"Look."
"Is that the Hidden Cloud delegation?"
Gamakon suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing within his horizontal pupils as he directed his gaze toward the end of the official road.
Jiraiya also squinted toward the distance.
At the edge of the horizon, several black dots appeared.
As the distance closed, those dots rapidly enlarged into an aggressive-looking procession.
Their uniform dark skin practically reflected the sunlight, appearing exceptionally striking.
They weren't dressed in formal attire like a typical diplomatic mission; instead, they were unified in white, single-strap tactical vests, revealing toned arms covered in scars, with heavy ninja tool pouches strapped to their thighs.
The man leading them was exceptionally tall, one-eyed, and wore a black mask over his face, his visible eye brimming with ferocity and arrogance.
He was the leader of the Hidden Cloud delegation and a confidant of the Raikage.
They showed no intention of slowing down. Instead, they accelerated, carrying a momentum that seemed intent on crashing straight through Konoha's gates, kicking up a trail of dust as they bore down on the village entrance.
"Tch, they really aren't coming with good intentions, are they?"
Jiraiya dropped his lazy demeanor and put away his book.
He stood tall, his previously somewhat slouched back straightening like a pine tree. The heavy aura belonging to one of the Sannin silently and invisibly began to permeate the air.
"Halt."
Jiraiya didn't shout; he simply spoke two words calmly.
The voice wasn't loud, yet it exploded in the ears of the Hidden Cloud group like a sudden thunderclap.
That invisible pressure acted like a solid wall, forcibly halting the delegation's charge.
The one-eyed leader's steps faltered, his feet leaving two deep imprints in the ground.
He looked up, his single eye staring fixedly at the white-haired man blocking the center of the road, the corner of his eye twitching slightly.
"Is this how Konoha treats its guests?"
The one-eyed ninja let out a cold laugh, his voice raspy and coarse. "Having the famous Sannin Jiraiya personally guard the gate... it seems Konoha is truly short on manpower. What's the matter? Now that Danzo is dead, can't you even scrape together a decent reception committee?"
He was provocative from the very start.
He didn't just mention Danzo's death; he was also mocking Konoha for being empty of talent.
There was no anger on Jiraiya's face. Instead, he flashed his trademark boisterous grin.
"Not at all. I just heard the gentlemen from the Hidden Cloud had traveled a long way and was worried you might get lost. So, I decided to come out and meet you myself."
Jiraiya crossed his arms, his gaze sweeping over the murderous group of shinobi with an amused glint. "After all, the roads in Konoha aren't very easy to walk lately. There are pits everywhere. If you were to accidentally fall and break a leg, the Raikage would surely be heartbroken."
"You!"
A young Cloud ninja behind the leader couldn't hold back, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of the blade on his back.
"Stop."
The one-eyed ninja raised a hand to restrain his subordinate, a flicker of wariness crossing his eye.
That brief clash of chakra just now had made him clearly realize the terrifying nature of the man before him.
*So this is the legendary Sage? He can suppress our entire squad with just his aura.*
"I've long heard that Lord Jiraiya is silver-tongued. Seeing you today, it's clear the rumors are true."
The one-eyed ninja pulled the corner of his mouth into a hollow smirk. "We are the Hidden Cloud delegation. We have come by the Raikage's orders to offer condolences for the late Lord Danzo and to discuss certain... misunderstandings at the border with the Hokage."
He placed heavy emphasis on the word "misunderstandings."
"Fair enough, fair enough."
Jiraiya stepped aside and made a "please" gesture. The smile remained bright on his face, but the depths of his eyes were cold. "Since you're here to pay your respects, please come in. The Hokage has been waiting in his office for some time."
The Hidden Cloud group snorted coldly and strode through the gates of Konoha.
Perched on Jiraiya's head, Gamakon watched their retreating backs and sneered inwardly.
*Condolences?*
*These guys aren't even carrying a single white flower. The killing intent radiating from them was practically overflowing; they looked more like they were here to stage a robbery.*
"Let's go. We'll show these country bumpkins what the world is really like."
Jiraiya brushed the dust off his clothes and followed them at a leisurely pace.
...
The atmosphere on Konoha's main road was somewhat eerie.
