He didn't write a lengthy letter, merely providing a brief account of last night's incident and reporting the battle results. Although they didn't manage to kill Itachi Uchiha and Kisame, they did manage to take something from the encounter — one of the shark-faced man's arms.
In Konoha.
Jiraiya, sitting by Asuma Sarutobi's window, received the letter in return, his face darkening.
"Jiraiya-sama, what's the matter?" Kakashi, who was also at the hospital, sensed the change in Jiraiya's expression. Sasuke had suffered more intense psychological trauma than the others and had yet to wake up. Noticing Jiraiya's expression shift, his heart skipped a beat.
Jiraiya's voice was heavy: "Naruto has already encountered them."
His emotions were in turmoil, tangled like a skein of thread.
He had just promised Naruto not to be "late."
Yet, only days after speaking, the information he conveyed had lagged behind.
Sending the intelligence after Naruto had already faced them almost rendered it meaningless.
Information presented in advance is truly valuable.
Kakashi was momentarily stunned.
As he comprehended the situation, he realized Jiraiya's expression had misled him.
Since Naruto could respond, it signaled his condition wasn't too bad.
"Did Naruto escape?" Kakashi asked cautiously.
Jiraiya shook his head, "What Naruto managed to achieve far exceeded our expectations."
"He didn't just escape."
"He confronted the two directly, even managing to lop off one of Kisame Hoshigaki's arms!"
Kakashi's mouth fell open.
He had engaged Itachi Uchiha in direct combat himself.
The pressure Itachi exerted was no less than that of Orochimaru, perhaps even more.
Yet.
Even against such might, compounded by Kisame Hoshigaki, Naruto managed to take them on and achieve this level.
"Naruto's gotten markedly stronger again." Kakashi exhaled deeply.
From being weaker than himself to surpassing him.
Calculating the time, Naruto had spent no more than just over four months achieving this.
Naruto didn't even pause at "as strong as me."
The teacher's son had surpassed him.
While he still clung to the achievements of his twelve-year-old self, remaining stagnant.
"I'm leaving," Jiraiya said softly as he stood up. "I originally thought this would be a good reason to get a little closer to Naruto."
"It seems it didn't work."
"He's already doing exceptionally well."
"Now, I should worry about other things."
Kakashi stood up with him. "Are you going to find Lady Tsunade?"
Jiraiya nodded. "Currently, Konoha needs a Hokage."
"Kakashi, what I'm saying is, if..."
"If Tsunade refuses to return, the position of Hokage needs someone reliable."
He didn't say it outright, but everyone in the room understood his implication.
There are few in Konoha qualified to take on the role of Hokage.
Apart from the 'Legendary Sannin' Jiraiya and Tsunade, the next candidates would be Shikaku Nara and Kakashi, the latter being more suitable due to his youth and strength.
As for that person who's been temporarily stripped of the 'Senior Advisor' role and keeps clamoring he's the only one qualified to be Hokage...
He's theoretically capable but the least qualified.
Neither Jiraiya, the senior ninja team, nor the advisors want to see a scenario where after someone becomes Hokage, the blonde Jinchuriki returns to Konoha and repeats something like the "Orochimaru's Konoha Collapse Plan."
Kakashi responded, "Yes, I understand."
He turned to look out the window. Summer had arrived, the trees lush and verdant, their leaves a piercing green.
On the island of the Land of Whirlpool, Naruto and Karin enjoyed their days digging up information on the ruins of Uzushio Village.
However, the progress was somewhat slow.
They searched for inscriptions in the morning and deciphered them in the afternoon, only managing to interpret four or five a day, working together.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya set out on his journey to find Tsunade.
As one of the Legendary Sannin, finding 'Princess Tsunade' was no easy task.
But finding the 'Legendary Big Gambler' proved to be much simpler.
In less than half a month, Jiraiya spotted her in a thriving casino town.
Inside a tavern, the two sat across from each other.
A young woman with short hair, cradling a small pig, sat next to Tsunade.
"Is she Dan's niece?" Jiraiya looked at the young woman, exchanging pleasantries. "She's grown up so much already."
"I remember her name."
"Isn't it Shizune?"
"Jiraiya, stop with the pointless small talk. You seem to be intentionally tracking my whereabouts." Tsunade waved her hand impatiently, asking, "Do you need something?"
Jiraiya spoke softly, "Then I'll get straight to the point."
"The village hopes you'll become the Fifth Hokage."
"Has that old man Sarutobi finally worn himself out and wants to retire?" Tsunade sneered, "He's been Hokage for nearly thirty years. Can't he hang in there a bit longer?"
