"Teacher Sarutobi."
Jiraiya couldn't help feeling a little envious as he looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who seemed much younger than him and looked like he'd been given a second lease on life.
Jiraiya had spent these past years traveling around, and he could clearly feel his stamina declining and his body growing old.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen looked full of life, nothing like a man nearing sixty.
Even Tsunade's Yin Seal could only preserve her appearance. It couldn't keep her vitality this strong...
Jiraiya thought to himself.
Could Teacher Sarutobi really have discovered some kind of Immortality technique?
Still, Sarutobi Hiruzen's appearance made Jiraiya feel very uncomfortable. Calling him "Teacher Sarutobi" seemed backward; it should have been the other way around.
"I came to check on Naruto."
Jiraiya got down to business, sounding relieved.
"It looks like Naruto's doing well..."
"Konoha seems to be doing better and better, too."
Jiraiya naturally felt a deep attachment to Konoha. Seeing it flourish was one of his wishes.
Ever since that old bastard Danzo died, Teacher Sarutobi had seemed like a different person. Not only had he grown younger, he'd also become more diligent in governing.
He'd led Konoha into another golden age.
Jiraiya then told Sarutobi Hiruzen how he'd seen Naruto and Sasuke causing a commotion on his way here, nearly getting into trouble, and said Sarutobi Hiruzen ought to keep a closer eye on Naruto.
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't take it to heart. As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto naturally had Anbu watching over him. Even if Jiraiya hadn't intervened, Naruto probably wouldn't have been hurt.
"Enough of the small talk..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen waved a hand.
"Did you come here for something else, too?"
Jiraiya nodded.
"I've found traces of Hiruko."
"I'm tracking him now. I happened to pass by Konoha..."
At the mention