Konan's Warm Welcome

It rained year-round in Amegakure, which lay where the Land of Earth, Konoha, and Sunagakure met.

To cope with the constant rain, Amegakure had built numerous towers and an extensive drainage system. All the rainwater flowed through it into the village's inland lake.

A green toad leaped from the lake. An arm slowly emerged from its mouth, followed by a white-haired figure it spat out.

"Amegakure. It's been a long time! I wonder how those three kids are doing."

Jiraiya felt the familiar rain on his skin and thought back to the days he had spent here.

This was where he had taken in the child of destiny foretold by the Great Toad Sage—or so he believed. But after all these years, he had no idea where any of them were.

Meanwhile, high above the village, an orange-haired man with strange objects embedded in his face sensed something. Beside him stood a beautiful, cool-faced woman with short blue hair.

"Konan, a powerful Chakra I recognize has appeared in the village. It seems to be Master Jiraiya's. Go take a look. If you can, ask him to leave."

"All right."

Konan nodded.

The orange-haired man gazed into the distance, longing flashing through his purple, ripple-patterned eyes. Master Jiraiya, you shouldn't have come.

Jiraiya entered a small shop. A kindly old woman sat by the door.

"One bun, please!"

Jiraiya handed her a few coins.

The old woman gave Jiraiya, with his straw hat, an odd look. "Are you from out of town?"

"That's right! I'm a writer who travels all over!"

Jiraiya took a bite of the bun. It really was quite good.

"Would you mind if I featured this in a magazine? I'm sure it would bring in plenty of customers!"

"Of course!"

After a little more small talk, Jiraiya