This was the first time in Jaxon's young life that he had ever seen a real ninja—and to think the first one he encountered had come with the intention to kill him.
He was only three years old. What could he possibly have done to offend someone to the point of assassination?
The answer was obvious.
It wasn't about him.
It was about his father.
Xingye Zhu had Jaxon when he was already forty. With that kind of age and political clout, he must've made more enemies than friends. If they couldn't touch the man directly, then the next best target was his vulnerable child.
Watching the kunai slice through the air, Jaxon could only brace himself. There was no time to dodge. His body was too small, his reflexes underdeveloped. He stood still, almost numb, already prepared to face death.
---
Saved by a Legend
"Ding!!"
A sharp metallic clang echoed through the air.
"Painful Sky Leg!"
In the blink of an eye, a figure leapt in front of Jaxon. Another kunai clashed against the incoming blade and deflected it midair.
Just then, a teenage girl rushed forward, delivering a high kick toward the old woman who had thrown the weapon. But before her strike could land, the enemy vanished in a puff of smoke.
"Substitution Jutsu?!" the girl muttered.
The old woman was gone—only a splintered wooden log remained where her body should have been.
The eight-year-old child who had accompanied the assassin suddenly collapsed. Without the woman's presence, he lost consciousness almost instantly, falling limp to the bloodstained street.
"What's going on?" the white-haired young man beside her asked as he crouched to check the child's pulse.
"It's obvious he was being controlled," the girl scoffed. "Why ask something so dumb, Jiraiya? You're such an idiot sometimes!"
The girl had long blonde hair tied back, a sharp glare, and a forehead protector proudly displaying the Konoha symbol.
Jiraiya?
Painful Sky Leg?
That blonde girl... Tsunade?
Jaxon's heart skipped a beat.
He wasn't just witnessing any rescue—he was looking at the Legendary Sannin in their youth!
Even the quiet, pale teen standing behind them, with dark, knowing eyes—that had to be Orochimaru.
Jaxon's breath caught in his throat. If he had ever questioned the timeline of his transmigration into the Naruto world, he now had his answer. This was early. Very early. The Sannin were still in their teens—likely in the Second Great Ninja War era.
---
After the Battle
"They're gone," Tsunade said, checking over the unconscious boy. "The methods they used look like those from Sunagakure. Their strength wasn't much, but they had good escape techniques."
She stood up and dusted her hands, turning her gaze to Jaxon.
This wasn't some random child lying in the street surrounded by a dozen corpses.
This was someone important.
The pile of fallen black-suited bodyguards confirmed that. Ordinary families didn't have elite guards like these.
"Hey, little guy," Tsunade said as she knelt in front of him, her tone turning playful. "This old woman saved your life. How are you gonna thank me?"
Jaxon blinked, still in shock. Dried blood clung to his cheeks, but his eyes were steady now.
"How old are you again?" Orochimaru interrupted, looking at Tsunade with disdain. "We're in the middle of a mission. Stop wasting time."
"Come on, Orochimaru," Jiraiya said with a smirk. "We're not in a rush. A day or two won't hurt. It's not like the world will end."
"Don't forget," Orochimaru said coldly, "this is a mission from our sensei. It's not something to take lightly."
He wasn't yet the cold-blooded traitor he would become. His eyes still held a faint warmth, a spark of youthful passion that hadn't been extinguished by ambition.
Still, everything about this felt off to Jaxon.
The assassin was skilled. She could have easily killed him, yet she didn't. She only targeted his guards. And then, at the final moment—right before death—the Sannin conveniently appeared to save him?
The whole setup smelled suspicious.
---
Interactions with Legends
"Kid," Jiraiya said, kneeling beside Jaxon and ruffling his hair, "where do you live? Want us to take you home?"
Jaxon flinched slightly. "You—stay back. You'll scare him!" Tsunade said, shooting Jiraiya a glare before flashing Jaxon a sweet smile.
It was the first time she'd shown a more nurturing side, like a big sister rather than a war-hardened kunoichi.
Jiraiya chuckled awkwardly and backed away, scratching his head. "Alright, alright. I get it."
By now, the commotion had drawn a small crowd.
Civilians cautiously crept back into the area, whispering and pointing at the blood-drenched scene. No one dared approach too closely, but the curiosity in their eyes was impossible to miss.
The metallic tang of blood still hung heavily in the air.
"Thank you all," Jaxon said, bowing politely despite his trembling legs. "Sorry for the trouble, but could you please escort me home? It's not far—and there will definitely be compensation."
"Hahaha!" Tsunade burst into laughter, her eyes gleaming. "I like this one!"
She grabbed Jiraiya by the collar and shoved him forward. "Go on, carry the little master home."
Jiraiya groaned. "Seriously?! Why is it always me?"
Orochimaru's face twitched slightly, expression unreadable.
Jaxon smiled and shook his head. "No need. I don't like being carried. I'll walk—it's close by."
With that, he turned and began walking in the direction he had come from, head held high, steps steady despite everything he'd just witnessed.
---
A Mature Child
"A kid acting like an adult," Jiraiya muttered under his breath, watching the small figure walk away.
Tsunade said nothing, simply resting her hands behind her head, lips curling into a subtle grin. She looked far more carefree now than she ever would in her later years. The trauma and burdens of war hadn't crushed her yet.
At this point in time, the three of them were still just teenagers—around fifteen or sixteen. They were powerful, yes, but still learning, still growing.
Jiraiya was already eccentric and nosy, living proof that some traits never change. Orochimaru, though quieter, didn't yet carry the chilling presence he would later be known for.
As for Tsunade, she hadn't yet become the cold, gambling medic of Konoha's future.
They were all still innocent in their own way.
Jaxon led the way, and though his footsteps seemed casual, his thoughts were racing.
He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
---
Reflections on the Ambush
This whole situation… it had been orchestrated.
The ambush wasn't random. The location was carefully chosen—not too close to the Hoshino estate, but close enough that a rescue wouldn't be impossible.
The old woman's strength didn't match her appearance. Her movements had been practiced and efficient. She wasn't some rogue assassin. She had training—and possibly backup.
And the fact that Jaxon survived, untouched, while all his guards were killed?
That wasn't an accident.
Either the assassin had orders not to kill him—or she never intended to in the first place.
Maybe it was a warning. A test. Or worse… a distraction.
Then there was the timing. What were the odds of the Sannin being here, of all places, at that exact moment?
Either it was a coincidence of galactic proportions… or someone wanted them to be there.
Someone was watching. Manipulating.
It could've been his father's enemies. It could've been someone inside the family.
Either way, the message was clear.
He was no longer safe.
---
The Weight of Legacy
Jaxon tightened his fists as he walked.
In this world, names carried weight—but they also painted targets on your back.
He had the name, the wealth, the bodyguards, the elite status.
But none of that mattered.
If he didn't have strength, real strength, he would always be one step away from death.
Today had been a lesson.
One written in blood.
Øóffer going on for diamond tier
pàtreøn (Gk31)