Konoha, Hokage Office.
Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting dappled patches of light and shadow across the wooden floor.
Tsunade sat behind her desk, her chin resting on her clasped hands, her gaze fixed on the map of the Ninja World on the wall.
Her brows were slightly furrowed, and her fingers tapped lightly against the desktop in a rhythmic patter.
Nara Shikaku stood beside her, holding a newly delivered intelligence scroll and scanning it quickly.
Tianyi leaned against the window with his arms folded, his white eyes calmly watching the autumn-red sky outside.
"Has Jiraiya arrived?" Tsunade's voice broke the silence in the office.
Shikaku lowered the scroll and gave a wry chuckle. "Lord Jiraiya is still in the Land of Hot Water."
Bang! Tsunade slammed her fist onto the desk, making the teacup jump. Tea splashed across the desktop and quickly seeped into the grooves of the wood grain.
"That damned old pervert! The Chunin Ninja Exams are only three days away, with all Five Kage gathering here, and he's still in the Land of Hot Water! Are hot springs more important than the Leaf Village's future?"
Shikaku smiled awkwardly, pulled a crumpled letter from inside his clothes, and carefully unfolded it, as though afraid the paper might spontaneously combust in his hands.
"Lord Jiraiya wrote back saying... he'll return before the Chunin Ninja Exams.
"He said he's carrying out a top-secret mission in the Land of Hot Water that concerns peace in the Ninja World."
The corner of Tsunade's eye twitched, and she forced the words out through gritted teeth:
"A top-secret mission? He's been soaking at a hot spring inn in the Land of Hot Water for over ten days, and he calls that a top-secret mission? Does he think I don't know what he's doing?"