When Jiraiya mentioned the name of Nawaki, Orochimaru's usually placid heart experienced a slight ripple.
As his first and most beloved disciple, Orochimaru always held a place for Nawaki in his heart.
Jiraiya didn't notice his change and continued: "Your skill in teaching disciples is as high as ever. I've already heard about the battle between Yasu and Kuroyama Tatsuji, the leader of the Hot Spring Village."
"It's truly remarkable. Is he 12 or 13 this year? He should be the same age as Minato, right? I never expected him to be able to fight an elite Jonin to that extent, even severely injuring the ninja leader, while he only sustained minor injuries. It's truly astonishing."
Orochimaru's lips curled into a smile, saying, "Yasu has a high aptitude; he's able to stimulate his potential even more in battles like this than in regular training."
Jiraiya laughed and said, "But my disciple isn't bad either, Orochimaru. Let's make a bet to see who will improve faster and become stronger in this war."
Orochimaru glanced sideways at Jiraiya: "There's nothing to bet on. In my opinion, your disciple has decent talent, and that's all."
Jiraiya retorted, unconvinced, "Hey, I can't agree with that. Minato's talent is very impressive, no less than your disciple's. Since you say so, then this bet is on!"
Orochimaru crossed his arms, looking directly at him: "Then what's your stake?"
Jiraiya said with a smile: "I'm currently writing. How about I let you be the first to see it when my book is finished?"
"Hmph, boring."
Orochimaru walked straight to the tent entrance, intending to leave.
Jiraiya hurriedly called out, "Wait, what's your stake?"
Orochimaru left after dropping the sentence, "I won't lose."
Jiraiya got up from his seat and muttered 'Tsundere' before also leaving the tent.
Even Jiraiya felt very tired after this battle.
Moreover, he would be even busier next, and he wouldn't have much time to rest.
When he returned to the entrance of his tent, he discovered that Minato wasn't in the tent next door.
Jiraiya sighed: "It seems my disciple is lost again and needs guidance from his master."
Jiraiya found Minato sitting in a daze on a hilltop.
"What's wrong? Are you doubting yourself because Yasu is too excellent?"
Jiraiya sat down next to him.
Minato replied with a heavy expression: "Teacher, I do have some doubts, doubting whether my decisions are right or wrong sometimes."
Jiraiya raised a brow and asked: "Oh? Why do you think so?"
Minato lowered his head and replied: "Yasu is really rational, so rational that it's terrifying. He can unhesitatingly give a companion who has lost the ability to fight an explosive tag, letting him die together with the Cloud Ninja, maximizing the benefits as he said."
"But I think what he did was wrong. He shouldn't treat the lives of his comrades as tools."
"But when I questioned him, his answer completely left me unable to refute it, even making me feel that he was right and I was wrong."
Jiraiya frowned slightly.
He didn't expect Yasu to have done such a thing in the previous battle.
However, he understood it immediately.
He is Orochimaru's disciple after all.
So, it is quite normal.
If it were Orochimaru, he would definitely do the same.
Just as Jiraiya was about to enlighten his disciple, Minato continued: "I saw Yasu's battle with the leader of Hot Spring Village from beginning to end, and I admit that I am completely inferior to him."
"I thought that I must have caught up with him in the past few years, but I haven't, and the gap between me and him has become larger and larger. He is the real genius, and I... I am not a genius at all.
"What makes me feel most guilty is that when he was in danger, I stopped, and the scene of him giving the explosive tag to Daigo, letting Daigo die together with the Cloud Ninja, appeared in my mind. At that time, I had the idea of not wanting to save Yasu."
"I clearly wanted to do my best to help my comrades, but this time, I went against my heart."
Jiraiya sighed: "It seems that Yasu's arrival has really had a big impact on you, Minato. You are also a person, you have people you like, and naturally you will definitely have people you hate. You and Yasu are like two extremes; it is actually very normal to oppose each other."
"So, this is not your fault, everyone has selfish motives, and I am no exception, there is no need to be so entangled."
"Plus, Yasu's approach cannot be said to be right or wrong, after all, it is on the battlefield. But your desire to help your comrades must be right, so don't doubt your desire to help your comrades."
"Yasu is indeed a genius, and he has been very well taught by Orochimaru, but Minato, you can't doubt yourself. Once you doubt yourself, then you will forever lose the opportunity to become stronger."
"If you don't even believe in yourself, then how can you become stronger and catch up with him?"
"So, let me ask you a question Minato, do you think I am a genius?"
Minato glanced at Jiraiya beside him and replied: "Teacher Jiraiya, you are naturally a genius, you are the disciple of the Lord Hokage, and you are also one of the Sannin."
Jiraiya smiled and shook his head: "I am not a genius; I was always the dead last back then."
Minato was surprised: "How is that possible?"
Jiraiya said: "I'm not lying to you; this is the truth. Back then, I was always chasing after Orochimaru who was a recognized genius, but I just didn't accept it. I felt that I was actually no worse than him."
"With this belief, I chased after his footsteps, and in this process, I became stronger and stronger, until my current strength."
"So, what if the other is a genius? As long as you believe that you are no weaker than anyone else, with your own efforts, you will definitely become very strong."
Minato took a deep breath, and the gloom in his eyes was gone: "I understand, Teacher Jiraiya, I will definitely work hard!"
Jiraiya smiled and patted his head: "You are really a worrying disciple. I made a bet with Orochimaru, betting that you will become stronger than Yasu in this war."
Minato was shocked: "Ah? This..."
Jiraiya asked: "What? No confidence in yourself?"
Minato took a deep breath and said loudly: "I have confidence!"
Jiraiya stood up from the ground and said to him: "Go back and rest, it will be even busier next. By the way, I'll tell you good news, we are going to apply for support from Konoha. I will explain to the old man and let a ninja bring the scroll of the Flying Thunder God Technique over."
After Jiraiya left, Minato secretly made a decision in his heart that he must work harder... he must work harder.
He must not let his teacher down!
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