Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 278 Elder Yan's Welcome Lesson

The warm rice balls and piping hot buckwheat tea dispelled the last chill of the morning.

Inside the tent, the solemnity surrounding war and the enemy had vanished, replaced only by the sounds of chewing food and the faint aroma of tea.

Yahiko puffed out his cheeks and ate very quickly, as if he wanted to make up for all the hunger he had experienced in the past.

Xiao Nan sipped the tea slowly and gracefully, but the slight upturn of her lips revealed just how happy she was.

Jiraiya ate the last rice ball with gusto, patted his belly contentedly, and made a "bang bang" sound.

"Burp... That feels so good!"

He let out a long sigh and turned to look at the crimson sunset.

"Wow, you're really popular! When I go back to the village, I'll definitely visit your shop every day!"

Kurenai Yuhi was elegantly wiping her mouth with a handkerchief when she heard this. She just smiled helplessly and didn't reply.

If this great deity visits every day, his little lunchbox shop will probably never have a moment's peace.

Meanwhile, Mitokado Homura had already put down his teacup.

He didn't participate in the post-meal chatter, but silently got up, walked to his bag, took out a soft deerskin, and began to meticulously wipe his ninja tools.

It was a standard kunai, but in his hands, it was polished to the point of being like a work of art, reflecting a cold and restrained light in the morning light.

His movements were unhurried and deliberate, carrying a composure and rigor honed over many years.

The noise inside the tent seemed to be completely isolated from him.

Jiraiya laughed heartily, cleared his throat with great enthusiasm, struck what he thought was a cool pose, and began his speech about his heroic deeds.

"Back in the day, in the Land of Rain..."

"...I, Jiraiya-sama, ventured alone into the rear of the Land of Rain, facing several ninjas!"

Jiraiya lowered his voice, creating a tense and suspenseful atmosphere.

Yahiko had indeed fallen for it, nervously clutching the hem of his clothes: "Then... what happened next?"

"later?"

Jiraiya suddenly straightened his back, pointing triumphantly at himself with his thumb, "With a clap of my hands, a thousand needles! Countless white hairs, harder than steel, rained down like a storm! Those Rain Ninja bastards cried for their parents, running for their lives!"

He mimicked his own description, widening his eyes and trying his best to look fierce.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"Wow! Teacher, you're amazing!"

Yahiko's eyes widened, sparkling with a light more brilliant than the morning stars. His small fists were clenched tightly, and his body leaned forward slightly with excitement, as if he were already in the midst of that earth-shattering battle.

"Of course!"

Jiraiya became even more energized, "My mere presence exudes unparalleled dominance! It's the embodiment of the Will of Fire! Ordinary foes simply cannot withstand it!"

Xiao Nan sat to the side, and somehow another piece of colored paper appeared in her hand.

She didn't speak, but simply lowered her head and folded the paper figure carefully. After a short while, a small paper figure with hands on hips and long white hair appeared in her hand.

She quietly placed the little paper figure on her lap, poked it, and the little paper figure swayed, actually having a bit of Jiraiya's smug look about it.

"cough."

A soft, deliberate cough came from the corner.

Mitomon Ryo had finished cleaning all the kunai and was carefully putting them back into her ninja tool pouch one by one.

He didn't even look up, just focused on doing his own thing.

But that one cough brought Jiraiya's heroic deeds to an abrupt end.

Jiraiya's expression stiffened for a moment. He awkwardly touched his nose and muttered, "Well... of course, there's a little bit of artistic embellishment involved..."

The admiration on Yahiko's face froze instantly.

"A little bit?"

Kurenai Yuhi's voice, tinged with a hint of amusement, came from the side.

He was talking to another ninja with a similarly composed demeanor, Kurama Unkai, the head of the Kurama clan.

Kurama Unkai nodded slightly to Jiraiya, a rare smile appearing on his usually aloof face.

The meaning behind that smile was so rich.

There is sympathy, your continued encouragement, and a touch of sympathy for your hard work.

Jiraiya felt his aura instantly diminish by half.

These illusionists have dirty hearts!

He decided to ignore these noises and focus on giving his future outstanding students "moral education lessons".

"Yahiko, Konan, you must remember this! For a ninja, the most important thing is to have the right spirit!"

Jiraiya thumped his chest, making a loud thud, "Even when facing an enemy a hundred times stronger than you, you must have the courage to draw your sword! Just like me!"

"Um!"

Yahiko nodded vigorously, stood up, and puffed out his little chest like Jiraiya, "You have to have presence!"

"Anyway! Your teacher is really awesome! Come on, let's go see some scenery in the distance!"

As she spoke, she half-dragged, half-carried the two children and slipped out.

Mitokado Homura then raised his head and looked at Jiraiya's fleeing figure. A very subtle, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his serious and rigid face.

……

Before long, the group set off again.

The long line, resembling a giant, earthen-yellow dragon, began to slowly move southeast, towards Konoha.

It was the first time Yahiko and Minami had seen such a large-scale event, and both children seemed a little nervous.

They followed closely behind Jiraiya, looking around with a mixture of curiosity and fear.

Every ninja carries an aura of killing intent, forged in the crucible of battle.

Their steps were firm, their silence powerful.

This is the ninja army that protected the Land of Fire.

This is the power of Konoha that the teacher spoke of.