When Jiraiya, who had taken a good look around the streets and alleys of the fog and collected a lot of information that interested him, returned to the academy where Konoha and his party lived, it was already nightfall.

What surprised him a little was that he listened to the chat between the Konoha students who went to the Fog Hidden Ninja School to take the entrance test, and learned a little about the differences in teaching methods and concepts between the Fog Hidden Ninja School and the Konoha Ninja School, and was about to go back to his room to tidy up today's receipt, but when he went upstairs, he was blocked by the Uchiha Itachi who looked like he was waiting here.

"What's going on, Itachi? Did you run into any trouble? ”

Looking at the Uchiha Itachi who was holding something like a registration form and hesitating in front of him, Jirai also squatted down patiently, looked at the other party's somewhat evasive eyes, and asked.

"Trouble, but there is no ......"

Uchiha Itachi hesitated for a while, and finally decided to believe the uncle in front of him who had taken the initiative to protect him, he took a deep breath, handed the fluttering piece of paper in his hand to Jiraiya, and whispered:

"Well, because I got a good score in the entrance test of the ninja school, a teacher named Yakushidou told me about the special courses in the Mist Hidden Ninja School, and said that I could choose a few courses that I was more interested in, and try to pass the assessment of those courses......"

"Hmm, isn't that pretty good?" Jiraiya casually took the paper handed over by Uchiha Itachi, and some didn't quite understand what the Uchiha kid in front of him was struggling with, "What, I don't know what course I should choose, so I want to come to me for consultation?" ”

"No, I've actually passed the assessment of a special course that I'm more interested in, but ......"

Uchiha Itachi touched his sideburns awkwardly, then pointed to a line of words on the application form, and said almost in a slurch:

"However, I'm worried that if I take this course, you, and the rest of the village, will have some bad impressions of us Uchiha."

"Huh? What ...... can this be?"

Jiraiya subconsciously looked at the place where Uchiha Itachi was pointing, and then, the words of relief that had already reached his lips were immediately scolded back because of the not too long text.

Historical Restoration and Research of the Ninja World, Mentor: Kaguya Rei.

After passing the assessment, they will be given the necessary qualifications to participate in this course, and the specific course arrangement can be asked by the tutor himself.

“…… You did it on purpose, right, Itachi Uchiha? ”

After being silent for a while, Jiraiya reluctantly squeezed out a self-righteous expression, and looked at the Uchiha Itachi, whose hands were clutching the hem of his clothes awkwardly, thinking about how to justify it.

"I, I'm just curious......"

"Curious how the Uchiha Shisui got to be the way it is?" Jiraiya knocked Uchiha Itachi on the head angrily, "Or are you Uchiha clan ready to completely fall into the fog?" I don't think it's enough to send an older Rising Star, so I'm going to pack and send you a smaller one too!? But, even if you really plan to do this, don't do it so blatantly!? ”

"No...... No. ”

Uchiha Itachi covered his head, plucked up his courage, and whispered to Jiraiya, who didn't really think so:

"I just want to know...... What is it for, to be able to set such a high threshold for people like the four generations of Mizukage, and at the same time it doesn't seem to involve ninjutsu and personal strength improvement. ”

"That's why you sent it to the door yourself?"

Jiraiya raised his eyebrows, and his emotions were no longer as agitated as before, and he could be regarded as showing the demeanor of some famous teachers, only to see him squat in front of Uchiha Itachi, put his hand on his shoulder very seriously, and said earnestly:

"I know that you Uchiha people like to identify a goal and never look back, and the more talented the Uchiha, the more he has something to insist on...... But, you're only a six-year-old after all, aren't you? ”

"I can understand your desire to get close to and understand Kaguya, but for you, who are still very expensive and immature in terms of life experience and knowledge accumulation, he is too mature and too dangerous, and your will is like a firefly and a scorching sun in front of him, without any comparison, and even before you give birth to your own mind, you will be completely changed by his concept and become a puppet of your mind."

"This kind of thing is a tragedy for you, and it's not necessarily a good thing for Kaguya to pity that guy...... If you're the one who can make him care, then he definitely doesn't want you to be a tool that can only recite his ideas and not think for himself, don't you think, Uchiha Itachi? ”

"So, what should I do, Jiraiya-sama?"

Uchiha Itachi, who was clearly persuaded by Jiraiya's words, showed a confused expression, "If I'm not mature enough to keep my ideas in front of that person...... I'm in the fog, what should I do? ”

"And if I pass the exam and don't go to the course, how will Mizukage-sama feel?"

“…… I'll explain this to him on your behalf. Jiraiya rubbed Uchiha Itachi's head and said gently, "After all, what happened because of my interference, it should be considered a matter for me to solve it." ”

"Huh? But...... Won't that make it difficult for you to do, Jiraiya-sama? ”

"It's okay, I'm the head of the Konoha Exchange Group, Jiraiya, and it's my responsibility to protect the members! Itachi just needs to wait for the outcome of my negotiations with Mizukage-sama and enjoy his time in the fog. ”

After a passionate speech, Uchiha Itachi obediently returned to his room to rest with gratitude to Jiraiya, and Jiraiya also breathed a long sigh of relief after watching Uchiha Itachi leave, and then turned around with the application form that Uchiha Itachi had left here, and looked helplessly at Kakashi Hachiki, who had been in a dilemma there for a long time.

"If you have something to say, come and say it, Kakashi...... I'm sorry for letting you stand there for so long. ”

"No, I'm the one who should apologize, and I'm the one who should apologize."

Kakashi Hagi walked down the stairs and said in a low mood:

"I could have gotten out before you found out, and I wouldn't have eavesdropped on your conversations...... But I don't know why, I couldn't convince myself to choose to leave, and then I listened to the conversation that should have belonged only to the two of you, I'm very sorry, and when I get back, I'll explain it to Itachi and apologize. ”

"Well, there's no need to apologize or anything," Jiraiya sighed, looked at Kakashi's listless expression, raised the application form in his hand, and said in a complicated tone, "You can't help but want to listen to my conversation with Itachi, just because you have some thoughts about this, right?" ”

"It's you."

Kakashi Hachiki had a very sorry expression on his face, and he looked at the application form in Jiraiya's hand and said in a quiet tone.

"Did the Uchiha Obito matter hurt you so much?"

"Perhaps."

Kakashi Hachiki sighed, his eyes tired and bitter and said:

"I originally thought that as long as I fought hard to protect my companions in Konoha, I would be able to comfort Obito and Rin's spirits in the sky, and I would be able to give me a reason to continue living."

"But Obito told me that he was still alive, and not only that, but he was going to destroy Konoha and destroy the entire world of hypocrisy."

"Then, I can't see the future anymore."

"I don't know what else I can fight for, for the sake of the village? For the sake of companions? Or is it for the so-called tomorrow? ”

"However, if the future doesn't give me an answer, maybe the past can give me a reason to continue fighting."