Jiraiya scratched his head and stood up under everyone's gaze. His answer was less systematic than those before him, but it carried a straightforward enthusiasm:
"I think... ninjas of the new era need to live interesting lives!
We can't just complete missions, rank up, then complete more missions... that'd be way too boring!
We should use ninjutsu to do more things that are fun, useful, and make everyone happy!
Like... hmm, using Wind Release to quickly dry fruit at an old man's fruit stand?
Or using Water Release to make beautiful fountains for kids to play in?
Oh, right, we should also be able to write incredibly exciting stories and spread the word about our adventures and Konoha!
Ninjas need to be strong, of course, but isn't strength meant to make life more colorful?"
Though he sounded somewhat offbeat, his longing for the "diversity of the ninja profession" and for "creating happiness" was precisely a dimension that tool-like ninjas of the old era had rarely considered. It reflected the liberation of thought brought about by the new education.
No sooner had he begun speaking than a wave of good-natured, subdued booing and snickering rose from below the stage.
Especially from classmates who knew him well or who had often been caught up in the fallout of his "creative" ninjutsu.
"Here he goes again, with Jiraiya's theory of 'fun'!"
"Using Wind Release to dry fruit? Only you would think of that!"
"Isn't the real point writing novels, hey?"
Hearing the boos, Jiraiya was not embarrassed in the slightest. Instead, he pulled a face in the direction they had come from and raised his voice:
"What are you booing for?
Am I wrong?
What's the point of being a lifeless ninja?
The Hokage himself said we should 'build a happy homeland.' Isn't