A/N: I am grateful to Richard Darden and Max Thompson for their generous support and for becoming patrons on Patreon. Your contribution are greatly appreciated, and they enable me to continue creating and providing valuable content. Thank you for your support and belief in my work.
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The Land of Grass reveled in its newfound prosperity, with abundant funds fueling its rapid development. Approval for various funding requests came effortlessly, bringing relief and excitement.
The Academy's funding? Approved!
The Research Institute's funding? Approved!
The Guard Department's funding? Approved!
The Medical Department's funding? Approved!
Every proposal received the green light. In the past, financial constraints had hindered progress, forcing them to put important projects on hold or face delays due to limited budgets.
But now, with a surplus of funds, they were determined to expedite their development efforts. As the joyful recipients of approved funds dispersed, Akihiko stretched leisurely, ready to enjoy a well-deserved break.
In the midst of his relaxation, a knock on the door abruptly interrupted Akihiko's peace. Swiftly regaining his composure, he straightened up, organizing a stack of files on the table, and assumed a serious expression. "Come in!" he called out, curious about the purpose of the visitor.
"Kusano-sama!" Takeshi nodded respectfully, saluting with a serious demeanor. "Jiraiya-sama requests an audience."
"Jiraiya?" Akihiko furrowed his brows. "What does he need from me?"
Considering the timing, shouldn't Jiraiya be preparing for his journey to seek out the Child of Prophecy again? It was unusual for him to have the leisure to visit Akihiko, the leader of the Village Hidden in the Grass.
After pondering for a moment, Akihiko looked up at Takeshi, who stood before him, and said, "Very well, let him enter."
Without delay, Jiraiya entered the room, wearing a cheerful smile. Upon noticing the stacks of documents in front of Akihiko, he displayed a subtle surprise and inwardly sighed, acknowledging the exceptional leadership embraced by the Land of Grass.
During his stay in the Land of Grass, Jiraiya had failed to discover any trace of Mr. Ekinu. However, he had witnessed the remarkable transformations occurring in this small country.
The Land of Grass emanated a vibrant energy. Its citizens and shinobi were wholeheartedly engaged in the process of development. Even within Jiraiya's three-month stay, he could discern the significant changes taking place. Neat houses sprouted up one after another, while muddy paths gradually transformed into spacious streets.
And then, there was the Grass Shinobi Academy. It should be noted that small shinobi villages, apart from the five major shinobi villages, rarely invested substantial resources and manpower into establishing an academy. After all, the population of a small country like the Land of Grass was limited, making it seem unnecessary to allocate funds for an academy.
However, the leader of the Land of Grass differed. Defying the expectations of other small nations, he adamantly chose to establish a shinobi academy. Through discreet investigations, Jiraiya had uncovered that when the Land of Grass was being rebuilt, the leader promptly proposed the construction of an academy, despite facing opposition.
Many deemed it unnecessary for a small country like the Land of Grass, yet this young leader remained undeterred. He insisted on the swift and efficient construction of the academy. Furthermore, he advocated the idea that "a child is the future of a nation" and emphasized the importance of prioritizing education to cultivate a strong nation.
The Land of Grass exhibited an impressive forward-thinking mindset. While the First and Second Hokage had emphasized the value and protection of the new generation, and the Third Hokage championed the "Will of Fire" to guide the younger shinobi, witnessing such open-mindedness in the Land of Grass was truly surprising. Furthermore, this leader welcomed both the feared Uzumaki clan, and the exiled Chinoike clan, who had been rejected by the Land of Lightning's daimyo.
Truly, this leader was an admirable shinobi, as Jiraiya had acknowledged in the past, stating, "You are a good person!"
Akihiko was taken aback by Jiraiya's sudden outburst, blurting, "You're a good person!" He couldn't comprehend the meaning behind this seemingly random statement.
If it weren't for the fact that he knew Jiraiya wasn't mocking him, Akihiko might have retorted, "I'm not that kind of person anymore!"
Shaking off his confusion, Akihiko regained his serious composure. "Everything I do is for the sake of peace in the ninja world," he reminded himself. Then, he looked directly at Jiraiya and asked, "Why have you come here?"
Without wasting any time, Jiraiya also assumed a serious expression as he took a seat across from Akihiko. "Nagato..." he began.
"Yes!" Akihiko interjected, understanding without needing further explanation. He had long been aware that Jiraiya had discovered Nagato's unique eyes.
A few days ago, during his visit to Nagato's home, the young shinobi had mentioned Jiraiya, describing him as bothersome and rambling about the Child of Prophecy and the eyes of the Six Paths. If it weren't for Jiraiya's reputation as one of Konoha's renowned Sannin, Akihiko might have suspected him of running some sort of scam.
