I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 703 The reason why the white moonlight is so unforgettable is because it carries the past that one has lost.

The night the Nine-Tails rampaged outside Konoha Village had a negligible impact on the village, especially on the villagers, whose biggest impact was being woken up.

The village's explanation was that they were modifying the terrain around the village to create a large area of ​​flat land in preparation for the village's expansion, and that the Nine-Tails and its jinchūriki were responsible for changing the terrain.

However, due to a slight mishap with the sealing barrier, the intended soundproofing effect failed to take effect, and the Hokage's assistant, Minato Namikaze, even came forward to explain and apologize for the incident.

When this claim first came out, many people didn't believe it, and a few even swore that it was definitely the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki who lost control.

The village was asked to stop protecting the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and to have the entire village vote on the severity of the punishment.

However, this small group of people were soon invited to the garrison headquarters for tea and a safety lecture.

After a day of alteration, the village's sealing barrier finally reopened, and the villagers, who were able to pass through again, gradually came to believe the village's explanation.

Because in the past, when you stood at the entrance of the village and looked out, although the surrounding area was flat land and forest, further away were towering mountains. But after only one day and two nights, the terrain had changed drastically.

Looking from the village entrance all the way to the horizon, there is only a smooth road. If the village were expanded, its area could probably double.

With concrete evidence and the fact that the village had indeed not suffered any damage that night, the villagers, even if they still had some doubts, outwardly accepted the explanation.

Three months passed quickly, and a tripartite meeting was held in the Land of Lightning. Although the war was temporarily suspended, the Mist Ninja and Sand Ninja remained stationed within the Land of Lightning.

If the negotiation plan fails, it will likely lead to another major battle that will attract the attention of the entire ninja world.

As for Konoha Village, all was peaceful. The village improved the sealing barrier. The Anbu were initially very active, but gradually returned to normal. As for the promised expansion, it was already in the planning stages.

I heard the difficulty lies in buying out or leasing land outside the village from the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. Konoha can't afford the buyout fee, and the village is also dissatisfied with the rent and term of the lease, so it seems to be at a stalemate.

But the villagers are still optimistic. After all, the number of outsiders in the village is increasing, and the various taxes generated in the village are also rising visibly. Perhaps in a while, the village will be able to afford to buy land.

Even if things don't go well, the properties of these original inhabitants have been appreciating in value. The longer the expansion is delayed, the more valuable their properties will become. Given the current situation in the village, it's unlikely that a bubble will burst.

The price might drop a bit after the expansion, but even after the expansion, their residences will be in the core area and still be in high demand.

Despite being in a period of war, Konoha has a sense of prosperity and flourishing, making it unique among the Five Great Nations.

"I'd heard the village was going to be expanded, but I didn't expect it to be this big. I almost got lost."

Outside the village, after several months of natural growth, the forest has lost some of its artificial rigidity and become more natural. A white-haired man is walking through the forest.

Finally, through the gaps in the trees, Jiraiya saw the gates of Konoha and smiled.

Nearly half a year has passed since they parted. Half a year ago, Jiraiya met with his disciple to discuss Naruto's name before leaving the village.

With Minato and Tatsuma, these one and a half students, no longer needing his care, and having even grown to be more outstanding than him, their teacher, Jiraiya once again embarked on a journey to find the chosen one.

Although he felt he had already selected several candidates, such as Minato, Tatsuma, or Nagato from the Land of Rain, they all had the potential to change the ninja world.

Even though Tatsuma, who was only half a student, had grown to the point of changing the ninja world, Jiraiya still had no intention of stopping, after all, the village was a place of sorrow.

"It's time to face it honestly. Eleven years have passed, and I've come to terms with it."

Jiraiya smiled broadly and walked towards the village entrance, thinking about what gift to bring when he returned to attend the students' first meal.

He recently went to the Land of Rain and bought some interesting things, so I'll give him one of those art pendants called bullets.

"Lord Jiraiya!"

The guards at the gate greeted Jiraiya when they saw him. Seeing that he was still so popular, Jiraiya's smile widened, and he greeted them as he walked into the village.

As he passed the sealed barrier, he felt a lightness in his body, but upon closer inspection, it seemed that nothing had changed. He dismissed it as his imagination and continued walking inside.

Back in the village, he felt much more at ease. Although Konoha was constantly changing internally, the overall plan had been set long ago, and no matter how the plan changed, the structure would remain the same.

Moreover, in just six months, there hadn't been many actual changes in the village. He arrived at the Hokage Building with ease, and although there was a door, Jiraiya still chose to scale the walls and climb through the window to enter.

"Tatsuma!"

Jiraiya climbed into the Hokage's office and struck a pose for the occasion. Tatsuma nodded to him and said, "Welcome back, Jiraiya-sensei."

"Haha, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. I encountered some things in the Land of Rain a while ago and couldn't make it back in time. I can only come back now to attend Naruto's first meal."

Jiraiya briefly explained why he delayed returning for three months after receiving the message, and Tatsuma laughed and said, "You can save that explanation for Minato, Kushina, and Naruto."

