Naruto: I'm in Konoha, my name is Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 343 Jiraiya returns to the village

The Renhe Casino, a three-story building standing in the most prosperous area of ​​the concession, shimmers with a luxurious aura even in broad daylight.

A huge neon sign reads "Grand Casino," and in the plaza in front, a fountain reflects colorful hues in the sunlight. Well-dressed doormen humbly open the heavy, gilded doors for each guest.

Jiraiya stood at the entrance of this den of iniquity and took a deep breath.

The air was filled with a mixture of high-end fragrances, cigar tobacco, and a certain sweet, powdery scent.

He tried to maintain a serious expression, but his gaze was involuntarily drawn to the two bunny girls greeting guests at the door.

Black fishnet stockings encased their long, firm thighs, and fluffy rabbit ear headdresses trembled gently as they bowed. Their low-cut dresses accentuated their breathtaking curves.

"Gulp..." Jiraiya's Adam's apple bobbed, his nostrils felt hot, and two streams of bright red liquid slowly flowed down.

"This place...this place is simply heaven!" he murmured to himself, his eyes wide with amazement.

"Jiraiya-senpai!" Shizune's annoyed voice pulled him back to reality.

Holding her pink pet pig, Tun Tun, in one arm and struggling to lift a heavy leather suitcase in the other, her face flushed slightly with embarrassment and helplessness: "We're not here for sightseeing!"

"Cough cough!" Jiraiya snapped back to reality, hastily wiping the blood from his nose with his sleeve, and said seriously, "Of course not! I came... uh, to help Tsunade! Hmm!"

He guiltily looked away, but couldn't help glancing at the bunny girl out of the corner of his eye.

Jingyin sighed, too lazy to argue with him anymore, and walked towards the casino entrance first.

Jiraiya quickly followed, and the two passed through the revolving door, stepping into another world.

The casino lobby was far more luxurious than one could have imagined.

A giant crystal chandelier hangs from the dome, which is over ten meters high, and thousands of perfectly cut crystals refract dazzling light under the illumination.

The floor was covered with a deep red velvet carpet, which was soft and silent underfoot.

In the center of the hall were dozens of gambling tables: roulette, blackjack, sic bo, dominoes...

Each table was surrounded by well-dressed gamblers. The dealers moved with elegance and precision, and the crisp sound of the chips clashing mingled with the clamor, sighs, and cheers of the crowd, creating a unique and heart-pounding rhythm.

The waiters moving between the gambling tables, regardless of gender, are all outstanding in appearance, dressed either sexily or elegantly, and wear professional, sweet smiles on their faces.

The waitresses wore tight-fitting cheongsams or miniskirts, revealing their fair thighs; the waiters wore smart tailcoats and behaved impeccably.

Jiraiya's eyes almost popped out.

"Oh! That girl in the red cheongsam, the slit almost goes down to her waist... Wow! That blonde over there, her figure is a work of art... And over there..."

"Senpai!" Shizune forced out through gritted teeth, "Lady Tsunade is waiting for us!"

"Ah, right, right, business is important, business is important." Jiraiya reluctantly withdrew his gaze, but his steps were a few steps slower, and he almost bumped into a bunny girl carrying a champagne tray.

Silently and familiarly, she passed through the noisy hall and walked deeper into a heavy oak double door.

Two security guards, dressed in black suits and wearing headsets, stood in front of the door. They were burly, with sharp eyes, and their waists were bulging, clearly concealing weapons.

Upon seeing Shizune, the two immediately bowed slightly, and the one on the left respectfully said, "Miss Shizune."

"Thank you." Shizune nodded.

The security guard on the right pushed open the gate.

The world behind the door was completely different from the hustle and bustle of the hall.

The VIP area is smaller than the lobby, but its decor is more private and luxurious.

Dark solid wood walls, soft leather sofas, and a low coffee table with an elegant fruit platter and drinks.

There are only eight gambling tables here, and the gamblers at each table all have an extraordinary air about them, betting hundreds of thousands or even millions of chips at a time.

