Jiraiya, Your True Colors Are Melancholy

"I'm a pessimist?" Jiraiya burst into laughter, his voice shaking the roof.

"I treat death like air. I indulge myself, I peep on women, I can face my own desires head-on, and I don't care in the slightest about society's praise or criticism. Minato, you actually think I'm a pessimist?"

Tsunade laughed as well, finding it utterly absurd.

Yet Minato did not think there was anything wrong with his judgment.

He laughed along with them for a while before saying:

"Jiraiya-sensei truly is a pessimist.

The core of drama is tragedy, and beneath optimism lies pessimism.

Jiraiya-sensei's uninhibited nature is his attitude toward trivial matters. But when Jiraiya-sensei faces important matters, he is exceptionally serious.

For example, in the way Tsunade-sensei and Jiraiya-sensei regard the village: Tsunade-sensei can leave the village without a second thought, but Jiraiya-sensei does not yet have that same decisiveness."

"The core of drama is tragedy, and beneath optimism lies pessimism..." Tsunade looked at Jiraiya. "I see. Minato, you do have a point."

Jiraiya pursed his lips as he drank, feeling that his disciple was simply making wild guesses.

"More importantly..." Minato continued.

"Jiraiya-sensei firmly believes in Mount Myōboku's prophecy. He firmly believes that the Child of Prophecy can bring change to the ninja world.

I do not deny that I have benefited from Mount Myōboku's prophecy. Jiraiya-sensei believed that I was the Child of Prophecy, so he treated me far better than Yoshimaru and Haneina.

I received care that no one else my age ever could have enjoyed. I even learned Mount Myōboku's toad Summoning Technique. I do not even know how to thank you, Sensei.

However, believing in prophecy is itself a sign of pessimism."

Minato suddenly grew agitated.

"It is not the Child of Prophecy who brings change to the ninja world. Rather, whoever brings change to the ninja world is the Child of Prophecy.

Nor is the Child of Prophecy a single person. Every person is the Child of Prophecy!

Only by gathering the strength of the majority can we bring true change to the ninja world!"

Jiraiya slowly set down his wine cup, genuine shock on his face.

Seeing Minato's unusually bright eyes and the exceptional firmness in his words, Tsunade unconsciously set down her cup as well.

She exchanged a glance with Jiraiya. Both their eyes conveyed the same thought: Is this the Child of Prophecy?

Minato said to Jiraiya:

"Sensei! There is no such thing as the Child of Prophecy!

As long as you possess the determination to bring change to the ninja world, if you begin striving from this moment onward, you too will be the Child of Prophecy!

Sensei, you place too much faith in prophecy. That is a sign of pessimism. Someone as powerful as you should not be so pessimistic!"

Facing Minato's glittering gaze, Jiraiya merely smiled and said, "Minato, you have observed very carefully. Perhaps I really am a pessimist."

As though she were seeing Jiraiya for the first time, Tsunade looked at the confusion in his eyes and sensed his dejection.

Minato was right. Jiraiya was more profound than he appeared.

Who would have thought? Jiraiya was actually such a profound person.

Tsunade asked, "Then what about Orochimaru, Minato? What kind of person do you think Orochimaru is?"

"Orochimaru-sensei is a busy person. He focuses on what is before him. Orochimaru-sensei is actually an optimist; he believes his research will yield results every day."

Minato could not speak of the deeper information regarding Orochimaru, such as those inhumane experiments. Most clan heads did not know about those experiments.

The next morning, Uchiha Ishijima came to bid Tsunade farewell.

"Princess Tsunade, there is the lease agreement with the Senju Clan, as well as many matters concerning Konoha's Military Police Force. I will return to Konoha first."

"Wait!"

Tsunade suddenly raised her hand, startling everyone else.

Fugaku and the others thought the plan had changed, that Princess Tsunade had regretted it overnight.

After clearing her throat, Tsunade said, "The lease will definitely proceed, but every agreement requires a deposit, doesn't it? Give me the deposit first, and we can deduct it from the official contract later."

Uchiha Ishijima was stunned. Had the Senju Clan fallen to such depths already?

He quickly concealed his shock and asked, "Princess Tsunade, how much do you think would be appropriate for the deposit? You mean a deposit, not earnest money, correct?"

Tsunade had been pampered since childhood. How could she know the difference between earnest money and a deposit? She said, "It does not matter whether it is earnest money or a deposit, and the amount does not matter either. Just give me all the money you have on you."

Even Jiraiya shook his head wildly. How was that any different from robbery?

Uchiha Ishijima looked toward an Uchiha jonin, who took out a scroll and unsealed three chests from it.

"There are three million ryo in total. This is all we brought with us. Princess Tsunade, is it enough?"

"Enough, enough. More than enough."

After receiving the money, Tsunade left without looking back, not sparing Jiraiya and the others a single glance.

Jiraiya watched Tsunade's departing back for a long time, reluctant to look away.

The others remained silent, waiting for Jiraiya to come to his senses.

"My, my. I did not even go peeping last night, yet looking at Tsunade now, I find her quite pleasing to the eye."

No one exposed Jiraiya, and they all chimed in agreement.

Jiraiya suddenly realized something.

"Wait, no! Clan Head Ishijima, if you're going back, what about me? How can you break your word? You said the Empty District was very far away. If you return, doesn't that mean I have to return with you?"

Uchiha Ishijima said:

"Jiraiya, of course I will not break my word. I will not go to the Empty District, but Fugaku can accompany you there.

Whether you travel quickly or slowly is up to you. The mission will end whenever you return to the village, and I will settle the mission expenses with you then."

Jiraiya's eyes flickered. He turned to look in Tsunade's direction, then looked at the Uchiha jonin behind Ishijima.

Minato immediately realized what Jiraiya was about to do and raised a hand to rub his temple.

"Clan Head Ishijima, I wonder if I can, like Tsunade, receive an advance on my mission payment?"

Minato hurriedly said, "No, no, no! Clan Head Ishijima, Jiraiya-sensei is joking. We will leave first. We are heading to the Empty District right now."

Jiraiya wanted to say more, but Minato dragged him away.

"Sensei, all the money Clan Head Ishijima brought has been given to Tsunade-sensei! Clan Head Ishijima cannot produce any more, and there is no point asking for a small amount. Better to avoid trouble and let it go. I will work harder, cultivate more land for others, earn some money, and pay for you to visit the bathhouse."

Jiraiya nodded repeatedly. "That is true. It is all Tsunade's fault for being so greedy. She actually took all three chests of money. That was too much. Now there is nothing left for me to ask for."

Uchiha Ishijima watched Fugaku leave with Jiraiya's team, feeling gratified.

Hopefully, Fugaku could build a good relationship with Jiraiya. More importantly, he needed to forge a bond with Minato Namikaze, Konoha's child of tomorrow.