Konoha.
Hokage Office.
"Teacher Sarutobi, it's been a long time."
Jiraiya smiled at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Hmm. Have you finally grown tired of wandering outside and decided to return to Konoha this time?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi said.
A few days ago, Jiraiya had said he would be returning to Konoha soon because there were some things he wanted to learn about.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had been rather troubled by the fact that Jiraiya had spent all these years wandering outside.
As one of Konoha's important fighting forces, Jiraiya had played no role in the Third Shinobi World War. If he had not been his student and Hiruzen Sarutobi had not known his temperament, he would have wanted to capture him and bring him back to Konoha as a missing-nin.
So he hoped that Jiraiya would not continue wandering outside after returning this time.
"Teacher, I wasn't wandering. I was searching for the Child of Prophecy who could change the Shinobi World's wars.
Only by finding him could the Shinobi World avoid war."
Jiraiya scratched his head and smiled earnestly.
That reason really was a little far-fetched.
"Is that so? I heard that you also published a series of books in the Land of Fire called Icha Icha Paradise." Hiruzen Sarutobi said.
Jiraiya said, "Ahaha, Teacher reads my works too? That's wonderful."
"Enough small talk. I know your personality—you can't stay put.
What exactly did you return for this time?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi went straight to the point.
At those words, the playful smile vanished from Jiraiya's face, and he turned serious.
"The Great Toad Sage prophesied that a variable had appeared in the Child of Prophecy's path.
For now, I don't know whether the person I have in mind is truly the Child of Prophecy.
But since a variable has appeared in the Great