Jiraiya's Question

To be honest, when Genya heard the name "Jiraiya," he was stunned.

Could it be someone with the same name?

No way!

What kind of wildly unconventional name was that? How could there be another one?

Thinking this, Genya looked at Shimura Hofu and asked uncertainly:

"Teacher Hofu, the great writer Jiraiya you mentioned—is he actually Jiraiya, one of the Konoha Sannin, who's completed over a hundred S-rank missions?"

"...Yes," Shimura Hofu answered expressionlessly.

"You've got to be kidding," Asuma said lazily, a toothpick in his mouth. He voiced exactly what Genya and Kurenai were thinking.

"My old man might not even be a match for him now. Why would he need three Genin to protect him?"

"..."

Faced with the three students' puzzled looks, Shimura Hofu felt a little exasperated, too.

That was right. One of the legendary Konoha Sannin needed three freshly graduated Genin to escort him? Anyone hearing that would think it was complete nonsense.

And yet it had happened!

Hofu had originally wanted to find the squad a more challenging mission.

He hadn't expected Jiraiya to put in such a ridiculous request—and specifically ask Team 8 to escort him.

Could there be some deeper meaning behind it?

Hofu didn't know. He just felt exasperated.

"Maybe Lord Jiraiya gets bored traveling alone and wants a few people to chat with?" Genya guessed.

"Maybe." Asuma shrugged. "If that's all there is to it, this mission should be pretty easy."

"That's not necessarily true." Genya shook his head to himself.

It was a C-rank mission. Until they completed it, there was no telling whether it might turn into an S-rank one.

Outside the Hokage's mission assignment hall, the three of them stood ready to set out when they met the legendary figure—Jiraiya.

He wore a black, casual outfit and had a powerfully built frame. His untidy silver hair reached his waist, and red markings ran down his face. He certainly looked... unusual!

"As expected of a legendary figure. What a presence. I'm envious," Asuma exclaimed involuntarily.

He admired heroes, and especially loved larger-than-life figures like Jiraiya, who lived without restraint and did whatever he pleased.

"You're...!"

At that moment, Yuhi Kurenai pointed at Jiraiya, looking surprised, as if she'd seen him somewhere before.

Jiraiya swung his arms, his wooden sandals clacking against the ground, and spoke smugly.

"That's right! I'm known from east to west, north to south—a man so handsome that even a crying child would stop at once..."

"You're that creepy old man who was sneaking around outside the hot springs yesterday!" Kurenai said with certainty.

(ÒωÓױ)! W-what?!

Jiraiya froze in place, nearly throwing his back out. The color drained from him in an instant.

Crack!

It was the sound of glass shattering—of Asuma's dream breaking apart.

The great hero he'd admired had suddenly become a creepy old man, and Asuma felt his resolve wavering!

Genya wasn't particularly surprised. After all, in Naruto, Jiraiya really did seem to pop up near the women's baths all the time.

Just like Zhang Wei always seemed to turn up outside the restroom.

"Misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding! Everything I do is for my writing! Haha... hahahaha!"

Jiraiya scratched his messy hair, trying to laugh off the awkwardness.

It didn't work very well. The three of them were still looking at him strangely.

Seeing this, Jiraiya coughed twice and changed the subject, putting on a serious face. "Ahem. So you three are the ninja assigned to escort me?"

"Yes, Lord Jiraiya." Genya stepped forward and gestured to himself and his companions. "I'm Hyuga Genya, and these are my teammates, Sarutobi Asuma and Yuhi Kurenai."

Jiraiya's gaze lingered on Asuma for a moment, then shifted to Genya. With a hearty laugh, he patted him on the shoulder.

"Good! You've got spirit. Then let's get going."

The Land of Fire bordered the Land of Hot Water, which meant most of their journey would take place within the Land of Fire.

It wasn't that there were no difficulties along the way. It was more that nothing of note happened at all.

Bored, Genya tried striking up a conversation with Jiraiya. He'd liked the character quite a bit when he watched Naruto.

Jiraiya wasn't at all stuffy, either. He answered every question, and the two of them got along surprisingly well.

"Lord Jiraiya, you're so strong. Why did you hire us to escort you?" Genya asked curiously.

Jiraiya burst out laughing. "Traveling alone gets boring, of course. I wanted a few people to keep me company."

"Genya-kun really did guess right." Yuhi Kurenai gazed at Genya admiringly, and he returned her look with a shy smile.

"Tch." Asuma curled his lip and quietly moved farther away from the two of them.

"Speaking of which, I'm working on a new story. Maybe you can give me some inspiration, Byakugan kid."

Jiraiya casually draped an arm around Genya's shoulders and gave him a shake as he spoke.

"Tell me: if one day you suddenly gained the power to change the world, what would you do?"

"Hmm." Genya tilted his head back and fell into thought.

After a while, he shook his head. "I don't know. I've never thought about it. If that really happened, maybe..."

Jiraiya was still watching him expectantly, so Genya had no choice but to keep going.

"Maybe... I'd make it so there were no more wars in the world. Then I'd find some secluded paradise and settle down with a wife and kids."

"Sorry to disappoint you, Lord Jiraiya. I'm really not very imaginative," Genya said with a wry smile.

Back in school, he couldn't even come up with enough material for an 800-word essay. Asking him to provide inspiration was just too much.

Jiraiya ruffled Genya's hair, leaving it just as messy as his own.

"Haha, who says that? Your idea has given me a whole new perspective!"

Genya hated having his hairstyle messed up, but if it was Jiraiya, that was another matter.

"Really?" Genya looked at Jiraiya in surprise.

Jiraiya nodded. "Of course. To show my appreciation, when we get to the Land of Hot Water, I'll give you two new books with my autograph."

"Oh, wow! Lord Jiraiya, you're too kind... Do you think you could give me a few more?" Genya asked, a little sheepishly.

"Hahahaha! No problem!"

Jiraiya laughed heartily and patted the boy's shoulder. A strange glint passed through his smiling eyes.

"Twilight mist lifts; apes and birds cry out in confusion. The setting sun sinks; fish leap through the waters..."

"Could he be the son of light beneath the setting sun?"

A moment later, Jiraiya gave a slight shake of his head.

To him, the boy before his eyes didn't seem special at all. If anything... he seemed rather ordinary.

Compared to him, Jiraiya thought Nagato, who possessed the legendary eyes, seemed more like the Child of Prophecy.

I can't be sure. I'll have to keep watching.