The air was filled with the rich aroma of cigars and fine champagne, while the background music was a gentle jazz piano piece.

As soon as Shizune and Jiraiya walked in, they saw Tsunade sitting on the sofa in the corner.

He was leaning back on the leather sofa, one hand supporting his chin, the other holding a wine glass.

She wore a green cardigan over a beige casual outfit, her long golden hair cascading over her shoulders, and a slightly flushed face.

Several empty wine bottles and a small number of chips were scattered on the coffee table in front of the sofa.

Jingyin strode over, placed the heavy suitcase on the coffee table, and pushed aside several obstructing wine bottles.

"Lady Tsunade, I've brought the money."

Tsunade swayed and turned her head, her amber eyes appearing somewhat hazy from the alcohol.

She glanced at the silent camera, then at the suitcase, and grinned:
"Oh, Mute, you're here."

She let out a burp, and the strong smell of alcohol hit me.

"Is this much money... enough?" she asked vaguely, then picked up the half-empty bottle of wine on the table and took a swig from the bottle.

Shizune said helplessly, "Lady Tsunade, this is our last savings. If you lose it all, we won't even be able to pay for our hotel next month."

"Hiccup... If you're short of money, just go earn it." Tsunade waved her hand dismissively, pointing to the wealthy gamblers in the VIP area: "There are so many rich people here, just find a few with illnesses or hidden ailments, give them a checkup, and the money will come, right?"

This is not bragging.

As a recognized medical master in the ninja world, Tsunade's medical skills have long been unparalleled.

Ordinary and difficult diseases are like child's play to her. Even some cases that have been declared "terminal" can be treated by her to prolong life and alleviate pain.

In the ninja world, countless wealthy and powerful people are willing to ask her for help, and her consultation fees are often in the millions of taels of silver.

She treated patients differently depending on their circumstances. For ordinary people, she might only charge a small fee as a token gesture; but for wealthy people with substantial assets, she would ruthlessly charge exorbitant prices.

This is one of the reasons why she could spend money like water at casinos, repeatedly lose but never actually go bankrupt.

The vast legacy of the Senju clan forms the foundation, while her own medical skills are an inexhaustible "money-printing machine."

“If all else fails…” Tsunade took another swig of sake and added, “Go to the Star Capital and sell some patents. That kid… offered a pretty good price.”

She occasionally sells some medical technologies or research results to the medical department of the Star Kingdom, and the Star Kingdom is very generous in this regard, offering patent fees that are enough for her to live a life of luxury in casinos for several months.

At this moment, Tsunade finally noticed Jiraiya following behind Shizune.

She squinted, looked carefully for a few seconds, and then suddenly realized:

"Huh? Jiraiya? What brings you here?"

Then, as if she had thought of something, a mischievous "I understand you" smile appeared on her face, and she pointed at Jiraiya with her finger:

"Oh—I see. The hostesses here are indeed 'outstanding,' all kinds of types... I suppose you, as a 'source material writer,' also enjoy the ambiance here?"

"Cough! Cough cough!" Jiraiya coughed a few times and quickly waved his hand: "Don't talk nonsense! I just happened to be wandering around this city and ran into Shizune. I heard you were here, so I came to see you!"

"Really?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing it, but too lazy to investigate further. She sat up straight on the sofa, rubbed her temples, and the effects of the alcohol subsided a little.

For the past two years, Jiraiya has indeed been traveling around the Land of Stars.

Since his heated debate with Shura about the "path to peace" in the Land of Rain two years ago, Jiraiya has not returned to Konoha. Instead, he has been traveling between various counties and cities in the Land of Stars, seeing and experiencing all aspects of this emerging country firsthand.

He had seen highly ordered and modern cities like Star City, the bustling construction scenes in border counties, the daily lives of ordinary people under the new system, and also "special zones" like Renhe City that were deliberately preserved and full of desire and chaos.

These experiences are gradually changing his perception of the world.

As the three were talking, a middle-aged man wearing a dark purple velvet suit and with his hair neatly combed walked over with two bodyguards.

