Konoha was now shrouded in a tense atmosphere.
As Jiraiya made his way to the Hokage's office, there wasn't a single ninja idling around.
Everyone was training relentlessly.
Every war brought casualties. No one wanted to be the one who died.
But at the same time, many sought to earn glory during war, hoping to catch the attention of Konoha's leadership.
Those who stood out could receive abundant resources and cultivation, elevating their status.
For some, war was an opportunity.
In times of peace, earning such recognition and resources was nearly impossible. But in war, by killing enough enemies, they could exchange their merits for what they desired and rewrite their destinies.
Yet for many others, especially civilian-born shinobi, war was terrifying.
Unlike clan shinobi, they lacked comparable strength. Once on the battlefield, most were as good as dead, with only a select few managing to survive and thrive.
Every war brought massive loss of life. And the majority of those who perished were civilian ninjas.
But no matter how much they feared war, they were shinobi.
When the village leadership issued orders, they had no choice but to march to the battlefield. Refusal wasn't an option.
Anyone who disobeyed would be labeled a rogue ninja, hunted down by Konoha's elite forces, and likely meet an even swifter end.
"Good afternoon, Jiraiya-sama!"
"Jiraiya-sama, you're my idol! Can I have your autograph? I'll work hard to become a ninja like you someday!"
Walking through the streets, Jiraiya was greeted by excited civilians and shinobi alike.
Thanks to Hiruzen Sarutobi's efforts to build his reputation, Jiraiya was a revered figure among lower-ranking shinobi and civilians.
If he could earn enough achievements and prestige during the Second Shinobi War, and if Hiruzen chose to step down, the position of Hokage would likely be his for the taking.
Jiraiya returned each greeting with a warm smile and a nod. To become Hokage, he needed the support of the people.
"Duy-san, why do you seem down today?"
In the crowd, Jiraiya spotted Might Duy, clad in his trademark green jumpsuit.
However, the man appeared unusually dejected, a stark contrast to his usual fiery spirit.
The sight surprised Jiraiya.
"Jiraiya-sama, I'm such a failure. I failed the Chūnin Exam again."
Hearing Jiraiya's question, Might Duy looked up with tears streaming down his face, his voice full of sorrow.
Since Konoha currently had no formal allies, the village had relaxed the requirements for the Chūnin Exam.
Any genin who believed they were ready for the rank of chūnin could request to take the exam, provided they passed a preliminary written test.
The joint Chūnin Exams held by multiple villages, designed to showcase their strength, only became common after the Third Shinobi World War and the signing of the alliance agreements.
Based on Jiraiya's assessment, Might Duy's relentless training had likely enabled him to open the Fourth Gate. He was certainly strong enough to be a chūnin.
However, his failure was no doubt due to the written portion of the exam. Without passing that, he couldn't even proceed to the practical evaluation.
In the original timeline, Might Duy never rose above the rank of genin, solely because he could never pass the written exam.
The written test emphasized understanding the Will of Fire, a fundamental philosophy of Konoha.
Without demonstrating a deep grasp of this concept, one couldn't advance further in the exam process.
"Duy-san, youth is limitless! How can you let one setback bring you down? Your youth is just beginning—it needs to roar! I believe you'll become Konoha's Beast someday."
Jiraiya encouraged Might Duy with a confident smile.
He valued Duy's potential and saw him as someone worth cultivating.
"Jiraiya-sama, you're absolutely right! My youth is just beginning—how could I let it fade now? I'll keep training and strive to become a ninja as great as you someday!"
Might Duy's spirits were instantly reignited. He leapt into the air, flipped midair, and began running while supporting himself on his hands, brimming with energy.
"Duy-san, I truly believe you'll become an extraordinary ninja."
Jiraiya smiled as he watched Duy's figure disappear into the distance.
With that, he continued on his way to the Hokage's office.
Upon entering, Jiraiya was greeted by the sight of Hiruzen Sarutobi, surrounded by stacks of documents, using Shadow Clones to handle the workload.
"Sensei, you can't keep working like this! You need to take a break every once in a while."
The room was thick with the scent of tobacco, which made Jiraiya uncomfortable.
"Jiraiya, I don't want to work this hard either, but the village has too many pressing matters. I have no choice. How's your training at Mount Myōboku?"
Hiruzen smiled warmly at his student.
"I've mastered the technique I was working on. I don't need to visit Mount Myōboku as often anymore," Jiraiya replied.
"That's good to hear. The village is severely understaffed right now, especially when it comes to shinobi of your caliber. For the time being, I'll be assigning you some missions."
Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke, placing a document aside.
"Contributing to the village has always been my guiding principle. With the village in its current state, even if you didn't assign me missions, I'd be coming to you for them," Jiraiya said with a grin.
"Remember, you said that. Don't complain when the tasks start piling up," Hiruzen joked.
After a pause, he asked, "I heard that Uzumaki Mito entrusted you with the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques."
Jiraiya wasn't surprised, he'd expected this news to reach Hiruzen's ears.
He nodded. "Yes, Sensei. During my last visit to the Senju clan, Lady Mito asked me for a promise. I agreed, and in return, she passed down the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques to me."
"What sort of promise?" Hiruzen asked, intrigued.
"She asked that if I ever encounter members of the Uzumaki clan in the future, I help them find safety and stability," Jiraiya explained.
"Don't break that promise. The trust she placed in you is significant. And the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques are incredibly powerful—make sure you study them well and put them to good use."
Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe, a faint smile appearing on his face.
He made no attempt to demand the sealing techniques or warn Jiraiya about the dangers of associating with the Uzumaki clan, showing his trust in his student.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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