Chapter 62, Starting from the Basics.

"You don't look like you're okay."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a light laugh to Jiraiya. Indeed, Jiraiya's current strength is weak, but a ninja's childhood performance cannot fully represent their achievements when they grow up.

Jiraiya's future still has a long way to go. How far Jiraiya can go, as his teacher, actually occupies a large part of it.

Jiraiya just shook his head and didn't say anything.

Everything that happened today really made the young man's heart unable to calm down.

"Do you feel like they are all very strong, but you are very weak?"

Seeing Jiraiya not speaking, Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped forward, sat down with Jiraiya.

Jiraiya didn't say anything, but sometimes, not speaking is a default.

"Raijin, Uchiha Raijin, started receiving training from the Uchiha family from the age of four. His parents, Uchiha Motohide and Uchiha Matsuri, are both Jonin of the Uchiha clan. They can provide Raijin with the best and most professional guidance from the beginning of training. Raijin's own talent is not bad. After growing up a bit, he was personally guided by the Second Hokage along with Tsunade for five years. So it's only natural that Raijin is strong, isn't it?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen said to Jiraiya. In the ninja world, there is no such thing as happy education. Compared to teaching through fun, ninjas in the ninja world are better at tearing up bloody reality to show children.

"Compared to that, what was Jiraiya doing when he was four years old?"

Jiraiya pursed his lips upon hearing this, didn't say anything, but he had already thought of what he was doing when he was four years old.

There was no pressure of training, and every day was carefree.

"So do you feel like, things should be this way?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen said to Jiraiya with a light laugh.

Letting a Genin like Jiraiya, who is not very talented, participate in such a dangerous mission too early, it is indeed very easy for Jiraiya to have a certain sense of alienation from his teammates.

If this time they were not facing two Jonin, but two Genin, or even two Chunin, Sarutobi Hiruzen could let Jiraiya play. Because Sarutobi Hiruzen believes that Raijin and Tsunade can take good care of Jiraiya, at least there will be no disability problems.

Although Team 7 is usually noisy, but being noisy is what friends are. On the day of the bell grabbing, the shuriken that Raijin threw at Jiraiya also showed that Raijin regarded Jiraiya as a teammate.

Jiraiya still didn't say anything upon hearing this. Indeed, the fact is that Raijin is strong. Looking at everything Raijin has experienced, it is only natural that Raijin has such strength.

Jiraiya admits this fact, but this fact cannot cover up the fact that Sarutobi Hiruzen's words make Jiraiya more introverted.

So the purpose of Sarutobi-sensei telling me these words is to better hit me?

That's good, Sarutobi-sensei succeeded.

Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at Jiraiya, basically guessing what Jiraiya was thinking now, thinking that the blow was almost enough, so he changed his tone and continued to speak to Jiraiya.

"But Jiraiya doesn't need to be discouraged. The standard of the ninja school is that you can graduate after learning the three-body technique. Since Jiraiya has graduated now, it means that Jiraiya is a qualified ninja recognized by the village."

Having said that, Sarutobi Hiruzen paused and continued to speak to Jiraiya.

"The past cannot be changed, but the future may still have some opportunities. From twelve to eighteen years old, it is the age when a ninja's strength grows the fastest. Since Jiraiya has already seen the gap between himself and Raijin, Tsunade, and Orochimaru, why not ask them for advice on how to better improve your own strength?"

Upon hearing this, Jiraiya instinctively looked up at Raijin. At this moment, Raijin also looked up and made eye contact with Jiraiya, giving Jiraiya a friendly smile.

Raijin naturally saw the scene of Sarutobi Hiruzen advising Jiraiya. If Jiraiya really came to ask him some questions about Ninjutsu, Raijin would not refuse Jiraiya. After all, Raijin likes Jiraiya and has a good impression of him.

And, what is a teammate?

It's someone who you can trust to have your back. Such a person, naturally, the stronger the better.

The feelings between teammates in a ninja squad are not weaker than the friendship of carrying guns together in a previous life.

In the future, everyone will be friends who will live and die together.

Of course, all of this is based on the premise that Jiraiya actively comes to ask for advice. Raijin can't do things like rushing to teach others, he just can't do it.

"What are you waiting for? Orochimaru has already actively asked for advice, do you still want to wait for Raijin and Tsunade to actively instruct you?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen lightly patted Jiraiya's back with a laugh, his face full of smiles.

Even now in this squad, Jiraiya's existence is optional, but Sarutobi Hiruzen will not give up on Jiraiya. On the one hand, because Jiraiya is his chosen disciple, and Jiraiya also has some potential that other ninjas do not have.

On the other hand, it's because he can't let down his teacher's trust in him. Letting him lead four disciples alone, how can he fail such trust?

And, whether it's Raijin, Tsunade, or even Orochimaru, all three children are geniuses. What's the skill in training a genius into a talent?

Training a child like Jiraiya, who not only has average talent but also lags behind many others, into a strong person who can stand alone, that's what shows his ability!

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched with a smile as Jiraiya stood up and walked towards Raijin. His face was full of satisfaction. When encountering someone much stronger than oneself, the first thought in one's heart should not be to stay away, but to think of ways to see if one can use such a person to make oneself stronger.

...

"Raijin, can you give me some advice?"

To be honest, in front of all his teammates, saying such words to a peer of his own age, Jiraiya was quite uncomfortable.

"Can you be a little more specific?"

Raijin chuckled and nodded, asking Jiraiya.

"Actually, I don't know. After graduation, I rarely practiced."

Jiraiya shook his head upon hearing this. Without anyone's guidance, after graduation, Jiraiya's practice was basically reduced to basic physical training.

At this time, Jiraiya didn't really have a clear goal.

"Then let's start from the basics."

Raijin said to Jiraiya upon hearing this.

"Okay."

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