37 A Seed

Kakashi's disgust was not unnoticed by Jiraiya, who smiled and didn't care.

After all, in his eyes, Minato and Satoru were exceptional disciples, and their power should not be underestimated.

Especially Satoru, Jiraiya felt a little afraid when he thought of the scenes where they trained together in the past.

If it weren't for Nagato having the Rinnegan, he might have thought he was the prophesied child mentioned by the Great Toad Sage.

"Now that both of you agree, let's start now!" He said enthusiastically.

Minato and Satoru exchanged glances and nodded at the same time.

They knew that this was not just a test of speed, but also a test of their own strength.

Although Kakashi underestimated them, it was difficult to argue against it, one was his teacher and the other was a Sannin in the village.

He was well aware of Minato-sensei's strength, but at the same time, he was curious about Satoru's speed.

"The rules are actually very simple." Jiraiya began to explain in a casual and confident tone, he took out a bell from his pocket, and with his movement, another manual fell to the ground.

The sound of the manual falling to the ground was heard clearly, as if it was a signal, immediately drawing the attention of the other three.

Their eyes were all focused on the suddenly appearing manual.

"What is this?" Minato spoke first, with a hint of embarrassment and understanding in his eyes. As Jiraiya's disciple, he naturally knew his teacher's habits, so he didn't look too surprised.

Satoru only glanced briefly at the manual and turned away, seeming not too interested in this matter.

His attitude was very indifferent, he had been with Jiraiya since he was young and had been dragged to women's baths by him several times, so he wasn't surprised to see this colorful manual.

But Kakashi's reaction was very different. His eyes were fixed on the manual, and a red flush appeared on his face.

He looked at Jiraiya in disbelief, he had seen a surprising secret.

"Jiraiya-sama, are you actually..." His voice trembled, and he was clearly shocked by this unexpected discovery.

Although he tried to control his expression, his eyes still glanced at the manual from time to time.

Jiraiya didn't pay attention to Kakashi's reaction.

He casually picked up the manual and pretended to be indifferent, "Oh, this is just a little episode, don't pay it any mind."

He said it lightly. However, what he didn't know was that this seemingly insignificant episode planted a seed in Kakashi's heart.

This seed would take root and sprout in the future and become an integral part of his growth path.

"Okay, let's get back to the topic." Jiraiya cleared his throat, shook the bell in his hand, and continued, "I specifically prepared two copies of this bell, one for each of you. This time, whoever can get the bell from their opponent first means their speed is superior."

He looked around between the two of them, and emphasized, "Remember, during the bell snatch, offensive ninjutsu is not allowed."

Finally, he turned to Minato and Satoru and asked, "What about my proposal? Does it meet your wishes?"

"Simple, yet efficient." Minato nodded in agreement and praised, "As expected from Jiraiya-sensei!"

Satoru frowned and criticized Jiraiya without hesitation, "Sensei, why are your ideas still so childish?"

"In that case, let's go to the playground and compete!" Jiraiya glanced at Satoru, then gave the command and walked towards the playground together.

Kakashi reluctantly followed everyone. However, in his mind, the scene he had just witnessed still lingered.

The playground was quiet in the evening, with only the sound of gentle wind blowing through the grass and the chirping of insects in the distance.

＊＊＊

"Jiraiya and Minato are actually together with the Amegakure envoy?" Hiruzen furrowed his brows slightly, listening to the ANBU report.

"Yes, Hokage-sama." The ANBU ninja bowed his head respectfully, "It is said that the Amegakure envoy is an ordinary disciple taken by Jiraiya-sama in Amegakure."

"Jiraiya's disciple?" Memories flashed in Hiruzen's eyes, thinking of some past events, then he nodded, "Alright, then just let it be."

"Yes, Hokage-sama." the ANBU ninja replied, and his figure disappeared instantly.

Hiruzen's gaze shifted to the crystal ball on his desk.

The scene in the playground was reflected in the crystal ball, clearly showing Satoru's figure.

Minato and the others didn't expect that besides them, there was an unexpected spectator.

＊＊＊

"So, the match begins?" Jiraiya's voice echoed in the air, initiating the contest.

Satoru and Minato stood in the spacious playground. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with anticipation for each other.

Jiraiya and Kakashi stood by, quietly waiting for this speed contest as spectators.

"In that case, little junior, please invite me." Satoru slightly lifted the corner of his mouth and said in a relaxed tone.

When Minato heard this, a sharp light appeared in his eyes.

He took a deep breath, and his body moved and dashed towards Satoru like a lightning bolt.

At a certain point, a special kunai appeared in his hand.

In the process of running towards Satoru, the special kunai in his hand was like a bullet, piercing through the air and heading straight for Satoru's waist with tremendous momentum.

This attack not only tested speed but also tested judgment and reaction to the opponent's movements.

However, in the face of this sudden attack, Satoru remained extremely calm.

There was no panic expression on his face; he was confident.

As the kunai was about to touch his waist, he turned to the side and easily avoided the attack.

At the same time, Minato's figure disappeared instantly, leaving only a lingering shadow in the air.

"Hiraishin no Jutsu."

Minato's voice echoed in the air, accompanied by his reappearance.

He appeared in front of Satoru like a ghost, with one hand reaching for the other party's waist.

"Finished?" Kakashi stood on the edge of the playground, looking coldly at the ever-changing battlefield.

He was amazed by Minato's extraordinary speed but also felt a bit disdainful towards Satoru, who was stunned in place and seemed unable to recover.

This mocking emotion spread quickly in his heart, eventually turning into ridicule, echoing in the air.

However, before his laughter completely disappeared, the sight in front of him startled him.

Minato's hand, about to touch the bell on Satoru's waist, suddenly stopped in the air, as if passing through an invisible barrier.

Shortly after, Satoru's figure disappeared before his eyes as if swept away by the wind.

Disappeared.