The Honey Trap

Jiraiya and Naruto left Konoha City, one after the other.

Along the way, Naruto kept pestering Jiraiya about what Ninjutsu he was going to teach him.

Hearing "Pervy Sage, Pervy Sage, Pervy Sage" constantly ringing in his ears, Jiraiya felt it was necessary to reestablish his glorious and dignified image.

Otherwise, once they reached Peach Country, if this loudmouth started shouting it around, what woman would ever come near him?

"You keep calling me Pervy Sage, Pervy Sage, but actually, I'm a very impressive person, you know."

"Huh? An impressive Pervy Sage?"

Running onto a small bridge ahead of them, Jiraiya struck a pose and began his performance with wild gestures.

"Listen up! Toad Sage is merely a title I use to hide my identity. There's nothing to hide—I am one of the undefeated Sannin, regardless of east, west, south, or north! The white-haired child, Toad Messenger, the handsome man who can make even crying children shut up—Lord Jiraiya!"

The dramatic cadence, the ridiculous and exaggerated movements, and that speech as long as an old woman's foot-binding cloth were simply too much for Naruto to understand at his age.

Jiraiya, however, felt quite pleased with himself. Maintaining his pose, he waited for Naruto's cheers, applause, and admiration.

Naruto only found it utterly baffling, so he walked right past Jiraiya with a blank expression.

Jiraiya froze in place without moving.

After walking quite a distance, Naruto noticed that Jiraiya had not caught up and hurriedly called out, "Pervy Sage! Hurry up!"

It wasn't that I wasn't good enough. Naruto simply had no eye for quality. Seriously, this brat really is an idiot!

The two arrived before a signboard, and Naruto read the words on it. "Ah, it's another ten kilometers to Duofu Street."

Jiraiya continued walking on his own. "It's Adofu