As the sole surviving male of the Senju clan, Nawaki had not developed the spoiled nature of a pampered noble despite being raised by Mito Uzumaki. Aware of the heavy responsibility he would bear in revitalizing the Senju clan in the future, Nawaki had never once slacked off.
Although he had not awakened the legendary Wood Release, a powerful ability like his grandfather's, Nawaki, who aspired to become Hokage, was not discouraged in the slightest.
Under the influence of his older sister from a young age, he had developed a formidable resilience to damage.
Under the diligent tutelage of his teacher Orochimaru, he had become proficient in the basic Three Body Jutsu and various low-level Water and Earth Style ninjutsu.
Guided by his older brother Jiraiya, his skills in stealth and evasion were second to none among his peers...
Despite this, Nawaki had never been arrogant due to his early mastery of knowledge inaccessible to his peers!
Gentle, humble, and polite, aside from the occasional lapse in his thinking, Nawaki did not disgrace the blood of the Senju clan flowing through his veins.
Save for the few times Jiraiya used him as a shield and he was chased by the women from the bathhouse, his conduct was nearly impeccable.
...
"Brother Jiraiya, Nonou told me you were injured. Are you alright?"
Nawaki placed a small basket of apples he was carrying beside Jiraiya's hospital bed, picked one up, took a bite with a crunch, and asked somewhat indistinctly.
Jiraiya glanced at his little brother who had plopped down on his hospital bed, letting out a slightly displeased hum from his nose.
"Hmph!"
"Look at you, you've never seen the world before. Can this minor injury be called an injury for Lord Jiraiya?"
"However..."
Jiraiya looked at the fruit basket placed by the bedside and asked with some curiosity:
"Nawaki, when did you suddenly become so thoughtful?"
"You're visiting a patient in the hospital and you even know to bring a gift, that's rare!"
Nawaki was momentarily speechless. He quickly finished the apple in his hand and glared at Jiraiya, yelling.
"Hey!"
"Don't underestimate me, okay?"
"As the future Hokage, isn't it natural to bring a gift when visiting a patient?"
Jiraiya's eyes immediately showed disbelief. He turned his gaze to Nonou, who was covering her mouth and smiling. Remembering how this little girl had acted in front of Orochimaru earlier, he pouted and said,
"This little girl must have told you, right?"
"I don't think someone who can't even distinguish between Water Style and spitting would be this considerate!"
Nawaki, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, immediately jumped off Jiraiya's bed. He cautiously glanced at Nonou, who was smiling with her eyes narrowed, and said with a flushed face:
"I... I... I was only five that year!"
"Besides, when Master Orochimaru taught me Water Style, he did make me spit water from my mouth, didn't he!"
Seeing Nawaki's embarrassed and flustered expression, Jiraiya burst into unrestrained laughter.
This silly kid was always so easily provoked.
"Alright, alright, maybe I misremembered!"
"When Big Brother is healed, I'll take you..."
Mid-sentence, he glanced at the young girl standing behind Nawaki. Jiraiya leaned close to Nawaki's ear and whispered a few words.
Nawaki listened with narrowed eyes. He cautiously turned his head to look at Nonou, and the redness on his face instantly spread to the base of his neck.
Gritting his teeth, he shoved the leering Jiraiya away. Nawaki shook his head like a rattle drum.
"No!"
"My sister said if you're caught taking me to steal again..."
"Ugh..."
"She'll beat us both to death!"
Jiraiya remembered Tsunade's violent fist and sheepishly shrank his neck.
Nawaki rubbed his face, trying to appear more natural. He reached into the basket, took out an apple, and handed it to Jiraiya.
"Brother Jiraiya, is the war with the Land of Earth over?"
Jiraiya took the apple and took a bite, nodding casually.
"Mmm... it should be over!"
"Why do you ask?"
Nawaki sighed with a look of regret.
"Alas!"
"I'll be graduating in two months. I was hoping to go to the battlefield with Master Orochimaru to gain some experience!"
"It seems there's no hope, what a pity!"
Jiraiya gave Nawaki a strange look, swallowed the flesh of the apple in his mouth, and then slowly said,
"The battlefield is no good place!"
"And..."
