At the passenger ship terminal of Dawn Shipping in the Land of Waves.
A passenger ship bound for the Land of Fire was making its final preparations before departure.
Jiraiya stood at the bow alone, gazing out over this land that had been utterly transformed.
Everything he had seen and heard in the Land of Waves during this time had shaken his heart and understanding again and again.
Whether it was the knowledge taught in the schools, the young people using Ninjutsu under Dawn Shipping to carry out construction, or the so-called technology that could "train stronger ninjas in the shortest possible time."
All of it proved that the times had truly changed—and that change had begun in the Land of Waves, once an exceptionally poor country.
It was also time to go back and have a proper talk with Naruto.
Jiraiya had long since confirmed Naruto's ascension as the Fifth Hokage through various channels and intelligence networks. Even now, he still found it somewhat unbelievable, yet somehow only natural.
Just as he turned to head back and rest, an extremely faint ripple of Chakra and a slight sound suddenly came from behind him.
Jiraiya's gaze sharpened slightly, his body tensing as he spun around in an instant, ready to fight.
Yet the figure before him was not the enemy he had expected.
It was a blond boy in a white robe, smiling warmly.
Naruto Uzumaki.
"Pervy Sage, how was your tour of the Land of Waves?" Naruto asked first, his tone relaxed.
Jiraiya's tense body slowly relaxed. A flicker of surprise crossed his face before turning into a helpless smile. Shaking his head, he said, "That entrance of yours really is just like Minato's—appearing and disappearing without a trace, always catching people off guard."
"I've placed my Flying Thunder