This Is Konoha

He twitched the corners of his mouth in self-deprecation, and his voice dropped lower:

"Forget it... What qualifications do I have to lecture you lot, when I'm just an idler traveling the mountains and waters writing novels?"

Inside the office, silence fell once more.

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a long time before slowly raising his head.

"Jiraiya."

"Hmm?"

"That matter of you agreeing to serve as the Fifth Hokage..."

Jiraiya's breathing hitched. He opened his mouth to say something, but not a single word came out.

The Fifth Hokage...

The Old Man was using this to shut him up.

Yet he had just been interrogating the Old Man about who else still believed the Hokage's words, only to turn around and take on the position himself...

He smiled self-deprecatingly.

"Let's talk about it later."

He dropped those words, turned around, and made to leave.

After taking two steps, he stopped.

A hangover headache surged through him in waves, so he simply flopped down into the sofa, leaned his head back against the cushion, and rubbed his temples with his eyes closed.

"My head hurts... Let me catch my breath."

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged glances.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, opened his mouth, and slowly closed it again.

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor.

More than one person.

Jiraiya opened his eyes and looked up.

The first thing that came into view was a pair of white eyes.

Hyuga Hiashi walked toward them with large strides, dressed in the Hyuga Clan Attire, his hands behind his back and his expression gloomy.

Behind him, several other people followed.

Shikaku Nara, Tsume Inuzuka, Kato Makoto...

There were also several faces Jiraiya recognized—all former subordinates of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

"This..."

Jiraiya