Outside the gates of Konohagakure.
Jiraiya looked at the ever-unchanging village gates of Konoha. His lips twitched as he couldn't help but complain:
"To think that after so many years, the village hasn't changed at all. Makes me wonder where all the money I gave went…"
At this moment, two gatekeepers were stationed at the entrance. They were none other than Konoha's infamous "Gate Gods" — Kamizuki Izumo and Hagane Kotetsu. If Yun Xiao were here, he would have certainly recognized the two of them.
In the story of the Hokage, they were always the ones guarding the village gates. Even when facing a powerhouse like Pain, he didn't dare to casually enter through the main gate. And even later, when Konoha itself was destroyed, the village gates still stood tall and unshaken.
Though the village had perished, the gates endured!As for their strength… let's just leave it at that.
When the two of them saw Jiraiya approaching, they froze for a moment. After a long while, Kamizuki Izumo asked in disbelief:
"Lord Jiraiya… is that really you?"
Jiraiya chuckled, patting Kamizuki Izumo on the shoulder as he teased:
"Hahaha, I didn't expect that after all these years, the two of you would still be guarding the gate!"
With that said, he strode away casually, leaving behind Izumo and Kotetsu with black faces, glaring at his departing figure.
"If I had known earlier, I would've just pretended not to recognize him…"
"Yeah… who knew his mouth was so toxic…"
A single moment of extroversion, exchanged for a lifetime of introversion.Kamizuki Izumo swore in his heart that for the rest of his life, he would never get close to anyone again. He would become a cold and ruthless security guard!
As Jiraiya walked through the streets, he nostalgically glanced at the familiar buildings around him, recalling the memories of his childhood spent with Tsunade and Orochimaru.
Unfortunately, Orochimaru had betrayed the village and fled from Konoha, and Tsunade too had left, vanishing without a trace.
I myself had also left home for many years, seldom returning to the village.
The once-famous name of the "Three Legendary Sannin of Konoha," which once resounded throughout the entire Shinobi World, had long since become hollow, reduced to nothing more than history…
Unknowingly, as Jiraiya walked, he found himself at the Sarutobi Clan's compound. Rather than entering through the main gate, he leapt over the walls with ease and slipped inside, making his way straight toward Hiruzen Sarutobi's residence.
But as soon as he stepped into the Sarutobi estate, he was stunned. The place was lavishly decorated, glittering with gold, so extravagant it was almost dazzling.
Jiraiya's eyes widened as he muttered under his breath:
"To decorate the place this luxuriously… how much money must this have cost? Just where exactly did the Sarutobi family get all this money…"
Muttering to himself, he quickened his pace and hurried toward Hiruzen Sarutobi's home. Before long, he had arrived.
At that moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi was leisurely sitting outside, basking in the sun. Suddenly, the faint sound of footsteps reached his ears. He instinctively raised his head, glancing in the direction of the noise.
When his eyes fell upon the visitor, a flicker of surprise appeared within them. But soon after, a gentle smile surfaced as he spoke kindly:
"Jiraiya, when did you return?"
Looking at the man before him — once full of vigor but now aged and weary — Jiraiya couldn't help but feel an inexplicable sadness. He remembered clearly that the last time he came back, everything had still been fine. But now… how had things turned out this way?
Still, he didn't let his emotions show. Instead, he cracked a joke:
"Hey, old man, I heard you got caught peeping at the women's bathhouse and then got kicked out of office because of it?"
The moment Hiruzen heard this, his face turned red with anger. He helplessly cursed:
"You little brat! Where the hell did you hear that nonsense?!"
Jiraiya shrugged indifferently, still wearing his usual playful grin as he pressed on curiously:
"Well, it doesn't seem like that's the case then. So tell me, old man — how exactly did you get kicked out?"
Hiruzen sighed softly, turned around, and walked back into the courtyard. His voice was calm as he said:
"Come in. Let's talk inside."
Seeing this, Jiraiya quickly followed and shut the door behind him.
"So, can you tell me now?"
Hiruzen let out a heavy sigh and began recounting everything that had happened yesterday to Jiraiya.
When Jiraiya heard the explanation, his eyes widened in disbelief.
"I was wondering why the Sarutobi residence was decorated so extravagantly… so it was because you embezzled…
No, wait — this isn't embezzlement, this is straight-up robbery! No wonder all the major clans wanted to take you down. Can you really say you didn't deserve it?"
Hearing his student's scolding, Hiruzen silently picked up his pipe, placed it between his lips, inhaled deeply, and exhaled a thin stream of smoke. Only after a long silence did he finally explain:
"Actually, there's another side to this matter — one that's not known to the public…"
He then revealed to Jiraiya that he had been blackmailed by Black Zetsu.
After hearing Hiruzen's account, Jiraiya's face was filled with shock.
"That guy in black said… that his 'photo stone' can record everything that happens over the course of three days?!"
Jiraiya grew excited.
That photo stone was an incredible item! If he had one, he could place it in every bathhouse across the Shinobi World. Then he'd never have to worry about being discovered when gathering 'research material' again!
"Old man, do you still have contact with that guy? That photo stone is an absolute treasure!" Jiraiya exclaimed eagerly.
Hiruzen gave him a speechless look.
Wasn't he the one who just said he had been blackmailed into extorting huge sums from the major clans? And now, here Jiraiya was, drooling over the photo stone?!
Fuming, Hiruzen roared:
"Get out!"
Jiraiya only chuckled faintly.
"Old teacher, if you ask me, you just cared too much about your reputation. That's why you've ended up in this situation. Honestly, you brought this upon yourself!"
"Anyway, since you're fine, I'll get going. Time for me to find Tsunade and have her inherit the title of Hokage.
Ah, and I still haven't found Orochimaru yet… now I've got to go find Tsunade.
Those two really are troublesome…"
Waving casually, Jiraiya turned and left the Sarutobi compound.
Watching his student's retreating back, Hiruzen's expression grew complicated. After a long silence, he murmured softly:
"Perhaps… Jiraiya is even more suited to be Hokage than Tsunade…"
Upon learning that the village had decided to search for Tsunade to bring her back as the next Hokage, Jiraiya threw himself into the mission and left the Land of Fire in pursuit of her.
Unfortunately, while Jiraiya had already set out eastward beyond the borders of the Land of Fire, two figures were slowly approaching from the west.
—
On the border of the Land of Fire.
"Lady Tsunade, please stop gambling already! Both I and Tonton are on the verge of starving to death!" Shizune pleaded earnestly.
Tsunade waved her hand impatiently, speaking carelessly:
"It's just that my luck was bad today. Once I return to the village, I'll mortgage the Senju clan's land. With that money, I'll win everything back for sure!"
Shizune's eyes widened in horror. She hurriedly tried to dissuade her:
"What?! Lady Tsunade, you can't possibly mean to mortgage the Senju clan's land?! That's absolutely unacceptable!"
"That estate is far too large. I can't live there alone anyway. Might as well sell it off for some spending money!" Tsunade muttered.
"Lady Tsunade, please don't be reckless!"
But before Shizune could continue, Tsunade suddenly stopped walking.
Shizune, caught off guard, bumped right into her. Rubbing her forehead in confusion, she asked:
"Lady Tsunade, why did you suddenly stop?"
Tsunade didn't answer. She simply stood there in silence, her gaze locked firmly upon a shop in the distance.
It was as if, somehow, she felt that this shop held great importance for her…
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