Reborn in the Shinobi World with an Arceus Inside

In the dining hall, Kaito and the three Sannin sat around the table.

Tsunade had originally wanted Shiori and Konan to eat with them, but the mother-daughter duo had unanimously refused. For at least twenty days out of the past month, they had eaten nothing but fish. They were so sick of it now that the mere smell made them want to gag. Instead, they had gone home to eat noodles.

And so, Kaito was left to dine with the Sannin alone.

Four dishes and a soup—just enough for four people.

The three Sannin, who had never tasted such a delicacy, couldn't stop their chopsticks from moving, not even Orochimaru. Like a whirlwind, the dishes were swept clean in just over ten minutes.

After finishing his meal and letting out a satisfied burp, Tsunade finally realized something was amiss. "Wine! How can you have a meal without wine?"

"Haha, we're already full. Do you still want to drink?" Jiraiya leaned back in his chair, completely at ease.

"Yes, why wouldn't I! Kaito, bring out some wine."

"We barely have enough grain to eat, where would we get wine? There is none!" Kaito shook his head. "Besides, I'm still a minor. Have some consideration, will you?"

"Tch!" Tsunade pouted, dissatisfied. "When you come to Konoha, I'll take you out for some real food and fun. You'll definitely like it."

"Haha, alright." Kaito poured cool water into everyone's cups, raised his own, and said, "For now, you'll just have to make do. Let's toast with water instead of wine!"

"Alright, cheers!"

The cool water went down smoothly. Jiraiya let out a contented sigh and said, "Kaito, what are your plans now? You're not thinking of staying here, are you? The flames of war won't spread this far. There's no need for you to keep watch here."

"Exactly!" Tsunade chimed in. "Why don't you just come back to Konoha with us? If you want to achieve your dream of peace, wouldn't it be easier to do it in Konoha? If you became Hokage, you'd have a whole host of reliable comrades!"

As the granddaughter of the First Hokage, Tsunade's feelings for Konoha were perhaps the deepest of the three Sannin.

"Kaito, with your talent, staying here is just a waste," Orochimaru also said. "Come to Konoha. We have the most resources and the best teachers."

"Thank you all for your kind intentions, but I can't leave the sanctuary just yet," Kaito said with a small smile. "When you were touring this afternoon, you must have seen the Kindle Academy. I'm also a teacher. If I leave, there will be no one to teach them."

"You're the only teacher?"

"There are two. You know the other one, Yamabiko Yuto."

"Urgh, that's really pathetic," Tsunade said, shaking her head. "You might as well just send all those students to Konoha. Our Ninja Academy is the best in the world."

"I can't do that. Many of those children's parents were killed by Konoha ninja."

"..." The three Sannin fell silent.

"However," Kaito's gaze locked firmly onto Jiraiya as he spoke, "if someone were willing to take my place and teach them, I would have the time to make a trip to Konoha."

That's right. Kaito wanted to keep fleecing the sheep that was Jiraiya, getting him to raise the children for him. Honestly, all Kaito could really teach was taijutsu and the shape and nature transformation of chakra. When it came to specific ninjutsu and genjutsu, he was rather lacking. Until he found a more suitable teacher, Jiraiya was the perfect candidate.

"You mean me?" Jiraiya pointed to himself, confused. "You want me to teach them?"

"That's right!" Kaito nodded. "Last time we spoke, didn't you seem very interested in being a teacher? There are a few very promising prospects among those kids. Being from Konoha, you know how to teach them better than I do."

"Eh? Jiraiya, since when do you like being a teacher?" Tsunade asked, surprised. "I heard Sarutobi-sensei made you a supervising teacher, and you were just complaining to me about it."

"This is different!" Jiraiya explained. "With Kaito's talent, who wouldn't want to be his teacher? Right, Orochimaru?"

"Mmm," Orochimaru said directly. "Instead of Jiraiya, you'd be better off taking me as your master. I can teach you any ninjutsu you want to learn."

"Hey, hey, we're getting off topic!" Jiraiya, afraid that Kaito might actually agree to Orochimaru's offer, quickly changed the subject. "We're discussing whether or not I should take Kaito's place as a teacher."

"So, are you willing?"

"I don't really mind," Jiraiya said, scratching his head. "Are there really some good prospects? Are they half as good as you? Speaking of which, among the three genin I'm leading now, there's one kid with a lot of talent, but the other two aren't so great."

"Of course it's true. I'll take you to see them tomorrow, and you'll know," Kaito guaranteed.

"Alright."

The next day, Kaito took Jiraiya to the school alone. On the pretext that the children would be afraid of too many strangers, he left Orochimaru and Tsunade at the tower.

"Hah. A clumsy excuse," Orochimaru saw through Kaito's plan at a glance.

"There must be a special reason he doesn't want us to know," Tsunade said, resting her chin on her hand, unconcerned. "But since he doesn't need to hide it from Jiraiya, it probably isn't some earth-shattering secret."

"I have a feeling Kaito won't choose to stay in Konoha."

"Why?"

"He doesn't like to be constrained, and Konoha has too many rules and regulations."

"Hmph, who likes being constrained?" Tsunade sighed. "But, we have to at least try. I have a premonition that if we don't tie Kaito to Konoha, one day in the future, we will become enemies."

"Heh, you're afraid of his power, aren't you?"

"Indeed. He can already fight on par with the likes of Hanzo. In a few more years, he might be the strongest person in the shinobi world. Aren't you worried?"

Orochimaru smiled and shook his head. "Rather than worrying, I'd rather think about how to improve myself. I don't believe my own strength has stagnated at this level. Kaito is growing, and so are we."

"You're right," Tsunade said, clenching her fists, her expression serious. "Do the three of us really need to be afraid of him alone?"

"However, I do have a more convenient idea."

"Hmm?"

"With your outstanding looks, it should be easy to capture a young boy's heart. And Kaito seems to like you quite a bit. He doesn't stare at… that place… any less than Jiraiya does."

"??? What are you talking about, Orochimaru?! He's still a child!"

"In Konoha, a fifteen-year-old is already on the battlefield. He's not a child anymore."

"..." For some reason, Tsunade recalled what Shiori had said, and her expression became a little strange. "Wait a minute, Orochimaru, how do you know so much? You must have been watching quite a bit yourself."

"..."

When Kaito and Jiraiya returned, Tsunade's expression was still very odd. Jiraiya's was strange as well. Only Orochimaru was the same as ever, his face either cold or stretched into an unsettling smile.

Finally, Jiraiya spoke seriously. "Orochimaru, Tsunade, I'm going to stay here for a while. You two take Kaito back to Konoha and take good care of him."