Chapter 161: Jiraiya and Tsunade Meet Again
Slaying the Fourth Raikage and razing the Hidden Cloud Village to the ground—
Was there ever a Hokage more awe-inspiring than that?
"Mm, good work, everyone," Uchiha Patriarch said with a warm smile. "You must be exhausted from the overnight march."
Elder Uchiha Sihu grinned. "Hokage-sama, we brought all the storage scrolls with us. Shall we start loading the materials now?"
Fugaku waved a hand casually. "No rush. Have you eaten yet?"
"Not yet—we hurried straight here."
"Then let's eat first. Eighth Division Captain, go tell the cooks to prepare extra portions," Yuta instructed.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Uchiha Yashiro darted off in a flash.
"Advisor Hiashi," Yuta continued, turning toward the Hyuga leader, "please arrange resting areas for everyone."
"Understood, Hokage-sama."
Hyuga Hiashi smiled, greeting Elder Sihu politely before turning to address the gathered shinobi.
"Everyone, follow me. The dining area is this way—rest a bit, then eat."
A wave of cheer spread among the thirty Jōnin who followed him eagerly.
Uchiha Sihu, however, stayed behind. Fugaku looked at him and asked, "Where is Jiraiya?"
Sihu replied, "He was right behind us. He should be coming up the mountain now."
No sooner had he spoken than Yuta's gaze shifted to a point in the distance.
Following his eyes, Sihu saw the familiar white-haired figure approaching—the Sannin himself, Jiraiya.
Sihu's expression instantly darkened. His smile vanished as he scoffed coldly.
"So, the shameless hermit finally crawls out of his hole. You've seen Hidden Cloud's ruins—now you can turn around and leave."
Jiraiya rolled his eyes dramatically. "Tch, don't be so cold. I just got here, and you're already kicking me out?"
Sihu's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Take my advice—don't try anything foolish. Or you might end up as just another corpse in that crater."
Jiraiya's gaze flickered; he knew exactly what Sihu was implying.
Still, he forced a casual smile. "Relax, I'm not here to pick a fight with Uchiha Fugaku—pardon me, the Fifth Hokage-sama."
He gave an exaggerated bow, grinning like a mischievous monkey trying to act respectful.
Sihu was about to retort when Fugaku raised his hand slightly, signaling him to stop.
The elder immediately fell silent.He chuckled. "Jiraiya, you've arrived at just the right time. There's something I'd like your help with."
"...Help?" Jiraiya blinked, confused. Did I hear that right?
He'd half expected hostility, not a polite request. Was Fugaku losing his mind—or was this some kind of trap?
Still, he played along. "Help with what, exactly?"
Yuta didn't hide anything. "We discovered several sealed chambers beneath the Raikage Building. The seals are complex—your expertise in sealing jutsu would be useful to open them."
"Oh," Jiraiya nodded in realization. "So that's what this is about."
That, at least, he could understand. Those sealed rooms likely held the Cloud's deepest secrets and treasures. Helping open them wasn't a problem.
"Alright then," Jiraiya said with a shrug. "Where are they?"
"No rush," Fugaku replied smoothly. "Let's eat first."
With an easy smile, he gestured for Jiraiya to follow and walked ahead.
Jiraiya hesitated for a moment before trailing behind, still puzzled by Fugaku's attitude. There wasn't the slightest trace of hostility in the man's demeanor.
He was even letting him walk this close—almost within striking range.
If I attacked now, Jiraiya thought, I could probably land a hit… maybe even eighty percent chance of success.
But he quickly dismissed the idea.
Ever since Uchiha Fugaku became Hokage, Konoha had changed—dramatically. The village was thriving again. Yuta's rise, though unconventional, had undeniably strengthened Konoha.
And now, with the annihilation of Hidden Cloud, he had done something monumental—something that would be remembered for generations.
The Hidden Leaf was destined for a new golden age under his reign.
By the time Jiraiya snapped out of his thoughts, they had arrived at the large dining area. Long tables were set up, and the smell of freshly cooked food filled the air.
The place was lively—filled with familiar faces. Veteran Jōnin, old comrades, even some of Jiraiya's former subordinates were there, chatting and laughing freely.
"Jiraiya, sit anywhere you like," fugaku said casually, taking a seat himself.
Jiraiya looked around, found an open spot near the edge, and sat down.
As he glanced at the relaxed faces around him, a strange feeling welled up inside. For the first time in years, he saw genuine smiles in the Leaf—peaceful, content expressions.
When was the last time Konoha looked this alive?
And, to his surprise, a thought slipped into his mind:
Maybe… I should just stay in the village.
The notion startled even him.
He had left Konoha years ago for two reasons—first, because he couldn't stand the decisions of his master, the Third Hokage; and second, because of his wandering mission to find the Child of Prophecy.
But even now, he still had no leads.
After so many years of aimless travel, perhaps he was simply… tired.
This village, under new leadership, felt different—alive again.
Warm.
Like home.
He was lost in thought when—smack!
Someone gave the back of his head a heavy slap.
Jiraiya didn't even turn angry. Only one person in the world would dare do that.
He grinned, already recognizing the faint scent of perfume.
"Tsunade!" he said with a wide grin, opening his arms for a hug.
But Tsunade had anticipated the move. She tilted her body gracefully, dodging his embrace with practiced ease.
"Tch! Tsunade, you said you weren't coming. What changed?"
Tsunade shot him a glare. "I said I wouldn't help you, not that I wouldn't return to Konoha. Is it a crime for me to come back and take a look?"
Jiraiya raised both hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, of course not!"
He quickly stood, pulled out a chair, and helped her set down the tray of food she carried.
Tsunade sighed, rolling her eyes. "Still the same—loud, shameless, and completely undignified."
She sat down, glanced toward Yuta across the room, and said between bites,
"So… isn't that your 'Fifth Hokage' over there? Why aren't you making a move? Changed your mind already?"
Jiraiya smirked. "Let's not talk about that. I'm starving too."
He stood up, stretching.
Tsunade pointed lazily with her chopsticks. "Food's that way."
"Got it. Don't start without me!" Jiraiya said, grinning as he walked
off toward the food line.
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