After meeting, they exchanged a few pleasantries.
Kagami then led Jiraiya and the others to the place where she and Jiraiya had parted years ago.
Seeing that Jiraiya had brought a disciple to fulfill the promise, Kagami intended for her own disciple to take the field.
The moment Naruto heard this, he exploded in protest. Kūra was still waiting for him back in Konohaga Kūre!
Jiraiya could only sigh helplessly—after all, he had just dragged Naruto into trouble at the inn.
Just as he was at a loss, inspiration struck.
If Naruto wouldn't do, then someone with a teacher–disciple connection would suffice.
After some thought, he settled on his "little grand-uncle," Nagi.
Recalling Nagi's rigid, utterly clueless attitude toward women, Jiraiya decided it was time the boy learned a lesson.
So he had Naruto summon him.
"This feels like too much trouble for Nagi… and besides—"
"Enough. Don't tell me you don't want to see him. And remember, the rule is that Shizuka must defeat Nagi for him to marry into the Nadeshiko clan. Do you really think Nagi would lose?"
Naruto recalled the miserable beatings he and Sasuke had endured and felt reassured.
Besides… he genuinely missed Nagi.
Thus, Nagi arrived.
Jiraiya turned to Kagami.
"Don't worry. I also share a teacher–disciple relationship with Nagi. (I'm just the junior.) That doesn't violate the agreement, right?"
"…Very well."
Naruto blinked in confusion.
Since when did you two have that kind of relationship?
By the riverside, Shizuka and Nagi stood facing each other.
Shizuka looked at him with complete seriousness.
Nagi, expression calm behind his glasses, felt something strange stirring in his thoughts.
With the sensory perception he had inherited from Tobirama's teachings, he could sense that Shizuka's chakra felt remarkably similar to Mai's.
Her appearance bore similarities as well.
In that instant, Nagi understood—
The girl before him was Mai's mother.
His future wife.
Jiraiya called out for them to begin.
Shizuka moved first, rushing forward to engage in close combat—her specialty.
Yet her strikes were calmly neutralized by Nagi, who barely shifted from where he stood.
She quickly retreated.
"Nadeshiko Style: Gale Shock Fist!"
Wind Release chakra wrapped around her hand as she struck toward Nagi.
With a simple sidestep, Nagi caught her wrist.
The powerful shockwave that followed was dispersed casually as Nagi infused Water Release chakra into his hand and brushed it aside.
"So strong…"
Shizuka attempted to pull free, but Nagi's grip was firm.
For a brief moment, they locked eyes.
Even through his glasses, Shizuka felt something inexplicably warm.
Nagi, meanwhile, thought of future Mai—unsure how to treat the woman before him.
From the sidelines, the three observers sensed something oddly intimate about the scene.
Soon, Nagi released her.
Shizuka leapt back.
"I'm going to attack again. Be careful."
"Mm."
"Wind Release: Violent Whirlwind!"
A powerful gust erupted from her mouth, surging toward Nagi like a sweeping fan.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall."
A circular wall of water rose around Nagi. The wind slammed against it, causing only minor ripples.
Seeing this, Shizuka decided to use her strongest technique.
Truthfully… she, too, felt something strange toward Nagi now. She wanted to defeat him—so he would stay.
"Nadeshiko Style: Vacuum Waltz — Second Form!"
Leaping into the air, she spun at high speed, unleashing a barrage of Kūnai from above.
Yet faced with the overwhelming storm of blades, Nagi merely tilted his body a few times, effortlessly dodging every single one.
Both Shizuka and Kagami stared in shock.
Naruto and Jiraiya, however, remained perfectly calm.
This was just Nagi's daily routine of dodging Kūnai.
"I've lost."
Shizuka lowered her hands.
She understood now—Nagi had been holding back the entire time. The gap between them was immense.
"But I won't give up. One day, I'll defeat you… and make you my husband."
Her eyes shone with determination.
"Uh…"
Looking at her straightforward sincerity, Nagi couldn't help but think—
Mai's personality doesn't seem quite like hers…
A Conversation by the River
The group sat together by the riverbank.
Jiraiya recounted his travels through the Shinobi World over the years.
Naturally, he spoke of peace—the ideal he had chased his entire life.
"Peace, huh…"
Nagi gazed up at the sky.
Seeing this, Jiraiya invited him to speak about the world of peace he envisioned.
"The peace I hope for? It's actually quite simple…"
Just as Nagi began—
The screen went black.
"Onoki: It's been a while since we've had a blackout. Why hide it this time?"
"Jiraiya: Is Nagi's idea of peace some earth-shattering secret?"
"Tobirama Senju: Toad brat, don't pry. You'll understand in time."
Tobirama quietly exhaled.
If Nagi's concept of peace were revealed now, the first to panic would be the daimyō and nobility.
And if that happened…
He would not hesitate to be summoned via Impure World Reincarnation (Edo Tensei), drag his elder brother back as well, and forcibly make Hashirama help cleanse the rot from the world.
Morality?
Hmph.
Don't lecture him about morality.
After a while, the screen lit up again.
Naruto was beaming.
"Nagi! What you described will definitely come true! I'll help you make it happen!"
"Nagi is so noble, kind, and knowledgeable~"
Shizuka looked at him with undisguised admiration.
Jiraiya and Kagami stared at each other blankly.
"…Are we too narrow-minded?"
"…Compared to Nagi, the peace I dreamed of feels like it came from some backwoods village…"
One Hour Later
"This is delicious."
Kagami held up a skewer of grilled fish.
"Well, of course. Nagi made it," Naruto declared proudly.
"Indeed. Nagi's cooking has always been excellent—and it's improved even more these past six months," Jiraiya added.
The three of them, however, tacitly avoided looking toward the riverbank.
There—
Nagi stood beside a grill he had taken from a Sealing Scroll, carefully turning fish while mixing his own secret seasoning.
Shizuka assisted him, cleaning fish and preparing vegetables.
"Ah~"
Her hands occupied, she simply opened her mouth toward Nagi.
Sighing softly, Nagi removed the bones with chopsticks, dipped the fish in seasoning, and fed her.
Afterward, he gently wiped her lips with a handkerchief.
The two worked side by side in harmonious ease.
The three observers felt as though they had been struck by a blinding flash.
Emotional damage—catastrophic.
"Why wasn't the atmosphere like this between us back then?!"
"How is Nagi this popular with girls? He hasn't even taken off his glasses!"
"I've never even been fed by Nagi! That shameless woman!"
Unable to bear it any longer, they collectively turned their heads away.
They refused to watch.
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