"Time really flies. Little Jiraiya and the others have all become reliable adults now."
On the way home, Senju Itama thought back to the solid figure of Jiraiya's back as he dragged Yahiko away. His face, untouched by the erosion of the years, carried a trace of lingering melancholy.
"I don't know about reliable. They've definitely gotten a lot older, though."
Beside him, Uchiha Gin lazily carried the wrapped bouquet, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
Among the Three Ninja, aside from Jiraiya, Tsunade and Orochimaru both had their own little tricks for preserving their looks.
The three of them were not even thirty yet, but the difference in their appearances had already begun to show.
Tsunade usually maintained the bearing of a sixteen-year-old girl, full of energy.
As for Orochimaru...
All that could be said was that the Yuan Yuan version was still peak among peaks, crushing 90% of female streamers.
By comparison, Jiraiya, who had grown normally, had instead become the greasiest, most dad-like man of them all, seriously dragging down the group's looks.
"Being able to serve as a team-leading Jonin already makes him much better than a certain curly-haired guy who only knows how to slack off."
Senju Itama glanced at the languid Uchiha Gin beside him and went straight for the throat.
"You don't understand. With my talent, using it just to guide three children would be far too wasteful. Comprehensively improving the moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and labor education of the Leaf Ninja is my ultimate goal."
That kind of mockery did not hurt Uchiha Gin in the slightest. Looking at Senju Itama's pout, he shook a finger with a perfectly serious expression.
"Still talking about all-around development in morals, intellect, physique, aesthetics, and labor? With that dummy that only knows how to