Beneath the waterfall of Mount Myōboku.
Minato washed himself in the water while Jiraiya sat on a rock nearby. The current was swift, rising past a person's knees.
The gigantic Gamabunta beside them puffed out a thick cloud of smoke from his pipe.
"Jiraiya, Minato, have you thought about what you'll do from now on?"
Jiraiya scratched his head. "We'll talk about the future when it comes."
Minato emerged from the water then, bare-chested and looking much more spirited.
But compared to before, his entire demeanor was still far colder and harder.
"Jiraiya-sensei, I dragged you into this."
Jiraiya chuckled. "You call me sensei. How could I stand by and watch you die?"
Minato asked, "Can you still return to Konoha?"
Jiraiya slowly shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Hyuga Homura is from the Hyuga Clan. He must have recognized me last night."
"Then will you go to Amegakure?"
"Amegakure is now closely tied to Konoha. Yahiko has worked very hard to build and govern the village, so it would be best not to cause any problems in that important relationship because of me. I plan to wander around, as I did before, and keep writing my novels. I'd get tired of staying in one place for too long anyway."
Jiraiya appeared utterly carefree, unconcerned by his current circumstances.
After saying that, he looked at Minato again. "As for you, I went through a great deal to get you out. Don't do anything foolish again."
Minato fell silent for a moment. "I understand."
He looked toward the waterfall, his gaze tranquil.
Jiraiya sighed inwardly, and Tsunade came to mind again.
With the Second Hokage in the village, even if they traced it back to Tsunade, nothing should happen...
Gamabunta puffed out another thick cloud of smoke, which lingered in the