The Shadow Clone's expression froze.
"Do you really have to say something like that?"
Jiraiya glared at him.
"Nonsense!"
"Go quickly!"
The Shadow Clone turned and rushed out of the tavern.
The wind chimes at the door were jolted and rattled loudly.
The original body, however, obediently remained in place.
It was no use him trying to run away.
The two men opposite him kept staring at him.
Especially freckles.
Jiraiya had no doubt that if he dared to take a single step out the door, the other party would force him back.
He sighed and sat down again.
"I, Jiraiya been wise."
"I actually got screwed over by two bottles of wine."
Hearing this, Zhang Yu casually remarked, "As long as you're having fun."
Jiraiya looked at him.
"Two hundred thousand taels of silver, how could I not be happy?"
"My heart aches just thinking about the taste of alcohol."
Zhang Yu smiled without saying a word.
Jiraiya became increasingly certain.
A rip-off shop.
The boss was just watching the show from beginning to end.
Ban ignored him.
He looked down and saw three books on the bar, then casually picked up the top one.
The cover reads " Heat-Clearing Paradise ".
Ban turned to the first page.
After reading a few lines, he frowned slightly.
Keep scrolling down.
Before long, he slowed down the speed at which he turned the pages.
Hashirama noticed his movement and leaned closer to ask, "Madara, what are you writing?"
Ban turned the book away, preventing him from looking at it.
"It's none of your business."
Hashirama became even more curious.
"Let's see what's wrong?"
" Jiraiya say that he wrote this himself?"
"I also want to see how novels are different now compared to before."
Ban did not answer.
He finished reading the last few pages, closed the book, and tucked it directly into his pocket.
His movements were as decisive as if the book had always been his.
Jiraiya was dumbfounded.
"That's my book."
Ban looked up at him.
"To offset the debt."
Jiraiya hurriedly said, " Boss Zhang Yu already said that he won't accept books as payment."
I didn't say I was going to the tavern.
Madara said calmly, "I've taken it."
Jiraiya's lips twitched.
What's the difference?
But when he met Ban's gaze, he swallowed his words.
It's just a book.
There's no need to provoke this dangerous person for it.
Seeing Hashirama take one book, Hashirama immediately reached for the remaining two.
"Let me see it too."
He had only reached halfway when Zhang Yu snatched the two books away first.
Hashirama froze in mid-air.
He looked up at Zhang Yu.
"Boss?"
Zhang Yu put the book away.
"There's none for you."
Hashirama was filled with resentment.
"Ban Du took one."
"He's quick to read."
"I can read quickly too."
Zhang Yu shook his head.
"You're not suited to watch this."
Hashirama felt even more aggrieved.
"Why?"
There's no reason why.
Hashirama looked at Madara.
Ban had already sat back in the corner, showing no intention of taking out his book to share.
Hashirama could only withdraw his hand, completely deflated.
Jiraiya, was not in the mood to laugh.
He stared at Hashirama's face, the sense of familiarity in his mind growing stronger.
The way he speaks is so approachable, yet when he gets serious, he exudes a suffocating pressure.
He then turned to look at Ban.
Two enormous statues suddenly appeared in Jiraiya's mind.
The Valley of the End.
Hashirama Senju.
Madara Uchiha.
His body stiffened abruptly.
impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
The First Hokage and Madara Uchiha have been dead for decades.
Even if certain Ninjutsu can control the dead, it's impossible to make them drink, read, or argue in a tavern like normal people.
Besides, there's no coffin here.
There was no trace of Impure World Reincarnation.
Jiraiya forcefully suppressed his speculation.
They just look alike.
Given the vastness of the Shinobi World, the appearance of two individuals resembling historical figures is not entirely inexplicable.
But when he looked at Hashirama and Madara again, his mind became even more confused.
They look so alike.
It's not just about looking alike.
Even the aura they exuded while standing there matched that of the legendary two.
Five minutes later.
A series of hurried footsteps came from outside the tavern.
Hiruzen Sarutobi open the door and walked in with a dark expression.
Jiraiya's Shadow Clone dissipated on their own upon seeing him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi already knew the whole story.
Two bottles of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor).
Two hundred thousand taels.
Jiraiya only had 50,000 ryo on him.
He even offered three novels to settle the debt.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi learned of this news, he nearly snapped his pipe in two.
It's the Undead Tavern again.
Why is it the Undead Tavern again?
Why is he, the Hokage, Tenten cleaning up the messes of his family and disciples?
Fortunately, Hiruzen Sarutobi already had experience.
Upon receiving the news, he immediately prepared 200,000 taels of silver.
Bring an extra 50,000, just in case any other expenses arise.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped into the front hall and immediately saw Jiraiya sitting at the table.
Jiraiya stood up.
"Old man, you've finally arrived!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face darkened further.
"You actually know how to come back?"
"Instead of reporting to the Hokage first after returning to the village, you've come here to drink."
"I finished my drink but didn't have any money to pay the bill."
Jiraiya chuckled dryly twice.
"Accident."
"It was purely accidental."
"I didn't know that a bottle of wine here costs 100,000 taels of silver."
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't want to listen at all.
He just wants to pay the bill and leave.
But before he could even reach the bar, Hashirama spoke first.
" Monkey."
"Are the people causing trouble and refusing to pay their debts from your family too?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi in his steps.
Jiraiya was also stunned.
Monkey?
There are very few people in the entire Shinobi World who dare to address the Third Hokage in that way.
Hiruzen Sarutobi his head, his expression full of embarrassment.
" Lord First."
"I'm sorry to have caused you and Boss Zhang Yu trouble this time."
"The one causing trouble and refusing to pay is my disciple, Jiraiya."
The Lord First.
The four words reached Jiraiya's ears.
He froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.
Hashirama glanced at Jiraiya, then smiled and looked at Madara.
"Ban, I told you so."
"This guy may not have money for drinking, but he's probably not a bad person."
" The Monkey's disciples can't all be problematic."
Madara placed his hand on the book in his robes and coldly replied, " Orochimaru."
Hashirama's smile froze.
"This..."
Ban continued to look at him.
Hashirama struggled for a long time, but couldn't find a rebuttal.
Orochimaru was also a disciple of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Moreover, he was a rogue ninja from Konoha.
Using his status as a disciple to prove that Jiraiya a bad person is indeed untenable.
Jiraiya could no longer hear anything else.
His gaze shifted back and forth between Hashirama, Madara, and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The teacher addressed the other person as "Lord First ".
The other person referred to the teacher as Monkey.
He even directly called the black-haired man "Ban".
All the clues connected completely at this moment.
Jiraiya suddenly stood up straight, causing the chair to slide backward.
" The First Hokage?"
He stared intently at Hashirama, his face finally revealing his shock.
Then, he turned to look at Ban.
" Madara Uchiha?"
Hashirama nodded.
"It's me."
Ban simply stared at him coldly, offering no denial.
Jiraiya felt a chill run down his spine.
It really was them.
Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, who had been dead for decades.
What exactly happened during the years he traveled after leaving Konoha?
The deceased returned to the present world.
The Shinobi World stayed to work at the tavern.