"Hmm, it's been a long time since I returned to the village. The women here are still so strong-willed!"
On the streets of Konoha, a man with a fresh palm print on his face commented seriously while stroking his chin.
The aimless Jiraiya eventually found himself in front of a flower shop after wandering through the southern district.
Watching the elegant shopkeeper arranging white lilies, he somehow felt dazed for a moment.
"Does this guest have someone they wish to mourn?"
Rindo, seeing the tall Ninja staring blankly at the lilies, roughly guessed his thoughts.
"I recommend this bouquet of white lilies and bellflowers. Many Ninjas choose this combination when placing flowers at the Memorial Stone."
"Then, please wrap one for me, thank you."
Jiraiya reached into his robe, but suddenly froze completely.
Having been urgently summoned by the Anbu and rushing back to Konoha Village overnight, he hadn't received his latest manuscript payment yet, leaving him completely broke.
Just as he was awkwardly curling his toes in his geta, he heard a savior's voice from the shop's second floor.
"Ino, rest well. I'll be heading back for today."
Sakura finished cleaning up and descended from the second floor into the flower shop.
As she was about to bid farewell to Rindo, she spotted Jiraiya frozen at the entrance still in his pocket-searching pose.
"Hmm?"
Sensing his embarrassment through her Observation Haki, Sakura's face broke into a mischievous smile.
'Sakura, your master's in trouble, save me quick!'
Jiraiya's eyes were blinking so rapidly he could probably transmit Morse code.
One of the Legendary Sannin, buying flowers at the Yamanaka flower shop without any money.
If this got out, he would undoubtedly top this year's Jonin Team joke collection.
But if to that embarrassment he added 'asking his student for money' or 'using his reputation to skip payment'...
He wouldn't just lead this year's joke collection… he'd probably feature in every future edition too.
So now, Jiraiya could only pray that Sakura would notice his predicament and come to his rescue.
Unfortunately...
"Well then, Auntie Rindo, I'll be going home now!"
Sakura waved goodbye and turned to leave.
"Alright, I have a customer to attend to, so I won't see you out!"
Rindo was skillfully wrapping the bouquet at the counter.
Jiraiya stood dumbfounded, seemingly breathing but already 'dead' inside.
"Pfft, ahahahaha!"
Having had her fun, Sakura finally burst out laughing.
Under Rindo's puzzled gaze, she paid for Jiraiya's bouquet.
"Really, what were you thinking? One of the Legendary Sannin reduced to such poverty."
Walking alongside Jiraiya through the streets with her hands behind her head, Sakura teased her teacher.
"Hmph, shut up!"
Jiraiya tried to maintain dignity while holding the bouquet, but failed miserably.
They arrived at Konoha's Memorial Stone, where Jiraiya placed the flowers before a particular grave.
Sakura stepped forward to read the inscription, "The Fourth Hokage..."
The ever-present cynical smile vanished from Jiraiya's face.
Stripped of all fame and glory, he was just an ordinary man.
He could love, hate, grieve, and show this vulnerable side to another student over his disciple's death.
"Yeah, I thought he would be the Child of Prophecy who would change the future."
Jiraiya's brow furrowed deeply, confusion growing in his eyes.
"If I hadn't boasted about that prophecy, if I hadn't placed those impossible burdens on Minato... would he and his wife still be alive?"
The man's low voice drifted on the wind, questioning the world but mostly questioning himself.
"Speaking of which, my teammate is the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki. He's got pretty strong willpower."
A rainbow light flashed through Sakura's emerald eyes, making her raise an eyebrow.
"Is that so? Then could I ask you to look after him for me?"
Jiraiya composed himself and looked seriously at Sakura.
"No, I think you should take care of him yourself."
Sakura smiled, subtly stepping back a few paces.
Above the Memorial Stone, a blond boy was being chased by Konoha's Special Jonin wearing a headband and sunglasses.
As the blond boy leaped high, the Special Jonin shot two wires from his arms, binding the boy like a caterpillar.
Then, losing momentum mid-air, he came crashing down.
Jiraiya was still pondering Sakura's meaning when suddenly...
The falling blond and the standing silver collided. Both faces showed the whites of their eyes before tumbling into a heap.
Naruto's head also hit the tombstone during the fall, swelling into a large bump.
"You brat! What do you think you're doing! The Memorial Stone is no place for horseplay!"
An enraged Jiraiya lifted Naruto up, stamped his geta, and summoned a toad.
The toad's tongue rapidly extended, wrapping around the fleeing Ebisu and dragging him down to crash into the street outside, causing chaos.
"Eh! Isn't this Sakura? What are you doing here!"
The dizzily held Naruto gradually came to. When his blurry vision cleared, he saw Sakura's face.
"Came to visit the grave with my teacher." Sakura pointed above Naruto, "Naruto, this is my teacher, one of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya!"
"Sannin? What's a Sannin? Three people?" (T/N: Sannin can literally be translated to three people.)
Naruto tilted his head in confusion, trying to look at his holder.
Hearing Sakura call a character's name from his novel, Jiraiya was momentarily stunned.
Then he looked down at the blond boy he was holding, noticed the fox-like whiskers on his face, and understanding dawned in his eyes.
'So this is...'
"You kid actually have the right to make trouble here."
Jiraiya twirled his finger, using Wind Attribute Chakra to cut all the wires binding Naruto.
"Don't really get what's happening, but you're not bad, mister! Thanks!"
The carefree Naruto got up and brushed the dust off his clothes.
"So what did you do to get chased here this time?"
Sakura took out a tissue, moistened it with Water Release, and handed it to Naruto.
"It's a long story. The Chakra Control I learned before has somehow gotten way worse."
"Kakashi-sensei went off to teach that show-off Sasuke, so he pawned me off on that pervert Ebisu, but that guy's completely useless as a teacher!"
Naruto wiped the grime from his face while complaining bitterly to Sakura.
"That works out perfectly. My teacher's here too, so you can learn from him as well."
Sakura reached out and grabbed Jiraiya's robe as he tried to sneak away.
"And I have some questions I'd like to ask my teacher too. I'm sure you won't refuse, right?"
"Jiraiya~ Sen~sei~"
Jiraiya looked at the girl's increasingly sweet smile, remembering those teaching days that left him completely drained.
His heart sank, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.
'Oh no, this girl is coming for me!'