On a scorching afternoon.
Jiraiya stood on the street outside the Hokage Building, gazing aimlessly at the scene around him.
The current Hokage, Yanbai, had once said he disliked Konoha's climate.
The winters were cold and the summers were hot. It had both bitter cold and blistering heat covered.
Yanbai preferred the seaside, where it was neither too cold nor too hot, and the weather was pleasant.
Now, Konoha was once again engulfed in record-breaking heat.
The afternoon sunlight was like a flashbang, searing people's eyes and making them ache.
Waves of heat rolled over the flagstone pedestrian street, immersing both the greenery and the roadway in ripples visible to the naked eye.
Still, the buildings here were sturdy. Most were already old, having stood strong for over a decade.
Perhaps they were simply better built than traditional houses.
All things had to end.
No matter how accepting someone was, watching the people and things around them disappear was painful.
Jiraiya's feelings toward Yanbai were complicated. Unless he had no choice, he did not want to face Yanbai.
Today, Jiraiya had been lingering outside the Hokage Building for a long time, hesitating.
He had actually arrived early that morning.
Now, when he looked up, the sunlight had gone from gentle to dizzyingly bright.
Jiraiya took a deep breath and finally stepped forward, heading into the Hokage Building.
After his arrival was reported through several levels, Jiraiya finally found himself sitting across from Yanbai.
Yanbai was different from other Hokage. Work absolutely could not interfere with meals.
"Jiraiya, you spent the whole morning loitering downstairs just to come mooch a meal? You certainly know how to pick your moment."
Holding his bowl, Yanbai smiled kindly.
Jiraiya gave a wry smile, unsure how to respond.
Yanbai did not deliberately make things difficult