"Very well. It seemed no one had chosen to leave. I now announce the tenth question of this exam."
"Congratulations. Everyone who stayed has passed the first stage of the exam!"
After a brief moment of shock and silence, disbelieving cheers erupted, along with questions from those who had remained calm.
"Oh, nice. That figure, that quality... as expected of Konoha. Is this the scent of home?"
While the exam was in full swing, not everyone was paying attention to it. At the very least, most people in Konoha were carrying on as usual.
On a rooftop somewhere in Konoha, a figure in a red vest held a monocular telescope, staring unblinkingly at the opposite side with an exceedingly lecherous grin.
Across from him was one of Konoha's women's bathhouses.
Suddenly, faint footsteps sounded across the rooftop, followed by a somewhat helpless voice. "After all these years, you haven't changed one bit... Jiraiya!"
"Hm?" Jiraiya turned, surprise flickering in his eyes. Before him stood someone in a white robe, a large character for "Fire" clearly displayed on his specially made conical hat.
"You really are free, Sensei Hiruzen. You actually had the time to come see me in person."
Exhaling a puff of smoke and removing his pipe from his mouth, Hiruzen Sarutobi said calmly, "If I hadn't come, I'm afraid you wouldn't have seen me before leaving again. Do you still resent me?"
Jiraiya folded up the monocular telescope, rose to his feet, and chuckled. "Don't say something so stupid. I never resented you for anything to begin with. You know that—I simply couldn't stand seeing those things happen. That's just my nature. There's nothing I can do about it."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed softly. "I know. That's why, all these years, I never said a word about you