Chapter 256: Jiraiya's Return to the Village

Days later.

On a bright and sunny spring morning, a weary traveler arrived at the gates of Konohagakure—none other than Jiraiya, disguised to blend in. Even before entering the village, he noticed the shifts within Konoha's landscape.

Beyond the village, stretches of forest had been cleared to make room for farmlands. Surprisingly, it wasn't farmers tending the fields, but Konoha shinobi.

They were rolling up their sleeves, operating small mechanized machines, effortlessly planting rows upon rows of rice seedlings. Intrigued, Jiraiya approached one of the shinobi to inquire.

Turns out, these devices were called "transplanters," powered by ninja chakra and significantly improved the efficiency and quality of planting. Developed by Konoha's Scientific Ninja Tools department, these semi-automated devices had replaced traditional manual labor, boosting productivity.

As for these fertile paddy fields, they were created by Earth Style jutsu and irrigated by Water Style techniques, achieving self-sufficiency in food production for Konoha.

Konoha had indeed changed, thought Jiraiya.

Initially, he had reservations about the Uchiha clan's return to power, thinking they wouldn't be much different from Danzō. Renowned as warmongers, the Uchihas were once described as "innately evil" by the Second Hokage.

Led by Dan, the Uchiha elite were expected to wage wars across the lands, bringing unending sorrow and destruction.

However, to Jiraiya's utter surprise, upon their return, the Uchihas declared Konoha a permanently neutral village and initiated sweeping reforms, focusing on peaceful development.

For half a year, not a single Uchiha had left the village, and Konoha had avoided any conflicts with the outside world.

Jiraiya had been searching for the prophesied child, Naruto Uzumaki, in line with the vision granted by the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku. During this time, he had heard of Konoha's transformation and witnessed people from various lands flocking to the village.

Finally, unable to contain his curiosity, Jiraiya decided to take a detour.

Unconsciously, he found himself at the village entrance.

Was this the Konoha he remembered?

Before him stood a grand village gate, easily spanning ten meters wide and almost eight meters high, allowing both pedestrians and merchant carriages to pass through.

In the distance, residential areas stretched out, along with multiple construction sites where Uchiha shinobi, donning yellow safety helmets, were fervently using Wood Style jutsu to build.

The bustling streets were a hive of activity, with a tall nine-story tower standing at the end of the main road. Even the hills behind Konoha had been developed with towering buildings.

A complete transformation.

Jiraiya was astounded by the changes—greater in just six months than in several decades prior.

Finally snapping back to reality, Jiraiya took a step forward, entering the village.

Walking down the familiar main street, amidst the hustle and bustle, he noticed the plethora of new shops, each one thriving with customers lining up outside.

Among the most popular were stores selling cutting-edge electronic devices—computers, cameras, radios, and the like.

Konoha had not only expanded and grown busier, but it had also embraced modern electrification.

A passing tour group caught Jiraiya's attention.

Led by two charming Konoha kunoichi, the group was made up of tourists from across the shinobi world. They chatted and laughed, waving small flags as they walked past Jiraiya.

They were headed to the Uchiha clan's Naka Shrine and planned on buying various memorabilia—high-collared blue robes, Uchiha-emblazoned fans, and limited-edition kunai.

Since defeating the Allied Shinobi Forces, the Uchihas had gained unparalleled prominence. Not just in power, but in charisma—their attire, their physical appearances, all were top-notch in the shinobi world.

Thus, many had become "fans" of the Uchiha clan, completely overturning their negative image from decades past.

Jiraiya couldn't help but feel astonished, again.

After parting with the tour group, Jiraiya spotted the patrol squads from the Police Force, comprised not only of Hyūga members but also civilian shinobi. Their approach was friendly as they maintained order and assisted both residents and visitors.

Walking along, Jiraiya felt his stomach rumble. Realizing it was lunchtime, he headed for his old haunt—Ichiraku Ramen.

A decade ago, when Ichiraku Ramen first opened its doors, Jiraiya had been there to savor the wonderful taste that he could never forget. So every time he returned to the village, he made it a point to enjoy a bowl.

"Hey boss, gimme a bowl of miso ramen," Jiraiya settled onto the stool and called out.

"Comin' right up, just a sec," the owner, cheerful as ever, wiped the sweat from his brow and dove back into the kitchen.

In just two minutes, a steaming bowl brimming with a rich aroma was set before Jiraiya.

Slurp. He couldn't wait and took a big gulp of noodles, his pupils dilated with delight. Putting down his chopsticks, he gave a thumbs up. "Boss, your skills are top-notch, these noodles are cooked to perfection."

"You flatter me," the owner modestly explained, "That's because the wheat used for these noodles is a new variety developed by Konoha, top quality stuff."

Jiraiya looked down at his noodles, surprised, taking another deliberate look.

Then, amidst a buzz of chatter, a group of kids with backpacks shuffled into Ichiraku, settling next to Jiraiya.

They were students from the Ninja Academy.

Without drawing attention, Jiraiya eavesdropped on the youngsters' conversation.

"My sis got into the intermediate class with the tenth-best score and got a full scholarship. She says she'll keep studying until she graduates as a Jounin and then she plans to stay and do research at the academy. Jealous, huh?"

One snot-nosed braggart couldn't help but boast about his sister.

