Daughter Country of the Ninja World

"I know Jiraiya's disciples well!" Naruto said with a grin. "But I can't just tell some strange people, can I?"

His teammates all rolled their eyes. That was more than knowing them well—you practically knew them inside out.

The woman who looked to be in her thirties or forties said, "Pardon my rudeness. My name is Tokiwa, and this is Miss Shizuka. We're from Nadeshiko Village."

Nadeshiko Village was the Daughter Country of the ninja world. The entire village was made up of women. To ensure the village's continued growth, women of marriageable age would challenge powerful outsiders. Whoever defeated them would be brought back to the village to have children. Whether the men married into the village or left afterward was up to them.

Several decades ago, when Jiraiya had been traveling the world, he passed through Nadeshiko Village. Naturally, he snuck in to gather material, only to be discovered.

Back then, Jiraiya had been a tall, handsome young man. The Village Chief at the time—Shizuka's Master—fell for him at first sight and insisted on dueling him.

According to Nadeshiko Village's rules, if Jiraiya won, he could do whatever he wanted. But Jiraiya said that although he wandered the ninja world without even keeping in touch, his heart already belonged to someone.

So despite the Village Chief being very beautiful, Jiraiya chose to go easy on her and fought her to a draw. In the end, he used a delaying tactic, postponing this marriage-by-combat match to the next generation—their disciples.

For an old pervert like Jiraiya to give up an entire forest for Tsunade, one crooked tree, it was clear just how deep his feelings ran.

Thus, decades later, the Village Chief passed away. As her successor, Shizuka came looking for him to fulfill their old agreement.

Actually, Nadeshiko Shizuka had once had a first-love boyfriend, but he had been an ordinary person. Based on the ten-odd seconds of introduction in the anime, he was probably the classic useless light-novel male lead who had nothing going for him except being nice. Unfortunately, that type did not fare well in this world. He died.

Shizuka was heartbroken. She believed that she had been unable to protect the person she loved because she was not strong enough, so she devoted herself to training and becoming stronger.

Then she suffered the blow of her Master's death. Shizuka decided to leave the village with Tokiwa, find Jiraiya's disciple, and fulfill the agreement from back then.

After listening to Tokiwa explain the whole story, Naruto nudged Kakashi with his elbow and asked, "What do you think?"

Kakashi thought for a moment and said, "Nadeshiko Village... I've heard of it, but whether such an agreement exists or not will have to be confirmed with Lord Jiraiya."

Naruto sighed. I wasn't asking what you thought about this. I was asking whether you had any thoughts about carrying on the Hatake Clan. You're going to die alone.

Sakura and Temari sighed. "A village like that actually exists..."

Tokiwa made herself completely at home and said, "It looks like you're heading back to Konoha, right? Could we travel with you?"

Kakashi did not object. They were going to Konoha anyway, so traveling together was fine.

They spent the night at an inn and continued their journey the next day, except there were now two strangers in the group.

Tokiwa was rather talkative, and Kakashi was happy to use the opportunity to gather more information.

Shizuka, on the other hand, barely said a few words the entire way. She looked as though she had seen through the emptiness of worldly life, and she did not even spare Sasuke's handsome face a glance, which put Sakura much more at ease.

Sakura had seen Shizuka after she removed her cloak at the inn yesterday. Perhaps because she was a few years older than them, her figure was even better than Hinata's current one. Sakura immediately raised her guard, afraid that this woman might lose her mind and challenge Sasuke.

The group arrived at Konoha amid a strange atmosphere. Izumo and Kotetsu greeted them warmly. "Yo, Kakashi, you're back."

Then they leaned close to Kakashi's ear mysteriously, raised their brows, and whispered, "Why did you bring back so many pretty women?"

Tokiwa and Shizuka froze when they heard Kakashi's name. Wasn't he Sakata Gintoki? They gave the group strange looks. So these people had all been using fake names?

Sasuke's expression did not change in the slightest, completely lacking the awareness of someone whose lie had been exposed. Naruto and Sakura let their gazes wander and said nothing. Temari did not speak either. This is your village's business. I'll just watch the show.

Kakashi turned his head with an awkward laugh. "It's perfectly reasonable for ninja to use code names outside the village, isn't it?"

Tokiwa reluctantly accepted Kakashi's explanation. She had not expected him to be the famous Konoha Technician.

Kakashi explained the situation to Izumo and Kotetsu, asking Tokiwa and Shizuka to wait at the gate while they turned in their mission and found Jiraiya to confirm the matter.

"I'll go find the Pervy Sage. You guys turn in the mission!" Naruto said, immediately slipping away.

Kakashi sighed helplessly. He always felt that Naruto was trying to set his father up. Forget it, he would give Minato-sensei a heads-up later.

Naruto caught Jiraiya in his office, a rare occurrence. Was he actually working seriously?

Jiraiya looked up and asked, "Naruto, what is it?"

Naruto shut the door, folded his arms, and put on an imposing act. "Pervy Sage, your crimes have been exposed. Come with me."

"Impossible!" Jiraiya slammed his pen onto the desk. "The new place I found is..."

Listening to Jiraiya's voice gradually fade, Naruto blinked, feeling as though he had tricked something incredible out of him. "Go on. What about this new place you found?"

Seeing Naruto's surprised expression, Jiraiya realized that he had misunderstood and confessed without being asked. He coughed to conceal his guilt and said, "Ahem. I meant that the new place I found is extremely suitable for setting up hidden sentries. Even I can't tell you about it."

Naruto looked at him with disdain. Who are you trying to fool? Anyone could guess that the hidden sentry was near a bathhouse, with you personally in charge of surveillance.

"Enough. Tell me what you came for. I'm very busy," Jiraiya said, changing the subject.

Naruto casually replied, "One of your old romantic debts. They've come looking for you now."

Jiraiya said righteously, "Don't talk nonsense. What romantic debts could I possibly have?"

"They're from Nadeshiko Village. They're waiting at the village gate to see you." Naruto was curious whether Jiraiya could still remember.

"Nadeshiko Village..." A nostalgic look appeared on Jiraiya's face.

Just then, the office door was shoved open with a bang. Tsunade leaned against the doorframe, her arms folded beneath her chest, lifting her burdens as she asked pleasantly, "Go on, then. What about Nadeshiko Village?"

Jiraiya: OvO

"Tsunade, let me explain!"

Oh ho, that was the standard guilty tone. Even if there had been nothing, it now sounded like there was. Naruto chose to watch the show.

Tsunade shot him a sidelong glance. "Talk. I'm listening."

"It happened like this..." Jiraiya quickly explained what had happened back then.

Tsunade's expression softened somewhat, and she looked at Naruto. "Is that so?"

"Other than the part where he bragged about being handsome, dashing, extraordinarily charming, and captivating countless young women, it was basically true. Also, the person who fought the Pervy Sage back then has already passed away."

Naruto did not continue setting him up. He had the feeling that Tsunade and Jiraiya's relationship might have progressed lately.

Having basically survived the crisis, Jiraiya started acting up again. "Hey, Naruto, what do you mean, other than that part?"

Naruto said, "Heh heh."

Tsunade said, "Heh heh."