"Asuma's heard about you and admires you a lot," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a warm smile. "Ever since I returned home last time, he's been pestering me to meet you. He's even made it his goal to become a ninja like you."
Hiruzen continued, his tone revealing a mix of affection and calculated intent. These days, he had begun grooming Jiraiya as his successor. It was only natural for him to encourage closer ties between Jiraiya and his family.
After all, even the most selfless person harbors private motives.
Hiruzen was well aware that he couldn't remain Hokage forever. Sooner or later, he would need to step down. But being accustomed to wielding power, he had no intention of leaving Konoha's political center entirely. Ensuring his clan's connection with Jiraiya was an essential part of his plan.
"Sensei, I'll visit Lady Biwako later today," Jiraiya replied with a nod, fully understanding Hiruzen's underlying motives. He knew that securing Hiruzen's support was vital if he wanted to ascend to the position of Hokage smoothly.
Without Hiruzen's backing, the path to becoming Hokage would undoubtedly be fraught with difficulties—potentially even requiring a coup to seize control of Konoha. Jiraiya wasn't willing to take that path. Resorting to force would not only weaken Konoha but also delay his vision of uniting the shinobi world.
Only as a last resort would Jiraiya ever consider such drastic measures.
Leaving the Hokage's office, Jiraiya made his way toward the Sarutobi Clan compound.
The Sarutobi Clan had been integral to Konoha since the village's founding, and its members were among the strongest of Konoha's ninja clans. Much of their strength came from their close relationship with the Monkey Tribe. Elite Sarutobi ninjas could form contracts with the monkeys, summoning them as powerful allies in battle.
The Monkey Tribe's summoning beasts were highly intelligent, capable of wielding ninjutsu, and some could even transform into weapons, such as the legendary Enma, who could become an indestructible staff. These attributes made the Sarutobi clan's summoning beasts second only to the sacred creatures of the three great summoning realms.
The Sarutobi compound lay at the heart of the village, heavily guarded. Clan members patrolled the area diligently, some accompanied by monkeys with unusually large ears. These monkeys, part of the Monkey Tribe, had exceptional hearing and could detect even the faintest disturbances. Their skills made them invaluable as guards and scouts.
"Quite the security detail," Jiraiya remarked under his breath, noting even the presence of Anbu hiding in the shadows.
It made sense—this was the home of the Hokage and the storage site for many critical documents. Security here had to be airtight to prevent potential infiltration.
As a prominent figure in Konoha and Hiruzen's trusted student, Jiraiya was granted easy access to the compound. A Sarutobi ninja escorted him to Lady Biwako.
When Jiraiya entered, Biwako was playing with a lively three-year-old Asuma.
"Jiraiya, come, have a seat," Biwako greeted him warmly, clearly pleased to see him. As Hiruzen's wife, she was well aware of her husband's intentions to groom Jiraiya for the Hokage role.
Pouring him a cup of tea, Biwako said with a smile, "Hiruzen has been so busy with work lately. You'd better not let me catch you making excuses for him!"
Jiraiya set the gifts he had brought on the table and said with a chuckle, "Sensei asked me to pick up some fruit for you. Please don't hold it against him, he really has been swamped."
Biwako let out a light laugh. "That man and his excuses. I know the truth. He just doesn't want to come home and see me. I'm old and dull now—he'd rather stay buried in his paperwork."
She said it with a smile, but there was a glimmer of mischief in her eyes. Despite her self-deprecating words, Biwako exuded a graceful maturity. She was far from the tired image of herself portrayed in later years.
"Lady Biwako, with all due respect, you're far from dull. I'd wager many young women couldn't hold a candle to you. I'm sure Sensei is just overwhelmed with his responsibilities," Jiraiya replied, tactfully steering the conversation.
(T/N: It's weird....)
"If only your teacher shared your perspective, Jiraiya. He could just as easily work from home, but no, he insists on staying at the office!" she replied with a sigh, though her tone hinted at playful exasperation.
To change the subject, Jiraiya pulled out a small gift for Asuma—a windmill toy with a tiny bell attached.
"Here, Asuma. This is for you."
"Thank you!" Asuma beamed, clutching the toy with joy as the bell chimed softly in the breeze.
Biwako's face softened as she watched her son.
"Jiraiya, I've heard you've been training hard at Mount Myoboku. You must be exhausted. Stay for dinner tonight. Tell me what you'd like, and I'll cook it myself. You must try your teacher's wife's cooking at least once!"
Her confidence in her culinary skills was evident, and Jiraiya saw no reason to refuse. He smiled and named a few of his favorite dishes. After all, Hiruzen had sent him here to build rapport with the Sarutobi Clan. Being too reserved would only come across as insincere.
Soon, Biwako gathered several young Sarutobi ninja to join them. They were eager to meet Jiraiya, their hero, and treated him with reverence.
In return, Jiraiya shared a few ninjutsu techniques he had gained through the system. Of course, he kept his most powerful abilities, like Sage Mode, to himself. A ninja's greatest strength lay in the unknown, and Jiraiya knew better than to reveal all his cards.
Sharing too much would leave him vulnerable—if his techniques were studied, they could be countered. Information was a weapon, and in the ninja world, it was often the sharpest blade.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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