The frustration Jaxon felt wasn't because someone had tried to assassinate him—it was because he'd been toyed with, treated like a monkey dancing for others' amusement.
The Sannin were the most famous disciples of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Now that all three of them had arrived in the Capital, it was almost certain that the Third Hokage had come too.
In Jaxon's memory, Sarutobi had taken the Hokage position in Konoha Year 16. However, despite holding the title, the village's major clans didn't truly respect his authority for many years. They followed his orders, yes—but without loyalty.
It wasn't until around Konoha Year 30 that he finally consolidated real control over the village.
And now he was here, in the Capital. The most likely reason? To appeal to the Daimyo for funding, trying to quickly rebuild Konoha after the devastating damage it had suffered during the last great war.
As they walked through the wide, stone-paved path toward Jaxon's estate, the boy suddenly turned around and smiled warmly at the trio walking behind him.
"You're all ninja, right?"
His soft voice and small frame gave the question a childlike innocence.
Tsunade responded with a nod and a casual smile. "Yes, we are."
It wasn't unusual for children to be curious about shinobi. The question was harmless.
"I see!" Jaxon said, his expression still light and inquisitive. "I heard that ninja prioritize missions above all else. Is that true?"
His tone was gentle, his face pure and unassuming. None of the three Sannin took the question seriously—it was just idle curiosity from a child, after all.
Jiraiya, never one to hold back, gave a dramatic thumbs-up. "Absolutely! A true ninja will complete a mission no matter what. Even if it costs them their life!"
"That's great to hear," Jaxon replied, his smile not fading. Inside, though, his thoughts were turning. If he wanted to survive in this world, he had to cast aside the illusions he once clung to. That was one of the biggest lessons he had learned today.
---
As they approached the estate gates, the air was filled with tension. A luxurious mansion loomed ahead, guarded and bustling.
"Son! Son, are you alright?!"
A woman in her early twenties burst through the front gates, her expression frantic. Tears streaked down her face as she sprinted toward Jaxon.
It was Fujiwara Norika—Jaxon's mother.
Without a moment's hesitation, she dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around him tightly, her sobs uncontrollable.
The guards and servants who had followed her out immediately dropped to their knees as well. None dared to lift their heads.
"Mother, I'm fine. Please don't be like this," Jaxon said softly, caught between comfort and embarrassment.
"Let me see—are you hurt? Did anyone hurt you?"
Norika was already on her knees, checking his body urgently. When her eyes caught a small bloodstain on his sleeve, her face went pale. Her fingers trembled.
"Mother, it's not my blood," Jaxon explained quickly. "It's from the guards. I'm safe thanks to these Konoha ninja."
He turned and gestured respectfully toward Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru.
Fujiwara Norika turned to them immediately. "Thank you! Thank you, three ninja! My husband—the patriarch of the Hoshino Family—will return shortly. Please wait just a moment. He will not let your kindness go unrewarded!"
Having confirmed her son was unharmed, Norika regained her composure. She rose gracefully, the image of a noblewoman once again. Though her face was still pale and her eyes red from crying, she stood tall, her dignity returning.
"This was just something we did while passing by," Jiraiya said with a grin. "But yeah, it was dangerous."
Norika bowed deeply. "Even so, thank you! Thank you for saving my only son. Our family will never forget this."
Tears welled in her eyes again. Though she was a noblewoman married into one of the most powerful families in the Land of Fire, she had only one child. As a princess from the Land of Wind, Jaxon was her only anchor in this country.
In this moment, she wasn't a noble. She was simply a mother.
Seeing her begin to kneel in gratitude again, Jaxon stepped forward to stop her, supporting her gently.
Then, coldly, he turned his eyes toward Jiraiya.
The gaze sent a chill through the air.
Orochimaru, meanwhile, had been watching Jaxon closely from the beginning.
This child was no ordinary noble brat. He was born into the wealthiest family in the Land of Fire, with deep royal blood. His great-great-grandfather had once been the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. His mother was a Wind Country princess. His older brother was now the current Daimyo of the Land of Wind.
He was royalty through and through.
Yet, when Orochimaru saw that flash of icy authority in Jaxon's eyes—so calm, so calculating—he felt a tension in his chest that he couldn't explain.
This boy was dangerous.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya was his usual carefree self, strolling casually into the mansion at the servants' invitation.
---
Later, after a grand feast and more sake than was strictly necessary, the three Sannin stood outside the estate, looking back at the opulent structure.
"Man, that was incredible," Jiraiya said, picking his teeth with a wooden pick.
Tsunade swayed slightly, her cheeks flushed from drinking far too much.
At these types of banquets, the hosts usually didn't dine with the guests. Still, the hospitality had been extravagant.
And when they left, they didn't leave empty-handed.
They were given a reward: ten million Ryo.
Equivalent to ten S-rank missions.
Back then, this amount was even more valuable than it would be decades later in Konoha's economic landscape.
Tsunade hugged the reward scroll tightly, practically skipping as she walked forward.
"I'm heading to the casino!" she announced, her steps already drifting off the path.
Orochimaru grabbed her by the collar and pulled her back.
"Wait. We still have a report to make. You can gamble after that."
"What's the rush? It's not like the old man will be bothered if we're a day late," Tsunade muttered, still buzzed from the alcohol.
Orochimaru's voice turned cold. "Do you think no one is keeping track of us? That those nobles are all fools?"
His sharp tone cut through the air.
Tsunade immediately sobered, and even Jiraiya looked over, dropping his toothpick.
"There's no way they haven't noticed what's going on," Orochimaru said quietly. "That boy—Jaxon—he definitely noticed. Just from that one look he gave me…"
He paused, replaying the image of the child's frigid gaze in his mind.
"…he's no ordinary kid. Living in that kind of family, surrounded by politics and power? It's no surprise he's sharp."
The other two didn't argue.
"For now, let's not make any unnecessary moves," Orochimaru concluded. "Whatever we plan to do, let's wait until we're out of the Capital."
Jiraiya chuckled and threw an arm around Orochimaru's shoulder. "Since when did you become the cautious one?"
Tsunade didn't laugh. Her mood turned heavy.
They all knew exactly what this mission had been about.
The truth was bitter. In the end, they had to rely on a child—an elite noble with ties to both the Fire and Wind Daimyo—to secure resources for the village.
As ninja, it was humiliating.
But Konoha's current situation left them with no better option.
Their teacher was the Hokage, but even he couldn't command true unity. The great clans had their own agendas. Trust was thin. If another crisis struck, Konoha might not survive.
So they endured.
They played the political game.
Even if it meant relying on children.
Even if it meant selling their pride as shinobi.
They had no other choice.
Øóffer going on for diamond tier
pàtreøn (Gk31)