Seeing someone approach, Jiraiya raised his head and looked over.
Under the dim lights of the izakaya, Gengetsu's Hokage robes stood out sharply.
The patrons and Konoha ninja nearby, who had been drinking together, hurriedly stood to pay their respects when they recognized the newcomer.
Even the owner hurried over.
"Fifth Hokage!"
It couldn't be helped. Gengetsu's reputation in Konoha was exceptionally high now.
He had defeated the Nine-Tails twice and saved the village.
Gengetsu merely waved off their greetings, then walked straight up to Jiraiya.
Once he recognized Gengetsu, Jiraiya spoke drunkenly.
"So it's the Fifth Hokage. Have you come to laugh at me?"
Jiraiya swayed the bottle in his hand. His face was covered in stubble, his eyes were clouded, and a strong, sour stench of alcohol hung about him. He bore no resemblance to the hero renowned throughout the Shinobi World.
Looking at Jiraiya before him, Gengetsu said bluntly:
"I have no interest in mocking you."
"I just never expected someone who was once one of the Sannin to end up like this."
That simple sentence was like a thorn driving deep into Jiraiya's crumbling pride.
Bang!
Jiraiya slammed the bottle onto the table, splashing liquor everywhere. Veins bulged in his neck as he immediately shouted:
"What do you know!"
"Ever since I was little, the old man told me to protect the Will of Fire. I never imagined he would..."
At that point, Jiraiya suddenly choked up. Two streams of murky tears spilled uncontrollably from the corners of his eyes.
Clearly, Hiruzen Sarutobi becoming a rogue ninja had dealt him a devastating blow.
Decades of faith had collapsed overnight. His most respected teacher had turned out to be the culprit who killed his student Minato and released the Nine-Tails to destroy the village.
Jiraiya simply couldn't