The man held an exquisite ledger in his hands, with a professional and humble smile on his face.

"Lady Tsunade." He bowed slightly. "These are your accounts for this time. Please take a look."

Tsunade took the ledger and glanced at the numbers on it casually.

Eighty-three million taels.

Without even lifting her eyelids, she picked up a pen tied to the ledger and signed her name at the end.

"Mute, pay."

Shizune sighed and opened her suitcase.

The box contained neatly stacked banknotes worth a million taels of silver, as well as several gold bars.

Just as she was about to take inventory, the person in charge quickly waved his hand:
"No need, no need! Our casino has complete trust in Lady Tsunade's reputation!"

He gestured for the bodyguard to take the box, and without even opening it to check, he bowed deeply to Tsunade:
"All your and your friends' spending at the casino today is on the house! Have a great time!"

After saying that, he left quickly with his bodyguards, as if staying even a second longer would be an offense.

Once they were out of sight, the casino manager wiped the cold sweat from his brow and let out a long sigh of relief.

A young bodyguard standing nearby couldn't help but whisper, "General Manager, that's over eighty million taels... Shouldn't we count it? What if the amount is wrong..."

"Shut up!" The person in charge glared at him fiercely. "Do you know who that is? Lady Tsunade! One of the legendary Sannin! The princess of Konoha! If she wants to renege on her debt, let alone 80 million, we'd have no choice but to accept it with a smile!"

He paused, then lowered his voice: "Besides, Lord Kado personally gave us instructions. She's an important partner of the King. Even if she's in a bad mood and demolishes this casino one day, we'll still have to smile and hand her the hammer! Understand?"

"Yes, yes!" The bodyguard nodded repeatedly, not daring to say another word.

Inside the VIP area, Jiraiya sat on the sofa next to Tsunade, looking around at the decadent and extravagant surroundings.

“This place… is quite different from many places in the Star Kingdom.” He slowly began, “I’ve traveled to so many places in the past two years, and I thought that the extravagance and pleasure of the old era had disappeared in the Star Kingdom.”

While Star City and other major cities also have entertainment venues, most are well-regulated and emphasize "healthy leisure."

Places like Renhe City Casino, which so blatantly display desire and squander money, are indeed rare within the Star Kingdom.

Tsunade poured herself another glass of wine, the amber liquid swirling in the glass.

“I thought so too when I lived in Star City.” She took a sip of her drink, her tone casual. “Who knows what that guy was thinking… Maybe he felt that it’s better to guide than to suppress the greed and desires in human nature? Anyway, for me, as long as there’s a place where I can gamble and drink, that’s fine.”

This place is indeed more luxurious than any gambling den Tsunade has ever been to before, allowing her to gamble to her heart's content!
Jingyin sat quietly to the side, holding Tun Tun and gently stroking the little pig's back.

The ton let out a comfortable humming sound.

The atmosphere was silent for a moment.

Jiraiya suddenly spoke, his voice soft but earnest:
"I'm preparing to return to Konoha."

"puff--!"

Tsunade spat out a mouthful of sake, choking and coughing repeatedly.

Jingyin quickly handed over a tissue.

"What did you say?!" Tsunade wiped her mouth, her eyes wide. "What's gotten into you all of a sudden? Why do you suddenly want to go back?"

Her first thought was, "Could it be that the higher-ups in Konoha have made some move against the Land of Stars?"

The old man wants Jiraiya to go back and participate?
But Jiraiya shook his head:

"It wasn't anyone who told me to go back. It was my own... desire to go back."

He leaned back on the sofa, looking up at the magnificent crystal chandelier on the ceiling, his gaze drifting into the distance.

"In the past two years, I've seen and thought a lot. The Land of Stars... has indeed forged a different path. But Konoha... is ultimately my root."

Jiraiya paused, his voice becoming even softer:
"Furthermore, judging by the time, Minato and Kushina's child... should graduate from the Ninja Academy next year and become a genin."

This sentence was like a block of ice, instantly freezing the air.

