Jiraiya's Second Chance

After School Lessons

Aikiko finished work that day but knowing Jiraiya is not going to be home for a few days, she decided to detour abit and sight see around Konoha. After all it's almost 6 months now that she is living in this village but she never ventured out anywhere outside her daily route of home and then shop then home.

She decided to have closer look on the faces of the previous Hokage's faces so she walked past a little park to avoid the crowd.  Passing by an open space, she saw two little children practicing some kunai throwing.  The big one, about 7 years of age has a very serious look on his face and start throwing the knives to the target board.  The little one, about a head shorter was seated a short distance away yawning and whining.

"Big brother let's go home! I'm hungry."

"Rei, stop whining, i have an exam tomorrow and I have to past otherwise I'll never make genin."

"You just want to impress Aki, but she really like the other cool kid with white hair."

"Oh shut up! I'll show her this move and see if she won't be impressed. "

Then the older boy held 2 kunais on both hands.  He threw one sideways then throws the other one in an attempt to hit the ring of the first one changing the angle of the throw.  But suddenly the first kunai start flying in the direction of the smaller child.

"Rei, get out of the way."

Aikiko suddenly jumped in front of the smaller boy and raised an ice wall.

"Are you alright Rei?"  A loud manly voice thundered.  Then a petit brown hair ninja with a scar lining his face jumped near the boy.

"I'm alright Iruka Sensei."

This sensei checked the boy and comfortable that he is fine turned to face Aikiko.  He did a bow and said -  "Thank you for protecting my student from harm.  I'm Iruka Umino a teacher in the academy"

Aikiko, wasn't sure if she should run away or not but she figures it's more polite to introduce oneself too.  So she bowed her head, "it's no problem, I'm Aikiko, the wife of Jiraiya Sama."

The man looked at her with big eyes and then he flashed a genuine smile.  "Oh, so you are Jiraiya dono, nice to meet you.  I heard about you from Naruto and mostly from Sakura and Ino, those girls love your work."

"Thank you for the kind words Iruka Sensei..."

"Hahaha.. By the way, you wield ice, which is a blood line limit, are you also from the Yuri Clan?"

"No.. I'm not". Aikiko answered feeling awkward.

"Gomen gomen, I don't mean to pry.  But your ice wall sure save this child.  Maybe you want to help out with our after school classes.  You know for catch up class or training for some of the students? Your ice, will you know, help prevent some accidents."

"I don't know.  I'm not sure if I can control them properly."

"Don't worry" said the kind teacher, "I'll be here too and I just thought you will be available as an extra hand.  It's every afternoon about 330 to 430, just an hour extra practice for these kids."

"Rei and Riyo, let me walk you home now. "

"Hai Sensei."

He's a kind man.  Aikiko said to herself.  Maybe it won't hurt if I help a little bit, after all I love kids and he looks competent enough to make sure nothing goes awry.

Jiraiya walk by the park instead of the normal route through the market to his house. The mission was a simple one but it got drag to more than a week because the client has lied about some details of the request.  There were some encounter with rouge ninjas but of course they were no match for the old Sannin.  It feels a little good to exert a little bit of effort anyway since it's been just boring assignment these days.

When he almost passed the clearing he heard voices of children and sound of kunai flying.  Then suddenly he saw a lone one going astray to an unsuspecting child.

Baka, he said ready to leap in action when suddenly he saw an ice wall raised in front of the child blocking the kunai before it hurt anyone.

"Good save Aikiko San.  Riyo, stop doing that trick, you have not perfected your control  yet.." And the Sensei started scolding the boy who threw the straying kunai."

Aikiko can wield ice? She has kekkei genkai?  That was a total surprise for the old Sannin.  He knew that his wife has a different chakra but he never known her to wield ice. 

He stopped on his tracks and hid himself behind the tree to watch the whole action.

Aikiko was seating on top of a low laying branch with a hand sign always on the ready. 

And when any kunai or darts go astray, spikes of ice flew out of nowhere blocking it.

It went on for another half hour and then Iruka rounded up the kids.   "Ok, say good bye to Aikiko San kids." 

"Arigato gozaimas." The children all bowed and waved happily to Aikiko. 

Jiraiya peered closely to see if there's something going on with the two adults but Iruka just did a quick bow and his attention was back to the kids marauding him.

Aikiko stood like a statue with a frozen smile and waved as she watched the happy crew went out of sight.  Then she let out a happy sigh and walked slowly out of the park.

Jiraiya, did not know how to take in the sight.  He was surprised that his wife is somehow connected now to the academy and being friendly with Iruka (dammit it).. Jiraiya pause, why is he mad?

Anyway, cutting his thought process he decided to give his Hime a visit.

"I have asked the Anbu to stop monitoring your wife.  There is nothing suspicious about her and she has been connecting to a lot of the villagers nicely"... Said the voice behind the big pile of paper.

Jiraiya rubbed his chin.  "You know she is helping out in the academy too and that she can wield ice?" He asked.

Tsunade looked up from the piles of paper.  "Yes, I know that. I'm surprise you didn't know."

"So what else is my good wife doing while I was away..." Asked Jiraiya almost sarcastically.

"Well, she is making herself useful in the village that's for sure. " Came the reply.

"Old Sakura's embroidery is now a hit again and we are actually getting some benefit because some rich daimyo wives are even travelling here with their entourage to buy kimonos from that shop.  So they are buying from the other stores, eating in the restaurants here and staying in some of the inns.

And yes, Iruka requested permission for her assistance.  She is not an official teacher because she has no clue about our village's ninja way yet.  In exchange for her help, Iruka is helping her learn some basics about the chakra control, ninja history etc.  She came in handy as we are short staff in the academy." Said Tsunade without looking up from what she was doing.

"Humph, personal tutoring ei..." Jiraiya said out loud feeling suspicious.

"Oh come on, don't you dare accuse that woman with whatever perverted thoughts you have.  She's an angel!" Bellowed Tsunade.

"Hah.. I can't believe your opinion about her change so drastically in such a short time." Jiraiya said staring her down.

"Go away Jiraiya, you are disturbing my work.  You got a good woman, I don't know how but you got a good one.  The Anbu I have sent over to investigate her found nothing of suspicion.  Sakura Obaachan, that crazy old lady has been a lot nicer.  Most of the ladies in the village like her because of the good kimono she makes and sometimes pro bono too, and the fact that she is helping out in wherever there is a need, for free, if I may add.. Well if we have more like her in the village we are all the more better." Tsunade said dismissing him with her hand.

Then Tsunade paused and looked at Jiraiya thoughtfully.

"You should treat her more nicely Jiraiya."