Minato Namikaze turned around and was slightly stunned when he saw Jiraiya. Then he broke into a happy smile, walked over, and invited him, "Sensei, it's really hard to catch you even once! I've written you three letters already, and you never replied to a single one!"
Jiraiya felt somewhat embarrassed by Minato's words. He had seen the letters, but he had neither opened nor answered them. He did not even want to read them, because Jiraiya knew that if he did, his chronic do-gooder instincts would immediately turn him back into the Jiraiya who lived for Konoha. If he wanted to live differently, he had to cast aside that identity and forget Konoha entirely.
"Heh heh! I didn't see them. What is it? Did you need something from me?"
Hearing Jiraiya's explanation, Minato sighed inwardly. How could he not understand what his teacher was thinking? Still, he did not expose him and simply said, "Since you're back this time, Sensei, why don't you come to my house for a meal? It'll also give me the chance to fulfill my duty as your student!"
Jiraiya laughed heartily, scratched his hair, and nodded. "All right! Saves me the trouble of finding a restaurant. Let's see whether Kushina's cooking has improved!"
"Kushina? She can't show you her cooking skills right now."
As Minato said that, his smile shone as brightly as sunlight. Jiraiya was briefly taken aback, then instantly understood. Throwing his head back, he burst into laughter and repeatedly slapped Minato on the shoulder.
"HAHAHAHA... I never expected it! Never expected it at all! Minato, you really are full of surprises!"
"The best ending to a story is for its protagonist to die a glorious death and become a hero remembered in people's hearts. Unfortunately, not everyone likes a story born