At the Hokage Office, unlike before, the guards did not stop Ayato at all this time. It seemed they had been notified in advance.
The moment Ayato stepped into the office, a voice reached his ears.
"What's this, old man? You sent over a dozen messages to call me back just for this kid? He doesn't look like much." It was a voice full of middle-aged-man energy, and it sounded like its owner was no longer young.
Ayato could not help looking toward the speaker. He had already had a suspicion upon hearing the voice, but when he actually saw the man, his eyes still widened.
Before him stood a tall middle-aged shinobi wearing a forehead protector marked with the character for "oil." His messy-looking white hair fell all the way to his waist, red markings lay beneath his eyes, and he wore a red outer robe.
Without a doubt, this was Jiraiya, one of the Three Great Shinobi!
Ayato had never expected to see Jiraiya here. Of course, he could guess what Jiraiya's presence meant, and while he was excited, he could not help mocking himself inwardly.
Sure enough, the Flying Thunder God given by the Third Hokage would not be so easy to obtain. Even if his background was beyond reproach, and even if he had shown enough bonds with his family and friends, it was probably still not enough in the Third Hokage's eyes.
Of course, Ayato would not give up on the possibility of becoming his disciple because of that. This was Jiraiya, after all—one of the Three Great Shinobi, and the shared teacher of the Fourth Hokage and the Seventh Hokage.
"Lord Third Hokage." Though shocked, Ayato did not forget to bow to the Third Hokage.
"Mm, Ayato. Judging by your expression just now, do