The Hidden Cloud delegation walked down the center of the street, their arrogant demeanor drawing stares from the villagers and ninjas on both sides.
The one-eyed ninja's gaze was like radar, constantly scanning the surrounding buildings and crowds.
He was observing.
He observed Konoha's reconstruction progress, the morale of the villagers, and most importantly, Konoha's defensive strength.
However, the more he looked, the tighter his brow furrowed.
The desolation and panic he expected to see weren't there.
The streets were clean, shops were lined up, and although the villagers looked somewhat busy, they lacked the anxiety of a people facing an impending disaster.
What surprised him even more were the patrolling shinobi.
"Are those... the Uchiha?"
The one-eyed ninja watched a squad of Police Force members walking past the street corner. They wore deep blue uniforms with the Uchiha crest on their backs, and his eyes flashed with confusion.
According to Hidden Cloud intelligence, the Uchiha clan and Konoha's top brass had a long-standing grudge, and their relationship had reached a freezing point.
Theoretically, Danzo's death should have caused that conflict to explode completely.
*So what was this?*
Those Uchiha ninjas were currently helping an elderly woman pick up a collapsed fruit stall. Though their expressions remained cold, their movements weren't rough at all.
And behind them, several Anbu ninjas were walking alongside them, seemingly engaged in conversation, without any of the tension described in the reports.
"It seems your intelligence needs updating."
Jiraiya's voice came from the side at just the right moment, tinged with mockery. "Under the leadership of the Fourth Hokage, Konoha is more united than ever. Were you hoping to see the joke of a civil war? I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."
The one-eyed ninja's expression darkened. He didn't respond, but he quickened his pace.
They walked in silence for the rest of the way.
When they arrived in front of the Hokage Building, Minato Namikaze was already standing on the steps below, waiting.
He wore the Hokage cloak, his blonde hair shining brilliantly in the sunlight. With that breeze-like smile on his face, he radiated the confidence and composure of a true leader.
Behind him, Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, Inoichi Yamanaka, and the newly returned Kakashi Hatake stood in a line.
This lineup didn't appear overly aggressive, yet it displayed sufficient strength.
"Welcome, guests, from afar."
Minato nodded in acknowledgment. "You must be the Hidden Cloud delegation."
Looking at the Hokage, who appeared incredibly young, the one-eyed ninja's mind flashed back to that golden light on the battlefield. He instinctively felt his throat tighten.
But he was, after all, the Raikage's confidant and represented the face of the Hidden Cloud.
"The Hidden Cloud delegation greets the Hokage."
The one-eyed ninja gave a perfunctory cupped-fist salute, his eyes never leaving Minato's. His tone was stiff. "There's no need for pleasantries. We've come for an explanation regarding our missing squad..."
"We can discuss this matter slowly in the conference room."
Minato didn't get angry at the man's rudeness. He exchanged a glance with Jiraiya before turning to lead the way.
That attitude of effortlessly deflecting the pressure made the one-eyed ninja feel like he had thrown a punch into a bale of cotton—no impact at all.
He huffed coldly and led his subordinates into the Hokage Building.
Once the last Cloud ninja disappeared behind the doors, Jiraiya finally gave a long stretch, his joints popping and cracking.
"Alright, mission accomplished."
"Time to go collect some material."
Jiraiya chuckled and turned to leave, his steps as light as a twenty-year-old's.
Perched on his head, Gamakon watched Jiraiya's impatient look and couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"Are you going to collect material? You're just lusting after them!"
"Nonsense!"
Jiraiya retorted righteously, yet his feet were already taking a familiar path into an alleyway leading toward the commercial street.
"How can you call it lust when it's for an artist? That's the pursuit and exploration of beauty! Besides, with those Hidden Cloud guys here, the atmosphere in the village is too tense. I need to go help everyone liven things up."
"Where are we going?" Gamakon asked, knowing full well the answer.
"Naturally, to the place where Konoha's intel flows the most freely, where the scenery is the finest, and where the soul is most cleansed—"
Jiraiya stopped in front of a building with a massive sign bearing the character for 'Hot Water.' A lecherous yet strangely 'sacred' smile appeared on his face.
"The Konoha Public Bathhouse!"