By the time Jiraiya, who had spent the day wandering properly through the streets and alleys of Kirigakure and gathered plenty of intelligence that interested him, returned to the study hall where the Konoha group was staying, evening had already fallen.
What surprised him somewhat was that after he listened in on the conversations among the Konoha students who had gone to Kirigakure's Ninja Academy to take the entrance test, and gained a rough understanding of the differences between Kirigakure's Ninja Academy and Konoha's Ninja Academy in teaching methods and philosophy, he was just preparing to return to his room and properly sort through today's harvest.
But when he went upstairs, he was blocked by Itachi Uchiha, who had clearly been waiting here specifically for him.
"What is it, Itachi? Did you run into some trouble?"
Looking at Itachi Uchiha, who was holding something that looked like an application form and standing hesitantly in front of him, Jiraiya patiently crouched down and looked at the other party's somewhat evasive eyes as he asked.
"It is not exactly trouble…"
Itachi Uchiha hesitated for a while. In the end, he decided to trust this uncle who had taken the initiative to protect him before. He took a deep breath, handed the light sheet of paper in his hand to Jiraiya, and said quietly:
"Um… because I got fairly good results in the Ninja Academy's entrance test, a teacher named Kabuto Yakushi told me about the special courses in Kirigakure's Ninja Academy. He also said I could choose a few courses I was interested in and try to pass their assessments…"
"Hm. Isn't that pretty good?" Jiraiya casually accepted the paper Itachi Uchiha handed over, somewhat unable to understand what exactly this Uchiha child was struggling over. "What, you do not know which course to choose, so you came to ask me for advice?"
"No, I… I have actually already passed the assessment for a special course I am rather interested in. But…"
Itachi Uchiha awkwardly touched his sideburns. Then he pointed at one line on the application form and said in a voice close to a murmur:
"But I am worried that if I choose this course, it will make you and the others from the village form a poor impression of our Uchiha clan."
"Huh? What could possibly—"
Jiraiya subconsciously followed the place Itachi Uchiha pointed to and looked over. Then the comforting words already at his lips were immediately and forcefully shoved back by that not particularly long line of text.
Restoration and Research of Shinobi World History.
Instructor: Rei Kaguya.
Assessment passed. Necessary qualifications to participate in this course granted. Specific course arrangements may be discussed with the instructor himself.
"…You did this on purpose, right, Itachi Uchiha?"
After falling silent for a long while, Jiraiya barely squeezed out what he believed to be a kind expression and looked at Itachi Uchiha, who was awkwardly clutching the hem of his clothes with both hands while thinking about how he should explain himself.
"I was just very curious…"
"Curious about how Shisui Uchiha became what he is now?" Jiraiya, angered beyond belief, knocked Itachi Uchiha on the head. "Or has your Uchiha clan already prepared to completely side with Kirigakure? Sending over one slightly older rising star was not enough, so now you plan to package up this smaller one too!? B-But even if you really plan to do that, do not do it so blatantly!"
"N-No… That is not it."
Itachi Uchiha covered his head. Gathering his courage, he quietly said to Jiraiya, who did not truly think that:
"I only wanted to know… what kind of purpose could make someone like the Fourth Mizukage set such a high threshold for a course that, from the outside, does not involve ninjutsu or improving personal strength."
"And that is your reason for delivering yourself to his door?"
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. Now that his emotions were no longer as turbulent as before, he could be said to have brought out some of the bearing of a famous teacher. He crouched down in front of Itachi Uchiha and very seriously placed his hands on the boy's shoulders. Then he said earnestly:
"I know that people of your Uchiha clan like to set your eyes on a goal and never turn back. The more talented an Uchiha is, the more he has something he insists on… But in the end, you are only a six-year-old child, are you not?"
"I can understand your desire to approach and understand Rei Kaguya. But for you, whose life experience and accumulated knowledge are still extremely lacking and immature, he is far too mature and far too dangerous an existence. Your will before him is like a firefly compared to the blazing sun. There is no comparison at all. It may even be completely changed by his ideas before your own thoughts are born, turning you into a puppet of ideology."
"For you, that would be a tragedy. For that fellow Rei Kaguya, it might not necessarily be a good thing either… If you are someone he cares about, then he definitely would not want you to become a tool who only repeats his ideas and has no thoughts of your own. What do you think, Itachi Uchiha?"
"Then, what should I do, Lord Jiraiya?"
Itachi Uchiha, who had clearly been persuaded by Jiraiya's words, revealed a confused expression. "If the current me is not yet mature enough to maintain my own ideas in front of that person… then what should I do now that I have come to Kirigakure?"
"And if I passed the assessment but do not participate in the course, what will Lord Mizukage think?"
"…I will explain that to him in your place." Jiraiya rubbed Itachi Uchiha's head and said gently, "After all, this happened because of my interference. It is only proper that I resolve it."
"Eh? But… will that not make things difficult for you, Lord Jiraiya?"
"It is fine. I am Jiraiya, leader of Konoha's exchange team. Protecting the members of the team is my responsibility! Itachi only needs to wait at ease for the results of my negotiation with Lord Mizukage and enjoy your time in Kirigakure properly."
After this impassioned speech, Itachi Uchiha returned obediently to his room to rest, filled with gratitude toward Jiraiya.
After watching Itachi Uchiha leave, Jiraiya also let out a long breath. Then, holding the application form Itachi Uchiha had left with him, he turned around and looked helplessly at Kakashi Hatake, who had already been stuck there for a long while, unable to advance or retreat.
"If you have something you want to say, come over and say it directly, Kakashi… Sorry for making you stand there for so long."
"No, the one who should apologize is me, Lord Jiraiya."
Kakashi Hatake walked down from the stairs and said in low spirits:
"Originally, before you discovered me, I could have withdrawn early and stopped eavesdropping on your conversation… But for some reason, I could not convince myself to leave. Then I listened to the entire conversation that should have belonged only to the two of you. I am very sorry. After I go back later, I will also explain this matter to Itachi and apologize to him."
"Sigh. There is no need for apologies or anything like that." Jiraiya sighed. Looking at Kakashi's listless expression, he raised the application form in his hand and said in a complicated tone, "The reason you could not help wanting to listen to my conversation with Itachi is because you also have some thoughts about this, right?"
"As expected of you."
An apologetic expression appeared on Kakashi Hatake's face. He looked at the application form in Jiraiya's hand and spoke in a faint voice.
"Did Obito Uchiha's matter hurt you that badly?"
"Perhaps."
Kakashi Hatake sighed. His gaze was weary and bitter as he said:
"I originally thought that as long as I fought hard with the goal of protecting Konoha's comrades, I would be able to comfort Obito and Rin's spirits in heaven, and I would have a reason to keep living."
"But Obito told me that he was still alive. Not only that, he wants to destroy Konoha and destroy this entire false world."
"After that, I could no longer see the future."
"I do not know what I can continue fighting for. For the village? For my comrades? Or for the so-called tomorrow?"
"But if the future cannot give me an answer, perhaps the past can help me find a reason to keep fighting."
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