Creak...!
The sound of the stone door moving came from behind Jiraiya.
He immediately turned his head. Fukasaku and Shima also looked up at the same time. The door opened, and Shinichi walked out.
"Hey, finished chatting?" Jiraiya grinned.
"Although I'm curious about what secrets you were discussing, I feel like your trip this time wasn't in vain."
Hearing this, a slightly lighthearted expression appeared on Shinichi's face. "I really have to thank you, Jiraiya. This trip wasn't for nothing. The Great Toad Sage... resolved some of the doubts in my heart..."
He paused, gazing toward the misty distance of Mount Myōboku. "At least, how the road ahead should be walked... it looks much clearer now."
Jiraiya laughed heartily. "That's good. To be honest, before I brought you here, I was a bit worried." He withdrew his hand and stroked his chin.
"After all, the Great Toad Sage's prophecy isn't something light and pleasant. What if you heard it and felt the future was too difficult and lost heart?" He shrugged with a wary look.
"Then the trouble would be huge. Never mind that I couldn't explain it to the Third Hokage, just Tsunade... she'd probably skin me alive first."
He had been the one to bring Shinichi out of Konoha. If something really happened... he probably wouldn't dare return.
Fukasaku hopped forward, looking at the lighthearted expression on Shinichi's face. "It seems your conversation with the Great Lord was very pleasant. Since the doubts are resolved and the path ahead is clear, that's a good thing."
Shima didn't have as many thoughts. Seeing things were clear, she thought of offering a warm greeting... "It's rare to come to Mount Myōboku and have things go so smoothly. Why don't..." She paused and looked at Jiraiya...
"Little Jiraiya, why don't you stay with Shinichi for a meal before leaving? Let us fulfill our duties as hosts."
A meal? As if hearing something terrifying, the smile on Jiraiya's face instantly froze, and he even broke out in a cold sweat.
In his urgency, he hurriedly waved his hands. "Ah... this... a meal won't be necessary, right?" He gave a dry laugh. "We still need to return to Konoha. There's quite a lot to do. Next time... definitely next time."
"Hmm?" Shima narrowed her eyes, seemingly seeing through Jiraiya's reluctance. "Are you looking down on the food I cook?"
Jiraiya sweated even more and shook his head repeatedly. "No, no! Absolutely not! Shima's cooking... well... it's very unique! It's just that the timing really isn't right this time, right Shinichi?" He quietly nudged Shinichi with his elbow.
Shinichi glanced at him, then at the two Sages, and nodded calmly. "There are indeed matters that need to be handled back in Konoha. Thank you for the kindness of the two Sages."
Fukasaku looked at Jiraiya's "facing a great enemy" appearance, then at the calm Shinichi, and finally shook his head. "Very well, since you have matters to attend to, we won't keep you."
Shima snorted but didn't insist further. Jiraiya visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
.....
On the streets of Konoha, under the respectful gazes of civilians and ninjas, the two walked. Jiraiya wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a long breath...
"That was close, that was close," he muttered. "I almost had to eat that 'Bug Feast' again. Shima's hospitality... it's life-threatening every time."
This made Shinichi curious. "I've heard that the so-called Bug Feast of Mount Myōboku is actually a medicinal meal that can promote the absorption of natural energy."
Jiraiya waved his hands vigorously with a look of distress, as if trying to dispel some unpleasant memory. "The effect... there is a bit of an effect. But those are bugs! Alive, dead, fried, boiled, and even slimy raw ones!" He gave an exaggerated shudder.
"We are humans, not toads. When that large plate of wriggling, weirdly shaped things comes out... just looking at it makes you gag. How could anyone eat it?"
Shinichi raised an eyebrow. "If it's just that, it's not unacceptable. It seems your resolve is still not enough, Jiraiya. Otherwise, your Sage Mode might have been able to go a step further."
Jiraiya clicked his tongue, completely indifferent to this statement. He rubbed his stomach and his eyes rolled. "Speaking of food... I'm actually a bit hungry." He looked at Shinichi...
"How about we go have a bowl of Ichiraku Ramen together? You're about to leave the village. This taste is hard to find outside. If you don't eat it a few more times before you go, you'll be the one missing out."
Shinichi pondered for a moment and nodded. "Alright. Taking a break occasionally is indeed not bad."
The two turned and walked toward Ichiraku Ramen. Turning the street corner, the shop's curtain came into view. Suddenly, Jiraiya stopped, his eyes narrowing.
He nudged Shinichi with his elbow and gestured with his chin toward the entrance of the ramen shop, a grin on his face.
"Hey, Shinichi, look over there."
Shinichi looked in the direction he indicated with confusion.
Standing at the entrance of Ichiraku Ramen were three people... Akimichi Choji, who was constantly eating snacks... Nara Shikamaru, with his pineapple head... and Yamanaka Ino, with her golden ponytail.
"They're those little guys from your class," Jiraiya said, his voice teasing. "Look, that blonde girl... Ino of the Yamanaka Clan. Word around the village is that her feelings for you are quite... unusual!"
Shinichi glanced at Jiraiya and asked in surprise, "Who did you hear that from?"
"Tsk, don't worry about it." Jiraiya winked. "Konoha is only so big. It's normal for there to be some rumors. How about it? Going over to say hello? Maybe she just 'happened' to run into you here… on purpose."
Shinichi looked at the three entering Ichiraku Ramen, then at Jiraiya's expression of waiting to see a show. "They are also here to eat ramen. It's just a coincidence." He stepped forward.
"Since we've met, it's only natural to say hello. Why all the complications?"
Jiraiya watched Shinichi's back as he walked straight over. The grin on his face froze for a moment, and then he huffed in disappointment....
"This kid... he doesn't have any reaction at all. He's too stubborn. He never gives me any good material!"
He just wanted to have a little fun at Shinichi's expense. Why did it have to be so difficult?
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