"Mm. You're a teenager now, not a little kid anymore, so it's fine if you take a look."
Perhaps sensing a kindred spirit, Jiraiya suddenly relaxed his attitude.
"However, I don't have an autograph book with me right now. It doesn't matter though. I'll be staying in Konohagakure for a while, so I'll sign it for you another day."
"It's a deal then, Master Jiraiya!"
"It's a deal."
Jiraiya waved casually at Ryūjin and walked off down the street.
After Jiraiya left, Asuma Sarutobi stared at Ryūjin for a moment. His face was filled with humiliation, resentment, and unwillingness before he quickly turned around and left as well.
"Phew. That was intense. It almost scared the life out of me."
The two companions beside Ryūjin finally let out relieved sighs. Just moments ago, it had been Ryūjin who was openly provoking Asuma Sarutobi.
"Relax," Ryūjin said indifferently. "What level of ninja is Jiraiya? Why would he care about something this trivial?"
He resumed patrolling the village as if nothing had happened.
However, a thought quietly lingered in his mind.
Was Jiraiya returning to the village simply for a visit, or did he have some other purpose?
Both possibilities were equally likely.
After returning to Konoha, Jiraiya spent most of his time gathering "material" around places such as women's bathhouses and clothing stores. He was having so much fun that he almost forgot why he had come back in the first place.
"Sensei, you're back!"
Only after receiving the news did Minato Namikaze personally rush over to find him.
"Minato, I heard you became Hokage. That's truly impressive."
Seeing Minato arrive, Jiraiya reluctantly put away the Telescope Technique he had been using.
"It's all thanks to your guidance, Teacher, and the trust of the village," Minato replied modestly.
After exchanging a few greetings, Jiraiya's expression gradually became serious.
"Minato, gather everyone. Now that I'm back, there is something important I need to tell you."
Minato's expression immediately tightened. Without wasting a second, he escorted Jiraiya to the Hokage Office.
At the same time, he summoned the highest authorities of the village, including Hiruzen Sarutobi and Homura Mitokado.
"Jiraiya, everyone is here. Tell us what important matter you have," Hiruzen said slowly as he took a puff from his pipe.
Jiraiya nodded and spoke with a solemn expression.
"A few days ago, I was gathering material... ahem, I mean searching for the Child of Prophecy when I was suddenly summoned to Mount Myōboku by Fukasaku."
"Fukasaku brought me before the Great Toad Sage, and the Great Toad Sage told me something important."
"The Child of Prophecy has changed."
Everyone in the office instantly focused on Jiraiya.
"The original Child of Prophecy was supposed to be a blue eyed boy who laughed while calling out the names of the nine Tailed Beasts. That boy was destined to bring great change to the ninja world."
"But now that boy can no longer influence the future of the ninja world. The great change will instead be brought by someone else."
"That person will be the new Child of Prophecy."
As soon as those words left Jiraiya's mouth, the atmosphere in the office grew heavy.
No one present dared to take the Great Toad Sage's prophecy lightly.
"Jiraiya," Hiruzen asked immediately, "what did the Great Toad Sage see about this new Child of Prophecy?"
Jiraiya frowned slightly.
"The new Child of Prophecy was surrounded by thick mist. Even the Great Toad Sage could not see clearly. The only thing he could make out was a single scene."
"That person was standing in front of black flames."
His voice sounded unusually grave.
"Black flames?"
"Did you say black flames?"
Several shocked voices suddenly echoed through the Hokage Office.
Jiraiya blinked in confusion.
"Why are you all looking at me like that? Do you know who I'm talking about?"
There was even a hint of excitement in his voice.
He had spent years searching the ninja world for the original Child of Prophecy without finding anything. Yet now, shortly after returning to Konoha, it seemed like a lead had appeared.
Hiruzen thought silently for a moment before speaking.
"Do you think it's possible that the mysterious person who has repeatedly saved Konoha is actually the Child of Prophecy?"
Minato, Homura, and the others exchanged glances, each deep in thought.
As far as they knew, that mysterious individual was the only person who matched the description.
After all, no one else they had encountered could wield black flames.
"Mysterious person? What mysterious person?" Jiraiya asked, completely confused.
For the past two years he had been traveling throughout the ninja world and had never heard anything about such a figure.
Hiruzen, Minato, and the others quickly explained the situation.
After hearing everything, even Jiraiya was shocked.
Sealing a half Tailed Beast Jinchuriki. Defeating Ōnoki. Killing five members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Even fighting Minato Namikaze.
Whoever this person was, their strength was clearly comparable to Jiraiya's own.
Yet for more than a year, no one in Konoha had been able to determine the mysterious ninja's true identity.
"That's perfect!" Jiraiya suddenly said excitedly.
"If he can use those black flames, then maybe he really is the Child of Prophecy. Let's find this person first."
The group began carefully reviewing every detail related to the mysterious ninja, hoping to uncover additional clues.
Eventually, the discussion reached a small breakthrough thanks to Minato.
"It turns out that Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan have also encountered that mysterious person. Coincidentally, the three of them are my students. I can go ask them for more information."
Jiraiya immediately brightened.
"Perfect. I'll go check on them myself. It's been a long time since I left Amegakure anyway."
He made the decision on the spot.
"Damn. Good thing I stayed cautious and used the Telescope Technique to watch them, otherwise my identity might have been exposed."
Watching the entire scene through the Telescope Technique, Ryūjin quietly sighed in relief.
Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan had all seen his real appearance.
Not only that, they also knew his name.
If Jiraiya went to question them directly, things would definitely become complicated.
Of course, with Ryūjin's current strength, even if his identity were exposed, nobody in Konoha could really do anything to him.
Still, it would be troublesome.
Ryūjin had grown comfortable with his current life.
He enjoyed quietly checking in with the Sign-in System. He liked returning home to hear his parents ask about his day. He liked joking around with his fellow clan members back at the Uchiha compound.
Changing all of that sounded like a headache.
"It looks like I need to take action," Ryūjin muttered to himself.
Then a thought crossed his mind.
"Since I'm already moving, I might as well take the opportunity to see if I can sneak into Mount Myōboku and complete a sign in."
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