"Senior?" Minato muttered to himself.

  "Mm, he's someone who shares the same ideas and dreams as you. Right now, like you, he's still a student at the Ninja Academy," Jiraiya said, looking at Minato. He had learned everything about Minato from the Third Hokage.

  Minato was momentarily taken aback, then a smile gradually spread across his face, along with a hint of anticipation.

  "But there's one difference between him and you," Jiraiya continued. "His reason for holding such ideas is that Konoha Ninja Vilge was founded by his grandfather. So, his admiration isn't for the Hokage as much as it is for his grandfather..."

  Jiraiya paused, his tone slightly grim. "That kid doesn’t seem to inherit much of his ancestor’s will. All he’s really inherited is that old man’s bad habits..."

  "You must be talking about Rope Tree-senpai, right?" Minato said, quickly piecing it together. He’d heard of him in the academy, after all.

  Rope Tree, as the grandson of the First Hokage, was already a well-known figure. Just his lineage alone was enough to turn heads. On top of that, his academic record was impeccable, always topping his css. It was said that he was about to graduate soon and become a real ninja.

  "Seems like this kid’s got quite the reputation," Jiraiya remarked.

  Minato wasn’t surprised that Jiraiya knew Rope Tree. After all, Rope Tree’s older sister, Tsunade, had trained under the Third Hokage just like Jiraiya. Despite being a woman, Tsunade was renowned for her incredible strength, and she was now one of the strongest ninjas in the vilge.

  The Senju cn, once the most powerful cn in Konoha, had been led by the First Hokage. Even the Uchiha and Hyuga cns paled in comparison to their power. However, the Senju cn had gradually faded from the public eye. Minato had heard that many of them had moved away from the vilge about a decade ago, though the reasons for this remained a mystery.

  Though there were few Senju left in the vilge, the respect for them remained strong. Their reverence was different from the fear directed at the Uchiha cn. It was born from the legacy of the ninja god who founded Konoha—Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage.

  "Rope Tree’s about to graduate from the academy. He aims to follow in the footsteps of the Hokage. He’s always striving to be number one in everything he does. Yesterday, after we parted ways, he specifically asked me to help him with some extra training."

  Jiraiya’s words cked their usual confidence. Minato couldn’t help but wonder what was behind this. Regardless, since Jiraiya had mentioned it, Minato was curious to meet this senior, especially with the afternoon free and no mandatory training under Jiraiya’s rules.

  After lunch, Jiraiya led Minato to a rge courtyard.

  This was Rope Tree and Tsunade’s home, once the grand estate of the Senju cn. It had wealth and influence that rivaled the Uchiha cn.

  Though Minato lived alone in a small house left by his parents, it was nowhere near on the same level as this mansion.

  They entered the back yard of the Senju estate, where a ten-year-old boy with light brown hair was practicing taijutsu. His movements were swift and precise, far more refined than Minato had expected. In fact, he seemed even stronger than Uchiha En.

  The boy noticed them approach, stopping his training and turning toward them.

  Rope Tree wasn’t strikingly handsome, but he exuded an energetic, lively aura. Upon closer inspection, his features bore a faint resembnce to the First Hokage.

  "It's Jiraiya-nii," Rope Tree said casually, his eyes shifting to Minato beside Jiraiya.

  "You're... Namikaze Minato?" Rope Tree’s voice was tinged with uncertainty, as he had never actually met Minato before.

  Minato was surprised. How could Rope Tree recognize him? The two had never crossed paths.

  But after Minato’s battle with Uchiha En, his name had spread through the academy like wildfire. Even seniors like Rope Tree had heard of him.

  Minato’s striking blond hair and handsome appearance made him stand out, and his age made him even more memorable. That’s how Rope Tree recognized him.

  "Hello, Rope Tree-senpai," Minato said politely, bowing slightly.

  Rope Tree smiled in return. "Hello."

  Then, his gaze shifted back to Jiraiya. "My sister’s not home today. Looks like you came all this way for nothing, Jiraiya-nii."

  Jiraiya’s expression shifted slightly, but he smiled and said, "I didn’t come to see Tsunade. I heard you’re about to graduate, so I came to see if I could offer any help."

  Rope Tree shook his head. "Thanks, but I think I’ll go ask Orochimaru-nii for some guidance."

  Minato’s eyes widened at this. So that’s why Jiraiya seemed so unsure earlier.

  It appeared Rope Tree hadn’t actually asked Jiraiya for special training at all. The "Orochimaru-nii" he referred to was none other than Orochimaru, one of the Third Hokage’s disciples—known as the most talented among the Third's students, and in the Third’s eyes, a prime candidate for the future Fourth Hokage.

  But if Rope Tree hadn’t asked Jiraiya for help, why had Jiraiya come all the way here?

  "But, Jiraiya-nii, how is it that you're with Minato?" Rope Tree asked, not lingering too much on the previous topic but more curious about Minato’s connection with Jiraiya.

  From what Rope Tree knew, Minato came from an ordinary background, while Jiraiya was a high-ranking ninja of Konoha. There shouldn’t have been any reason for the two to know each other.

  "Could it be...?" Rope Tree’s mind raced with possibilities.

  But Minato’s strength was undeniable. After seeing him fight Uchiha En, even the seniors who watched had admitted they were no match for him.

  Jiraiya seemed to read Rope Tree’s thoughts and, with a sense of pride, said, "Yes, Minato is my student."

  "Is that so?" Rope Tree looked surprised, then turned his attention back to Minato. With a smile, he said, "Well, I suppose I’m also trained by Orochimaru-nii and my sister. I wonder who’s stronger—myself or your teacher’s student..."

  Minato was momentarily stunned, but before he could react, Rope Tree had moved in front of him at lightning speed.

  "Minato," Rope Tree said with a grin, "How about we have a spar? I’d like to see how strong the top freshman really is."