Rooftop of the Konoha Hot Springs
Night had settled quietly over Konoha.
Steam rose gently from the famous hot springs, drifting into the cool air beneath a sky full of stars. On the rooftop overlooking the baths, two elderly figures stood side by side, their expressions weary and helpless.
They were Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu, the two village advisors.
In front of them, crouched behind a railing with a telescope in hand, was none other than Jiraiya.
He was currently focused on peeping into the women's bath with complete concentration.
Homura sighed.
"Jiraiya…"
Koharu pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Konoha is leaderless. The Third Hokage has fallen, and the village urgently needs someone capable of stabilizing the situation."
Homura continued.
"We have already spoken with the Fire Daimyo. We are prepared to recommend you as the Fifth Hokage."
Jiraiya casually folded up his telescope and tucked it away as though nothing unusual had happened.
He turned around, leaned against the railing, and looked at the two elders with a lazy smile.
"I'm not interested in becoming Hokage."
Then he shrugged.
"Isn't Kakashi still around? His strength should barely be enough by now."
Koharu shook her head immediately.
"Kakashi is unsuitable."
"His ability is sufficient, but he lacks the prestige to command broad support."
Homura nodded in agreement.
"If this were a normal succession, perhaps it could work."
"But the Third Hokage died in battle. The people are anxious. The shinobi are unsettled."
"We need someone whose reputation alone can calm the village."
Koharu looked directly at him.
"In Konoha today, only one of the Legendary Sannin has that qualification."
Jiraiya smiled faintly.
"The Sannin, huh?"
He lifted his eyes toward the bright moon overhead.
"There's still another one."
"Tsunade is more suitable than I am."
The two advisors exchanged glances.
They could not deny it.
Among Konoha's middle-aged jonin and chunin, there were very few who had not received help from Tsunade at some point in their lives.
As a medical ninja, she had saved countless comrades.
As a Sannin, she had prestige.
As the granddaughter of the First Hokage, she had bloodline legitimacy.
Compared to Jiraiya, Tsunade was indeed an even stronger candidate.
After some discussion, Jiraiya finally promised:
"I'll bring Tsunade back within a month."
Only then did the two advisors reluctantly give up on forcing him into the role.
Jiraiya then raised another issue.
"I'm also taking Naruto with me for training."
This made them hesitate.
Allowing the Nine-Tails jinchuriki to leave the village carried major risks.
But Danzo's mysterious death was still unresolved, and letting Naruto wander freely inside Konoha was hardly safer.
In the end, they agreed.
For now, Jiraiya was still the most trustworthy option.
Outside the West Gate of Konoha
Later that night, in the town beyond Konoha's western gate, a window was tapped from outside.
Aoki Yoru opened it and immediately saw Jiraiya's grinning face.
He stared blankly.
"You're leaving the village."
"So why are you here?"
"And let me be clear—I'm not going with you to find Tsunade."
Jiraiya dramatically flipped his long white hair, then leaned through the window and threw an arm over Yoru's shoulder.
"Yoru!"
"Since I'm going to find Tsunade, inspiration has struck me."
"I've already conceived the final volume of Young A-Bin."
"I'm ready to begin writing at any time."
He grinned shamelessly.
"So I came to see if you had any fresh ideas."
Aoki Yoru rolled his eyes so hard it nearly hurt.
Although he had already wiped out Danzo's secret laboratories and obtained plenty of resources, who would ever complain about earning more money?
Research was expensive.
Extremely expensive.
So after a moment, he sighed.
"Fine."
"I do have a new plot."
Jiraiya's eyes lit up instantly.
Without hesitation, Aoki Yoru began recounting one of the great masterpieces from his previous life.
As an old reader in another world, his memory was full of endless stories.
As he spoke, Jiraiya's expression gradually transformed.
First curious.
Then serious.
Then flushed red.
Finally, steam practically burst from his nostrils.
When Yoru finished, Jiraiya placed both hands on his shoulders with solemn admiration.
"Yoru…"
"You've grown."
"This is no longer the crude, direct style of your earlier plots."
"You've learned structure. Layering. Emotional connection."
"This…"
He raised a finger dramatically.
"This is the path of a true writer!"
Then he nodded deeply.
"I see now."
"You also intend to pursue literature."
"Good."
"I believe in you."
Aoki Yoru looked at him as if staring at an escaped lunatic.
"I have absolutely no interest in becoming a writer."
"Maybe when I'm old, I'll write a memoir for my descendants."
