Konoha, on a street.
Three figures strolled side by side. Two of them chatted back and forth from time to time, while the third spoke little, though his expression was thoroughly relaxed. He was clearly enjoying himself.
Some passersby and shop owners recognized the three, and their faces filled with admiration.
"I never thought the three of us would get a chance to reunite like this. It's probably been over ten years since the last time..."
Jiraiya discreetly glanced at Tsunade. After receiving a look of disgust from her, he quickly looked away and instead threw an arm around Orochimaru's shoulders.
"Haha, especially Orochimaru."
Memories spanning decades surged through his mind like a tide.
The three had entered the Academy together as classmates. Though his talent had been ordinary, he had somehow struck it lucky and become a student of the Third Hokage alongside the genius Orochimaru and Tsunade, the First Hokage's granddaughter.
The Summoning Technique he had used by accident had unexpectedly granted him the inheritance of Mount Myōboku, one of the Three Great Sage Regions.
As the three continued taking missions and fighting battles, their bonds gradually deepened. During the Second Shinobi World War, they had even stood against the demigod of the shinobi world, earning from him the title of Konoha's "Legendary Sannin."
He had once believed their friendship would last forever.
His closest friend had fallen into darkness and defected.
The woman he loved had sunk into depression day after day and left the village.
Even the teacher he had known best had gradually become a stranger as age caught up with him.
Jiraiya had always felt that he was a failure.
He had lacked the courage to confess to the woman he loved, failed to stop his closest friend from falling into darkness, and failed