Naruto: In Konoha Village, I awakened Wood Release at the start.

Leaf.

The Sarutobi clan's residence.

"Thump!"

"You damned bastard!"

"Do you really think I'm that stupid?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi rolled his eyes.

He slammed his pipe on the table and began to shout.

Jiraiya was stunned.

I never expected the old man to react this way.

"Most of my body is already buried."

"What am I supposed to use to fight that monster?"

"Are you suggesting I use these old bones of mine to fill that hundreds-of-meters-tall wooden statue?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi pointed at Jiraiya's nose.

He had long since given up on resisting.

It all started when Chiba summoned that terrifying wooden doll at the Senju base.

His ambitions were crushed to pieces.

"I will honestly hand over the family business."

"I sent the youngsters of the clan to take on the mission."

"For the past two weeks, I haven't even left the house much."

"Chiba didn't exterminate the Sarutobi clan, which is already a sign that he showed mercy."

"I'm not so foolish as to throw my life away."

"But it's you!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi glared at Jiraiya.

"He's always out gallivanting around, and he didn't even come back when such a big thing happened in the village."

"Now you've come back to lecture this old man?"

"Get out of here!"

"Leave me alone!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away a fly.

Looking at the old man with his hair standing on end.

The weight that had been hanging over Jiraiya's heart finally lifted.

He could tell.

The old man has truly let go.

There was no resentment, no bitterness.

Only the helplessness and resignation of the losers remain.

"hey-hey."

Jiraiya reverted to his usual carefree self.

He stood up and dusted off his bottom.

"Just take it easy, old man."

"Then I'm going to take a bath."

"I heard a new hot spring resort opened at the east end of the village, and the proprietress is absolutely stunning..."

He hadn't finished speaking.

A teacup came flying with a whoosh.

"roll!"

Jiraiya easily caught the teacup, then laughed and leaped onto the roof.

After a few leaps, they disappeared from Sarutobi's base.

After leaving the Sarutobi clan.

Jiraiya felt more relaxed than ever before.

He was walking down the street.

Upright and honorable.

No longer using the transformation technique to hide himself as he did a few days ago.

The streets of Konoha in the afternoon were so bustling that it was almost unrecognizable.

It's only been half a month.

The entire village has a different spirit and energy.

Street vendors were shouting their wares at the top of their lungs.

The passing ninja hurried along.

Everyone's face was filled with an indescribable fervor.

"Boss."

"Three skewers of three-color meatballs, please! To go!"

A ninja wearing a Chunin vest stands in front of a dumpling shop.

He took out his money and slapped it on the counter.

"Alright!"

"Matsumoto-san, you're off work early today?"

The proprietress handed over the meatballs with a smile.

The chunin called Matsumoto laughed heartily.

"What do you mean 'early'?!"

"Just finished a C-level escort mission and got ten merit points!"

"If I collect another fifty points, I can exchange them for that water array wall!"

"I'm not talking to you anymore."

"I bet they're going to release new quests in the quest lobby soon, I need to go and stake them out!"

Matsumoto grabbed the dumplings and ran off like the wind.

Jiraiya stood on the street corner.

Seeing this scene, I couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

These were the commoner chunin from before.

After they completed their mission, which one of them didn't go to a tavern and get completely drunk?

Eat and wait to die.

Anyway, this is all the ability I'll ever have in my life.

What now?

They were as energetic as if they'd been injected with chicken blood.

Keep going.

I passed by a small park.

Jiraiya saw several Uchiha clan ninjas helping an old woman in a tree catch a ninja cat.

Elite members of the police department.

Their Sharingan is activated.

They're catching a cat!

The key point is that there was not a trace of humiliation on their faces.

Instead, after catching the cat, they excitedly took the authorization form to get it stamped.

"Heavens above..."

Jiraiya rubbed his eyes.

He suspected he was under a spell.

When did those arrogant Uchiha gang members become so down-to-earth?

Just because of that merit point?

Jiraiya shook his head.

Chiba Senju's cunning scheme was truly masterful.

It has tied everyone's interests together.

Whether they are commoners or families.

