That's right—the person shamelessly peeping into the women's bath at the Konoha Hot Springs was none other than Jiraiya, who had just returned to the village from the Land of Rain earlier that very day.
Three years had passed since the end of the Second Great Ninja War.
For three full years, Jiraiya had remained in the war-torn Land of Rain, raising and teaching three orphaned children—Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato. Under his guidance, the three had gradually grown strong enough to survive on their own in that brutal land.
Now that "the three little ones," as he often called them, could stand independently, Jiraiya finally returned to Konoha.
However, instead of reporting immediately to the Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Jiraiya had chosen a far more "important" destination.
The hot springs.
More specifically—the women's bath.
He claimed, of course, that he was conducting "research" for his writing.
But no one present believed that excuse.
Especially not Tsunade.
She had not expected that after years of separation, her reunion with Jiraiya would occur under such disgraceful circumstances.
Without a word, Tsunade clenched her fist and charged forward.
The ground cracked beneath her heel.
Hearing that all-too-familiar roar of fury, Jiraiya's expression changed instantly.
"Tsunade?! Wait—listen—!"
Too late.
Boom!
Her punch connected squarely with his face. The impact sent him flying across the courtyard like a rag doll. He crashed into the ground, coughing up a mouthful of blood.
Even drunk, Tsunade did not hold back.
The violent commotion naturally attracted attention. Women screamed from inside the bath.
"Ah! A pervert!"
"Where is he?!"
The hot spring owner rushed out, broom in hand, ready to fight to defend his establishment's dignity.
But by the time he arrived, there was no pervert in sight.
"Did he escape? Hmph. Lucky bastard."
In reality, Jiraiya had been swiftly dragged away by his disciple, Minato Namikaze.
No matter how embarrassing his teacher's behavior was, Minato couldn't simply let one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin lose face publicly.
Nearby, Yumiko stared at the unconscious white-haired man with open disgust.
"Minato, why did you save him? Someone like that should be beaten to death."
Jiraiya, who was currently receiving treatment from Aomizu, heard every word.
But instead of arguing with Yumiko, he looked at Tsunade with lingering fear.
"You really tried to kill me."
"It would've been better if I did," Tsunade snapped. "You're already this old and still behaving like this? You must've learned it from the Old Man."
Somewhere in the Hokage Tower, Hiruzen Sarutobi would have protested loudly at the accusation.
Jiraiya coughed awkwardly.
Minato stepped forward with a helpless smile.
"He is my teacher… one of the Three Legendary Sannin of Konoha—Jiraiya."
Yumiko froze.
"H-He's your teacher?"
Her expression was one of utter disbelief.
This man? A pervert? A Sannin equal to Lady Tsunade?
Jiraiya bristled.
Even while lying on the ground, he puffed up with pride.
"Toad Sage is merely a humble title," he declared dramatically. "Across heaven and earth, in all four seas, the peerless Sannin—the White-Haired Youth, the Toad Messenger, the handsome man who can make even a crying child stop wailing—Lord Jiraiya!"
He would have struck a pose, but Tsunade's earlier punch had left him too injured to perform theatrics.
Aomizu, while finishing his medical treatment, silently gave him a mental failing grade.
Yumiko looked at Minato again.
Her eyes said everything.
Are you sure this is the right person?
Minato smiled awkwardly.
"Master Jiraiya is… unconventional. But he is a truly good teacher."
Aomizu glanced at him briefly.
Low emotional intelligence: Lustful and ridiculous.
High emotional intelligence: Unconventional.
At that moment, the system's voice sounded in Aomizu's mind.
[Medical treatment completed for Jiraiya. Reward: One Colored Orb.]
[Congratulations. You have obtained Top-Tier Fire Release Talent.]
A faint smile appeared in Aomizu's eyes.
This was his second top-tier elemental affinity. From now on, all Fire Release techniques he mastered would automatically reach proficiency. Like his Water Release, he could perform them with one-handed seals.
His strength had risen yet again.
"Lord Jiraiya," Aomizu said calmly, "peeping is not something a grown man should do."
"I wasn't peeping!" Jiraiya protested. "I was conducting research! How can a writer's pursuit of inspiration be called peeping?"
