The Sannin were still the first to make a name for themselves. After vanishing for half a year, Jiraiya miraculously returned, leaving everyone in Konoha utterly stunned.
At the time, even Hiruzen Sarutobi had held no hope that he was still alive, yet he had unexpectedly returned safe and sound in the end.
Naturally, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Orochimaru, and Tsunade were the happiest of all. That very night, they held a small celebration.
However, everyone in Konoha was deeply curious about where he had gone during those six months. Jiraiya remained tight-lipped about it, revealing nothing to anyone except his teacher. Even when Tsunade privately asked him several times, he did not let a single word slip.
After learning that Jiraiya had been rescued by the Sages of Mount Myoboku, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to help him keep the secret. As the Third Hokage, he knew some of the hidden details regarding one of the legendary Three Great Sage Regions.
With Hiruzen Sarutobi covering for him, no one in Konoha pursued the matter of where Jiraiya had been for the past six months, and everything returned to peace.
Over the following years, the three, who had yet to earn the title of the Sannin, began undertaking numerous diplomatic missions.
Through their flawless cooperation, they completed even A-rank missions several times. Gradually, their reputations began to spread through certain circles.
Aside from them, others of the new generation also began to emerge in the shinobi world. Among them, the one who rose the fastest was a young man named Hatake Sakumo.
He was the sole remaining heir of the Hatake Clan, its lineage reduced to a single descendant. At such a young age, he had already mastered his clan's inherited swordsmanship and ninjutsu to an exceptionally high level. Within three years of graduating