Before he could continue, a snort interrupted:

"What's so great about that? Your sister's smart, but you're always at the bottom of the class. Better worry about the midterms first. After the exams, we'll be regrouped by scores—I gotta seize the chance to get into the elite class!"

"And me!" a girl chimed in, her face alight with dreams, "I heard there's a Uchiha Sasuke in the elite class, from the number one clan in the shinobi world. Not only does he ace every subject, but he's also super handsome. Once I get into the elite class, I want to be his desk mate."

Her musings immediately drew sarcasm from another:

"Stop daydreaming. Look in the mirror. Sasuke's a genius, buried in training all day with zero interest in girls—he won't like you."

The kids bantered on and on, and through their chatter, Jiraiya picked up on the various reforms and changes in the Ninja Academy, growing increasingly astonished.

A little while later.

Swish.

The curtain to Ichiraku was lifted, and in walked three students: Suigetsu, Chojuro, and Haku.

"Hey mister, you done? Move over a bit," Suigetsu said, picking his nose, urging Jiraiya to make room as they found no empty seats.

"Oh, sorry about that," Jiraiya chuckled, stood up, and let the three sit.

Then he overheard the whispers of the nearby students:

"Look, those are from the elite class. Their scores are said to be second only to Sasuke's."

"Of course, I heard these three are disciples of the Fifth Mizukage from Kirigakure, sent here for an exchange study program."

"Do you think they'll go back to Kirigakure or just stay in Konoha after graduating as Jounin? After all, our Konoha is so much better than their 'backwater' village."

Suigetsu raised an eyebrow, turned with a smile, and flashed a row of sharp teeth:

"What's that you're saying, classmates? I didn't catch that, mind repeating it?"

"We... didn't say anything," the kids shrank back, too scared to finish their ramen, and scurried off.

"Even if they make it to the elite class, they're still the bottom feeders," Suigetsu said with disdain.

Exchange students, huh?

Jiraiya was taken aback to learn of their identities. Who could have imagined a day when prodigies from other villages would come to Konoha to study? And influenced by the culture here, it's likely they would stay and contribute to Konoha's growth.

To Jiraiya's knowledge, these significant reforms at the academy were all initiatives of the Sixth Hokage, Uchiha Dan.

A visionary and formidable figure indeed.

Ten minutes later...

Jiraiya found himself strolling down the familiar streets of Konoha once again.

He had learned that Tsunade was now the head of medical affairs in the village, so he intended to wander near the Konoha Hospital in hopes of catching a glimpse of her.

That woman was the eternal moonlight of his heart.

He hadn't walked far when a commotion on the street ahead caught his attention. A crowd had gathered.

What had happened?

Pushing through the bystanders, Jiraiya saw an elderly man who had fallen, causing a bleed in the back of his head. The man was unconscious and in a dire state.

The onlookers hesitated to intervene, fearing that improper aid might worsen the man's condition.

Frowning at the sight, Jiraiya moved to assist.

Although not a medical ninja himself, he had assisted Tsunade on the battlefield with emergency treatments and felt confident in his abilities.

But at that moment...

"Please, make way."

A group of ninja clad in white coats arrived just in time, conducting a series of checks and diagnoses on the unconscious man.

One of them cradled the man's head in his hands, emitting a gentle blue chakra from his palms, healing the wound at a visible rate and stemming the bleeding.

This was... the Mystical Palm Technique.

Jiraiya was surprised yet again at this sight.

He had heard of Tsunade training a cadre of medical ninja that bolstered the reputation of Konoha Hospital, attracting patients from across the ninja world.

Their professionalism was evident.

After stopping the bleeding, a small slug emerged from one medic's pouch, settling on the man to transfer chakra slowly.

Carefully, the medics lifted the elder onto a stretcher and carried him away.

Applause broke out among the spectators, who began to discuss animatedly:

"That was amazing!"

"When my child becomes a Chūnin, I'll encourage them to specialize in medical ninjutsu, to follow in Lady Tsunade's footsteps and become a proud medic of Konoha."

"Lady Tsunade has been so busy lately, running between the hospital and the academy, healing and teaching. She's given so much to Konoha."

Hearing this, Jiraiya hesitated.

Given Tsunade's busy schedule, perhaps it was best... not to disturb her.

As the crowd dispersed, Jiraiya's mind wandered, and he found himself in Konoha's central plaza without realizing it.

He looked up to see a towering thirty-meter statue of Uchiha Dan, carved in white marble.

The statue's visage was sharp and austere, embodying Dan's stern demeanor. Standing tall like a mountain, his gaze was calm and distant, as if he were a prophet seeing the future of Konoha.

Many villagers gathered at the statue's base, gazing up in devout admiration and prayer.

Uchiha Dan had become a spiritual beacon for many.

Jiraiya understood why.

After all, under Dan's leadership as Hokage, the once-colonized and suffering village of Konoha had been resurrected in just six months, becoming better than ever before.

Much better.

Adhering to a policy of permanent neutrality, refraining from the power struggles of the great nations, Konoha had chosen a path of peaceful and open development. Dan also initiated sweeping reforms, developing new applications for ninjutsu and chakra, harnessing ninja power for production and daily life.

His ideas and methods had proven correct and hugely successful in practice.

Standing beneath the statue, Jiraiya pondered for a long time, beginning to question—

Was what he was doing really right?

Should he really find Naruto Uzumaki and help him defeat Uchiha Dan to "save the ninja world"?