Tsunade's hand holding the wine glass froze in mid-air, her expression frozen.

Shizune unconsciously tightened her arms around Tun Tun, who squirmed uncomfortably and made a "plop" sound.

Jiraiya noticed their unusual behavior and asked in confusion, "What's wrong? You... have you seen that child?"

Tsunade and Shizune quickly exchanged a glance.

The fact that Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki were resurrected using Edo Tensei is one of the top secrets of the Land of Stars.

Apart from the core executives and the two women, no one outside knew about it.

Although Tsunade and Shizune were only residing in the Land of Stars, they had promised Minato and Kushina that they would keep this secret.

This was not only to protect the Minato couple, but also to prevent unpredictable chain reactions in Konoha.

Imagine the uproar if Konoha knew that the Fourth Hokage and his wife had been "resurrected" and joined the Land of Stars.
"N-no." Shizune was the first to react, quickly shaking her head: "We just... we just feel that time flies. In the blink of an eye, that child is about to become a ninja."

Her voice was dry.

Tsunade regained her composure, downed the drink in her cup in one gulp, and slammed the cup down heavily.
"Yeah...that was fast."

Her eyes held a complex mix of emotions: nostalgia, guilt, and something else entirely.

Jiraiya had no doubts, he simply sighed:

“I want to go back and see that child. Minato and Kushina are gone, and as Minato’s teacher… I should at least look after their son.”

He looked at Tsunade:
"Do you want to go back and visit him? The old man must miss you a lot."

Tsunade was silent.

She leaned back on the sofa, closed her eyes, and remained silent for a long time.

In the VIP area, soft jazz music still played, and the gamblers' whispers and the clinking of chips seemed distant and unreal, as if separated by a layer of glass.

She remembered the empty Senju clan mansion, Konoha's order to exterminate the Uchiha clan, and the Hyuga branch family's rebellion even after seeking help from Shura...

Finally, Tsunade opened her eyes.

"I'm not going back." Her voice was calm but firm: "Konoha... there's nothing left for me to go back to."

She paused and added:

"Besides, I'm doing quite well here. There are casinos, good wine, money to spend... and I can even do some deals with that kid now and then, trading for some new and interesting medical equipment to play with."

Jiraiya stared at Tsunade for a long time.

Finally, he nodded:
"I understand."

He stood up and patted off non-existent dust from his clothes.

"I'll be going now. My boat leaves early tomorrow morning."

"So fast?" Tsunade was somewhat surprised.

"Hmm." Jiraiya smiled, but the smile seemed forced. "Go back sooner, so you can have peace of mind sooner."

He turned to leave, but after taking two steps, he stopped and looked back at Tsunade and Shizune:
"Take care of yourself."

"You too." Tsunade raised her empty wine glass and shook it at him.

Shizune whispered, "Have a safe journey, Jiraiya-senpai."

Jiraiya nodded, took one last look at the luxurious VIP area, and turned to leave. His figure disappeared through the oak door.

Tsunade and Shizune sat silently on the sofa.

After a long silence, Tsunade finally spoke softly:
"What do you think would happen if Jiraiya knew the truth? If he went back, could he change Konoha?"

Shizune shook her head and hugged Tun Tun tightly.

"do not know."

She paused, then said in a low voice:

"But I think... there must be a reason why Lord Minato and Lady Kushina chose to keep it a secret."

Tsunade did not speak again.

She simply picked up the bottle, found it was empty, tossed it aside in frustration, and shouted at the waiter in the distance:

"Another bottle! The most expensive one!"

·
Autumn of the 62nd year of Konoha.

The afternoon sun was no longer so intense, and a hint of early autumn coolness shone on Konoha Village.

The cicadas' chirping gradually subsided, the wind rustled through the trees, and the air was filled with the familiar scent of grass and trees and the smell of cooking smoke.

Jiraiya stood on the high wall surrounding the village, arms crossed, and took a deep breath.

He has been away from Konoha for two whole years.

After leaving Konoha with a mission from Sarutobi-sensei, he first went to Amegakure to investigate the Akatsuki organization, fought Pain, and witnessed that earth-shattering battle.

