Hayashi didn't know exactly when the Second Shinobi World War would end, but as September arrived, the tension at the base had become almost unbearable.
It wasn't only the battle situation; years of war had pushed every ninja's nerves to the brink.
From Hayashi's perspective, Sunagakure was near exhaustion. Their previous major offensive had been sustained only by sacrificing countless lives. Yet Konoha still had ninjas who hadn't been deployed, while the Sand forces were rapidly running out of manpower.
Surrender seemed the logical choice, but the Sand ninjas stubbornly persisted. Did the Third Kazekage truly believe there was a chance to turn the tide?
It was another Jonin meeting, the eighth that month.
When Hayashi entered the large tent, many ninjas were already seated. After exchanging greetings with a few familiar Jonin, he quietly sat down, waiting to hear what Orochimaru would say.
Then, Hayashi froze. A familiar figure caught his eye, someone he hadn't seen in years.
It was Jiraiya.
For a moment, Hayashi felt both dazed and emotional. They hadn't met in two years, yet Jiraiya's presence was as commanding as ever. His face, marked with faint war paint, carried a sense of justice, pride in his expression without arrogance. His slightly flushed cheeks radiated warmth, and his eyes sparkled with joy, hinting at countless untold stories. Subtly raised eyebrows concealed the weight of his experience and fame.
Truly, he was the legendary Jiraiya.
Hayashi couldn't help but think inwardly. Only someone like Jiraiya could shamelessly peek at Tsunade's "waves" and make it seem almost honorable. His level was entirely different from those who only dared to glance from the corner of their eyes.
Indeed, Jiraiya did not betray his title of the "Perverted Sage."
Meanwhile, Tsunade's clenched fist hinted she was not in the best mood, ready to explode at any moment. But Jiraiya, unfazed, maintained his unwavering ninja way of never giving up, no matter the circumstance. This was likely why he could train someone like Naruto.
Orochimaru, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to the tension between his friends, a faint smile lingering on his face.
"Everyone, the village has sent reinforcements," Orochimaru began. He cleared his throat. "To make up for lost manpower, Jiraiya is leading the team this time."
Hearing his name, Jiraiya rose politely and greeted the assembled ninjas. Though everyone knew of his strength, in terms of prestige and battlefield contributions, he still trailed behind Tsunade, Orochimaru, and even Hayashi. Smiles were polite, but inwardly, many wondered:
I've been risking my life on the battlefield, and you've been gone for two years. Why show up now?
It was an awkward position, but Jiraiya had no choice. He needed a difficult mission to integrate himself—preferably one that brought him close to death without letting him perish.
Hayashi intended to advise him after the meeting, suggesting a direct assault on the Third Kazekage or a solo raid on the Sand base might be fitting.
"Ahem, that's all for the additional matters; let's get down to business," Orochimaru continued, sensing the tense energy and quickly redirecting the discussion.
"After the last battle, we lost nearly fifty Jonin, excluding the injured not yet tallied. We currently have about a hundred usable Jonin. Chunin numbers are slightly higher, just over two hundred. Intelligence from surveillance ninjas outside indicates Sunagakure has roughly the same numbers."
"Squad allocations remain as before; original Jonin squads will continue unless members are missing. The list of squad leaders is here; ninjas without a team can collect a copy later."
The remainder of the meeting was spent exchanging critical intelligence. Orochimaru focused on particularly difficult information, discussing strategy in detail. After half a day, the Jonin meeting concluded.
As Hayashi left the tent toward the resting area, a voice called from behind.
"Hey kid, wait up."
Turning, Hayashi saw Jiraiya approaching, limping slightly, his face bearing a palm-shaped mark, looking surprisingly battered.
How had he been beaten in just a few minutes? Hayashi wondered.
"Long time no see," Jiraiya greeted casually, his long white hair swaying in the wind, a calm smile on his face.
"Uncle, long time no see," Hayashi replied.
Jiraiya circled him twice, then made a soft 'tsk' of admiration. "Only two years since we last met, and you're already a Jonin. Even in the Land of Rain, I heard about your progress. How terrifying is your talent!"
Thanks to Nagato, Hayashi had already mastered five chakra natures in just two years, living up to the title of the legendary Child of Prophecy.
"Uncle, are you going to see Minato?" Hayashi asked.
"Yes, my beloved disciple," Jiraiya nodded. "Though we've communicated, we haven't met in two years. Thank you for taking care of him."
"Haha, don't mention it. Minato and I are good friends," Hayashi said.
"Oh, by the way, Uncle, were you just beaten by Lady Tsunade?" he asked innocently.
Jiraiya shook his head vigorously, trying to salvage his dignity. "That Orochimaru actually taught you to be such a ninja lacking common sense! Do you think Tsunade could beat me? If not for her… charm, I would've beaten her ages ago."
His bravado masked his frustration. Nawaki's letter had made clear Tsunade's complete devotion, leaving Jiraiya stunned to reality.
Walking toward the training grounds, they talked. Minato would typically be training there, a shining example of how talent coupled with hard work leads to success—a trait Hayashi deeply admired.
"Oh, right," Hayashi said suddenly. "Uncle, I heard from Sakumo that you're writing a new novel."
"Yes," Jiraiya said smugly. "'The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi.' It will definitely change the ninja world."
Hayashi nodded eagerly. "How much have you written? Is it nearly finished?"
Jiraiya's face reddened as he held up four fingers.
"Forty thousand characters?" Hayashi asked, incredulous.
Jiraiya shook his head. "No, four characters," he said with a sly grin.
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Milestones
100 Power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
200 Power stones = 3 Bonus Chapters
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