Hyūga Ayato lifted the sake bottle, took a long swig, then exhaled in satisfaction. Wiping the corner of his mouth, he flashed a mysterious smile.
"I know far more than you think."
As a transmigrator, he knew almost everything about this world. True, his presence had already altered many events…
But some things still marched toward the same fate.
Jiraiya stared at him with an unusually serious expression.
"Ayato… tell me everything about Orochimaru."
During his travels, he had heard only rumors:
Orochimaru was planning something.
No details. No leaks.
Orochimaru was meticulous—too meticulous.
Jiraiya could only guess that his former teammate intended to destroy the village.
Ayato swirled the sake bottle lazily.
"What should I do?"
He smiled faintly. "You know me well enough—I like to keep interesting things for myself to enjoy slowly. Even for you, I hate sharing."
Ayato crossed one leg over the other, giving Jiraiya a cool, almost lofty glance.
"Listen, old pervert—if you want something done, fix your attitude. Even between us, business is business."
He despised sharing information.
Because standing above everything, watching the world move exactly as he predicted, then revealing an enemy's secret scheme at the last moment—
And watching their stunned expression—
That sense of superiority was delicious.
Jiraiya's mouth twitched. Wordlessly, he opened his wallet and tossed it to Ayato, his face twisting as if the pain reached his soul.
"This meal's on me."
He knew Ayato too well—appeals to sentiment never worked.
But everything could be negotiated.
You just… had to pay.
"And I'll throw in a not-yet-released copy of Make-Out Paradise."
Before Ayato could refuse, he pulled out a pink-covered volume.
Ayato's expression changed instantly.
"Ahh, Uncle Jiraiya, you're too kind. This place is pretty expensive, you know?"
He scooted right up beside Jiraiya, one arm draped over the man's shoulder like they were the closest of relatives.
"Expensive?"
Jiraiya glanced at the menu.
His pained expression deepened.
This expensive?
Isn't this robbery!?
The hostess alone cost fifty thousand ryō an hour. A standard B-rank mission only paid about that much.
And Ayato's drink…
Ten thousand ryō!?
What kind of alcohol cost that much!?
His heart cramped.
This brat was burning money like it was firewood!
"No need to suffer so much," Ayato patted Jiraiya's back comfortingly. "Money exists to be spent. If spending it makes me happy, then that money was well-used."
Jiraiya's eye twitched violently.
"I'd rather spend it making a woman happy… at least that feels good."
Somehow, despite being scammed, he was the one getting comforted. And the comfort was absurdly self-centered.
Pay money… to make Ayato happy?
What good did that do!?
Jiraiya forced his expression back to seriousness.
"Ayato… tell me what Orochimaru is planning."
Ayato shrugged.
"That girly snake? Planning to destroy the village and kill the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. He's probably hiding in Sunagakure like a sewer rat right about now."
He smirked.
"One's your former teacher, the other your old teammate. What are you going to do?"
"...Sigh."
Jiraiya suddenly looked ten years older.
Ayato tilted his head.
"Running away from the problem? Well, I suppose… escaping may be shameful, but it is useful."
Jiraiya cut straight to the point.
"What about you? What will you do?"
Ayato answered without hesitation.
"Other people's grudges are their business. I'll sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. Whoever wins, whoever dies… it's between your teacher and your friend."
He took another drink and continued.
"If the old man hadn't been so weak and indecisive, things wouldn't have gotten this bad. If he'd cleaned up his own house back then, half of this wouldn't have happened."
"He's lived to that age and is still naïve. His mess, he can clean up himself. I'm not wiping his disgusting backside."
He sneered.
"With all that talk about duty—'Anyone who threatens the village is an enemy, even family, even disciples.'"
"And in the end? He let Orochimaru walk away, a walking time bomb."
Ayato let out a mocking laugh.
"This is the Hokage?
What a joke."
He remembered Hiruzen's speech vividly:
'Anyone who threatens the village is an enemy.'
And yet…
He let Orochimaru go.
Saying one thing and doing another.
Ayato snorted.
"The so-called Will of Fire? The biggest joke of all. They don't even know what they're trying to protect—yet they brainwash the entire village with that slogan."
He burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! What a cold joke. Come on, old pervert, laugh. Things this funny don't come around often."
Ayato liked people with unshakable will.
If Hiruzen had been a ruthless maniac who eliminated every threat without hesitation, Ayato wouldn't dislike him so much.
But the Third Hokage?
Preaching resolve while acting soft-hearted?
Laughable.
"At least that little Uchiha brat knows what he wants. Revenge means revenge. He's like a little madman, but his resolve is solid."
"Of course… who knows about the future."
Jiraiya drained his glass and set it down.
"Ayato… I'm leaving the village for a while. Naruto is in your care."
Rumors spoke of a mysterious organization aiming to capture all the Tailed Beasts.
He feared they would target Naruto.
He had his own mission now—
To find the Great Toad Sage's prophecy.
To find the Child of Destiny.
Ayato replied casually, "Mm. Sure."
He knew Jiraiya had already decided to stay out of the Third Hokage and Orochimaru's feud.
"Anyway, I'm heading home. Little Hinata's waiting for me."
Ayato grabbed his new Make-Out Paradise, stood up, and vanished instantly.
Jiraiya remained, troubled.
"Orochimaru…"
"Sir, here is your bill."
The middle-aged proprietress placed the slip respectfully beside him.
Jiraiya picked it up.
His lip twitched. Hard.
He scratched his head awkwardly.
"Uh… can I pay next time?"
He had money.
Just… not this much.
He flicked his long white hair, striking a dramatic pose.
"Madam! I am the Toad Sage, one of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya! With my reputation, of course I'll repay you—"
The proprietress smiled serenely.
"Lady Tsunade—also one of the Legendary Sannin—has owed us for several years. She told us to put it on Lord Ayato's tab."
Her voice remained gentle.
"Will you be paying on Lord Ayato's behalf?"
Jiraiya froze.
His expression twisted into something worse than crying.
This brat!
Ayato definitely knew about Tsunade's unpaid debts…
And had dragged him right into the trap!
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