Tsunade, you're really drunk!

A scorching fog filled the streets.

In a hot spring in Konoha Hot Spring Street, several women were playing in the hot spring.

"Oh, I haven't been to the hot spring for a long time. Why do I feel that your skin has improved so much recently? Let me try it."

"Stop it, it's itchy. How dare you say that to me? You've grown a lot bigger than last year. I want to know how you did it. Let me pinch it and see if it's fake."

The movements of the women created waves of water.

However, on the wall not far from the hot spring, through an almost imperceptible hole, one can see a lustful eye peeking inside from outside the wall.

Outside the wall, there was a tall man with long white needle-like hair, wearing a red-gray robe, a forehead protector with the word "oil" on it, a large scroll on his back, and red wooden clogs on his feet.

Suddenly, an ANBU appeared next to the man.

"Jiraiya-sama, Hokage-sama knows you've returned to the village, and wants you to go to the Hokage building now to meet him."

"Oh, what a bummer! This is the most exciting moment. I still need to accumulate materials for my writing. The old man is really something. He must be spying with a telescope, otherwise how would he know I was here?"

Jiraiya turned around, his resolute face showing a look of pity and regret.

If anyone else said this to the Hokage, they might be taken to the police department. However, the person in front of him was the legendary "Three Ninjas" Jiraiya, the disciple of the Hokage, so the Anbu couldn't say much.

Seeing how reserved the ANBU in front of him was in speaking, Jiraiya felt that it was meaningless and could only sigh, regretting the beautiful scene he had just missed.

"Okay, I get it. I'll be at the Hokage building later. You can leave now."

"Yes."

The Anbu ninja fled away.

Jiraiya squatted down from the wall. He came back this time because of the old man's order. It was a pity that the clue about Orochimaru that he had finally found ended there. Presumably, something big must be happening in the village recently.

Otherwise the old man wouldn't have risked his life to return to Konoha.

As usual, Jiraiya planned to use his own methods to understand the current situation of the village first, and then go to the old man to see what the situation was.

In the evening, in a pub in Konoha.

At this time, Jiraiya was transforming into an ordinary man and sitting in a pub drinking, while also inquiring about the latest information in the village.

After a few glasses of sake and a closer relationship with the store owner, Jiraiya decided to get on the right track.

"Boss, I just came back from doing business in the capital of the Fire Nation today. I feel that the village has changed a lot recently."

After the boss cleaned up the dishes left by the departing customers beside Jiraiya, he wiped the sweat off his bald head and gave a straightforward answer:

"Hey, Laiye, you haven't been back for a long time. It's getting late today, and I guess there won't be many customers later. I'll come and have a good chat with you."

Kurino was the alias Jiraiya used when he was collecting intelligence in the village. He often used this identity to drink in the pub. After going there many times, he naturally became acquainted with the owner of the pub.

The shop owner sat in the seat next to Jiraiya, and Jiraiya poured him a glass of sake.

The shop owner was also straightforward. The two of them clinked their glasses and drank it in one gulp.

"Hi~ah~"

"Boss, can you tell me if there is anything new in the village recently, so that I, as a businessman, can find a way out in the future."

The shop owner waved his hand.

"Haha, Brother Laiye, there have been a lot of big things happening in the village recently, but I don't know if it will help your business."

"It's okay. I haven't been back to the village for a long time. I also want to know how the village is doing. After all, I am still a member of Konoha Village. I will never forget this."

Jiraiya's unintentional words also touched the store owner's heart. Yes, we are all from Konoha Village, and we have never forgotten.

"Okay, brother Laiye, I'll give you no money for the drinks tonight! Let me tell you about the recent major events in the village. I'm well-informed!"

Jiraiya kept drinking and chatting with the store owner for more than two hours, until the store owner fell asleep on the seat.

He put the money for the wine on the table with a wine glass and closed the door for the shop owner.

Cancel the transformation and stretch your body.

He walked out the door, looked up at the moon in the sky, and then he remembered what he had said to the Anbu in the afternoon.

"It's over. I forgot about the old man. He's probably still waiting for me in the Hokage building. I'd better go over there quickly, or I'll be scolded by the old man."

Just as Jiraiya was about to set off for the Hokage Building, he suddenly noticed that the lights were still on at Ichiraku Ramen next to the izakaya.

I just drank so much alcohol, so I might as well have a bowl of hot ramen to sober up. I think the old man has been waiting for so long, he probably won’t mind a little while longer.

Open the curtain and go in.

"Brother Shouda, the shop is still open this late, give me a large bowl of char siu ramen."

The middle-aged man in a white chef's uniform and a white chef's hat stopped what he was doing and turned around.

"Jiraiya, I haven't seen you for a long time. Wait a minute, the ramen will be ready soon."

While waiting for the ramen, Jiraiya asked a few questions out of curiosity.

"Brother Shouda, why haven't you closed the door at this time today?"

He continued his movements with his hands, saying:

"Alas, because of a child."

"child?"

Jiraiya had a puzzled look on his face, not understanding how a child could make a store close later.

"Yes, his name is Naruto. I don't know since when, everyone in the village says he is the incarnation of a demon fox, and they all dislike him. Only late at night, he sometimes comes to my place. I can't do anything for him, but I can still buy him some ramen."

"Naruto!?"

Jiraiya exclaimed the name.

At this time, a young boy's voice came from outside the door.

"Who!? What are you calling me for?"

The little boy walked in.

Jiraiya turned around and looked at the boy in front of him.

He is not very old, and looks only about five or six years old. He has short golden hair, three symmetrical lines on both sides of his face that look like fox whiskers, and turquoise blue pupils.

He was wearing a worn yellow-green shirt with a red swirl pattern down the middle of his chest, and worn blue shorts. His clothes looked dirty, with wrinkles and stains of dust.

Although the boy's voice sounded full of energy and strength, it was easy to tell from his thin limbs and slightly yellow face that this was definitely caused by long-term malnutrition.

For a moment, the first sight of Naruto gave him a familiar feeling, perhaps due to the effect of the alcohol, the figures of Kushina and Minato seemed to be suddenly superimposed on Naruto in front of him.

Memories flooded my mind and tears welled up in the corners of my eyes.

"Naruto? Teacher Jiraiya, I have decided to use this name as the name of my and Kushina's future child!"

"Haha, is that okay? This is the name I thought of when I was eating ramen..."

He suppressed his inner emotions and looked at Naruto in front of him.

Jiraiya was about to speak, but Naruto beat him to it.

"Did I scare you? I'm sorry..."

Words of grievance and self-blame came out of Naruto's mouth, and Jiraiya was stunned. He didn't know how much grievance and prejudice Naruto had experienced over the years to make him subconsciously say such words.