Konoha: The thirty-year-old Uchiha is not motivated.

Chapter 943 The boss is a veteran of Konoha, just showing up for the occasion.

"Jiraiya San San! I did it!"

"Uncle Jiraiya! I did it too."

"You lecherous old man! You're teaching me wrong, aren't you?"

Boom-!

"Hey~ What are you doing!"

Slowly withdrawing his smoking fist from a small orange head, Jiraiya, dressed in ordinary civilian clothes, forcibly suppressed the bulging veins on his forehead and looked at the red-haired girl, Konan, who was playing with a water ball formed from water-style chakra, with admiration in his eyes.

"Nagato, you can rest today. I'll give you fish head for dinner."

After saying that, he turned his gaze to the blue-haired girl on the other side, whose face was beaming with joy. The same water ball kept changing shape in the girl's fair palm, and her chakra manipulation level, which far exceeded that of her peers, was quite remarkable.

Jiraiya nodded almost imperceptibly, a hint of regret in his eyes.

If Konan had been born in Konoha, she would definitely have been a genius that the village would focus on developing.

Thinking of this, Jiraiya wanted to pat the girl's head, but she dodged it first.

"Sorry, Uncle Jiraiya, there's only one person who can touch my head in this lifetime."

Xiao Nan took a few steps back, covering her head warily, her fair face full of seriousness.

“Ai Kuonan, you won’t even call me San San.”

Jiraiya, looking embarrassed, spoke while reaching out to touch Yahiko's head beside him.

Just like Konan, Yahiko deftly dodged Jiraiya's head pat with a quick head shake, leaving Jiraiya speechless with frustration.

"Yahiko, what are you hiding from now on, you brat?"

"Hey lecherous old man, I just saw you scratching your crotch with that hand."

Yahiko looked at the furious Jiraiya with disgust, covered his head with his hands, and vowed to protect his innocence.

"Bullshit, I was just adjusting the trajectory!"

"Then you should use tweezers."

Boom-!

"Jiraiya, if this keeps going, Yahiko will become an idiot."

Concerned for his friend, Nagato quickly stepped forward and grabbed Jiraiya's sleeve, speaking softly to dissuade him.

"He's an idiot."

Jiraiya, who had dealt a severe blow to his scoundrel disciple, squeezed out his assessment of Yahiko through gritted teeth.

"But didn't you always say that Yahiko is most like you?"

Upon hearing this, Nagato blinked her round eyes, hidden beneath her thick bangs, in confusion.

"Even this immortal has his moments of misjudgment."

Having calmed down a bit, Jiraiya lowered his fist. Heartbroken, he turned and reached out with his empty hand to Nagato, his most obedient disciple.

Waaaaah.

Little Changmen, as long as you keep calling me "Master San San," I will remember you for a lifetime.

Nagato: ヽ(Д) I'm hiding.

Jiraiya:

A wounded heart is like shards of glass.

Looking at the three teenagers in front of him who were avoiding his large hands like the plague, Jiraiya was filled with complex emotions.

How come I, as a teacher, have no authority at all?

"Am I that different from your previous teacher?"

Thinking of this, Jiraiya couldn't help but ask aloud.

Compared to themselves, Konan and Yahiko seem to miss their previous teacher more.

"Compared to Yin San San?"

Upon hearing this, Yahiko frowned slightly, his face showing a visible struggle, as if he was deep in thought.

"Pfft~"

Just as Jiraiya was eagerly anticipating that Yahiko was seriously comparing the two's strengths and weaknesses, Yahiko suddenly chuckled and uttered three words that instantly made Jiraiya blush.

Are you worthy?

Jiraiya: (メ)

"Nagato, don't pull down my pants! I'm going to teach this little bastard a lesson today!"

"Uncle Jiraiya, you are a good person."

As Xiao Nan spoke, she touched the white paper flower on her head, as if lost in some memory.

After a moment, she raised her head, her beautiful face showing a rare seriousness.

"But Yin San San will always be the irreplaceable San San in my heart."

Leaf Village

Inside a small bar on a dimly lit street, Minato, holding a half-empty glass of juice, stared in surprise at his slightly tipsy teacher across from him.

"Jiraiya-sensei, are you referring to the children you taught in the Land of Rain a few years ago who were Gin-senpai's disciples?"

"To be precise, it's only Konan and Yahiko."

Lost in memories of the past, Jiraiya raised his head and drank a cup of bitter sake, his flushed face filled with nostalgia.

I wonder when the Frog Squad will reunite next.

Minato, listening intently from the opposite side, silently set down his cup, his azure eyes filled with admiration.

"That does sound like something Senior Yin would do."

They sheltered homeless orphans during the war and carefully taught them how to survive.

Minato asked himself honestly, he couldn't do that; at most, he could only leave some supplies for the children.

Or perhaps we can free them from this cruel world as soon as possible.

Minato Namikaze is a complex combination of Jiraiya's passion and Orochimaru's rationality.

