Epilogue

Hanzō left.

Leaving behind a mess.

Afterward, Tsunade checked the wounded and discovered that over the long period, the ninjas poisoned by the Salamander had long since stopped breathing.

The Sannin hastily treated their injuries, buried their comrades, and embarked on the road back.

Meanwhile, White Fang had cut through the Sand Ninja front line, and Hanzō had returned to drive away the Sand Ninja. The Second Great Ninja War was essentially coming to a close.

"Drip, drip."

The Land of Rain, as if perpetually weeping, was caught in an unending drizzle.

The Sannin, having endured a long war, were not in the mood to rush back. Instead, they walked at a leisurely pace, trying to relax their minds after the great battle.

And Hyuga Ao followed closely behind the Sannin like a little tagalong.

As the mood of the great battle slowly dissipated, the four took shelter in a cave to avoid the rain and were simply preparing lunch.

Jiraiya took a bite of a biscuit and sighed, "Ending in Konoha's victory? Just like he said."

"What will you do next? Will you start a new journey again?" Tsunade asked.

"Probably," Jiraiya looked up at the sky. "Start a journey again, and then write another book."

Tsunade glanced sideways at Jiraiya.

Shifting her gaze, Tsunade tentatively asked, "Why don't you stay in the village?"

"I have a feeling... I'll foresee something again."

Jiraiya looked up at the sky, seeing only prophecy and ideals.

"Sigh." Hyuga Ao sat behind them, observing the pair. Seeing this scene, she couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"Jiraiya, oh Jiraiya, why didn't Tsunade choose you? You really have no clue!"

Hyuga Ao thought. Tsunade was a rather practical woman. Ideals were too vague for her; what she wanted was for people to simply be there.

Although Tsunade had been surrounded by many men with grand ideals since childhood, she didn't like such people.

To her, if a person was gone, what use were ideals?

Ahead, the conversation continued.

"Is it that destined person we spoke of earlier?"

Tsunade understood. It seemed Jiraiya wouldn't stop his journey.

"Shh!" At this moment, Orochimaru walked over, interrupting their conversation.

Tsunade shouted, "Who's there? Come out!"

An orange hue peeked out from behind a stone pillar, and Yahiko emerged.

Yahiko's eyes were resolute. He extended his hands and pleaded, "Please give us some food."

"Where are your parents?" Jiraiya asked.

Yahiko lowered his gaze, hiding the hatred in his eyes. "They were killed by ninjas in this war."

Jiraiya was taken aback. He took out food from his bag. "Here, have some dry bread."

Yahiko rejoiced and turned back to call, "Nagato, Konan, come out! They don't seem like bad people!"

Konan and Nagato exchanged a glance and emerged from the rock pillars where they had been hiding.

It was then that Hyuga Ao got a clear look at the appearances of the three children from the Land of Rain.

Nagato was silent and frail, Konan was delicate and beautiful, her face lit up by the food.

Yahiko wore a smile, not yet the Deva Path Pain who would later ask everyone, "How many kilograms of rice do you need to carry?"

Nagato and Konan quickly took all of Jiraiya and Tsunade's food.

Tsunade's food was taken, and she wanted to say something but held back, considering they were just children.

Hyuga Ao chuckled. Tsunade at this time was not the later, unrestrained old hag, but at most a young woman on the verge of being old.

Hyuga Ao waved her hand. "There's more here!"

Konan approached Hyuga Ao. There was nothing in front of Hyuga Ao, and Konan tilted her head in confusion.

So cute I could die!

Hyuga Ao felt utterly charmed.

Little Konan, only five years old, showed no hint of the future cold, angelic appearance.

Hyuga Ao smiled. "You'll have to trade for it!"

"Can you fold paper? Fold something for me."

Hyuga Ao handed Konan a piece of paper.

Konan took the paper and was stunned for a moment. Her fingers flew, and a paper crane sprang to life.

"Wow, amazing," Hyuga Ao said, taking the paper crane. "You keep your word. Here's a Storage Scroll. Find a safe place to tear it open, and the food will come out."

Konan held the scroll, unsure what to do. At only five years old, she didn't know what a Storage Scroll was.

However, Yahiko recognized it. He walked over and gestured for Konan to accept it. After thanking them, the three children quickly ran off.