Aomizu shook his head and wisely changed the subject.
"How are Konan and the others?"
"They're doing fine," Jiraiya replied more seriously. "They can survive now."
Aomizu nodded, but inwardly he was thoughtful.
In the original timeline, it had been the conspiracy between Danzo and Hanzo that led to Yahiko's death, which in turn pushed Nagato into darkness.
But now… the future was uncertain.
Aomizu's influence was already altering the flow of events.
Perhaps things would not unfold the same way.
With that thought lingering in his mind, Aomizu finished speaking with Jiraiya and prepared to leave.
He casually placed one arm around Tsunade's waist—and the other around Mikoto's.
The scene froze Jiraiya in place.
Back in the Land of Rain, he had already sensed that Mikoto might fall for Aomizu.
But Tsunade too?
And openly at that?
Worse—Tsunade showed no resistance.
Jiraiya's heart cracked audibly.
He had liked Tsunade since childhood. He had pursued her for years, through war and loss.
Yet he had never won her heart.
And now, a junior had accomplished what he never could.
Pain.
It was too painful.
Without another word, Jiraiya turned and staggered toward the nearest izakaya.
Right now, only alcohol could ease his suffering.
Yumiko blinked.
"What's wrong with him?"
Minato shook his head quietly.
He understood.
But some feelings could not be helped.
As for training in chakra nature transformation—perhaps that lesson could wait.
Walking away, Tsunade glanced back at Jiraiya's retreating figure.
"You're petty," she said to Aomizu.
He smiled faintly.
"Better short pain than long pain. Letting him know early is for his own good."
Tsunade curled her lips, pretending indifference.
But inwardly—
She was satisfied.
He cared enough to assert himself.
Time passed quickly.
Before they realized it, several days had gone by.
—
Inside the Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Aomizu personally.
"Aomizu," he began, "you are now a Squad Leader in the Medical Department. I have a mission for you."
After being promoted to Jonin, Aomizu had indeed risen to Squad Leader—currently the highest direct promotion available beneath Tsunade and Deputy Head Fukada Minako.
"Years ago, Tsunade proposed incorporating Medical Ninja into standard mission teams," Hiruzen continued. "She also suggested establishing a systematic training mechanism."
"But the proposal failed. Then the war began."
He sighed.
"After the war, Tsunade's hemophobia prevented her from pushing it forward. And Konoha needed rapid recovery."
"Now, however, the proposal has finally been approved."
He handed Aomizu a scroll.
It contained Tsunade's original plan.
"Your task is to implement it."
Logically, this responsibility should have fallen to Tsunade.
But Hiruzen had his reasons.
He wanted to add to Aomizu's accomplishments.
Tsunade had no interest in becoming Hokage—and she remained obsessed with researching the White Zetsu cells and their connection to Wood Release.
Until she uncovered the truth, she would not be distracted.
After reviewing the scroll, Aomizu spoke calmly.
"We should begin with positive publicity at the Ninja Academy."
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow.
"Explain."
"Students currently believe that only weaklings become Medical Ninja," Aomizu said. "That prejudice must be corrected early."
Many students avoided Medical Ninjutsu entirely.
Some tried briefly, only to give up when confronted with its difficulty.
This was the core problem.
Hiruzen nodded.
"Anything else?"
"We can establish a Medical Special Training Class within the Academy. Dedicated instructors would teach interested students."
"From there, we can identify those with talent and provide focused training. They could intern at Konoha Hospital before graduation."
"Upon graduating, they would already be qualified Medical Ninja."
"It would be more efficient—and reduce long-term training costs."
Hiruzen looked at him appreciatively.
"Excellent. I did not misjudge you."
He paused, then added meaningfully:
"As this plan begins, resistance will remain. I hope you personally oversee its early stages. We need visible results."
If results failed to appear, the program might be suspended.
Aomizu understood the unspoken implication.
"I understand, Lord Hokage."
He would carry it out.
And he would make it succeed.
Not just for recognition—
But because Konoha needed it.
And because strength did not lie only in destruction.
Sometimes—
True sovereignty was built through healing.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)