"Old man, I'm back."
Jiraiya, who never did things the usual way, opened the window of the Hokage's office and hopped in, looking thoroughly dejected.
He'd just been scolded and forced to swear a terrible oath. It would've been strange if Jiraiya were in a good mood.
The Third Hokage was already used to Jiraiya's habit of climbing in through windows instead of using the front door.
"Good to have you back. You've been gone for so long..."
He hadn't finished speaking when the Third Hokage noticed the look on Jiraiya's face, as if someone had died. He abruptly stopped himself.
He'd been about to talk to Jiraiya about Danzo, but the sight of Jiraiya's expression immediately piqued his curiosity.
"That look... Let me guess. Tsunade turned you down again, didn't she?"
The Third Hokage had been in a foul mood lately, but after not seeing Jiraiya for years, he could still manage a few jokes.
After all, Tsunade rarely spoke to him anymore, and Orochimaru was nowhere to be seen most days. Of his three students, only Jiraiya was still someone he could joke around with and share a little of the affection they'd once had as teacher and pupils.
Jiraiya scratched his head and sank into the sofa as if his bones had turned to mush, his face full of regret.
"Compared to what just happened, I'd rather have Tsunade turn me down..."
"I finally made it back to the village after holding it in for three whole years. I thought I could finally do some proper research, but instead, someone caught me and gave me an earful."
The Third Hokage looked utterly speechless.
Jiraiya had been away from the village for over three years, and the first thing he did after returning wasn't report to the Hokage Building. Instead, he went peeping—and got caught?
The Third Hokage knew Jiraiya well enough to understand what he meant by "research."
But you were only caught and scolded. With your thick skin, shouldn't that be nothing to you?
"Some brat caught me and gave me a tongue-lashing. His words hurt even more than Tsunade's fists. He even forced me to swear that if I ever peeped at the women's bathhouse again, I'd become impotent but still have a houseful of children. I'll never be able to do research again!"
Jiraiya was on the verge of tears.
Just thinking about it made his heart ache!
Ye Ning!
It was Ye Ning again!
The Third Hokage immediately thought of Ye Ning. There was no one else it could've been!
Everyone in Konoha knew Jiraiya was his student, one of the Sannin who'd made a name for himself in the Land of Rain, and a hero of Konoha.
Only Ye Ning would have the nerve to scold Jiraiya to his face and force him to swear such an oath.
But, honestly, the Third Hokage thought Ye Ning had done the right thing.
Jiraiya had been caught peeping outside the women's bathhouse more than once. When the victims couldn't find the culprit himself, they could only complain to him, Jiraiya's teacher. He'd had to apologize on Jiraiya's behalf countless times!
Ye Ning's actions... could be considered a service to justice, right?
"That brat named Ye Ning sounds interesting."
Jiraiya picked up a teacup and drained it in one gulp. The gloom on his face vanished, replaced by a look of interest.
"By the way, old man, isn't this Ye Ning the Daimyo's Son? Why is he in Konoha?"
"He's a shinobi in Konoha now. The Daimyo himself requested it."
The Third Hokage took a deep breath and briefly described what had happened since Ye Ning came to Konoha.
He also told Jiraiya what had happened to Danzo.
But Jiraiya didn't react much. If anything, he silently gave Ye Ning a thumbs-up.
Jiraiya had never liked Danzo's dark personality. At most, he wouldn't take pleasure in Danzo's misfortune. Expecting him to sympathize with Danzo and condemn Ye Ning?
Forget it.
He and Danzo weren't that close.
Besides, Danzo had acted improperly and been caught red-handed.
He had brought this outcome upon himself. He had no one else to blame.
Of course, the Third Hokage hadn't told Jiraiya everything.
At the very least, he hadn't mentioned White Fang.
Hatake Sakumo had gotten along well with all three of his students. With Tsunade already estranged from him, he didn't want Jiraiya to grow dissatisfied with him too.
"So Ye Ning is related to Tsunade?"
Jiraiya nodded thoughtfully.
That explained it. The punch Ye Ning had landed on him had felt strangely familiar.
He'd known something seemed a little off.
Thinking back, it had been the Strength of a Hundred!
"Mm. Tsunade had shut herself away at home because of the war. Ye Ning was the one who comforted and encouraged her, helping her gradually move on." The Third Hokage hesitated, then said it anyway.
Truthfully, he couldn't help feeling frustrated with Jiraiya for not living up to his potential.
When Tsunade needed comfort most, no one knew where you'd run off to. She'd already overcome her pain by the time you came back.
No wonder you can't win her over!
You deserve to fail!
"Yeah, I get it." Jiraiya nodded. He looked unconcerned, but it was hard for him to let go of the matter.
When Tsunade had lost one important person after another and needed someone by her side most, he hadn't been there.
And it hadn't been him who helped her emerge from the darkness. It had been someone else.
It seemed like he was always a step too late, always falling just a little short.
Seeing Jiraiya like this, the Third Hokage suddenly felt irritated. He immediately said sourly:
"I'm warning you: stay out of trouble with Ye Ning. If anything happens, deal with it yourself."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. It's not like I'd fight him. That'd be picking on a kid."
Jiraiya waved his hand, paying little heed to the Third Hokage's warning.
The Third Hokage's mouth twitched, but he didn't press the point.
After all, you couldn't save someone who was determined to get themselves killed.
The Third Hokage had a feeling Jiraiya was definitely going to suffer a major loss at Ye Ning's hands!
The kind of loss he couldn't even complain about!
After a moment of silence, the Third Hokage spoke again:
"Are you staying this time, or leaving again?"
"Yeah, I'll probably stay for a while. I'm not exactly a very responsible teacher, so since I've finally made it back, I should teach him something."
"That's good. Minato's been doing a lot of missions lately. He could use some time off to relax."
The Third Hokage rubbed his temples and let out a long breath.
Not one of his three students was easy to deal with!
One shut herself away at home and did nothing but drink. One disappeared for days at a time. And the last had vanished for three whole years!
Being their teacher was exhausting!
Before you continue