Plans to Return to the Village
After saying this, Gamamaru fell into a deep sleep.
Jiraiya wanted to hear more, so he remained standing still.
The experienced Fukasaku and Shima knew that Gamamaru wouldn't wake up anytime soon.
Looking at Jiraiya was still waiting, Fukasaku spoke up.
"Jiraiya, let's go back. The Great Toad Sage is asleep and won't wake up again anytime soon."
"Bosses, what did the Great Toad Sage's prophecy mean? Did it mean someone would wipe out all the ninjas?"
Jiraiya was completely baffled by this seemingly random prophecy and decided to ask the two sages.
"I don't know Jiraiya. That's how the Great Toad Sage prophesied. This time, it's a very clear prophecy!"
Fukasaku isn't Gamamaru, so how would he know the meaning of Gamamaru's prophecy?
Jiraiya's face showed a conflicted expression. This was a big deal, a matter of great importance to all ninjas.
Seeing Jiraiya's bitter Jiraiya, Fukasaku had no choice but to offer some words of comfort.
"Jiraiya, don't worry. You are a ninja yourself. Perhaps something happened in the Shinobi World that led to the Great Toad Sage's prophecy. Why don't you go back to the Shinobi World and take a look?"
Shima chimed in from the side.
"That's right, the old man's prophecies have always been nonsense, and even if they were true, it would be a long time from now. Jiraiya, you have plenty of time to find the truth!"
With the two Toad Sage's advice, Jiraiya's expression calmed down, though he lost some of his unruliness and gained more seriousness.
"I understand. Well then, my two bosses, I'll take my leave!"
After speaking, Jiraiya Hand Seals in the main hall and then returned to the Shinobi World.
Only after Jiraiya's figure disappeared did Sage Shima belatedly realize what was happening.
"Oh dear! I forgot to invite Xiao Jiraiya to dinner. Knowing he was coming, I specially prepared a feast of eighteen delicacies!"
"It's alright, he's just unlucky. The two of us can have a big feast!"
"Get out of here! It's all your fault for making me forget something so important. There's no share for you, I'll eat it all myself!"
"Can you blow that all by yourself? That's enough for three people!"
"If you can't finish it, I'll give it to Gamabunta and Hiro; there's none for you anyway."
"..."
Jiraiya was unaware of what happened in the main hall after he left.
Knowing would only make Jiraiya's already heavy heart even heavier.
Jiraiya appeared in the original izakaya private room and saw the table that had been cleaned up, as well as the half-empty bottle of sake that had disappeared.
Having no intention of getting the money back, Jiraiya left a stack of banknotes and walked out of the private room.
Upon entering the lobby, they found the izakaya manager hurling insults at a teenager.
The boy remained silent, head bowed, and turned away, displaying a non-violent stance of non-cooperation in the face of the insults.
When the boy and Jiraiya locked eyes, Jiraiya saw surprise and resentment in the boy's eyes.
Jiraiya, preoccupied with his own thoughts, paid no heed to the boy's gaze, walked through the hall, and left the izakaya.
Upon seeing Jiraiya, the manager immediately stopped yelling and cursing, stood respectfully, Jiraiya.
Raindrops fell on Jiraiya, bringing a slight coolness and dispelling some of the gloom in Jiraiya heart.
Recalling what he had just witnessed, Jiraiya shook his head and sighed inwardly.
Young people these days!
Wandering aimlessly through the streets of the Land of Rain, Jiraiya finally decided to return to Konoha.
After what happened last time, Jiraiya lost all goodwill towards Ren and was filled with disgust.
However, since it concerned all the ninjas, Jiraiya still had to report to Ren.
Jiraiya planned to tell Ren the prophecy and what had happened in detail, and whether Ren believed him Jiraiya's concern.
Furthermore, after being reminded by Fukasaku, Jiraiya needed to know if anything unusual had happened in the Shinobi World.
Jiraiya considered himself one of the best in the Shinobi World at gathering intelligence.
But one person can never compare to an entire ninja village. Jiraiya's return to Konoha was also intended to gather more information.
The latter point is the key: regardless of whether Ren believes in the prophecy of Mount Myōboku, Jiraiya intends to use his own methods to prevent the prophesied future from coming to pass.
Jiraiya had been searching for the chosen one, the one who could bring peace to the Shinobi World.
The existence of ninjas is essential for the Shinobi World to Shinobi World. What good is peace if ninjas cease to exist?
Jiraiya was, after all, a ninja.
Having determined his direction, Jiraiya began his journey towards Konoha.