It was hard to believe, but Jiraiya was finally starting to understand.
For years, the hot spring hotel owners had tolerated his antics, but every tolerance has its limit. Now that limit had been breached, and they weren't going to let him off easily. Their reputations and livelihoods were at stake—guests wouldn't come to a place known for being unsafe or unseemly.
Jiraiya's reckless behavior had finally caught up with him.
The Third Hokage had no intention of helping Jiraiya out of this mess. With the village's finances already stretched thin, the Hokage wouldn't even consider using public funds for this matter. Besides, he had a better use for any extra money—supporting the ninja families loyal to him and training the next generation.
From his long tenure as Hokage, the Sarutobi clan had flourished, boasting more ninjas now than ever before. Their numbers rivaled, if not surpassed, those of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans combined.
But right now, Jiraiya wasn't thinking about politics. He was thinking about how unfair life was.
"You're one to talk, old man!" Jiraiya exclaimed, a sudden burst of audacity taking hold. "You've done your fair share of peeping too!"
Unfortunately, just as he said this, the server entered the room, holding a tray of side dishes. The man froze in place, catching the tail end of Jiraiya's words. His polite smile wavered for a moment before he quickly set down the food and left.
Shinki burst out laughing, slapping the floor in hysterics.
Meanwhile, the Third Hokage's face turned as black as the bottom of a burnt pot. "Nonsense! When have I ever done anything as shameless as you?!"
"Sure, sure," Jiraiya muttered, clearly unconvinced.
The Hokage's temper flared. "You've ruined my reputation, you idiot! Remember to pay the fine! Otherwise, it'll be deducted from your mission rewards!"
With that, the Third Hokage stormed out, muttering curses under his breath. He didn't even wait for the marinated meat the restaurant had promised to serve.
As soon as he was gone, Jiraiya leaned back with a pout. "The old man's so biased. When Tsunade or Orochimaru caused trouble, he always cleaned up their mess. But when it's me, I'm on my own."
Shinki raised an eyebrow. "That's not true. Tsunade didn't cause much trouble to begin with. Even when she did, Uzumaki Mito stepped in to cover the costs. You really think the Third Hokage indulged her?"
"Wait, what? Uzumaki Mito paid for her?" Jiraiya blinked, genuinely confused. "I always thought the old man handled it."
Shinki shook his head. "The Hokage might have managed the fallout, but the money came from Mito. And as for Orochimaru… did he even make mistakes like that?"
Jiraiya frowned, thinking hard. "...No, not really. Damn it, that makes me the odd one out, doesn't it?"
Shinki smirked. "Congratulations, you've just realized you're the clown."
For a moment, Jiraiya sulked. Then, as if struck by a sudden epiphany, he brightened. "Wait, this just proves the old man loves me more than them! He's been letting me get away with everything all this time!"
Shinki stared at him, stunned. "You're delusional."
"In any case," Jiraiya continued, now riding his high, "I'll pay the fine. I'm not broke, you know. If money can solve a problem, then it's not a problem."
Shinki chuckled. "Let's see if you still feel that way after you actually hand over the money."
True to his word, Jiraiya delivered the fine to the Hokage's office an hour later.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at the money in disbelief. "You… actually paid it?"
Jiraiya grinned. "Of course! I'm not short on cash, you know. My royalties are doing quite well."
The Hokage clenched his teeth. This idiot has more money than the entire village treasury.
With that matter settled, life in the village returned to its usual rhythm. Jiraiya's return caused little commotion—he wasn't one for pomp or ceremony, and most of the village was preoccupied with the ongoing war with Suna.
To maintain a position of strength during negotiations, Konoha chose to prolong the conflict, unwilling to appear weak or desperate. For now, the fighting continued, though everyone knew Suna couldn't hold out much longer.
As the New Year approached, Shinki prepared for a rare treat: a peaceful holiday in the village.
In previous years, trouble always seemed to find him right before the New Year. This time, though, he was determined to relax and enjoy the festivities.
"Let's see how long this peace lasts," he muttered, shaking his head as he stocked up on supplies.
With Jiraiya back in the village, it seemed unlikely to last long.
>>>>>
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[Naruto: Maelstrom Of the Uzumaki]