As platter after platter of grilled meat and bottles of sake were brought to the table, everyone began eating.
Old friends gathered together, so naturally there weren't too many formalities.
The adults passed around sake cups with enthusiasm, chatting and laughing.
The children feasted happily, occasionally whispering among themselves.
After a few rounds of drinks, everyone became more talkative.
The entire private room exuded a warm and harmonious atmosphere.
"Jiraiya, why didn't you bring Makoto?"
Putting down his empty sake cup, Tsunade seemed to suddenly remember.
Everyone else had brought their families along, yet Jiraiya's wife was notably absent.
"Oh, Makoto… she…"
Jiraiya was just about to make up an excuse when his son cut in first.
"My mom beat up Dad a few days ago and went back to Nakano Village by herself."
Naruto said with a shrug, not even bothering to swallow his mouthful of grilled meat first.
From his calm expression, it was clear this kind of thing must've happened before.
He'd probably long gotten used to how his parents interacted.
Following past patterns, in a few more days Dad would go grovel and bring Mom back.
But now that his son had butted in, Jiraiya could only swallow whatever he'd been about to say.
He glared at Naruto, his eye twitching visibly.
Brat! Don't you know not to air your parents' business in front of everyone?
And what do you mean she beat me up? Like I was even trying against your mom!
"Bro Jiraiya, you're not going 'researching' again, are you?"
With so many kids present, Nawaki didn't speak too openly, but those who understood got it immediately.
Only the children looked completely confused.
"Bullshit! I haven't gone to places like that for ages!"
Jiraiya nearly choked on his sip of sake—it wasn't something to be thrown around carelessly.
Although he once took young Nawaki along while doing "research," those days were long gone.
"Dad, what does 'research' mean?"
Naruto blinked curiously—he clearly had no idea how inappropriate that question was.
Just from these few sentences alone, he'd definitely earned himself a scolding later.
"Kids shouldn't ask so many questions—just eat your meat."
Jiraiya shot Naruto a fierce glare. He truly couldn't bring himself to explain.
Looking back now, those reckless things he did when he was younger still made him feel rather embarrassed.
"Had better not be."
"If you did, getting beaten up would be the least of your worries."
Tsunade stared at Jiraiya with a half-smiling, half-serious expression. Because of that whole 'research' thing, she'd given him more than a few beatings in the past.
"I really didn't."
Jiraiya felt deeply wronged—he hadn't touched that lifestyle in years.
"You sure?"
Orochimaru's three light-sounding words completely shattered Jiraiya's composure.
Well, he couldn't really blame Orochimaru for being skeptical either—back when they were kids, Jiraiya had taken Orochimaru near a women's bathhouse to peek.
In the end, Orochimaru didn't even bother looking and simply turned around and left, leaving Jiraiya alone to be doused with hot water by an old woman.
As the saying goes, old habits die hard. Orochimaru figured it wouldn't be surprising at all if Jiraiya relapsed.
"I really didn't. Believe me or don't—I don't care."
Jiraiya pulled a face like a kid who'd been scolded and poured himself a full cup of sake, drinking it all in one gulp.
Why didn't anyone believe him these days, even when he was telling the truth?
"I believe you, Jiraiya."
At this moment, Kawaki seemed to have become the embodiment of justice in Jiraiya's eyes. The way he looked at him had turned passionate.
"Good brother."
The moment those three words left his lips, everyone in the room felt a jolt of shock. Jiraiya shouted them with intense emotion.
Anyone unfamiliar with the situation might mistake them for brothers born of different mothers but the same blood!
"Then why don't you tell us why Makoto got into a dispute with you?"
Kawaki's phrasing was clever—what was obviously a one-sided thrashing became nothing more than a "dispute" in his version.
This question completely ignored Jiraiya's emotional display; all Kawaki cared about was satisfying his own curiosity with gossip.
"I..."
Jiraiya was immediately left speechless. This brat really still didn't believe him?
"Spit it out, spit it out."
Dai and Shinryu egged him on, teasing loudly. The children, though, weren't bold enough to join in openly—they could only sneak glances.
"I've figured you all out by now."
There was no reason to keep this private anymore. At this point, Jiraiya didn't feel like hiding things anymore.
He pointed disappointedly at his longtime friends around the table. After a pause, he continued speaking.
"Makoto comes from Nakano Village—you all know that, right?"
Kawaki and the others nodded repeatedly. Of course they knew this.
"Nakano Village is a special place."
Jiraiya's gaze grew distant as he recalled his first visit to Nakano Village.
"Their village follows a matriarchal society. Men are all outsiders who were defeated and married into the village."
"Makoto used to be the Village Headwoman of her generation, but I defeated her and brought her back to Konoha."
"Now her younger sister has taken over as Village Headwoman."
"You all know how hard it is for kunoichi to excel compared to male ninja."
"Their village is nearly facing extinction—they can't bring in new male villagers anymore."
"A few years ago, Makoto's younger sister sent a letter."
"She wanted Makoto to help see if we could send some Konoha ninjas over."
"She said they wouldn't force anyone to stay—only those who were defeated yet truly willing to remain would be accepted."
"When Makoto told me, I refused immediately."
Jiraiya spoke with righteous conviction. His refusal was meant to prevent Konoha's talent from leaking away.
After all, he, as a man, deeply understood just how tempting an all-female village could be.
"Are there lots of beautiful women in Nakano Village?"
Dai's eyes began to sparkle. If not for others being around, his wife would've hit him on the spot.
"Most of them are pretty decent."
Oh...
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Jiraiya gave a thoughtful and honest assessment.
"Save spots for Gai and Kinoto. When they grow up and can't find wives, send them to Nakano Village."
"At least let me snatch a daughter-in-law for myself."
Dai really had long-term vision—truly, parents' hearts for their children were heartbreaking!
"Cough cough~"
Kinoto still didn't fully understand, while Gai was so startled he almost choked.
Thanks to the water Kakashi handed him, he just barely avoided choking completely.
"Dad, I'm only seven!"
Gai wore a resentful expression. Did his father really have so little confidence in him?
Sure, girls didn't like him now, but who knows? Maybe someday he'd meet a girl with terrible eyesight!
"So what if he's seven? The earlier we start planning, the more backup plans we can have."
Before Dai could even respond, Mama had already sided with her husband.
Who knows what she'd ever seen in that green-clothed guy with a middle part back then.
Somehow ended up having two more copies of him—must've been some divine mercy.
"Auntie's words do make some sense," Kakashi said, clapping Gai on the shoulder. That extra jab cut deep.
"How can you say that? Gai just happens to get along better with male classmates."
"He does get along well with Asuma and Obito, doesn't he?"
Kurenai had been quiet at first—which would've been better left that way—but now that she'd opened her mouth, Dai and Mama both felt their nerves tighten.
Fine if he lacks that spark with girls, but please don't be overly charming toward guys either.
"Thanks a lot," Gai muttered, giving Kurenai a speechless look. Did she seriously think he just "likes hanging out with guys"?
If girls aren't into you, there's not much you can do.
"The Nakano Village probably won't survive until Gai grows up," Jiraiya remarked, quite stunned by Dai's bizarre logic.
"Now *that* would truly be a pity," Dai sighed dramatically, like he'd just suffered some huge loss.
"You refused, so shouldn't this matter already be over?" Fugaku kept pushing, indulging Mikoto's curiosity.
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