Punishment

"To think you actually got into a fight with Iwagakure ninja while inside Iwagakure. Do you have any idea what the consequences of such an action are?"

Jiraiya criticized Uchiha Matsuri and the other two without mercy, then let out a sigh.

Three days later, Jiraiya led Team 5 back to Konoha.

The exhaustion and suppression of the past few days reached a breaking point the moment they returned to the village. Uchiha Matsuri, Minato Namikaze, and Kiba Inuzuka only wanted to get home to their beds and sleep soundly.

However, just as Jiraiya was about to say "dismissed" and head off to report the mission to the Third Hokage, an Anbu ninja wearing a raccoon mask suddenly appeared before Team 5.

After a simple salute, the raccoon-masked ninja said, "Lord Jiraiya, the Hokage requests that you and your subordinates accompany me to the Hokage Office."

"Me and my subordinates?" Jiraiya asked in return.

According to custom, after a squad completes a mission, only the captain needs to go to the Hokage Office to report. But this time, the Third Hokage had sent an Anbu to summon the entire team. It was likely related to the ruckus Uchiha Matsuri and the others had caused in Iwagakure a few days prior.

At this thought, Jiraiya sighed to himself, What must come will come eventually.

Glancing at the Anbu ninja waiting for a response, Jiraiya said calmly, "Lead the way."

Beside him, Uchiha Matsuri, Minato Namikaze, and Kiba Inuzuka exchanged glances, remaining silent.

Hokage Office.

The Third Hokage sat in his chair with his fingers interlaced, watching the four of them quietly without speaking.

Seeing that the Third Hokage remained silent, Uchiha Matsuri and the others felt deeply puzzled, yet none of them dared to speak.

All three understood that in the world of the ninja, the hierarchy was strictly observed. Since they were merely genin, they had no authority to address the Hokage directly unless he spoke to them first.

Of course, to appear kind and approachable, the Third Hokage often didn't mind such things.

Seeing that the Third Hokage still hadn't spoken, Jiraiya took the initiative to apologize: "Teacher, I..."

"Jiraiya, did your caravan successfully reach its destination?" the Third Hokage suddenly asked with a smile.

Surprised that the Third Hokage hadn't started with a reprimand, Jiraiya replied, "Teacher, we successfully completed the mission, but..."

"You four have worked hard this time. The Daimyo just personally commended your spirit in the face of adversity..." The Third Hokage interrupted Jiraiya once again.

Watching the Third Hokage and Jiraiya exchange pleasantries, Uchiha Matsuri looked up at the Third Hokage's kind expression.

He truly is a cunning old fox. He separates praise and criticism so clearly; he expresses his dissatisfaction while simultaneously making the criticized party feel ashamed, Uchiha Matsuri thought to himself.

Sure enough, after a brief chat, the Third Hokage finally got to the point: "Jiraiya, half a day ago, Iwagakure sent two envoys claiming that your squad snuck into their village to gather intelligence and even attacked their people. Is there any truth to this?"

Without hesitation, Jiraiya admitted with a look of shame: "There is."

"Why would you do such a thing?" the Third Hokage asked in a low voice. It was clear from his tone that he was expressing his dissatisfaction and anger.

Hearing the Third Hokage ask for the full story, Jiraiya recounted the events exactly as they had happened without holding anything back.

After finishing, Jiraiya added, "That this happened is entirely my fault for failing to guide my subordinates properly. Please punish me, Teacher."

The Third Hokage nodded after hearing Jiraiya's account.

He trusted his student completely, but for the aggressive Iwagakure, this explanation was far too flimsy.

Watching his beloved student Jiraiya choose to shoulder the entire punishment himself, the Third Hokage nodded in satisfaction.

However, just as the Third Hokage was about to speak, Kiba Inuzuka, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke up.

"Lord Hokage, please forgive my intrusion. This entire incident was caused by me alone, so if there is to be a punishment, please punish me," Kiba Inuzuka said, rushing to explain when he saw Jiraiya taking all the blame.

"Kiba, do not be rude," Jiraiya scolded in a low voice. "As the captain and the person in charge of the squad, the captain bears full responsibility for whatever the subordinates do. I am well aware of this and have no objections."

"But..."

"Enough," the Third Hokage waved his hand. "Iwagakure originally demanded an explanation for this, but since it wasn't intentional, I will handle the explanation with them."

"However, you caused such a huge incident that you nearly pushed Konoha and Iwagakure into a confrontation. A punishment is still necessary."

"How about we confiscate the bounty from this mission? What do you think?"

Hearing that the Third Hokage wasn't imposing any severe punishment on him or his subordinates, Jiraiya happily accepted the order.

The Third Hokage looked kindly at his student Jiraiya, then at Uchiha Matsuri and Minato Namikaze, and smiled. "Jiraiya, stay behind. The rest of you may return and get some rest."

"Yes."

After walking out of the Hokage Office, Kiba Inuzuka couldn't help but beat his chest in frustration: "Ninety-five thousand ryō in bounty, just like that, gone."

Seeing Kiba Inuzuka's regretful expression, Uchiha Matsuri teased him, "Isn't this all because of your impulsive behavior? Now look, our half-month of hard work was for nothing."

"Compared to other punishments, this one isn't so bad," Minato Namikaze said with a smile.

As they walked and talked, the three of them suddenly noticed four familiar figures ahead on the street.

"Senior Yoshihiko!"

The three of them ran over in unison to greet him.

"It's the three brats from Team Jiraiya," Sarutobi Yoshihiko said, a rare smile appearing on his face when he saw them.

Compared to the three subordinates in his own team who lacked synergy, Sarutobi Yoshihiko admired the three youngsters from Team Jiraiya more. Especially since Team Jiraiya had gathered the two most talented students of their year—a fact that made every other genin team leader, including Sarutobi Yoshihiko, envious.

"That's the third time Teacher Yoshihiko has smiled," Yamanaka Inoichi whispered to Shikaku Nara and Akimichi Chōza, curling his lip.

In their memory, Sarutobi Yoshihiko always wore a stern face and rarely smiled. The few times he had, it was always for members of other teams.

"Where is your teacher, Jiraiya?" Sarutobi Yoshihiko wiped away his smile, returning to his usual expression.