Jiraiya's expression turned grave. "Don't you know what happened to the Third Hokage?"
"Orochimaru killed him recently."
Tsunade was taken aback.
The news left her momentarily stunned.
"Is that so?" she murmured, taking a sip of her drink.
Jiraiya extended his hand. "So, will you accept?"
Tsunade didn't answer immediately.
Memories swirled in her mind, faces flashing before her eyes.
One face was similar to her own, yet young and small—her brother Nawaki's face. He died young, not long after graduating from the Ninja Academy, ultimately perishing on the battlefield.
Another was a grown man with long silver hair—her former lover, Dan Katō, who died during a mission in the war, right in front of her.
There were also other familiar faces of friends she once knew during her ninja days, all of whom had since passed away.
"I refuse." Tsunade shook her head, uttering the words.
Jiraiya's heart skipped a beat.
He scratched his head and forced a cheerful smile. "This reminds me of the time I confessed to you and you turned me down just like this."
"But being Hokage is a bit different from a confession."
"Can I ask why?"
Tsunade turned to the window. "Neither Hiruzen-sensei nor my two grandfathers."
"Not even the most talented Fourth Hokage"
"could change anything for the village despite all they gave."
"So, you see"
"being Hokage is meaningless. Only a fool would want it."
Jiraiya opened his mouth slightly.
It was still the same face from over thirty years ago, the one he had once admired.
Yet at this moment, it seemed somewhat unfamiliar.
"He's different from before," Jiraiya said slowly. "Danzo is no longer a senior advisor."
Tsunade looked surprised, "Did Orochimaru kill him too?"
"No," Jiraiya shook his head, "it's all because of an interesting young kid."
"He has talents that rival Minato, perhaps even surpassing him."
"He has the potential to change the village."
"Danzo was stripped of his position as a senior advisor partly because of his influence."
"You see, even the seedlings of Konoha are growing."
Talents that rival, or even surpass, Minato's?
And could influence Danzo?
Tsunade glanced at Jiraiya.
But the man opposite her averted his gaze, avoiding direct eye contact.
Was he lying?
About which part?
"You and I both know that the title of senior advisor holds almost no real power for Danzo," Tsunade continued along her line of thought, "Does that training department he controls in the Anbu still exist?"
Jiraiya didn't answer, his silence spoke volumes.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
He wasn't lying about this.
"This prodigy who can rival the Fourth Hokage, where is he?" Tsunade placed her sake cup on the table, "If such a person really exists, you'd bring him to meet me, wouldn't you?"
"Just like you did with Minato back then."
Jiraiya lowered his head, looking away.
Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
There was a lie here.
"So, he doesn't actually exist, does he?" Tsunade said softly.
Jiraiya shook his head, his tone firm, "No, Naruto is very real."
"It's just that he's not in the village right now, he's traveling abroad."
Tsunade let out a mocking laugh. "Wanderlust?"
Those words from her mouth sounded particularly flippant.
"Unable to endure the village, so you left, is that right?" She expanded on the concept, making it sound more judgmental.
Jiraiya said nothing in response. Sometimes silence is the best form of affirmation.
"Even the seedlings you speak of couldn't stand staying in the village." Tsunade's smile was derisive, laughing at the absurdity, "Why should I have any reason to return?"
Jiraiya's voice was firm. "Naruto left the village to search for the legendary Pure Land."
Tsunade's laughter came to a halt.
"He possesses some unique gifts." Jiraiya continued, "You've heard of the forbidden techniques of the Uzumaki clan, haven't you?"
Tsunade nodded.
Her grandmother was from the Uzumaki clan; she had heard stories about it when she was young.
Jiraiya explained, "Naruto hasn't signed a contract with the Shinigami, but he can see them."
"He wants to find the Pure Land, to meet his parents."
"He's Minato and Kushina's son."
"Right now, it's just an accident."
"In the future, I promise I'll bring him back to Konoha."
The words "Pure Land" made the faces in Tsunade's mind more vivid.
"He's a fool, chasing after something that doesn't exist," Tsunade said with a smirk, though her tone was softer than before.
Seizing the opportunity, Jiraiya extended his hand. "So why not return to Konoha?"
"While he's still young, both of us can still protect his ideals."
Tsunade shook her head, more determined than before. "I refuse."
"Only when you can bring that kid searching for the Pure Land back to Konoha, then I'll consider returning."
She was straightforward.
Jiraiya sighed, sinking into the chair. His back seemed to slump in that instant. "Is that your answer?"
Tsunade nodded.
Her stance was resolute.
In the days that followed, Jiraiya stayed by her side, continuously trying to persuade her.
But—he saw no success at all.
(End of Chapter)