"Minato won't be angry with me. Kushina would love if I never came back. As for Naruto, he's too young to remember. When he grows up, we can just say that I was there for him when he was little, hahaha~"

Jiraiya pulled out a seat opposite Tatsuma and sat down, then asked, "Everyone says that you, the Fourth Hokage, plan to expand Konoha. Given your style, how come several months have passed and you still haven't taken any action? Is it just a rumor?"

"I don't have the money. It's not like you can just buy a piece of land. There are buildings, infrastructure, supporting facilities, and all kinds of planning. All of these require money."

It's not like decades ago when a village could be formed simply by enclosing a piece of land and having villagers spontaneously build houses. Now, even a small expansion requires exorbitant expenses.

"How about you, Jiraiya-sensei, sponsor me some money?"

Tatsuma sighed and said that although the expansion was initially just an excuse, he had sounded out the daimyo and found that it was not impossible, but everything still came down to money.

The money obtained from Daming Prefecture has long been divided up, and every penny has gone somewhere. The money that the villagers have deposited with the village committee is enough to buy land, but not enough to build anything.

This money needs to be kept in case the villagers can withdraw it and to settle interest annually. It can't all be spent at once, so we have to wait a little longer.

Jiraiya patted his belly and said, "How much am I worth? You wouldn't even want me, would you?"

"I'd be happy with any number of them."

Tatsuma raised an eyebrow, staring intently at Jiraiya. Jiraiya might not be the richest ninja, but he was certainly the ninja with the most liquid funds.

Putting everything else aside, the rewards from the Third Shinobi World War alone amounted to an unimaginable sum, and Jiraiya was unlike others who simply didn't have a place to spend money.

During the three wars, Orochimaru reinvested his money into his research projects, while Tsunade also donated money to the medical ninja training program and Nono's medical team.

Tatsuma was responsible for the expenses of the entire Senju clan territory. When the village ninjas encountered misfortune, he had to take the lead in donating money, and he had to be the one who donated the largest amount.

Minato only served as commander for a few months, and he didn't get much out of the battle in the Land of Water. Plus, Minato was too honest, so he didn't get much money.

Fugaku and Hiashi are both clan leaders, and their money belongs to their clans, so they can't just spend it as they please. Besides, Tatsuma's relationship with them isn't good enough for him to ask them for money. That leaves only Jiraiya.

Jiraiya, a golden bachelor, has been traveling for the past two years and hasn't spent much money at all. After all, he's a ninja who even sneaks into hot spring inns without paying, so he definitely has the most liquid funds.

Jiraiya stroked his chin and said, "I do have some spare cash, which wouldn't be bad for investment. How about we develop all the hot springs in the new area into hot spring hotels, and then put them under my management?"

"No, we can give you shares and dividends, but we absolutely cannot give you management rights, or even any special privileges at the hot spring hotel."

If Jiraiya were to become the owner of a hot spring inn, Tatsuma could easily imagine the outrageous things Jiraiya would do, so he absolutely couldn't let Jiraiya get involved.

"That's pointless. I might as well take my money and buy a few hot spring inns in the Land of Hot Springs."

Jiraiya stretched, clearly uninterested in the profit-sharing that Tatsuma mentioned. Tatsuma, unwilling to back down, changed the subject, saying:

"Let's not talk about this now. In a couple of days, at Naruto's first meal, we'll have a good drink and then have a proper chat."

"What? You've become a hostess for the sake of the village's development? You never drink a drop of alcohol."

Jiraiya said with a smile, and Tatsuma waved his hand and said, "I can't drink with others, but I'm very happy to drink with you."

"You've got a sweet tongue, kid. Fine, that'll have to be it then. If you want to convince me, let's do it over drinks!"

Jiraiya stood up and said, "You didn't confiscate my apartment, did you?"

"No, do I look like that kind of person?"

"picture."

After saying that, Jiraiya climbed out the window and left, but he didn't leave the Hokage Building. Instead, he went to chat with Minato.

Two days later, at Naruto's first meal, Jiraiya was beaten up by Tsunade and Kushina because he tried to dip his chopsticks in alcohol and give it to Naruto to drink, saying that alcohol is also a kind of meat and that he should try it at his first meal.

With his face bruised and swollen, Jiraiya was ordered to stay away from Naruto and could only stay by Tatsuma's side, drinking alcohol. Tatsuma also broke his vow today and drank quite a few cups with Jiraiya.

For some reason, seeing Tsunade and Kato Dan sitting together, holding Naruto, looking like a family of three, Jiraiya got drunk very quickly tonight. Before Tatsuma was even drunk, Jiraiya was already in a daze.

Tatsuma looked at Jiraiya, who was propping himself up on the bar with his elbows and resting his chin on the heel of his hand, showing only the back of his head to Tatsuma, and asked casually, "Jiraiya-sensei, do you remember a question I asked you ten years ago?"

"what?"

Jiraiya, still somewhat dazed, asked in return. Tatsuma took a sip of sake and asked, "Suppose... suppose my teacher wanted to do something that would harm Konoha, what would you do? This time, I want to know the answer."

Jiraiya didn't answer immediately, his gaze lingering on Tsunade, or perhaps not Tsunade, but the past version of himself who admired a girl. After a long while, he finally said, "I will stop her, even... kill her."

"I see."

(End of this chapter)