"Old man." Jiraiya flipped in from the window.
The Third Hokage put down the documents in his hand.
"How was Xiamu?"
Jiraiya spoke up. "Although I won, I feel like he was holding back."
The Third slowly took a drag on his pipe. "And what about you?"
Jiraiya shook his head. "I didn't use Sage Mode."
The Third raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And he didn't use Susanoo?"
"He did, but only briefly. It seems Susanoo consumes a tremendous amount of chakra—he can't sustain it for long."
The Third paced back and forth, muttering. "Can't sustain it… can't sustain it…"
Finally, he let out a long breath of relief. "You've worked hard, Jiraiya."
Jiraiya shook his head. "After sparring with him, I don't think Xiamu's an ambitious schemer. Maybe he really does just want to protect the little corner of land the Uchiha have left."
"Is that so?" Normally, if anyone dared to judge a man's character based on "gut feeling," the Third would have scolded them harshly.
But Jiraiya was different. Having trained on Mount Myoboku, immersed in natural energy for years, he had developed a unique sensitivity—he could faintly sense the nature of a person's disposition.
That made Jiraiya's words worth considering.
Besides, the true extent of Jiraiya's power in Sage Mode was something even the Third himself had never fully witnessed. If Jiraiya said there was no problem, then there was reason to relax.
After all, Uchiha Xiamu had always been an unstable factor, often doing things no one could predict. This time, he'd even sullied Jiraiya's reputation—a move that oddly suited Jiraiya himself, since it meant the Third could no longer pressure him into taking the Hokage's seat.
What village would accept a "Peeping Tom" as its shadow leader?
But back to the real matter—if Orochimaru wasn't the culprit behind the infant kidnappings, then…
"Old man, I'm planning to leave." Jiraiya's words pulled the Third out of his thoughts.
The Third frowned. "Leaving so soon?"
Jiraiya shrugged. "There's no reason to stay. Root has been disbanded, the Uchiha have relinquished their authority, and I've tested Xiamu—he isn't a threat. What's left for me here?"
The Third gave him a suspicious look. "You're not just running away because you can't peek at the women's bathhouses anymore, are you?"
A vein popped on Jiraiya's forehead. "Absolutely not! I just got word of Orochimaru's movements. I need to check it out."
"Really!?" The Third's voice carried an unusual emotion.
But Jiraiya didn't notice, only nodding seriously. "It's true. I got a lead that he's been sighted in the Land of Rice Fields, to the north."
The Third was silent for a long moment, then said, "Go then. But you don't need to drag him back here."
Jiraiya stared at him in shock. "Old man, what did you just say?"
The Third puffed on his pipe, his expression a little stiff. After a long pause, he sighed. "It doesn't matter whether he comes back or not. Just… carry this message to him for me."
"Old man…" Jiraiya was moved. He understood what that meant: the Third no longer sought to punish Orochimaru for the past. He still regarded him as his student.
The Third waved wearily. "Xiamu brought information—apparently, it was Danzo behind the infant abductions. Orochimaru at most only assisted in the experiments. I don't know where Xiamu learned this, but he has no reason to lie."
Jiraiya's eyes lit up. Truthfully, his bond with Orochimaru ran deep. That was why he had dragged his feet for so long, claiming to "pursue" Orochimaru but really just wandering outside the village.
If not for the sheer cruelty of those kidnappings, he never would have accepted the task in the first place. But now, to learn that Danzo was the mastermind—it lifted a great weight from his heart.
As for the Third's feelings toward Orochimaru, Jiraiya understood them well. The Third had originally intended for Orochimaru to become the Fourth Hokage.
But Orochimaru was too capable, too independent, unwilling to be controlled. The village elders had opposed him unanimously. The Third had hoped time would temper him, and so chose Minato instead—Minato was a civilian, without powerful backers, much easier to guide.
Unfortunately, Orochimaru was too proud. He couldn't stomach the insult. He turned away, chasing after his own truth.
The kidnapping incident had been the breaking point. Orochimaru never explained himself.
In the end, his departure had less to do with the Hokage seat and more to do with the unbearable weight of the Third's mistrust.
Even his so-called "Konoha Crush" later on felt more like a child flaunting his achievements before a parent.
Even when he struck down the Third, Orochimaru had shed tears.
Having crossed paths with Xiamu, unpleasant as it was, Jiraiya believed the information.
"Alright then. I'll deliver your message." For once, his usually carefree expression turned solemn.
The Third waved him off. "Before you go, visit Naruto. The boy's in the Academy now."
Jiraiya nodded, then vanished from the office.
Leaving the Hokage building, he used a transformation technique to disguise himself as an ordinary Konoha shinobi—he didn't want to cause a commotion.
By afternoon, class at the Academy was still in session.
After notifying the Anbu watching over Naruto, Jiraiya found a spot with a good view.
There, on the training field, was a boy with spiky blond hair and whisker-like marks on his cheeks—Naruto. He was training with a serious expression.
The children were running laps, navigating obstacles, leaping pits, crossing ropes. Basic drills for stamina and coordination.
At the head of the group was Iruka, running alongside them while lecturing.
"When you graduate and start taking missions, you'll face countless kinds of terrain. That's why you must learn to adapt now."
At the very front of the students were Sasuke and Neji. Both heirs to powerful clans, their faces were serious—never slacking in training. Their movements were precise and natural, proof they'd practiced similar drills since childhood.
The rest of the group was mixed. Clan children generally fared better, while many from civilian families struggled. Some fell into pits and cried, some slipped off ropes and lay on the ground for ages.
Of course, there were exceptions—like Choji, a clan child but running at the back.
Among the civilian-born, Naruto stood out most. He was taking the training very seriously. He always remembered the expectations Xiamu had placed on him.
So even when he fell into a pit or dropped from a rope, he would scramble back up, grit his teeth, and chase after Sasuke and the others.
After three laps, only half the students finished. Naruto, through sheer determination, managed to place ninth—just at the end of the first group.
Up in the tree, Jiraiya watched with pride. Naruto really was hardworking and earnest.
When training ended, Iruka announced the rankings before dismissing them. Then he walked over to Naruto.
"Naruto, are you alright?"
Naruto had taken quite a beating—scrapes and bruises covered him from all the falls.
He looked up at Iruka with a wide grin. "I'm fine, Iruka-sensei. Just scratches."
Iruka smiled warmly, patting his shoulder. "You did great today. But next time, don't push yourself so recklessly."
Naruto gave him a big thumbs up. "Don't worry, Iruka-sensei! Next time, I'll take first place!"
"Oi, Naruto! Come on, let's play!" voices called from a distance.
"Iruka-sensei, I'm going!" Naruto dashed off, cutting off whatever Iruka had wanted to say.
Seeing the boy unhurt, Iruka could only shake his head helplessly.
"Let's play cops and robbers!"
"I'll be on the police force!"
"Me too!"
"Then I'll be Jiraiya, and you all can try to catch me!"
Up in the tree, Jiraiya nearly toppled out of it.
He silently cursed Xiamu to the heavens and stormed away from the Academy.
He couldn't stand to stay in Konoha another second.
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