After entering the Star Kingdom, he traveled all over the country, witnessing the rise and transformation of that emerging nation.

The skyscrapers of Star City, the desertification control project in Wind County, the commercial prosperity of various port cities, and the peaceful and prosperous lives of ordinary people—even beggars and vagrants are gathered together for training, given jobs or land, and allowed to settle down.

And then there's the chaotic mix of old and new in Renhe Castle...

Those scenes are still vivid in my mind.

But standing here now, looking at the familiar village before me, the well-arranged traditional buildings, the winding river flowing through the village, the faint shouts of boys coming from the training ground, and the statues of the Hokage of past generations on the Hokage Rock in the distance.

"Haha!" Jiraiya suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter hearty and unrestrained: "Although it can't compare to those multi-story skyscrapers in Star City, it's definitely... the place I know best!"

Jiraiya's eyes felt a little hot.

This is his root.

I grew up here, learned ninjutsu here, made my best friends here, experienced war here, and wrote my first novel here...

Every inch of Konoha is etched with his memories.

A traveler returning home is filled with mixed emotions.

Jiraiya's gaze swept across the village, finally settling on the Hokage Rock in the distance.

The statues of the Hokage of each generation solemnly overlook the village.

The first generation, Hashirama Senju, was known for his magnanimity; the second generation, Tobirama Senju, for his coldness; the third generation, Hiruzen Sarutobi, for his kindness; and the fourth generation, Minato Namikaze, for his bravery.

Sunlight shines on the surface of the rocks, reflecting a warm luster.

But amidst this solemnity, Jiraiya keenly noticed…

Something seems to be moving on the Hokage Rock?
He squinted, put his palm in front of his forehead to shield his eyes from the glaring sunlight, and looked carefully.

On the forehead of the statue of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, a small golden figure was wriggling.

The figure was dangling in mid-air with a rope, holding several colorful paint buckets in one hand and a brush in the other, and was happily painting Minato's hair... bright pink?

Jiraiya's lips twitched slightly.

Then he saw that the Watergate statue's cheeks had been painted with exaggerated blush, its mouth had been painted into comical sausage lips, and even its forehead guard had been painted rainbow colors.

The statues of the first, second, and third generations were not spared either.

Hashirama's long hair was painted pink, Tobirama's spiky hair was turned fluorescent yellow, and Hiruzen's beard was drawn with spiral patterns.

The entire Hokage Rock has become a giant, grotesque graffiti wall.

Jiraiya paused for a few seconds, then burst into laughter.

He already knew who it was.

Besides Naruto, who else in Konoha would dare to act so recklessly on the Hokage Rock without being punished?
Jiraiya's figure vanished from the city wall in an instant.

Soon, he appeared on the roof of the Hokage Building.

Looking up at the Fire Shadow Rock from here offers a clearer perspective.

Naruto was indeed hanging from the rope, humming an off-key tune, his brush covered in bright blue paint, preparing to paint exaggerated eyelashes on the Minato statue's eyes.

On the observation deck at the top of Hokage Rock, there were two more figures.

A black-haired boy dressed in casual black clothes, with a foxtail grass dangling from his mouth, leaned lazily against the railing with his hands in his pockets.

The other was the Byakugan girl from the Hyuga clan, nervously gripping the railing, leaning over to look down, and repeatedly muttering, "Naruto... be careful..."

Jiraiya's gaze first fell on the Hyuga girl.

"The young lady of the Hyuga family... no, she should be the head of the Hyuga family."

He had a vague impression of this girl. She was shy and introverted, but quite talented. She was the eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan. He had heard that after Hyuga Hizashi led some branch family members in a rebellion, this young lady stepped forward and abolished the Hyuga clan's main and branch family system, forbidding all children from having the Caged Bird Seal engraved on their heads. She was dedicated to resolving the Caged Bird Seal issue in this generation and truly integrating the Hyuga main and branch families of Konoha into one.

It's hard to imagine that such courage comes from a twelve-year-old girl.

