"No... Impossible."
Jiraiya's eyes widened in disbelief as he shook his head.
He had been in New Konoha. He had personally witnessed the village's rebirth—seen with his own eyes how it and the entire shinobi world had changed.
He had already planted the seed in his heart: Naruto was the Child of Prophecy.
Yet now, the words of the Great Toad Sage echoed in his ears—one of his disciples would be the Child of Prophecy.
Because of Orochimaru's plot to destroy Konoha, and everything that Naruto had done afterward, Jiraiya had never gotten the chance to take Naruto as his apprentice. Even so, Naruto had shone like the sun—drawing everyone's attention.
To be honest, during his long years of penance, he had sometimes wondered: Now that we have Naruto, does the Child of Prophecy still matter?
But seeking the Child of Prophecy had become his obsession—his life's mission.
"Little Jiraiya, the Great Toad Sage's visions have never been wrong," Fukasaku said solemnly.
Myoboku Mountain wasn't blind to the changes sweeping across Konoha and the entire shinobi world.
But if the Great Toad Sage had said it, no matter how far-fetched, it had to be true.
"Even if he's half-senile, he's never once missed a prediction," Shima muttered with a glance of contempt toward Gamamaru before turning back to Jiraiya.
"Jiraiya-chan, you need to think carefully."
"We must stop Uzumaki Naruto," she continued. "He is not the Child of Prophecy. Though he may appear to benefit Konoha and the shinobi world now, he will one day provoke enemies no one can stand against."
Fukasaku nodded solemnly.
"Myoboku Mountain stands behind you."
"You should return to Konoha. You'll find that a lot has changed."
"We've heard much about Naruto as well," he added. "He operates with dangerous absolutism. There's no room for grey in his world."
Jiraiya stood frozen.
He remembered the shinobi and villagers of the old Konoha—the countless who had struggled even if they had no success to show for it. The ones who still tried.
He still didn't fully understand what zero tolerance toward darkness meant.
He didn't know that Orochimaru, Kabuto, and even several former members of the Akatsuki were now actively working to atone for their crimes—contributing to the shinobi world's future.
"Why can he forgive them—monsters who once brought chaos to the world—but not the powerless villagers and shinobi who failed to stop them?"
Jiraiya spiraled into doubt once more.
If anyone from Konoha had heard him speak like this, he might have been beaten bloody on the spot.
Even if they weren't from Konoha—even if they were shinobi from other villages—they'd turn against him for such a thought.
"Great Toad Sage," Fukasaku asked, "are you saying we're going to declare war on the current Konoha?"
"If things continue like this... no one will be able to stop Naruto."
After a long pause, the Great Toad Sage finally opened his cloudy eyes. His voice was hoarse, ancient—barely more than a whisper.
"Everything depends on Jiraiya."
"The future of the shinobi world will be decided by your will."
"The Child of Prophecy has not yet appeared. If we stop Naruto now, we may avoid catastrophe. But if we fail to find the true Child of Prophecy... the world is doomed."
Jiraiya scratched his head in agony and slumped down.
"...Give me some time. I need to confirm something first."
"If Naruto can let go of his resentment and accept the villagers and shinobi of the past... If he can truly forgive them... Then that means he still holds love for this world. And the shinobi world—won't be destroyed."
Fukasaku and Shima exchanged a glance.
"Jiraiya-chan, then make your decision," Shima said gently. "But Myoboku will prepare in advance."
"If the worst happens... we will launch a strike from inside and out, and take Naruto down swiftly—with the least bloodshed possible."
"I understand..." Jiraiya murmured with a bitter smile, rising to his feet.
Soon after, he returned to Konoha.
As he looked upon the village, a strange emptiness washed over him.
He walked the streets like a ghost.
Children played in the alleys, laughter echoing. Villagers chatted with shinobi, faces warm and at peace.
Nothing here looked like the harbinger of disaster.
Jiraiya inhaled deeply, as if steeling his heart.
