Root's offices in Konoha were rather gloomy, with more than half of them underground.
A faint earthy smell hung in the air, its chill carrying a trace of biting cold.
With Hiruzen Sarutobi's written authorization in hand, Jiraiya learned the location of Leaf Dragon's quarters and office from the Root personnel on duty, then headed straight up toward his destination without encountering any obstacles.
Leaf Dragon's room was in the aboveground section, where the air was dry and faintly warm.
Shimura Danzō had arranged this. He claimed these were the only vacant rooms left, but Hatake Sakumo and the others had been making a racket for quite some time without drawing any ninja's attention. Clearly, this was a relatively confidential area of Root, somewhere ordinary people could not visit.
Jiraiya stopped before the door, his gaze settling on its crooked, cracked panel.
-What happened to this door?
Root put Big Brother Leaf Dragon in a place like this?
Was Root so poor it couldn't even repair a door?
Jiraiya recalled the empty patch of ground in front of the Hokage's office building.
Could it be... even the tree by the entrance had been sold for money?
Had Konoha's finances really gotten this bad?
How terrifying. I had to find a way to earn Konoha some money.
Creak.
The door opened carefully.
"Shh."
Chidori Cloud poked her head out and gestured for him to keep quiet.
Jiraiya's pupils shook violently. Why was there a woman in Big Brother Leaf Dragon's room!!!
What incredible thing had happened to Big Brother Leaf Dragon in the mere month I'd been away!!!
Like a rusty machine part, Jiraiya nodded stiffly to show he understood, then rose onto his toes and slipped inside.
Unlike Root's gloomy atmosphere, Leaf Dragon's quarters had a very large window.
The