Jiraiya's gaze shifted to the black-haired boy.

The boy was about twelve years old, tall and slender with delicate features, and his short black hair fluttered slightly in the wind.

He was wearing a simple black coat, and his whole demeanor exuded a composure and languid air that was beyond his years.

and……

Jiraiya frowned.

Why……

I feel like I've seen this boy before.
Where have you seen it?
But upon closer reflection, I have absolutely no recollection of it.

Just then, the black-haired boy seemed to notice Jiraiya's gaze, and slowly turned his head, their eyes meeting in the air.

For a moment, Jiraiya felt a strange sense of unease.

His eyes were so calm, so calm that they didn't seem like those of a twelve-year-old child.

Moreover, there seemed to be something hidden in those eyes... a kind of inexplicable familiarity.

But before Jiraiya could think it through, a furious roar came from below:
"Naruto!! What are you doing now?!"

His voice was filled with anger, helplessness, and deep exhaustion.

Wearing a Konoha headband and sporting a scar on his face, Umino Iruka was seen rushing toward the Hokage Rock at an astonishing speed.

His face flushed red, and veins bulged on his forehead; he was clearly on the verge of exploding.

Upon hearing the sound, Naruto was so startled that his hand trembled, and the brush fell to the ground, tracing a blue arc in the air.

He frantically tried to grab the rope, but ended up getting himself all tangled up like a dumpling, dangling in mid-air like a golden spider caught in a web.

"Oh dear, oh dear—Iruka-sensei, I was wrong—!"

"Now you realize you were wrong?! Too late!"

Iruka rushed to the bottom of the Hokage Rock, stomped his feet on the rock wall, and leaped to Naruto's side in a few bounds.

He grabbed Naruto by the back of his collar, lifted the blond boy up like a kitten, and then with a graceful flip, landed steadily on the observation deck at the top of Hokage Rock.

The whole process was smooth and seamless, clearly indicating that this wasn't the first time they'd done something like this.

Jiraiya smiled with interest, then leaped up and landed lightly on the viewing platform, standing a short distance away to watch the spectacle.

Iruka put Naruto on the ground, put his hands on his hips, and glared down at the troublesome student.

"Naruto!" His voice trembled with excitement: "This is the third time this month! The third time!! Last time you drew the First Hokage's statue as a frog, the time before that you painted the Second Hokage's statue as a zebra, and this time you actually... you actually put lipstick on the Fourth Hokage?!"

Iruka pointed to the colorful graffiti below, his fingers trembling:

"Do you know how much it will cost to clean this up?! Do you know how many ninjas it will take?! And this is disrespectful to the Hokage of all time! Disrespectful!!"

Naruto lowered his head, twisting his hands together, and muttered softly, "But... I think it looks better this way... The Fourth Hokage must look so handsome when he smiles..."

"You dare talk back!" Iruka almost choked.

He took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down, and then turned his gaze to the black-haired boy next to him.

"Menma!" Iruka's voice was still stern, but slightly softened: "And you too! Every time Naruto does something like this, you don't try to stop him! Instead, you just stand by and watch!"

Menma shrugged, looking completely innocent: "I think it's quite artistic, and Hinata said it's cute too."

Hinata Hyuga, standing behind him, blushed instantly upon hearing this, lowered her head, and whispered, "I... I just think Menma is right..."

Looking at the three problem students, Iruka felt a throbbing pain in his temples.

Naruto is a repeat offender, Menma is an accomplice, Hinata...

Hinata is well-behaved, but she becomes completely unprincipled when Menma is involved.

Iruka sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Hurry up and clean all of this up. Put the Hokage Rock back to its original state before the patrolling ninjas find it. Otherwise... all of you will have double the homework this week!"

"Oh! Leave it to me, Iruka-sensei!" Naruto immediately perked up, grinning broadly, the paint on his face making the smile even more comical.

Mianma lazily stood up, dusted off his clothes, and said, "Okay, okay, let's get to work."

He turned to Hinata and said, "Hinata, use your Byakugan to help us see where we haven't cleaned properly."

