The Fierce Tiger Returns to the Mountain, the Mountain Does Not Welcome My Great Hero

"Old man, I can't spend another day in this position as captain of the Jonin squad!"

Inside the Hokage Office, thick smoke swirled. Sarutobi Hiruzen sat behind his expansive desk; the white plumes rising from his pipe blurred the wrinkles on his face, yet they could not obscure the wisdom in eyes that had seen the passage of ages.

He looked at this somewhat... unusual visitor before him.

Jiraiya sat sprawled in the chair opposite him, one foot resting on the seat, his body leaning heavily against the backrest, radiating a potent scent of alcohol.

His signature long white hair was somewhat disheveled, and his grey-black coat hung open, revealing the fishnet armor he wore underneath, which appeared to be stained with a few drops of sake.

Compared to his usual bold and unrestrained image, there was a hint of indescribable confusion hidden deep within Jiraiya's eyes at this moment... along with the relief of having reached a decision.

"Old man, I've come this time to bid you farewell. I intend to leave the village for a while to travel across the Ninja World!"

His voice was hoarse from the alcohol, yet exceptionally clear.

Sarutobi Hiruzen did not immediately look up at Jiraiya. He finished processing the documents in his hands, took a deep drag from his pipe, and slowly exhaled two streams of white smoke from his nostrils before stopping his work. He looked at Jiraiya with a calm gaze.

"The reason?"

"The reason, you ask?"

Jiraiya exhaled a breath of alcohol and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"If I had to give a reason... it's that I feel like I've been trapped in a cage."

He stood up, walked to the window, pushed it open, and sat on the sill, looking out at the streets of Konoha.

"Konoha is great, truly great!"

"With you, old man, holding down the fort, with Sakumo and Tsunade supporting you, with that kid Qi Luna acting as a near-perfect jinchuriki, with the new generation of Ino-Shika-Cho, and with rising stars like Minato, Kushina, and the countless geniuses who have just graduated from the academy, are currently studying there, or haven't even enrolled yet, all growing strong."

"Konoha's future is bright and smooth; it doesn't currently lack a loafer like me..."

At this point, his voice paused. He withdrew his gaze from the window and turned to look at his teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, his voice growing deeper.

"But, old man, there are some things... you know as well. The Great Toad Sage's prophecy is like a thorn stuck in my heart. The Child of Prophecy... the one who will bring great change to the entire Ninja World..."

"I've stayed in the village, listening to reports, reading files, and handling those trivial, inconsequential Jonin assignments... I simply cannot find the answer, nor can I see the direction..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen remained silent, the light in his pipe flickering. He knew how much heart and soul his disciple had poured into this, especially after verifying the strength and potential of Nagato and his two companions; that obsession had almost become his inner demon.

"Besides, I want to travel the entire Ninja World, to witness different customs, to experience different adventures, and to collect those unknown secrets hidden in the corners!"

Jiraiya's voice suddenly rose, carrying a near-fanatical excitement. He jumped down from the window, stood on the eaves outside, and raised his arms high.

"I will find the true meaning of the prophecy on my journey and find the key that can change the Ninja World!"

"I will use my pen to depict the soul of a ninja. That is what the Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku, the gallant Jiraiya, should be doing! Oh hahahaha!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the impassioned Jiraiya, hands on his hips, and chose not to interrupt his disciple.

He understood Jiraiya; although he appeared dissolute, he cared for the village more than anyone and yearned for peace and stability more than anyone else.

This seemingly impulsive journey was not an escape, but a quest for another way to protect the village!

He recalled the time Qi Luna brought Nagato back, and the secret intelligence Qi Luna had cryptically shared with him—a top-secret matter known only to him, Qi Luna, and Jiraiya to this day.

Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen fell into memory and contemplation, the office door was pushed open gently, and a figure walked in silently. It was none other than Uzumaki Qi Luna.

"Lord Hokage."

Qi Luna's eyes remained calm, like a still water surface without a ripple. He gave a slight nod to Sarutobi Hiruzen and then stood quietly before the desk.

Seeing Qi Luna's arrival, Jiraiya's movements paused. The fanaticism on his face subsided slightly, and his gaze toward Qi Luna became complex and earnest.

"Kid Qi Luna... about that child Nagato... I've thought a lot about what you told me."

Qi Luna did not speak, merely watching him quietly.

Jiraiya took a deep breath, his voice carrying a touch of relief and firmness.

"Regardless of anything, whether Nagato is the Child of Prophecy from the Great Toad Sage's vision or not... and whether the prophecy will truly come to pass... these are not things I can figure out while sitting in an office."

"But I know that with a teacher like you, a brother like you, and companions like Yahiko and Konan, he is walking on a path toward the light... and that is enough!"

He looked back at Sarutobi Hiruzen and grinned, revealing his signature bold smile, his eyes sparkling with a longing for the unknown journey and a vision of the world he would write about in the future.

"Old man, let me go. Konoha's Jonin squad is safe enough with Torifu, that guy Dan, and even that kid Shikaku."

"As for me, this sage... I'm going to write my own legend! Finding answers on the road and verifying the prophecy through stories! That's much more interesting than facing endless files all day!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen gazed at Jiraiya for a long time, his eyes shifting to the future outside the window, to the responsibilities that bound Jiraiya, and finally landing on Qi Luna's calm face before the desk.

He slowly exhaled a long cloud of smoke, as if pouring all his worries, reluctance, and expectations into that breath.

Finally, he picked up his pipe and tapped it gently against the corner of the desk, producing a crisp sound.

"Go, Jiraiya."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice was deep and powerful, carrying the magnanimity and trust of an elder.

"My foolish disciple, take your pen, take your passion, and walk your own path."

"However, Konoha will always be your home. No matter where you go or what kind of stories you write... you must remember that the Will of Fire is the true, resilient spirit of a ninja."

He paused, then added:

"As for Nagato and the others... I trust that Qi Luna will handle it well, just as I trust that he can reach a reconciliation with the Nine-Tails, as he has already achieved preliminary results!"

Qi Luna looked toward Jiraiya outside the window and gave him a slight nod, her gaze seeming to say:

Go with peace of mind!

Jiraiya laughed heartily, his laughter filled with the relief of a heavy burden lifted and infinite anticipation for the future.

He vaulted back through the window into the office and gave Qi Luna's shoulder a firm pat:

"Thanks, old man!"

"Thanks, kid Qi Luna!"

He turned to leave the office, his long white hair and robes stirring up a fresh breeze as he spun around:

"Perhaps when I return next time, this Sage will bring back a masterpiece that will shock the Ninja World, and... who knows, maybe even the truth behind the prophecy!"

"Well then... I'm off!"