"You won't graduate!"
Nawaki was stunned and asked with a confused expression:
"Why?"
"The teachers at the academy all say my current strength surpasses many seniors who have been graduated for years. If there weren't no precedent for early graduation in the village, I would have become a genin already!"
Jiraiya shook his head, reached out and patted his little brother's shoulder, and said sympathetically,
"You haven't seen Orochimaru since he returned, have you?"
Nawaki nodded, his expression full of confusion.
"I heard from classmate Nonou that you were injured and hospitalized. I came straight here after school."
"I was planning to find Master Orochimaru later."
"Did something happen?"
Jiraiya glanced at Nonou, who was standing demurely behind Nawaki, and winked at her. The young girl blushed and gave Jiraiya a shy smile.
Jiraiya's heart warmed by the girl's smile. He chuckled lightly and gestured for Nawaki to turn and face Nonou.
"That guy Orochimaru put a lot of thought into finding teammates for you. He couldn't find anyone suitable among your peers."
"Therefore, your teacher plans to have you stay at the Ninja Academy for another year, and graduate with the teammates he selects for you then."
Nawaki stared blankly. While touched, he also felt annoyed and scratched his hair.
"What can I learn at the Ninja Academy?"
"Another year here, I'd rather die!"
"Also, teacher... why didn't he discuss finding teammates for me with me?"
Jiraiya slapped Nawaki on the head and said dismissively,
"Discuss with you?"
"What can a little kid like you understand?"
Nawaki rubbed his head and looked at Jiraiya indignantly.
"How can I not understand?"
"Companions who face danger together must get along!"
"Just like you three, Sister, Master Orochimaru, and yourself, you can complete any mission through cooperation!"
"Of course, Brother Jiraiya, you definitely play a crucial role in your team!"
Jiraiya felt extremely pleased by this flattery and gave his little brother a satisfied look.
"Good kid, you know how it's done!"
Nawaki seized the opportunity and asked with a fawning smile,
"Brother Jiraiya, as someone so capable, you must know who Master Orochimaru has chosen as my teammates, right?"
Jiraiya held half an apple in his hand and waved it grandly.
"Of course I know!"
"That girl Kushina is one, and the little girl standing behind you should be considered one too."
Nawaki turned in surprise and met Nonou's smiling gaze. Their eyes met. Nonou smiled shyly, but Nawaki's face flushed. He guiltily turned his head back, pretending to listen attentively.
"And there's another little guy with blonde hair, named..."
Jiraiya thought for a moment and said hesitantly,
"I think his name is Minato..."
Nawaki's eyes lit up, and he uttered a name he had been paying attention to for a long time.
"Namikaze Minato?"
Jiraiya slapped his thigh and nodded repeatedly.
"Yes, yes, Namikaze Minato!"
"You know that little guy?"
Nawaki nodded, his expression becoming serious.
"I do!"
"That guy is an incredible genius!"
"If it's these people, then it's not impossible!"
Jiraiya nodded in agreement.
Although he didn't know what kind of person the little guy named Namikaze Minato was, being recognized by both Orochimaru and Nawaki meant he couldn't be an ordinary person.
He glanced at Nonou, who was standing quietly beside them, and Jiraiya suddenly remembered Orochimaru's instructions.
"Nonou, right?"
"Orochimaru said to find him when you have time. Since this kid Nawaki is going there later, why don't you go with him!"
"Consider it a way to get familiar with the route, so you don't have to find someone to take you next time."
Upon hearing this, Nonou looked timidly at Nawaki, her eyes full of anticipation.
"Nawaki-kun, could I trouble you?"
Nawaki looked at the cute girl before him. His sense of responsibility as a senior brother surged, and he patted his chest resolutely, taking on the burden.
"Of course, no problem!"
"Brother Jiraiya, I'm going to see the teacher, so I won't keep you company!"
He casually said, then boldly took Nonou's small hand and ran outside without looking back.
"Nawaki-kun, can you slow down a bit?"
"I can't keep up with you!"
Jiraiya watched the two little ones run out and felt like the apple in his hand had lost its sweetness. He tossed the half-eaten apple into the trash, then lay down with his hands behind his head.
"Brat!"
"How annoying!"