Want to become stronger?

Then let's do our best to contribute to the village.

Just then.

A burst of noise interrupted Jiraiya's thoughts.

He looked up.

Before they knew it, they had arrived near the ninja academy.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the school gate.

The school bell had just rung.

A group of kids poured out of the school gate.

Parents waited outside, smiling as they greeted their children.

Jiraiya stopped in his tracks.

His gaze swept across the crowd.

Sudden.

A familiar figure appeared in his field of vision.

A head of flamboyant silver short hair.

A black mask covered most of his face.

Konoha's Anbu Chief.

Kakashi Hatake.

At this moment, Kakashi was not wearing his Anbu uniform, but only a simple casual outfit.

He relaxed his shoulders and held a copy of "Intimate Paradise" in his hands.

This is not the point.

The key point is...

Kakashi's other hand was holding a child's hand.

It was a boy who was about six years old.

Her short, golden hair was as bristly as a hedgehog's, and her bright blue eyes darted around.

The most conspicuous.

On each side of his cheeks were three lines resembling fox whiskers.

Naruto Uzumaki.

Jiraiya stood frozen in place as if struck by lightning.

The surrounding noise vanished instantly.

In his world, only those two figures, one big and one small, remained.

Watergate...

Kushina...

The images that had tormented him in his dreams day and night surged wildly into his mind at this moment.

As Minato's teacher, he didn't even dare to look at the child.

Because of the ban imposed by the Konoha leadership.

No one is allowed to touch the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

But now.

Kakashi openly led Naruto by the hand, walking down the most bustling street in Konoha.

There was no covert surveillance.

There was no cursing from the villagers.

Several villagers passing by even smiled and greeted Naruto.

"Kakashi-nii-san!"

Naruto tugged at Kakashi's sleeve and shouted loudly.

"Today, Iruka-sensei taught us how to refine chakra!"

"I was the first in the whole class to succeed!"

"You promised to treat me to Ichiraku Ramen!"

Kakashi reluctantly looked away from the book.

He sighed and pulled out his somewhat depleted wallet.

"You little rascal, your appetite is getting bigger and bigger."

"Let's make it clear beforehand, you're only allowed to eat two big bowls."

"Yay!"

Naruto cheered with joy.

He grabbed Kakashi and ran towards the ramen shop.

Just then.

Kakashi stopped in his tracks.

He sensed a very penetrating gaze.

He turned his head and saw Jiraiya standing on the street corner.

Kakashi's pupils contracted slightly.

He quickly stuffed the book into his pocket, and unconsciously tightened his grip on Naruto's hand.

Jiraiya-sama?

When did he return to the village?

The two looked at each other from a distance of several dozen meters.

Naruto noticed Kakashi's unusual behavior.

He followed Kakashi's gaze and saw a strange old man with white hair.

The man's eyes were red, as if he were crying.

"Brother Kakashi."

"Who is that middle-aged man?"

"Looks silly."

Naruto tugged at Kakashi's hand.

The child's innocent words broke the silence between the two.

Kakashi snapped out of his daze.

He looked down at Naruto, his eyes softening considerably.

"That was... a very remarkable ninja."

Kakashi said softly.

Then.

He raised his head again and nodded slightly in Jiraiya's direction.

Jiraiya remained standing in the same spot.

He remained in that stiff posture, his eyes burning with heat.

He rubbed his eyes hard, a smile that looked more like a grimace tugging at the corners of his mouth.

The children of Watergate.

at last……

Is it safe to walk in the sunlight now?

You don't have to be treated like a monster.

They don't have to be locked in dark corners.

You can laugh and talk loudly like a normal child, and ask for a bowl of ramen.

This is the change brought about by Chiba Senju.

This is the power of the Fifth Hokage.

Jiraiya raised his head.

Looking at the fiery red sunset on the horizon.

An unprecedented surge of heat welled up in his chest.

Screw the Will of Fire.

This is what Konoha should look like!

Jiraiya took a deep breath.

He started walking towards Kakashi and Naruto.

"Hello!"

"Kakashi!"

"How can you treat people to ramen without inviting me!"

"..."