, we're winning. No matter what."
The kid's will was iron. Jiraiya respected that. And now? Now it was personal.
He was all-in.
Then a voice cut through the air, smug and merciless.
"Really, Jiraiya? Going all out to beat a five-year-old? You never did have any shame."
A tall, curvy woman stood nearby, arms crossed, golden eyes gleaming.
Tsunade.
Jiraiya froze mid-breath.
Oh crap.
Had she heard everything?
By the look on her face, yeah. She'd heard everything.
This was bad. If it got out that the great Jiraiya of the Sannin was targeting some snot-nosed academy brat out of petty spite, his reputation would be in tatters.
Not that he had much left after his last book release flopped…
He laughed weakly. "Tsunade! You didn't happen to catch that whole thing, did you?"
She smirked.
"You tell me."
Then, her voice dropped an octave, and she cackled like a villain. "Jiraiya~ if word got out about this… your name would be mud. Glorious, slimy, pig-stomping mud."
Jiraiya gulped.
"Tsunade, we've known each other for years. Surely you wouldn't—"
"We don't have a relationship," she said sweetly. Then raised a fist, cracking her knuckles. "Want one?"
He flinched.
"...What do you want?"
Now he got it.
This wasn't just a social ambush. This was extortion.
Tsunade clasped her hands like a tragic heroine. "I may have accidentally hit the casino on my way back from a mission. And… lost. Again. So! I just need a small investment. A little starter cash. Purely symbolic, really."
"You're joking."
"You'll get it back! With interest. And a bonus if I win big!"
Jiraiya's soul died a little.
Her gambling luck was so bad, it had spawned urban legends. Giving her money to bet was like lighting it on fire and hoping the smoke turned into diamonds.
Still…
"...Fine! I'll lend it to you!" he growled.
He pulled out his wallet.
SWOOSH!
Tsunade snatched it before he could blink.
"Thanks, Jiraiya! This'll turn everything around. You'll be the hero who funded the comeback of a lifetime."
And just like that, she was gone.
Literally vanished.
Toward the biggest casino in Konoha.
Jiraiya stared at the empty air where his wallet used to be.
"MY MONEY!!!"
Pain. Betrayal. Wallet-lessness.
He could already feel the regret forming an ulcer.
Then he glanced at Minato, eyes full of fire and loss.
"Y-you okay, sensei?"
Minato recoiled as his mentor's burning gaze locked onto him.
"Watergate," Jiraiya said slowly, voice tight with fury, "your teacher just gave up everything for you. I expect RESULTS."
Minato swallowed hard.
"Y-yes, sensei! Of course!"
He wasn't about to die for real over a training loss.
—
Meanwhile…
Shūyū stood calmly in his room, staring at the interface.
Ten Senju Physique (Blue) materials lined the grid.
Synthesize.
DING!— Item Gained: Senju Physique (Blue) —
Not upgraded.
Still blue.
A small letdown—but he'd expected that. After all, combining ten of the same material gave guaranteed success, not a tier boost.
Only two-material gambles had that possibility.
Maybe someday, once he was strong enough to risk it.
But not now.
Not with Minato being trained by a mysterious high-level figure.
Shūyū couldn't afford to fall behind. If he couldn't keep up, he'd lose his chance to farm rare drops from Minato in future battles.
He activated the new item immediately.
Warmth surged through his veins. His body tingled. Energy buzzed at the tips of his fingers.
The Senju Physique had awakened.
His foundation, his capacity, his regeneration—all of it leapt to new heights.
The race had just begun.
And Shūyū?
Was done playing fair.