"Mmm, mmm!" Hinata nodded vigorously, forming hand seals.

"Blind eyes!"

The veins around her eyes bulged, revealing her pure white pupils. Her gaze swept across the entire Hokage Rock, quickly pinpointing each graffiti spot.

The three began to get busy.

Naruto then lowered himself down with a rope and wiped off the paint with a damp cloth and a special cleaning agent.

Menma used chakra to adhere to the rock wall and cleaned different areas separately.

Hinata stood on the observation deck, using her Byakugan to give precise instructions: "There's still blue paint residue on the rocks about two meters to the left... and the pink paint behind the First Hokage's hair hasn't been wiped off properly..."

Seeing how the three of them, though silly, worked together seamlessly, Iruka shook his head helplessly.

He was really afraid that Naruto would lead Menma and Hinata astray.

Although Mianma was not exactly an easy person to deal with.

This boy usually appears calm and collected, but once he gets together with Naruto, all sorts of unexpected ideas pop into his head.

Moreover, his strength far surpasses that of his peers in the Ninja Academy, making him the undisputed top student. Iruka even suspects that if Menma gets serious, he might be stronger than himself, a Chunin.

Just as Iruka was lost in thought, he suddenly noticed a tall, white-haired man standing on the other side of the observation deck.

The man wore a red outer jacket and wooden clogs, and his long white hair was tied into a ponytail at the back of his head.

He was leaning against the railing, watching the three busy teenagers below with a smile, his face showing a mixture of nostalgia and amusement.

Iruka stared at it for a few seconds, his eyes gradually widening.

This outfit...this aura...

"You...you are..." Iruka's voice was uncertain: "Lord Jiraiya?"

Jiraiya turned around and gave Iruka a bright smile:

"Hey, Iruka, long time no see. You've grown so much. When I left, you were just a snotty little brat."

Iruka's face flushed red, a mixture of excitement at being recognized and embarrassment at having his embarrassing past brought up.

"It really is Lord Jiraiya! You're back!"

"Ah, I'm back." Jiraiya turned his gaze back down. "After wandering around for a few years, it's time to come back and visit."

His gaze fell on Naruto, and his eyes softened.

"That must be Naruto, the son of Minato and Kushina." Jiraiya remembered that when Minato asked him to name their unborn child, he used the name 'Naruto' from the protagonist of his novel.

"Yes, it's Naruto," Iruka replied respectfully. "He's a bit mischievous, but... he's a good kid."

"I can tell." Jiraiya smiled, then looked at Menma: "What about that black-haired kid? What's his name?"

Iruka replied, "His name is Menma, he's a child from the Konoha Orphanage... well, a few years ago he was adopted by the wealthy merchant Gato, who seems to be grooming him as one of the successors. He has a very good relationship with Naruto."

“Menma…” Jiraiya repeated the name, his brows furrowing slightly.

A vague sense of unease welled up in Jiraiya's mind.

He watched the back of the black-haired boy below skillfully cleaning up the graffiti, and that inexplicable sense of familiarity grew stronger and stronger.

But he really couldn't remember where he had seen the child before.

"Lord Jiraiya?" Iruka asked cautiously, "Are you coming back to stay for a long time or...?"

"Not decided yet." Jiraiya withdrew his gaze and stretched. "Let's see how things go. By the way, is the old man at the Hokage Building?"

"Yes, the Hokage just informed me that Naruto is causing trouble again..."

"Okay, I'll go say hello first."

Jiraiya turned to leave, but after taking two steps, he stopped and looked back in the direction of the Hokage Rock.

Naruto, Menma, and Hinata were still busy, the sunlight shining on them and outlining their silhouettes.

A slight smile appeared on Jiraiya's lips.

"Konoha's new generation... looks like they'll be quite interesting."

He leaped off the observation deck and disappeared into the Hokage Building in the blink of an eye.

On the observation deck, Iruka watched Jiraiya's departing figure, then looked down at the three children below, and sighed softly.

(End of this chapter)