"No wonder you brought him here from the Land of Rain," Jiraiya sighed, "but rest assured, I will keep it a secret!" He winked and added, "Initially, I thought you were interested in his eyes, but now I understand. You're not that kind of person!"
Understanding? Bringing the three of them back at that time was a necessity due to the lack of talent in the Land of Grass' new generation!
Akihiko rolled his eyes and calmly inquired, "Is there anything else?"
"Oh, right!" Jiraiya scratched his head and chuckled. "Apart from asking about Nagato before leaving this time, there's actually... another trivial matter I need your help with!"
"Go ahead," Akihiko responded, willing to lend a hand if it was within his capacity.
"If possible..." Jiraiya appeared slightly embarrassed, but soon his expression turned serious. "The reason I came to the Land of Grass this time was to meet the esteemed literary master, Mr. Ekinu. However..." he sighed, "I couldn't find any information about Mr. Ekinu. Even the manager of the Land of Grass bookstore is unaware of his whereabouts. Unfortunately, I've already stayed here for too long and must leave. Can I ask for your assistance in finding Mr. Ekinu?"
As he spoke, Jiraiya retrieved a letter from his pocket. "If you locate him, please deliver this to Mr. Ekinu and convey my message: 'If I have the chance, I will definitely come to visit in person. I too am a writer! I aspire to become a renowned literary figure in the ninja world!'"
"Very well," nodded Akihiko, although he didn't need to search for Ekinu since he was himself. After all this time, Jiraiya still hadn't given up searching for him?
A slight twitch appeared on Akihiko's lips, but he quickly regained his composure. He took the envelope expressionlessly, nodded, and said, "If I find him, I will deliver it."
"Thank you," Jiraiya sincerely expressed his gratitude.
"If there's nothing else..." Akihiko began to say, but he was interrupted before he could complete his sentence.
Jiraiya suddenly appeared embarrassed, scratching his head once again and chuckling. "Actually, there's one more thing..."
"Go ahead and say it," Akihiko sighed, wondering if there was anything left to discuss.
"Due to a minor mishap, my travel expenses..." Jiraiya paused for a moment.
"..." Akihiko silently pointed towards the door.
"Wait! It's not what you think! It's a loan, I promise!" Jiraiya quickly clarified, his voice filled with urgency. "You have to trust me! I am Jiraiya, renowned as the Toad Sage, the one who captures the hearts of thousands of girls in the ninja world! You can trust me on that! And, don't worry, I even have collateral!" With unwavering determination, he clenched his teeth and retrieved a handful of unmistakably familiar figurines from his pocket.
The Three Holy Princess in swimsuits!
Reluctantly, he continued, "I'll trade these with you! Don't worry, I always keep my word as a sage. I will definitely retrieve them the next time I visit the Land of Grass!" His eyes were slightly watery. "Please take good care of them!"
Akihiko looked utterly speechless, his confusion mounting as he wondered, "What use do these items have for me?"
….
Eventually, Jiraiya set off on his journey, embracing the life of a wandering shinobi in the vast ninja world, having pawned his figurines and mounted his trusty toad.
On the other hand, Akihiko decided to accompany the three young shinobi to bid Jiraiya farewell, promising to take good care of the figurines he had left behind. The youngsters, though not fully understanding the significance, respected their teacher and quietly observed as the legendary Sannin from the Leaf Village disappeared from their sight.
As the group prepared to depart, Nagato gazed into the distance, his eyes filled with contemplation. After a moment of hesitation, he addressed Akihiko, his voice filled with curiosity, "Akihiko-sensei..."
Akihiko responded softly, "Yes?"
Nagato questioned, uncertain, "Is there truly a Child of Prophecy in this ninja world?" He wondered if Jiraiya's words held any truth.
"In this world, there is no such thing as a Child of Prophecy," Akihiko replied, his voice carrying a mix of emotions. "The only one who can save you is yourself. If such a figure exists, then..." Akihiko's gaze drifted into the distance, his expression reflecting a profound understanding. While he may be the only one who knows the true identity of the Child of Prophecy, in the grand scheme of things, he pondered whether the prophecy even truly mattered at this point.
A gentle breeze swept through the grass, creating a tranquil ambiance. With his hands clasped behind his back and a touch of melancholy in his eyes, Akihiko regarded the three young shinobi, as if having reached a firm resolution. At that moment, a faint smile graced the corner of his lips.
In a tone of composure and certainty, as though discussing the most natural of concepts, he proclaimed, "We hold the power to shape our own destinies! Instead of depending on others to determine our fate, why not embrace self-reliance? By seizing control of our own lives, we can carve a path towards genuine happiness!"
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