He turned and walked toward the bathhouse.
But the moment the owner saw him, his expression darkened.
"I just want to wash off the dirt," Jiraiya said softly, bowing his head.
"You can't wash off that kind of filth!" the owner snapped. "Get out! One more step and I'll sound the alarm and have the patrol squad drag you off for peeping again!"
Back in the day, Jiraiya had been one of the Legendary Sannin.
Of course the owner knew exactly what Jiraiya was up to in the bathhouse all those years.
But what could he do then?
He hadn't dared to throw him out—not someone of that status and strength.
Even if he had, Jiraiya could've snuck back in without breaking a sweat.
Now, things were different.
Jiraiya said nothing and quietly turned away.
Eventually, he arrived at the riverbank. If I can just wash myself clean here...
But even the river was heavily patrolled.
A few kids ran up, wanting to play in the water—only to be sternly scolded and sent back.
"You can only come here with your parents!"
"Go on, back home!"
"Uncle! We just wanted to skip a few rocks—just a few!"
"The weather's so hot… Can't we just wash our faces?"
"No!"
The villager refused firmly but soon waved to another patrol nearby.
"Fukada, take these kids to the riverbank and keep an eye on them."
"Got it."
Jiraiya changed direction, walking down a familiar path carved deep in his memory.
Before long, he was stopped again.
"You! Turn back."
"I just want to wash up a little in the river."
"Get lost!"
"This is where women come to do laundry and bathe! What are you planning, old man?!"
Once again, he was driven away.
Jiraiya kept his head down and said nothing.
He wandered back to his old home in Konoha—only to find it gone.
The area had been marked as former territory of the dark forces and had long since been razed and rebuilt.
With nowhere else to go, Jiraiya had no choice but to leave the village to find water and bathe in secret.
After all, outside the walls of Konoha, no one would know. No one would care.
When he finally returned, he was blocked by Konoha's two infamous gatekeepers—Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane.
They eyed Jiraiya suspiciously, their faces twisted in disdain.
"You're clean," Kotetsu muttered. "What were you doing out there? Spying on women again?"
"Disgusting."
Jiraiya could only offer a weak explanation, followed by countless assurances.
In the end, they reluctantly let him in.
Still, Izumo wrote the incident down in a report and sent it off to the Anbu for further investigation.
Walking through the streets of New Konoha, even though Jiraiya had washed himself and changed into fresh clothes, the stares of the new villagers and shinobi cut deeper than ever.
To them, he was still tainted.
Still dirty.
And then, he saw him—Sarutobi Hiruzen, broom in hand, sweeping the streets.
A strange pang of pity struck Jiraiya's heart.
But the Third Hokage smiled brightly.
"I'm full of energy today. Yesterday, a child smiled at me!" he beamed. "As long as I keep working hard, one day... they'll accept me!"
Jiraiya furrowed his brows.
What happened to this place...?
No more hesitation.
He turned and headed straight for the Hokage Building.
He had to see Tsunade—he needed answers.
But once again, he was stopped.
"I need to see Lady Tsunade," he said. "Please inform her."
"Who are you?" The Anbu operative narrowed his eyes.
"Lady Tsunade is very busy. If you have something to say, say it to me."
Before Jiraiya could respond, a villager jogged up in a hurry.
"Master Shinichi! I have urgent news for Lady Tsunade. I'll come back to register later!"
"Take him upstairs," the Anbu nodded.
Jiraiya fell silent, but the next moment, he slipped through the distraction and entered the building.
If he hesitated again, he might never see Tsunade.
"Bastard!"
"He forced his way into the Hokage Building! Sound the alarm!"
"Wait!"
"Why, Shinichi?"
"I've seen Jiraiya before—he's associated with those dozen ungrateful wolves."
"Tch. A dog will always return to its filth. I'm reporting this to Lord Shikaku right now!"
...
TN:
Support me on P-com/LordMerlin