Jiraiya looked devastated.
"What a tragedy…"
"The ninja world has lost a literary genius."
Yoru's mouth twitched.
What kind of genius writes shameless smut under his real name?
Without another word, he shoved Jiraiya back through the window and slammed it shut.
If he allowed it, Jiraiya would discuss plot development until sunrise.
The Shimizu Clan Compound
Later that evening, warmth and laughter filled the open courtyard of the Shimizu Clan compound.
Aoki Yoru, Kenta, and Yui had gathered around a fire pit for a barbecue feast.
The flames crackled cheerfully.
Oil sizzled from skewers laid over the grill.
The rich aroma of roasted meat drifted through the air with the night breeze.
Kenta had rolled up his sleeves and was busy brushing sauce over rows of skewers.
Yui crouched beside the grill, sprinkling salt and pepper over freshly cooked meat with practiced precision.
Meanwhile, Aoki Yoru sat in a chair nearby, mixing a special seasoning blend.
After many failed attempts, he had finally recreated the taste of barbecue spices from his previous life.
To be honest, if he ever stopped being a ninja, he could become rich just selling this recipe.
Nearby, Nao, Chino, several of Kenta's younger siblings, and children from Yui's clan ran through the courtyard playing tag.
Their bright laughter blended with the smell of grilled meat and the crackling fire.
This gathering had been Yui's suggestion.
Yoru had spent over a year outside the village, and everyone had been too busy to meet properly.
Now was the perfect chance.
Once the Fifth Hokage was chosen, life would only become more hectic.
Missing Someone
As Yoru handed out seasoning, he glanced at Yui.
"By the way…"
"Didn't you invite Kakashi-sensei?"
"With how careful you are, I doubt you forgot."
Yui nodded.
"I did."
"But the Sand Village negotiation team has already entered the Land of Fire."
"The advisors were worried they might cause trouble, so they sent Kakashi-sensei to monitor them."
"He should return in a few days."
"Then we can gather again."
Yoru nodded.
Honestly, he felt the advisors were being overly cautious.
The Fourth Kazekage was dead.
The One-Tail jinchuriki was currently in Konoha's hands.
Sunagakure had little room for reckless behavior.
Still, politics often ignored logic.
"Who did they send this time?" Yoru asked.
Originally, Baki had handled many major negotiations.
But Baki was currently locked up in Konoha's ANBU prison.
The replacement candidate from the Chunin Exams had already been killed by Yoru himself.
Sunagakure was in chaos.
Yui shrugged.
"I'm not sure."
"At minimum, probably an elder or advisor."
"They need Konoha's forgiveness if they want Gaara back."
Yoru thought silently.
Probably Ebizo.
Among the Sand Village elders known publicly, only Chiyo and Ebizo truly stood out.
Chiyo hated Konoha too deeply to come.
So Ebizo was the most likely choice.
Still, it had nothing to do with him.
He tossed the thought aside and returned to the food.
Kenta's Discovery
After everyone had eaten for a while, Kenta suddenly spoke.
"Yoru. Yui."
"Do you remember that Sand ninja I mentioned before?"
"The taijutsu specialist who used a strange breathing method?"
The two exchanged glances, then nodded.
Kenta's eyes brightened.
"After a month of experimenting, I think I've figured it out."
He leaned forward seriously.
"It's a technique that dramatically increases lung capacity through controlled breathing."
"By drawing in huge amounts of oxygen, it stimulates the body's cells and boosts strength and speed."
"It doesn't rely on chakra."
"It doesn't require opening meridians."
"And unlike the Eight Gates, it doesn't heavily damage the body."
That caught both of their attention immediately.
Kenta continued.
"It seems to have seven progressive activation stages."
"The upper limit isn't as extreme as the Eight Gates…"
"But the risk is far lower."
He looked at them earnestly.
"I'm wondering if it can be improved by incorporating chakra nature transformation."
Yoru fell silent.
This was valuable.
Any technique that could increase combat ability without crippling the user was worth studying.
He immediately thought of breathing styles from another world.
Could there be similarities?
Could chakra be layered into it?
"I'll think about it," Yoru said.
"There's definitely potential here."
Yui nodded as well.
"Me too."
"When we've both done more research, the three of us should meet again and compare results."
Kenta grinned.
"Deal."
The fire crackled brighter.
The children laughed in the background.
The scent of roasted meat drifted upward into the night.
While Konoha's leaders argued over the future of the Hokage seat…
Its younger generation was already quietly building the future in their own way.
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