Jiraiya's Compromise

After the meeting, Jiraiya came straight here, his anxiety like that of an ant on a hot pan.

He paced back and forth, muttering to himself, "What am I going to do? How did I end up in this mess?"

"Old man, you know me, I'm used to being carefree..." Jiraiya stopped and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He was used to a free and unrestrained life, traveling around and recording little-known secrets.

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to his only disciple and said wearily, "Jiraiya, do you think I have any other choice?"

Jiraiya shrank back slightly and tentatively suggested, "Why not just let Fugaku be the Hokage? The Uchiha has had a very good reputation these past few years."

He tried to get rid of this hot potato, after all, Fugaku was capable, Uchiha Clan held a pivotal position in Konoha.

"You! You!--" Hiruzen Sarutobi was so angry he almost vomited blood. He never expected Jiraiya make such a rash suggestion.

After a while, he calmed himself down, took a deep breath, and said, "Jiraiya, it's not that I can't accept the Uchiha as Hokage, but it must be an Uchiha values Konoha more than his clan. Fugaku puts his clan above Konoha; if he becomes Hokage, it will only make the Uchiha stronger, while Konoha will decline."

Listening to Hiruzen Sarutobi's earnest advice, Jiraiya only respond with a wry smile, "How can someone as carefree as me shoulder the responsibility of Hokage? I still need time to gather intelligence from various places and to write."

Hiruzen Sarutobi replied, "The Hokage doesn't need to do everything personally. Build a supportive and trustworthy team to handle village affairs together, and I will assist you and provide support."

Seeing the conflicted look on Jiraiya's face, Hiruzen Sarutobi painfully took out a crystal ball from his sleeve. "I wish to impart my Telescope Technique to you!"

This crystal ball is no ordinary object.

Upon seeing the crystal ball, Jiraiya's eyes immediately lit up, like a child seeing a rare treasure, and he couldn't help but play with it with great affection.

With this thing, he can... hehehehe.

Bathhouse... beautiful women, hehehe.

However, after some struggle, he returned the crystal ball to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Old man, I must go find Orochimaru..." He still held a sliver of hope for Orochimaru.

"Absolutely impossible!" Hiruzen Sarutobi vehemently denied. "He has conducted human experiments and attacked Tsunade; there is no place for him in Konoha."

Jiraiya hearing this, Jiraiya's face darkened, and he lowered his head, muttering to himself, "How could someone like me be worthy of the Hokage Position?"

Even close friends couldn't save it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi his head and sighed, "Jiraiya, your strength and reputation are at the pinnacle of Konoha. If you are not up to the task, who is?"

Jiraiya countered, "What about Tsunade? Tsunade has always been exceptionally intelligent, resolute, and decisive in her decisions."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "The matter of Danzo has made her disillusioned with Konoha."

"What about Minato? Minato is fine." Jiraiya then suggested his apprentice.

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent, his expression turning somber. He said with disappointment, "Jiraiya, are you unwilling to lend a hand to our master? Can you bear to see Konoha destroyed?"

Jiraiya pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "Why not let Fugaku take the position? The Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku prophesied that Mitsuki would become a ninja who leads the world to change."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was taken aback by this, as he knew that the Great Toad Sage's prophecies had extraordinary influence, and each prophecy could stir up huge waves.

For a moment, the office fell silent, with only the soft breathing of the two people remaining.

Hiruzen Sarutobi finally came to his senses and looked at Jiraiya. "I don't expect you to serve as Hokage for life. In a few years, when the younger generation rises, you can step down."

After saying that, he placed the crystal ball back into Jiraiya's hand.

Jiraiya stroked the crystal ball in his hand, feeling its cool touch and smooth surface. After a long while, he sighed and hid the crystal ball in his sleeve.

Night fell as dark as ink, and the darkness before dawn enveloped the boundless Gobi Desert, like a giant black curtain immersing the land in deep shadows.

This vast land is as still as a sleeping giant, but beneath that tranquility lies a chilling power, like a surging undercurrent.

Even as night falls, the gale continues to rage, like an angry spirit churning across the land, whipping up clouds of yellow sand and forming fierce whirlpools.

The grains of sand collided with each other, emitting a piercing scream that sounded especially terrifying in the silent night, inspiring fear.

Looking around, all that could be seen was a vast, boundless sandy expanse, like a yellow ocean, stretching to the horizon and inspiring feelings of despair and insignificance.

In the distance, the undulating sand dunes resemble sandcastles randomly piled up by nature, one after another, stretching to the horizon. There, nothing grows but endless desolation and loneliness, as if it were a forbidden land for life.

"Is this our destination?" Akimichi Chōza stopped his heavy steps, his burly body trembling slightly in the gale.

He was panting heavily, looking back at the Minato, his face covered in sand and dust, sweat and sand intertwined to form streaks.

Minato examined the yellowed map in his hand; the map swayed in the wind, and he gripped it tightly.

In the dim light, he carefully examined the markings and lines on the map, then looked up, a resolute glint in his eyes, and said, "Yes, this is it."

"Finally arrived." Koki breathed a sigh of relief, her face pale and her lips chapped, clearly not used to the dry and harsh environment.

He felt completely exhausted from walking, and his legs felt as heavy as lead.

"What's next? If we go any further, we'll reach that desert, the line of defense against the sandstorms." Koki gazed at the seemingly endless desert ahead.

Minato looked around, seemingly searching for something, his gaze darting quickly through the night before finally settling on a few faintly visible boulders in the distance.

"Where are we going?" Koki asked as she followed with difficulty.

"There should be a place to rest there," Minato said, supporting Koki. "Let's go take a look."

"How did you know?" Koki asked curiously. Minato was always so mysterious and reliable; no matter what kind of predicament he was in, he always seemed to be prepared.

Minato smiled, his golden hair dancing in the wind. "I passed through this place during a mission years ago and it left an impression on me."

Throughout the journey, Minato closely protected Koki, and the group slowly made their way forward amidst the raging sandstorm.

Finally, when those towering boulders came into view, a sense of relief welled up within me.

Koki stopped, panting, and looked up, her eyes filled with astonishment.

These massive and majestic rocks stand tall on the desolate land. Over the years, wind and sand erosion has given them unique shapes, some resembling twisted beasts, others like strange castles.

"It actually exists." Koki hadn't held much hope for the sanctuary Minato had mentioned.

Finding a peaceful Pure Land in this boundless Gobi Desert is extremely difficult.

"Everyone, please don't let anyone recognize us," Minato whispered a warning.

He carefully put the large hood on Koki, skillfully adjusting the brim to perfectly cover her face, and then tidied his own clothes to cover his face even more thoroughly.

Then, he carefully walked down.

In this border region where countries meet, there are often secret outposts that provide supplies for travelers.

However, these places are also chaotic, frequented by both escaped ninjas and wanted criminals from various countries.

Conflicts over interests and power struggles can erupt at any time and in any place.