Chapter 213:
"Wait for me, Yahiko!"
"Haha, I'm first! I'm first!"
A group of children were running and laughing, chasing one another around the village.
Yahiko led the pack, with Nagato and Konan close behind him. Despite the carefree atmosphere, they weren't just playing. Even during moments like these, they were training, building their physical strength to protect themselves in these chaotic times.
Among the three, there was a natural sense of competition. Yet, in every training session or test, Yahiko always came out on top. Whether it was because of his innate ability or because the other two held back for him, no one could say for sure.
Jiraiya sat on a large rock nearby, arms crossed as he watched the three of them with a slight smile. He had been in this village for more than three years now and had seen these kids grow up before his very eyes. Seeing the happy smiles on their faces now filled him with pride.
"Orochimaru, that guy... he's truly something else," Jiraiya murmured to himself. "He actually managed to build a place like this all on his own."
Chana, sitting beside him, nodded in agreement. "Yes. If not for him, I can't imagine what my fate might have been," she said softly.
Chana, now twenty years old, wasn't particularly striking in appearance, but she exuded a comforting warmth and friendliness. Her calm and gentle demeanor could put anyone at ease.