Orochimaru was running in the lead, already far ahead of Tsunade and Jiraiya.
Jiraiya and Tsunade kept some distance between them, with Jiraiya slightly ahead and Tsunade following behind.
Suddenly, Tsunade wasn't paying attention and tripped over a small stone. Just as she was about to fall—
Isamu instantly used the Body Flicker Technique and caught her.
"Are you alright, Tsunade?" Isamu asked gently.
"I-I'm fine."
Seeing Isamu holding her, Tsunade's face immediately turned red.
"You should be able to handle this distance without a problem. Keep it up," Isamu encouraged her.
Blushing, Tsunade quickly ran off and caught up to Jiraiya. Isamu joined them as well.
"Huh? Big Brother Isamu, are you going to run with us too?" Jiraiya asked in surprise.
"Watching you guys run made me feel like joining in," Isamu replied casually. "Think of it as a warm-up. It'll help me eat more later."
Thinking about Hiruzen Sarutobi footing the bill tonight, Isamu flashed a mischievous grin.
After all these years, he could finally take advantage of Sarutobi again.
Jiraiya was full of confusion.
Wasn't he the one paying? And now he's exercising just so he can eat more? What kind of strange person is this?
"Seeing how exhausted you two are, let me tell you something interesting. It might help take your minds off the running," Isamu said, thinking about Sarutobi.
The two of them didn't speak. They simply looked at him, waiting for the story.
"Your teacher, Sarutobi, could actually be considered half a master to me. I was the first member of his very first squad, and he was responsible for my training back then."
Isamu's thoughts drifted back to several years ago—when he trained and completed missions alongside Sarutobi.
"Oh? I didn't expect you to have been on Teacher Sarutobi's squad," Tsunade said in surprise. "But why only half a master?"
Jiraiya also looked curious.
"As for that, you'd have to ask your granduncle, Senju Tobirama."
At the mention of Tobirama, Isamu shook his head.
"Granduncle? What happened?" Tsunade asked immediately, her curiosity piqued.
Jiraiya's ears also perked up when he heard the name of the Second Hokage.
"Because I'm an Uchiha, your granduncle never liked me," Isamu said plainly. "Although he assigned me to a Jonin squad leader, he forbade that Jonin from officially taking me as a disciple. So Sarutobi could only count as half a teacher."
Isamu waved his hand dismissively.
"Yeah… Granduncle really didn't like the Uchiha very much," Tsunade said thoughtfully.
"Then Big Brother Isamu, how did you become so strong later on?" Jiraiya asked excitedly.
He really wanted to know Isamu's secret. Maybe he could follow the same path and stop being the weakest one.
"Hm… how should I explain it?" Isamu thought for a moment.
"Three parts luck, seven parts hard work."
"Everyone has their own opportunities. When that opportunity arrives, as long as you work hard enough, you can rise to great heights."
As he said this, Isamu couldn't help thinking about the system that had helped him grow stronger. His success came from both the system and his own effort in completing its tasks—though perhaps that "three parts luck" was actually the most important part.
"Oh…"
Hearing that it was mostly luck and hard work, Jiraiya looked disappointed.
It seemed like he wouldn't be able to copy that method after all.
"Jiraiya, don't be discouraged," Isamu said.
"I believe your opportunity will come soon. When it does, you'll definitely soar to great heights."
This wasn't just encouragement. Isamu knew the truth.
In the original timeline, around this age, Jiraiya would use the Summoning Technique and accidentally enter Mount Myōboku, where he would begin learning Sage Mode, completely changing his future.
"Thank you, Big Brother Isamu," Jiraiya replied politely.
However, it was obvious he didn't fully believe the encouragement.
"Jiraiya, I have high hopes for your future. I believe you'll become one of Konoha's pillars."
"And you too, Tsunade."
Hearing Isamu praise her, Tsunade looked slightly embarrassed.
"Alright, let's go catch up to Orochimaru."
As soon as Isamu said this, the two suddenly found renewed energy and sped up.
Within five minutes, they caught up to Orochimaru.
"Oh?" Orochimaru looked at them curiously. "How did you two catch up?"
"Not just them," Isamu said, suddenly appearing beside him. "I'm here too."
"Captain Isamu, you're running laps with us too?" Orochimaru asked.
Shouldn't he be hiding somewhere sleeping like usual? Why was he actually running with them?
What a strange person.
The three of them looked at him with odd expressions.
"Don't look at me like that," Isamu said. "Back then, your teacher Sarutobi trained me the exact same way. If you want to blame someone, blame Sarutobi. He's the one who came up with this method."
"Captain Isamu, were you also one of Teacher Sarutobi's disciples?" Orochimaru asked.
"No. Just a former squad member. And just call me Big Brother Isamu."
"Alright."
"Now then, you boys and girl—let's sprint to the finish line! The barbecue is waiting!"
With that, Isamu suddenly accelerated.
Although the three of them didn't fully understand why he was running with them, they still followed him.
Finally, at 9:20 PM, they finished the thirty laps.
At the finish line, the three of them were completely exhausted and gasping for air.
Isamu checked the time.
"You didn't finish within the time limit," he said calmly. "So there's no barbecue."
Hearing that, the three of them looked devastated.
Jiraiya in particular had only managed to keep running because he planned to eat Isamu's barbecue for revenge.
"However," Isamu continued casually, "since your teacher Sarutobi is the one treating tonight… the barbecue is still happening."
"Yay!"
Jiraiya jumped up immediately, while Tsunade and Orochimaru both smiled.
"Don't keep Sarutobi waiting. Target: the barbecue restaurant! Let's go!"
The moment Isamu finished speaking, the three of them turned into blurs and rushed off.
"These kids…"
Isamu shook his head with a smile.
Then he used the Body Flicker Technique and instantly arrived at the entrance of the barbecue restaurant.
After waiting a moment, the three of them came running over.
The moment they reached the entrance, they saw Isamu already standing there smiling.
"Oh? Pretty fast," Isamu teased them. "I thought I'd have to wait a bit longer."
"How did you get here so quickly? Weren't you behind us?" Tsunade and Jiraiya exclaimed in surprise.
Orochimaru, however, wasn't surprised at all.
With Isamu's strength, arriving before them was completely normal.
"Why ask so many questions? Sarutobi is already waiting inside. Let's go."
The three of them rushed inside immediately, with Isamu following behind.
Inside the barbecue restaurant, Sarutobi was already seated at a table, with meat grilling on the barbecue.
The moment they saw him, they quickly sat down.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya sat together.
Isamu sat beside Tsunade.
Sarutobi sat at the head of the table.
"Tian—Isamu," Sarutobi said with a smile. "Why are you acting just like them?"
Seeing them all rushing in so excitedly amused him.
"It's rare for you to treat us," Isamu replied casually. "Of course I have to show some enthusiasm."