Hiruzen, You'll Regret This!

Konoha Gate was just ahead.

Jiraiya looked back and smiled. "Now that you're back, do you feel any different?"

"I'm going to get stronger! Next time, I'll be more useful!"

Kurenai Yuhi said firmly.

Kakashi fell silent.

He had been through this kind of thing too many times.

As for how he felt...

He couldn't really put it into words.

Some things were impossible to say aloud, like—

He really wanted to find that person and ask why, after facing death without fear, he had later returned to Konoha alive.

Why hadn't that person dared to kill himself?

But—

Kakashi hadn't seen him in a long time.

Maybe he had joined the Anbu, or gone somewhere else.

As for anything else—

After a moment's thought, Kakashi said, "I still need to get stronger."

Stronger?

Jiraiya glanced at Kakashi, feeling both worried and surprised.

Kakashi had changed a lot.

He was no longer like before, like a lifeless tool. He seemed more like a normal person now.

But—

The mindset he'd had before seemed to have shifted into a pursuit of strength. Only Kakashi knew what he was really thinking.

If he made one wrong move, who knew what might happen...

Jiraiya made a note to keep an eye on him.

Compared to Kyohiko, he thought Kakashi needed more attention now.

After all, that child's words and actions, and his understanding of the Will of Fire, were already remarkably profound. Few people his age could compare.

If Jiraiya hadn't known for certain that Kyohiko was descended from Tokah Senju, he would almost have thought Kyohiko was a descendant of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

Jiraiya looked at Kyohiko.

"What about you?"

"Nothing special. It just feels like coming home."

Kyohiko smiled.

He wasn't pretending.

He really did feel happy to be home.

All the fighting outside was no match for a peaceful, happy life at home, lazing about. Unfortunately, in the Shinobi World, that kind of life was bound to be hard to come by.

What could he do, with two old monsters watching him from the shadows?

Kyohiko sighed inwardly.

Jiraiya smiled. "Come on, let's go home. I'm buying dinner!"

"Barbecue?"

"Ahem. Barbecue's out of the question. Your teacher's completely broke right now. I made a little money this time, but not much... Once I get some money for those two, I'll treat you all to a feast. For now, I'll buy you—"

Jiraiya cleared his throat.

As he spoke, he led the way into Konoha.

At the gate—

"Haneda, Tsuchihara."

"It's Lord Jiraiya! You're finally back!"

"Lord Jiraiya!"

The two gate guards immediately bowed.

They greeted Kyohiko and Kurenai warmly, but they didn't seem nearly as friendly toward Kakashi.

Jiraiya smiled. "The mission's complete. Make a note of it."

"Yes, sir!"

After they finished the paperwork, Jiraiya had planned to take them straight to Ichiraku Ramen.

However—

Not long after they entered the village, Jiraiya sighed.

"Looks like I can't go eat ramen with you. Tell Teuchi to put it on my tab. If I can't make it in time, go ahead and eat without me."

"Okay."

Kyohiko nodded.

He knew the Anbu Ninja had arrived and that Jiraiya had noticed them. That was why he'd said that.

The three of them went their separate ways.

Jiraiya used the Body Flicker Technique and disappeared as well.

At Ichiraku Ramen—

After a brief exchange of greetings, a bowl of ramen was soon placed in front of each of them.

Hokage Office.

Jiraiya reported the situation in the Land of Waves to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen took a step forward, surprise crossing his face.

"Are you sure?"

"I personally looked into all of it, so it should be true. Mr. Matsuyama's assessment seems right to me, too. Gato and those nobles from the Land of Water may be trying to take control of the sea routes."

Jiraiya's expression turned serious.

Hiruzen furrowed his brow.

The Land of Waves.

From the Land of Water's perspective, controlling the sea routes would certainly make trade more convenient. They had both reason and the means to act. But Konoha...

He hesitated.

"Teacher."

"Jiraiya, do you think we should intervene and compete for control of the Land of Waves?"

"I think..."

Jiraiya was just as hesitant.

Hiruzen might not have tutored him as closely in his training as he had Orochimaru, but his teachings had still had a considerable influence on Jiraiya's way of thinking.

Peace.

In the past, he might have answered without hesitation: Konoha shouldn't get involved.

An advance into the Land of Waves could destroy the peace between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water, plunging them into war once more.

But Kyohiko's words still echoed in his ears.

They wanted peace, but did Kirigakure want peace?

The Seven Swords, the Hozuki Clan, and the intelligence coming out of the Land of Water in recent years all showed that Kirigakure had become even more extreme than before.

Could a village that deranged really love peace?

The more Jiraiya thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed.

With that, his doubts finally faded.

"Teacher, even setting the Land of Waves aside, I don't think we should let the Land of Water and Kirigakure achieve their goals so easily. You should know better than I do what Kirigakure is like right now, shouldn't you?"

Jiraiya spoke.

As the one in charge of the Anbu, the Hokage had to have access to more information. Jiraiya didn't believe his teacher knew nothing.

Hiruzen fell silent.

He understood what Jiraiya meant.

"Hmph!"

A cold snort came from outside.

Danzo pushed the door open and strode in. "Hiruzen, even Jiraiya understands this, yet you've done everything you can to stop me from acting in the Land of Waves."

Hiruzen's expression darkened. "Danzo!"

Jiraiya didn't interrupt.

Although he thought it was wrong to sit back and let things unfold, he didn't believe someone as extreme as Danzo could make the right decision.

He hadn't figured out exactly what they should do yet, but the goal was still peace: to end the fighting and keep the flames of war from reaching the Land of Waves, sparing its people from hardship.

If Danzo were allowed to act, even if the Third Shinobi World War didn't break out, there was no way things would end well in the Land of Waves.

"What? You're still hesitating?"

"That's enough! I'm the Hokage! I'm talking this over with Jiraiya, not asking for your opinion."

Hiruzen scolded him sharply, his tone firm.

Danzo's expression shifted between anger and uncertainty. After a long moment, he left in a fury.

"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"

After he was gone—

Hiruzen took a deep breath, sat down, and took a puff from his pipe. At last, he said, "Jiraiya, I'm surprised you'd say something like that. I thought you understood me better than anyone."

"Teacher, I do understand. But Kirigakure is too extreme. They'll never understand how much we want peace. We can't deal with people like that with a gentle approach."

As Jiraiya spoke, even he was taken aback.

He hadn't known what he thought before, but now, all at once, his thoughts had become clear.

Hiruzen held his pipe in one hand and rubbed his brow with the other.

"Even you think we should enter the Land of Waves?"

"Not necessarily."

The words came out of Jiraiya's mouth before he could stop them.

Hiruzen looked at him, puzzled.

Jiraiya froze for a moment, then scratched his head.

"I can't think of a solution right now, either. But I feel like we really need time to recuperate. Going to war with Kirigakure wouldn't be a good idea."

"..."

Hiruzen was at a loss for words.

His student had changed a lot lately.

Had someone influenced him?

Tsunade?

No, Tsunade had already left the village.

One face after another flashed through his mind, until a final image settled in his thoughts.

Kyohiko Yoshimine!

The young Genin whom Jiraiya and Tsunade had both praised so highly.

Could that child really think so deeply?

He was only seven, wasn't he?

Oh.

Soon...

He'd be eight.

Hiruzen looked dazed.

"Teacher?"

"Huh? Oh. Jiraiya, you have a point. How about this: let's both think carefully about what to do. I'll also consider how we should negotiate with Kirigakure. We can talk again in a few days."

"Okay!"