As night fell, Jiraiya, feeling hot and restless from the alcohol, began to stir with desire.

The massage parlors should be open by now, right?

"Alright, you don't need to worry too much about the village's attitude. I will report the truth to the teacher."

He simply waved his hand, signaling to his disciple to rest assured that he would handle everything.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Jiraiya-sensei."

Watching Jiraiya leave, frantically adjusting the trajectory of his bullets, Minato finally breathed a sigh of relief, downed the remaining half-glass of juice in one gulp, and got up to go to the counter.

"Boss, check please."

He had already said before we came that he would treat us.

"The total is one million three hundred and eighty-six thousand seven hundred and twenty-four taels."

The boss, who had been waiting patiently, smiled and held up a thick stack of bills. The long string of numbers he uttered startled Shuimen, who was reaching for his wallet.

"You've miscalculated, haven't you?"

Minato stared wide-eyed in astonishment; the two of them, master and disciple, had only drunk two cups in total.

Is your wine made of gold, or is your juice made of gold?

"Wait a minute. Sorry, I did miscalculate."

"I knew it!"

"One was missing; the actual amount is 1,444,444 taels."

"."

"Is this a rip-off?"

Looking at the smiling owner, Minato was already considering whether to report the shop to the police department for suspected involvement with organized crime.

"Our shop is honest and fair to all, young and old. These are all bills personally signed by Lord Jiraiya. Please take a look."

"Uh?"

With a blank expression, Minato accepted the bill, his face alternating between pale and flushed. After confirming the handwriting was correct, he hesitated for a moment, then asked in a consultative tone,

"Boss, we're all old Konoha folks, let's do this for face, can you do it in installments?"

"No problem, I trust Jonin Namikaze's reputation."

In the end, to pay for his teacher's loan, Minato tearfully signed an installment loan with an interest rate as high as 300%. For a long time to come, he probably won't be able to taste meat again.

Meanwhile, the White Zetsu, riding at top speed, rushed back to the secret base at its fastest pace ever, only to unexpectedly run into one of the people involved in the gossip it controlled.

"Why are you back so soon?"

Black Zetsu looked at White Zetsu, whose eyes were filled with a strange expression, with a slight furrow in his dark eyebrows.

"If I find you slacking off, I'll send you straight to the portable toilet."

"Boss, I've heard some incredible gossip, do you want some?"

"I'm not interested." Faced with the White Zetsu's enthusiastic response, the cunning Black Zetsu showed absolutely no interest in the juicy gossip it was offering.

It's a waste of time to communicate with this bunch of empty-headed radish people.

"But."

White Zetsu still wanted to try, after all, Black Zetsu was one of the main parties involved in this whole mess.

"Enough with the nonsense. Once you've found out all the information about that curly-haired guy, go and report it to Lord Madara immediately."

"Are you really not going to review it?"

"I told you I'm not interested. If you keep nagging, you can go be my power bank."

"Ok."

Looking at the impatient Black Zetsu with a disappointed expression, White Zetsu, feeling awkward and having made a fool of himself, followed behind him, turning around a few times until he arrived in front of the feigning-sleep Uchiha Madara.

"Madara-sama!"

"Ok?"

Hearing White Zetsu's cheerful voice, Madara Uchiha, immersed in his past glory, slowly raised his droopy eyelids.

The cold gaze passed over the respectful Black Zetsu and landed on the White Zetsu, who looked impatient.

"Check it out?"

"Reporting to Lord Ban, after my continuous surveillance, I have now ascertained the identity of that curly-haired human."

"Tell me, who exactly is he?"

Madara Uchiha raised an eyebrow in surprise. He hadn't expected that this White Zetsu would be so efficient, completing the task in less than a day.

"His name is Uchiha Gin, and he claims to be Madara-sama's older cousin, who is even closer to him than his own brother."

boom!

As soon as White Zetsu finished speaking, a sharp, almost tangible aura suddenly erupted from Uchiha Madara, who was sitting in a high position. This forced White Zetsu, who was about to continue speaking, to instantly shut up, his eyes filled with fear.

Are you kidding me?

Madara Uchiha glared angrily at the cowering White Zetsu, his ashen eyes gradually turning crimson.

His older cousin is the most important person in his life, and even now, he still regrets his weakness back then.

"This is what Uchiha Kaku said himself, and I heard it absolutely true."

Shivering, the White Zetsu felt like it was about to be transformed into a portable toilet power bank, so it quickly added...

Uchiha Fire Core?

Upon hearing that familiar name, the crimson in Madara Uchiha's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a hint of suspicion.

Could it be that Huo He has Alzheimer's disease like me?

Seeing that Madara Uchiha had withdrawn his killing intent, White Zetsu took the opportunity to recount everything he had heard.

"Izanagi?"

Upon hearing that Uchiha Gin, like himself, had used his eye technique to feign death and escape, a strange expression gradually appeared on Uchiha Madara's face.

If that's the case, then my cousin might not really be dead.

