In the Land of Fire, within a quiet hot spring town…
Jiraiya leaned back in the steaming water, his entire body relaxed, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.
"Hahaha! Now this is the life!"
Having just successfully "borrowed" public funds for drinks and entertainment, Jiraiya was in an exceptionally good mood.
Slide—
The wooden door to the bath slowly opened.
Jiraiya's carefree expression eased slightly as he turned his head.
The moment he saw who walked in, his face froze… then twisted into surprise.
"…Kizaru?"
Why the hell was he out here too?
"Ohh~ what a coincidence, Jiraiya-san."
Kizaru stepped in lazily, already rinsed off, a white towel loosely wrapped around his waist. Perched casually on his shoulders was Matatabi, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.
For Matatabi, who had spent most of her existence either feared, hunted, or sealed away… this was her first time freely experiencing something as simple as a hot spring.
"…What brings you out here?" Jiraiya asked, resting his arms on the edge of the pool, watching him carefully.
"Mm~ mission."
Kizaru strolled closer, his figure gradually becoming clearer through the steam.
"Mission?" Jiraiya raised a brow. "We just finished a war. What kind of mission needs you?"
Kizaru didn't answer right away.
Instead, he casually lifted Matatabi off his shoulders and placed her at the edge of the bath.
She immediately dipped a paw into the water, testing it like an excited cat.
Only then did Kizaru speak.
"S-rank."
"S-rank?" Jiraiya blinked.
His curiosity spiked instantly—but just as quickly, he waved it off.
"…Forget it. If it's classified, don't bother."
Kizaru chuckled softly.
"No need to be so cautious~"
He pointed down at Matatabi, who was now slowly lowering herself into the water.
"S-rank mission: take the Two-Tails out for a bit of fresh air."
"…Huh?"
Splash!
Jiraiya lost his balance and slipped straight under the water.
"Ack—!"
He resurfaced coughing, wiping his face, staring at Kizaru like he'd just heard the dumbest thing in his life.
"…You're serious?"
He wanted to complain.
But after a second, he paused.
…Actually, anything involving a Tailed Beast was S-rank by default.
Still…
"This is the weirdest damn mission I've ever heard."
"It wasn't easy getting the old man to approve that, was it?" Jiraiya muttered, narrowing his eyes.
He already knew Kizaru's reform proposals had passed the higher-ups. The village was busy dealing with other nations. And yet—
Kizaru still got permission to take the Two-Tails out?
Kizaru smiled faintly.
"I just told Hokage-sama… it'd be troublesome if she ran away out of boredom."
Jiraiya paused.
Then he snorted.
"…Yeah. I can already picture his face."
A long, exhausted sigh from Hiruzen Sarutobi flashed through his mind.
"This is ridiculous…"
At that moment—
Splash!
Matatabi jumped fully into the bath, paddling around with surprising enthusiasm.
Kizaru loosened the towel at his waist and stepped into the water as well.
Jiraiya glanced at him—
…and froze.
"…What the hell?"
His eyes widened.
Then, slowly… he looked down at himself.
Silence.
Jiraiya quietly clenched his legs together.
Kizaru noticed.
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
"…You're pretty cute, Jiraiya-san."
"…!!!"
It hit like a direct critical strike.
Jiraiya's face went stiff.
The world seemed to darken around him.
Without a word, he slowly sank back into the water like a man who had just lost all will to live.
"…Ugly."
Matatabi added lazily from the side.
Jiraiya resurfaced again.
And took another fatal hit.
"…Hahaha…" he laughed weakly, shifting away without another word.
Yeah.
No way he was staying near those two.
"…So," Jiraiya said, clearing his throat, forcing himself back to normal. "Why are you really here?"
Kizaru leaned back slightly in the water.
"I came to find you."
"…Me?"
Jiraiya frowned.
"What for?"
"I need you to go back to the village."
Jiraiya's expression sharpened.
"…Something happen?"
Kizaru shook his head.
"I've got a kid. Name's Minato Namikaze. He's graduating early."
Jiraiya blinked.
"And?"
"I want you to take him as your student."
Jiraiya paused.
"…That's the Hokage's decision?"
"Mm."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then Jiraiya sighed, scratching his head.
"…Can't do it."
He leaned back again, tone casual but firm.
"I've got my own work. Traveling, writing… and something else I'm chasing."
Kizaru didn't react.
"You can take him with you."
Jiraiya opened his mouth—
"…I—"
"I heard from Tsunade," Kizaru cut in lightly, his tone still relaxed, but his eyes sharper now.
"You're looking for that 'Child of Prophecy,' right?"
Jiraiya froze.
Then slowly nodded.
"…Yeah."
Kizaru looked at him calmly.
"I think Minato might be connected to that future."
Jiraiya frowned.
"…You're serious?"
He didn't even know the kid.
If anything—
Kizaru felt more like that kind of person.
Instead of answering directly, Kizaru spoke again.
"Instead of chasing something vague… why not look at what's right in front of you?"
"…?"
"Change the world yourself. Bit by bit."
Jiraiya fell silent.
The steam drifted between them.
Then—
"…Yeah."
He nodded.
"…I'll meet him."
Kizaru smiled faintly.
"You won't regret it."
Far away…
Inside a dark, hidden cavern—
Madara Uchiha sat atop a stone platform, eyes half-lidded.
Below him, White Zetsu reported quietly.
"…Shimura Kizaru has left Konoha."
Madara stood.
A faint smile formed.
"A new 'god of shinobi'…?"
His aged body creaked—but power still lingered within it.
"…Let's see."
If the boy was nothing but empty talk—
He'd kill him.
If he had some worth—
He might be useful.
Madara stepped forward, gaze cold and sharp.
"Show me…"
"…whether you're worthy of standing on this stage."
--------------------------------------
Support me at patreon.com/Arthorain and read upto 50 Advanced Chapters and R-18 Content!
--------------------------------------
Update schedule: 7 chapters/week
Every 200 power stones = 1 Extra Chapter
By voting with [power stones], you can easily get double the number of chapters.