After the three children left, Tsunade asked curiously, "Ao'er, do you like them a lot?"

"Yes, Tsunade-nee, I really like that little girl."

Hyuga Ao smiled back.

"Oh." Tsunade remembered Konan's appearance and, after thinking for a moment, didn't ask further.

After a simple lunch, the four continued on their way.

As they walked, Hyuga Ao noticed that Yahiko and the other two were still following them.

Tsunade impatiently turned back. "Didn't we already give you food? Why are you still following us?"

Konan stepped forward and pulled out a folded paper from behind her back.

Tsunade was about to react when Jiraiya held her back.

Konan held out a paper flower with both hands, her eyes curving into crescents. "Thank you. This is a return gift!"

Tsunade was taken aback. "Are you giving this to us?"

Yahiko stepped forward. "Teach us ninjutsu. You're Konohagakure ninjas, right?"

Tsunade and Jiraiya were both startled.

Orochimaru walked over and suggested, "Should we kill them? I've seen many war orphans, and their fates are always miserable."

"It might be better to kill them here, for these children's sake..."

Hyuga Ao put her hand to her forehead. She couldn't believe Orochimaru was saying this out of kindness.

Jiraiya interrupted, "Stop talking, Orochimaru. You guys go back first. I'll take temporary care of these little ones!"

"Huh?" Tsunade's mouth dropped open in surprise.

"At least until they can stand on their own. This can be a form of atonement."

"But..." Tsunade wanted to say more.

Jiraiya, however, had already walked up to the three children.

Hyuga Ao watched the scene. "A choice of fate?" she murmured.

Given Jiraiya's resolute attitude, Tsunade and Orochimaru could only let him have his way.

As Hyuga Ao left, she tossed a badge to Konan. "You can use this badge to find me at the Hyuga Clan Compound in the future!"

Although Hyuga Ao wanted to stay a little longer, she wasn't Jiraiya. Jiraiya could stay, but she couldn't.

She could only try to leave a lasting impression on the three children, to make them remember her.

After experiencing Jiraiya's fateful decision, Hyuga Ao and the other two quickly returned to the village. The speed of three Kage-level shinobi was truly incredible.

Three days later, they arrived back in Konohagakure.

Stepping onto the bustling streets of Konoha, the roar of the crowd pulled their minds away from the battlefield.

"What do we do next?" Tsunade asked.

"I'm heading back," Orochimaru said.

"And you?" Tsunade looked at Hyuga Ao.

"How about we go to the hot springs? My treat."

"Okay!" Tsunade's eyes lit up, and she glanced at Orochimaru for his opinion.

"You guys go ahead," Orochimaru said, turning to leave.

It was the same hot spring as last time.

After washing up, Tsunade stepped lightly into the pool.

Hyuga Ao marveled at Tsunade's exaggerated figure.

According to unofficial sources (Jiraiya), Tsunade was just a young girl with a flat chest in her youth. After learning Medical Ninjutsu, she'd gained two massive mountains.

Hyuga Ao's curiosity got the better of her. She lightly touched her fingertips to her own chest and asked, "Tsunade-nee, why are yours so big?"

"I heard from Master Jiraiya that it's the effect of Medical Ninjutsu. Is that true?"

Tsunade had been smiling at the first half of the question, but her eyebrows shot up upon hearing the second half. She clenched her fists, her knuckles cracking.

"That bastard Jiraiya! How dare he say that about me!"

Watching the furious Tsunade, Hyuga Ao couldn't help but swallow. Fortunately, she had shifted the blame to Jiraiya.

In the Hokage, if no one knew who invented a particular ninjutsu, it was assumed the Second Hokage invented it.

If there's any blame to be passed around, it's Danzo's.

And for rumors like this, especially the scandalous ones, it's always safe to pin them on Jiraiya.

Tsunade's chest heaved with anger. She saw the surprised look in Hyuga Ao's eyes, blushed, and began to list a hundred reasons why Hyuga Ao should stay away from Jiraiya.

Jiraiya's hundred original sins, a hundred reasons why Jiraiya should be beaten to death.

Hyuga Ao listened, cold sweat pouring down her face.

Meanwhile, Hyuga Ao was happily soaking in the hot springs.

On the other side, the impact of this war was slowly spreading.

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