Later, he learned from White Zetsu that after his older cousin was resurrected, he had been working undercover for the clan and had even tried to break up the ill-fated couple Hashirama Senju and Mito Uzumaki for his sake. Madara Uchiha's heart, which had been sealed for many years, warmed slightly.

But

"Since he's not dead, why doesn't he come back to see me?"

"Oh, this."

"Where was he when I was having my life-or-death battle with Hasi Hot Mom?"

"Ha~"

Seeing Madara Uchiha's intense emotional fluctuations, which hadn't been seen in many years, Black Zetsu, standing to the side, couldn't help but yawn.

So boring~

"Uh, this..."

Hearing Madara Uchiha's aggressive questioning, White Zetsu turned somewhat guiltily to look at Black Zetsu, who was yawning incessantly, appearing hesitant to speak.

"Why are you looking at me like that? If Lord Madara asks you, just tell him, do you want to become a power bank?"

Feeling the gaze of White Zetsu, Black Zetsu was completely bewildered and couldn't help but roll his eyes wide.

"Then I'll tell you."

"Hurry up, don't waste Lord Madara's precious rest time."

"Ok."

Seeing Black Zetsu's confident demeanor, White Zetsu, though suspicious, meticulously adjusted his expression and hairstyle, mimicking Uchiha Gin's mannerisms and tone, and flawlessly recounted the entire sleuth about his superior.

"It's a long story. Actually, I was already on my way to the Valley of the End when some dark-skinned guy suddenly appeared and insisted on taking me to meet his mother."

"."

Upon hearing this, Black Zetsu, who was yawning, froze on the spot, his brain, which had developed over thousands of years, starting to work at lightning speed.

When did I ever do that?

This is the first time in its many years of dominating the ninja world that it has been falsely accused; in the past, it was always the one accusing others.

"Lord Madara, I believe that this White Zetsu has a major flaw. Its thinking logic is disordered. I request that it be reworked."

Before Madara Uchiha, who was deep in thought on his high seat, could speak, Black Zetsu stepped forward in front of White Zetsu and respectfully offered his suggestion.

"Black Zetsu, so you mean it's broken?"

Madara Uchiha temporarily suppressed the turmoil in his mind and looked expressionlessly at Black Zetsu, who had taken the initiative to step forward.

"That's right, it must be because of too much work pressure before, which caused it to have delusions and hallucinations."

"Lord Ban, I didn't! I heard it all with my own ears!"

White Zetsu is dissatisfied with being called a defective product by Black Zetsu, and it certainly can't argue back, but that doesn't diminish its intelligence, which far surpasses that of a typical White Zetsu.

"Shut up, or I'll put you in a portable toilet right now."

Black Zetsu glared fiercely at the White Zetsu who spoke with absolute certainty, wishing he could shove it into the toilet behind Madara Uchiha right now.

“Boss, I really wasn’t lying, that curly-haired human really did say that.”

"Hiss, give it to me."

"Shut up, all of you!"

Just as the guilty Black Zetsu was about to shut White Zetsu up, Madara Uchiha, who had stood up, shouted to stop him.

The two, one black and one white, immediately shut their mouths and stood respectfully waiting for Madara Uchiha to reprimand them.

"Black Zetsu, as the embodiment of my will, how can you let your defenses crumble over something so trivial?"

Seeing that Madara Uchiha had not yet awakened his intelligence, Black Zetsu breathed a sigh of relief, still feeling a lingering fear.

"Lord Ban, I was just in a moment of impatience; it has slandered me!"

"I don't!"

With an inexplicable look in his eyes, Madara Uchiha fixed his gaze on the indignant White Zetsu and asked in a cold voice,

"White Zetsu, what else did Gin Uchiha say after he said that?"

"Uh, at the time I was only thinking about bringing this big juicy story back to share with you, Lord Madara, so..."

Upon hearing this, Bai Jue scratched his head awkwardly.

"Hmph! Go back and continue your investigation. Regardless of whether that person is really Uchiha Gin or not, bring back to me every single detail of his actions and words."

"Lord Ban, please let me go with it this time."

Seeing this, Black Zetsu's heart tightened, fearing that this rebellious White Zetsu would cause further trouble, so he quickly spoke up to volunteer.

"you?"

"That's right, I actually discovered that I had awakened a new ability some time ago."

After Black Zetsu finished speaking, he reached out and pressed his hand against the White Zetsu beside him. To the White Zetsu's horrified gaze, Black Zetsu turned into a puddle of black mud and stuck to him.

"Parasitic?"

Madara Uchiha looked with great interest at the new life form before him, which was half black and half white.

"Yes, Lord Madara, please call me Zetsu from now on."

Having completely suppressed the talkative White Zetsu's will, Black Zetsu smiled and nodded. He had finally shut this chatterbox up.

"Great, when can I try this ability myself?"

Seeing the barely concealed curiosity in Madara Uchiha's eyes, Black Zetsu's lips curled into a barely perceptible, eerie smile.

"Hehe, Lord Madara, there will always be opportunities in the future." (End of Chapter)