After hearing Jiraiya's words, Tsunade couldn't help but ask, "Jiraiya, what exactly do you mean by that?"
Jiraiya smiled and replied, "I've already made up my mind—I'm going to release the sealed strength within me."
"Unlike you, Orochimaru, immortality holds no appeal for me."
Orochimaru snorted lightly and immediately said, "I suggest you calm down and don't make such a stupid decision on a whim."
Mocked by Orochimaru, Jiraiya didn't get angry. Instead, he replied seriously, "I've thought about it for a very long time. This is my final decision."
Upon hearing this, Orochimaru also fell silent.
Based on his understanding of Jiraiya, once this guy truly decided to do something, there was no changing his mind.
For the first time, Orochimaru softened his tone and asked Jiraiya, "Are you really not going to reconsider? If you're tired of being a man, I can even turn you into a woman."
"Go to hell!" Jiraiya laughed as he retorted, "Orochimaru, with your personality, you wouldn't beg and cry to stop me, right?"
Orochimaru opened his mouth slightly, but finally picked up the sake cup and took a sip.
"That's right."
Jiraiya immediately refilled Orochimaru's cup and urged him to drink more.
Tsunade rose to her feet, visibly holding back her anger as she spoke, "Jiraiya, why make such a decision? Why not just live peacefully?"
Jiraiya roared with laughter, "Tsunade, do you think it's easy for me to keep watching you and Mirai teasing each other like that all day? Isn't that torture enough for me?"
"Jiraiya, given your status, there are so many beauties in the ninja world for you to choose from. Why keep clinging to the past?"
"Hahahaha… Just kidding."
Jiraiya emptied his cup in one hearty gulp, "Although I've been chasing after you for years, I'm not that stubborn person."
"As for beauties, I've long become immune to them."
"Besides, if I fell in love with every girl I saw, how could I still claim to be a hero?"
Hearing Jiraiya's reply, Tsunade really wanted to punch this un-serious guy and send him flying.
But thinking back at what Jiraiya had just said, she suppressed the urge.
Tsunade sat back down on the ground, drank the remaining sake in her cup, murmuring, "You idiot… You've already gotten everything you ever wanted…"
Feeling Tsunade's and Orochimaru's moods, Jiraiya dropped the smile on his face. His tone became serious like never before.
"I didn't make this decision to seek attention. It's because I genuinely have nothing left worth holding on to."
"You should both know that what I've always desired most is to become a respected hero by everyone."
"Just like you, Orochimaru, who longs for immortality, I have always pursued a full and meaningful life of my own."
"Every chapter must come to an end. It's time to close the story of Hero Jiraiya with a final stroke."
"I'll name it The Tale of Hero Jiraiya."
"I will publish this book before I die. Please make sure to buy a copy and keep it close to your heart."
"If my story can stir some emotion in others, that would be the happiest thing for me..."
What followed was mostly Jiraiya talking nonstop while Tsunade and Orochimaru listened quietly.
No one could tell exactly how much time had passed when night finally fell in full darkness.
The food and lunchboxes had long been finished, and Jiraiya's throat felt dry and sore.
He staggered to his feet and calmly walked toward the exit of the training ground.
[Kana]~
————
In the dead of night.
When Tsunade returned to her room, she found Mirai Uchiha seated in a chair, waiting for her.
She tried to brighten her mood and smiled at Mirai. "Mirai, why are you still awake?"
Mirai pulled Tsunade into his arms and whispered softly, "I've been waiting for you all along."
Hearing Mirai's gentle tone, Tsunade couldn't help but feel a sting in her nose.
"Mirai, about Jiraiya..."
Even though she had never seen Jiraiya as anything more than a friend, they had met back in the Ninja Academy and shared countless moments of life and death together.
Now that Jiraiya was on the verge of death, Tsunade naturally felt terrible inside.
Mirai gently stroked Tsunade's twin tails and said calmly, "I already know about Jiraiya."
"In fact, he came to see me many days ago."
Upon hearing this, Tsunade froze momentarily before suddenly understanding.
That made sense.
Jiraiya's power came from having massive chakra sealed within his body through Bakusantsugi, somewhat similar to Tailed Beasts.
Extracting chakra from the body resembled removing a Tailed Beast from its Jinchuriki.
Except for Mirai, no one else could keep Jiraiya alive after extracting his power.
"Mirai, I don't understand. His dream in his heart has already been realized, why would he choose to end his life deliberately?"
Mirai replied calmly, "Everyone has their own choices. Compared to endless life, Jiraiya values a perfect ending more."
"Just like how authors strive to give their works a perfect conclusion, Jiraiya, whose dreams have all come true, now only pursues an ending just like the main character of a story."
Whether before or after traveling back in time, Mirai Uchiha had always deeply admired Jiraiya.
Honestly, when Jiraiya first approached Mirai Uchiha and revealed his intentions, Mirai felt it was only natural.
If Jiraiya had chosen to continue living selfishly, he wouldn't have been Jiraiya at all.
"Mirai..."
Uchiha Mirai held Tsunade in his arms, sighing softly in her ear, "A dragon belongs in the sea. Let him go."
————
Under the cover of nightfall.
Jiraiya looked much older than usual. As he gazed at Konoha—the place where he had grown up—his eyes revealed a trace of tenderness.
"Tsk, everything seemed perfectly planned out before... Yet in the end, there's still something I can't let go of."
After murmuring this to himself, Jiraiya resolutely turned around and strode outside the village.
"Master Jiraiya!"
A gentle voice came from behind.
Jiraiya turned back and saw Uchiha Mirai, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, and others all smiling warmly at him.
"No need to see me off. This esteemed hero absolutely hates sentimental stuff."
"You're all such a pain..."
Jiraiya muttered, feeling his surroundings beginning to blur slightly.
Afraid that he might change his mind, Jiraiya immediately walked away without looking back, vanishing into the dark night.
Uchiha Mirai watched Jiraiya's retreating figure for a while, then silently withdrew his gaze.
In the Original Story, Jiraiya was killed by his own disciple and never got to witness what he had pursued all his life until his last breath.
Mirai had once deeply regretted this.
But now, under his influence, Jiraiya's life could be considered complete.
That would be enough.
Mirai waved a hand toward the group: "Go back. Master Jiraiya's story ends here—perfectly told, not a moment too long or too short."
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