Even Jiraiya, who had spent years traveling outside the village, did not know much about the changes Konoha had undergone.
Sakura's growth in strength surprised Jiraiya.
He raised his head and looked at Kakashi, who stood not far away, watching them.
"Kakashi, have you gotten stronger too?"
Kakashi had been a genius closely watched by Konoha's seniors since childhood.
He graduated from the Ninja Academy at five, became a Chunin at six, and a Jonin at twelve.
No one in the Ninja World had yet broken that record.
And Kakashi truly possessed the strength to match it.
He had always been the child everyone compared their own children to, constantly mentioned by Konoha's many clans.
Among the ninja of his generation, Kakashi had unquestionably been the most dazzling.
He also commanded immense prestige.
That was why the Third had believed that as long as Kakashi supported Yeyu, not many middle-aged or younger ninja would oppose Yeyu.
Because most of the ninja in the village around Kakashi's age followed Kakashi's decisions.
Among the Sannin, everyone except Orochimaru valued Kakashi greatly.
In the original story, when Pain attacked Konoha, Kakashi's death in battle nearly drove Tsunade into a rampage.
Both the Third and Tsunade had groomed Kakashi as a successor to the Hokage.
Even though his strength had remained at the Elite Jonin level.
No other ninja in Konoha received such treatment.
If the Third had not died, Kakashi would have been the Fifth Hokage by now.
Because when the Third believed he would surely die that time, he had named Kakashi as the Fifth Hokage.
Before Yeyu was old enough and had gained sufficient prestige, the Third would have regarded Kakashi as the sole candidate for a transitional Hokage.
Jiraiya also thought highly of Kakashi.
In terms of their relationship, Kakashi