In the 40th year of the shinobi world, late autumn.
"Ah-choo, ah-choo." Black Zetsu shivered and muttered, "Why do I suddenly feel a bit cold?"
"It must be winter coming soon," White Zetsu pondered and said, "Autumn is almost over. What about the pollen then?"
"Is that so?" Black Zetsu frowned. "Even if winter really comes, I shouldn't feel cold!"
He was his mother's… Black Zetsu, after all. He wasn't human, so why would he be afraid of the cold?
"No idea," White Zetsu shrugged helplessly. "I can't feel it either."
"..."
Black Zetsu looked at him speechlessly and sighed. "Have the White Zetsu clones sent back any news recently?"
He still needed to investigate thoroughly.
After all, the reason Black Zetsu, despite his weak strength, had managed to survive until now was his caution.
So…
He had to understand every situation clearly.
"Yes," White Zetsu nodded and said after a moment of thought, "The White Zetsu in the Land of Fields sent a message yesterday."
"He found a nice flower field there and asked if we want to go pick some?"
"..."
Was this important?
Black Zetsu's forehead twitched. "Have we gathered enough funds yet?"
"Still a bit short," White Zetsu replied. "But we've almost picked all the nearby flower fields."
Hearing this, Black Zetsu fell silent for a moment before sighing. "Then let's go."
Without money, his mother's organization couldn't grow.
"We should gather as much as we can during this time."
"Otherwise, it'll be too late once winter comes. Also…"
"Tell the White Zetsu hiding in the major villages to see if anything unusual has happened recently."
Better safe than sorry. For the sake of rescuing his mother…
He absolutely couldn't afford any mistakes.
Konoha.
Hokage Building.
"You're back?" Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the white-haired Jiraiya with relief and nodded. Then, frowning, he asked seriously, "What did you find in the Land of Whirlpools?"
He knew Jiraiya was in the Land of Whirlpools, which was why he hadn't sent spies there.
So…
Konoha still didn't know much about the situation in the Land of Whirlpools and had been waiting for Jiraiya's report.
"Nothing much has changed there, except there are more people than before," Jiraiya scratched his head and said to his old teacher. "But I came back this time because there's something important I need to tell you."
As for the situation with the Senju and Uchiha clans…
For the sake of peace in the shinobi world, the Toad Sage would definitely keep his mouth shut.
"After this, I'll leave again."
"Something important?" Hiruzen thought for a moment. "What is it?"
For Jiraiya to make a special trip back, it must be serious.
Jiraiya paused, staring intently at his teacher. "The legendary ninja sword…"
He spoke slowly, word by word. "Blaze of Glory."
Tsunade walked down the street, looking at Konoha, which remained unchanged as always, and murmured, "Is this the village that my grandfather and granduncle gave their lives to protect?"
She…
Still couldn't move on.
"Maybe living peacefully like this for the rest of my life wouldn't be so bad," Tsunade smiled self-deprecatingly and shook her head. "The clan still has a lot of money left. Even if I'm the only one left, I'll never spend it all."
Once Jiraiya returned, she'd ask him about good places to visit.
Staying in the village was boring anyway. Aside from teaching medical ninja about surgery, she had nothing else to do. And she couldn't even stand the sight of blood—whenever she saw it, she'd freeze in fear.
She should've just left with Jiraiya back then.
"I wonder if Shizune has finished reading the book I gave her yesterday?" Tsunade murmured. "It's been so many years…"
Shizune was about to graduate and become a ninja. Maybe she should just take her and wander the world.
With the Senju clan's inheritance, they could live comfortably for the rest of their lives. What was so great about being a ninja anyway?
But…
Where should they go first?
Just as Tsunade was lost in thought about their first destination…
"Tsunade."
Suddenly, someone called her from behind. Tsunade's lips curled up slightly without her realizing it. She turned and saw the white-haired young man walking toward her, waving.
With a mocking tone, she said, "So the dropout finally came back?" She looked Jiraiya up and down. "What? Did you find the Child of Prophecy to be your student?"
"Heh." Jiraiya sneakily glanced at Tsunade's chest and grinned mischievously. "Not yet. I came back temporarily for something. I'll leave again in a few days."
"Let's grab a drink with Orochimaru tonight?"
Had they gotten even bigger?
Why hadn't he noticed Tsunade's potential back then?
What a shame.
He sighed inwardly. Without waiting for Tsunade's answer, he walked up beside her.
Jiraiya knew he didn't need to wait for Tsunade's agreement. As long as he found a place and brought money to pay, she'd come.
"Konoha is still the same as before," Jiraiya said, watching the bustling village. "Just as peaceful."
On his way back, he'd heard about Sakumo's suicide.
He didn't understand why the old man hadn't stopped it—why he'd let the rumors grow until they drove the White Fang of Konoha to his death.
He also didn't understand…
Why Sakumo's teammates had ultimately betrayed him.
Jiraiya didn't want to know anything now.
The harmonious village he'd once been so proud of and loved now seemed childish and laughable after seeing the Land of Whirlpools.
"The Land of Whirlpools is so much better," Jiraiya sighed.
"What's so great about that poor place?" Tsunade frowned and pouted. "I've been there before."
A tiny island nation with few people and ugly buildings—nowhere near as good as Konoha. Aside from being poor, there was nothing special about it.
"..."
Hearing Tsunade's words, Jiraiya fell silent.
It was because of her misleading words that he'd thought the Land of Whirlpools was a poor place where he could do whatever he wanted. But then…
He'd gone bankrupt the very afternoon he arrived.
He chuckled helplessly. "The Land of Whirlpools has changed now."
"It's not a poor place anymore. In some ways, it's even richer than Konoha."
Or rather…
If no one stopped them, the Land of Whirlpools would definitely surpass Konoha in the future.
Senju, Uchiha, Chinoike, Kamizuru…
So many bloodline limits gathered in one place. Given a little more time…
Jiraiya didn't know just how powerful the Land of Whirlpools would become.
But…
"Really?" Tsunade looked at Jiraiya skeptically. "Such a small place—no matter how much it changes, can it really surpass Konoha?"
Impossible.
As the granddaughter of Mito-sama, she knew the truth about the Land of Whirlpools.
Small land, few people, barely any resources. Add in the Uzumaki clan's bottomless stomachs, and they were lucky if they didn't starve to death.
What more could they want?
But…
Jiraiya just smiled and didn't argue.
"If you have time, go take a look," he said, his lips curling slightly. "You'll be amazed."
Though he'd promised Shukuma not to tell Tsunade, if she found out on her own…
That wasn't the Toad Sage's problem.
"By the way, where's Orochimaru?"
"What has he been doing these years?"
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