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...
Jiraiya left the publishing house and strolled down the streets of the new commercial district.
All sorts of novel shops were open for business.
As he took in the changes that had occurred in Konoha over the years, everything felt both familiar and foreign.
The Konoha he remembered, shrouded in the dark clouds of war, seemed to have become a tale from a history book.
Several magnificent buildings stood tall in the new commercial district.
Many out-of-towners gathered there, hiring photographers to capture their visit.
There were even ordinary people who had traveled on foot from small nations to Konoha. Konoha, with its benevolent heart, had implemented many policies beneficial to tourists from other villages.
For example, they could exchange slogans for a free photo opportunity.
From afar, Jiraiya heard:
"Reaching the strongest village in the shinobi world-Konoha! So beautiful, Konoha!"
"Oh my, isn't that... Look at the Hokage Rock in the distance, everyone!"
Such peculiar slogans… yet, as Jiraiya listened to the out-of-towners' chants, he couldn't help but straighten his back with pride.
Jiraiya sighed, "It feels like ninjas like me have been left behind by the times."
"Where should I go next? It's rare for me to return to Konoha. Should I visit the old man?"
As he walked, Jiraiya's footsteps suddenly halted.
His eyes lit up as he spotted a foot massage parlor tucked away in a corner of the street!
A foot massage parlor.
Jiraiya had encountered one during his travels to a small nation.
Beautiful young women, ordinary people with massage skills rivaling those of ninjas, had provided him with a truly fantastic experience.
He never imagined he'd find such an establishment in Konoha.
Now, seeing the shapely figures of the women at the entrance of the foot massage parlor, Jiraiya's desires stirred.
"Should I go in and relax for a bit?"
Jiraiya was about to take a step but hesitated, his expression conflicted.
Konoha was, after all, his hometown.
A gentleman didn't dip his pen in the company ink, and besides… he still harbored a romantic, innocent, and somewhat age-inappropriate infatuation for Tsunade.
If word of him visiting a foot massage parlor reached Tsunade's ears… he could kiss that innocent fantasy goodbye.
Jiraiya couldn't bear the thought.
"I'll just endure it. I can always visit the women's bathhouse tonight…"
Jiraiya clicked his tongue, trying to force himself to leave.
His gaze involuntarily drifted downwards, landing on the mysterious pouch attached to his waist.
"Ah, look at me, I completely forgot to open it."
As he spoke, Jiraiya's eyes lingered on the fair legs of the women at the entrance of the foot massage parlor.
Every glance was a blessing.
Inside the pouch, as expected, was a note. The handwriting was clear, conveying the message the mysterious author intended for Jiraiya.
"Oh, great author I've never met, you must have something to say to the great Jiraiya-sama."
Jiraiya focused his gaze on the note-
[Don't underestimate my intelligence network. As you open this pouch, you're standing hesitantly in front of a foot massage parlor, aren't you?]
Jiraiya's pupils constricted. He couldn't comprehend how the author knew his current state.
Was it the old man's Telescope Technique?!
[Remember:]
[You're not just washing feet; you're washing away the grime of your journey through the shinobi world. You're kneading away the rough edges and misfortunes carved by time. The pain you feel is their fate.]
[They don't seek your ninjutsu or your chakra, yet they offer you the gentlest touch.]
[At first, you thought today was an ordinary day, but when they stand before you with their cases, they're like flowers nurtured by a mountain spring. The autumn wind knows your tender and affectionate heart.]
[Love arises with the chime of the clock, and when the clock stops, love lingers.]
[If you don't go today, you'll appear to be a man who doesn't understand romance.]
Jiraiya was utterly shaken. His chakra felt drained as he instinctively straightened his back, a single thought consuming his mind:
"This… is this what a literary master is like?"
"How can I, the gallant Jiraiya, be someone who doesn't understand romance?!"
…
…
"Eh? You're saying Jiraiya and Orochimaru want to treat me to dinner?"
"Really?"
Gojo Kaigetsu, sitting in his office at the publishing house, looked at Kakashi with surprise.
Since Samui's departure for Tanzaku Quarters, Gojo Kaigetsu had practically been living at the publishing house, reluctant to even return home.
"It's… definitely true." Kakashi nodded solemnly. "After all, Jiraiya-sama personally approached me about it."
"Oh, in that case, I'll have to prepare a proper gift."
"You're dismissed, Kakashi."
"Yes, Gojo-sama. Also… the investigation results regarding Specialist Koyama's accusations of embezzlement against you are out."
"Hmm? And?"
Kakashi cleared his throat. "According to the investigation, Gojo-sama, your conduct is exemplary, and you are undoubtedly innocent! Specialist Koyama's accusations are pure fabrication."
"Haha, Kakashi, you're quite the flatterer… quite skilled at providing emotional support."
"Tell you what, I'll let you in on a secret." Gojo Kaigetsu covered his mouth and whispered, "Actually… I'm a time-traveling ninja who came back through the dragon vein."
Kakashi: "..."
"This afternoon, Specialist Koyama will be severely beaten by a masked assailant. And you, Kakashi, will be promoted within the ANBU thanks to your abilities."
"Ah…? Then you really are a time traveler!"
"Right? You can't go around telling people I'm a time-traveling ninja. It won't work if you spread it around." Gojo Kaigetsu waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, go get to work."
After Kakashi left, Gojo Kaigetsu was alone again in the empty office.
He closed his eyes, contemplating Orochimaru.
That guy's resolve was far too strong. Gojo Kaigetsu had attempted various Talk-no-Jutsu tactics to sway him, hoping to keep him in Konoha.
However, his Talk-no-Jutsu level was clearly insufficient, mostly eliciting ambiguous responses.
Furthermore, subsequent system logs had completely shattered Gojo Kaigetsu's hopes.
Orochimaru's defection from the village was a foregone conclusion. The ticking time bomb of "human experimentation," planted who knows when, was a constant threat.
Some argued that Orochimaru defected because he lost the competition for the Fourth Hokage position against Minato, portraying him as a sore loser in a political power struggle. This was a gross understatement of Orochimaru's character.
Before defecting, Orochimaru had completed 521 B-rank missions, 491 A-rank missions, and 108 S-rank missions for Konoha.
Even Minato's S-rank mission count was less than a third of his, his A-rank count was only two-thirds, and his B and C-rank counts were less than half.
Such a distinguished figure, whose contributions could be considered on par with a Konoha military commander, chose to defect for the sake of pursuing immortality and conducting bloody human experiments in the name of scientific advancement…
As long as a ninja's energy was channeled in the right direction, they wouldn't be bothered by such trivial matters.
He needed to let the lower-ranking ninjas and civilians know that Konoha was still Konoha, capable of thriving even without him, Gojo Kaigetsu, or anyone else!
"Since I can't keep him, and I can't kill him at this stage, and prolonging the timeline might even increase Konoha's prosperity…"
Faced with this predicament, Konoha's chief physician, Gojo Kaigetsu, thought-
"I might as well make things unpleasant for you, Orochimaru."
"At this stage, has Orochimaru already developed and refined the Edo Tensei?" Gojo Kaigetsu stroked his chin. He didn't remember many details about Orochimaru's current progress.
Gojo Kaigetsu took out a pen and paper and swiftly wrote down a passage resembling an incantation.
An average person might scoff at its contents, but for Orochimaru, who was already obsessed with his research… it was just the right bait.
"Snake demon, I want you…"
"Oh, wait."
"Basilisk, I want to help you!"
...
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