CH - 246 Jiraiya again?

In truth, Jiraiya's presence in the Grass Village was purely incidental. Initially, he hadn't intended to visit the village at all. However, amidst the recent tensions between the Grass Village and Konoha, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. Despite the recent discord, his fondness for the Grass Village remained unchanged. After all, weren't Konoha and the Grass Village long-standing allies? How had their relationship soured so suddenly?

Moreover, after years of traveling and no news of Ekinu-sensei, whom he had intended to visit during his last trip to the Grass Village, Jiraiya's concerns deepened. The turbulent state of the Ninja World only exacerbated his worries, leading him to fear the worst: that Ekinu-sensei may have met an unfortunate fate.

In a bid to unravel the mystery surrounding Ekinu-Sensei's disappearance, Jiraiya had even resorted to unconventional means, such as venturing into the black market to issue a commission for any information regarding Ekinu-sensei's whereabouts.

Certainly, the Nine-Tails incident also weighed heavily on Jiraiya's mind. As Minato's teacher, Jiraiya harbored unwavering trust in his student's loyalty to Konoha, dismissing any notion of betrayal. Thus, upon receiving the message from Konoha regarding recent events, he felt compelled to investigate further. Since he was passing by the Grass Village anyway, he saw it as an opportune moment to pay a visit and ascertain the situation firsthand.

Furthermore, Jiraiya intended to take a brief respite during his journey. Recalling the pleasant memories of his previous visits to the Grass Village, he saw no harm in stopping by once more. His intentions were purely investigative, with no ulterior motives. He simply wished to carry out some village tasks and gather information.

Moreover, Jiraiya had forged strong bonds with individuals in the Grass Village, notably the Senior Advisor, Mubuki. Their shared experiences, including time spent together in jail, had mutual interests like exchanging collections and cultivated a deep and enduring friendship. Additionally, his amicable relationship with the Grass Leader further assured him that his visit would be welcomed, despite his affiliation with Konoha.

As Jiraiya set foot into the border of the Land of Grass, he found himself unexpectedly confronted by a group of Grass ninjas, who appeared suddenly to intercept him. Familiar with these guards from a previous incident in the Grass Village, Jiraiya remained composed, assuring them of his peaceful intentions. He explained that he was merely visiting the Grass Leader and posed no threat.

Despite his assurances and compliance with their commands, Jiraiya found himself apprehended by the guards and escorted away. He had anticipated a smooth encounter, relying on his rapport with Mubuki to navigate any potential issues. However, the outcome had taken an unexpected turn, leaving him bewildered by the situation.

Jiraiya's expression shifted to one of utter confusion as he confronted the guard ninja before him. "Suspicious activities? What do you mean by that? There must be some mistake."

The guard ninja maintained a stern demeanor, unfazed by Jiraiya's protests. "Mr. Jiraiya, is it not true that you have been incarcerated twice in the Grass Village?"

Jiraiya's panic was palpable as he attempted to clarify the situation. "Yes, but it's all a misunderstanding. Let me explain—"

The guard ninja, however, remained resolute, unmoved by Jiraiya's explanation. "So the information was accurate after all," he concluded, dismissing Jiraiya's attempts to defend himself as mere excuses.

"Wait a moment! I have a close relationship with the Grass Advisor, Mubuki!" Jiraiya intervened, hoping to salvage the situation by leveraging his connection with Mubuki.

The guard ninja offered a nod of acknowledgment, but his expression remained unchanged. "I see."

"He can confirm that I'm not involved in any wrongdoing!" Jiraiya insisted, noticing the guard ninja's lack of response.

However, the guard ninja shook his head, delivering an unexpected blow. "We've already consulted with Lord Mubuki, and he stated that he doesn't recognize you."

Jiraiya's disbelief was evident as he processed this information. 'How could Mubuki not recognize me after just a few years?' he wondered, his mouth twitching as he understood something, as the guard ninja prepared to detain him.

At that moment, a figure entered the room. The Konoha guard ninja turned to acknowledge the newcomer and respectfully greeted, "Lord Yahiko!"

Jiraiya's attention was immediately drawn to the newcomer, his expression initially stunned before lighting up with recognition. "Yahiko! It's me!" He struck a few dramatic poses and then composed himself, adding, "Jiraiya the Toad Sage. Remember? We were introduced by the Grass Leader. Please, explain to them that I'm not here to cause trouble!"

The guard ninja, taken aback by Jiraiya's sudden outburst, looked to Yahiko for confirmation. Could there have been a misunderstanding? Was this renowned ninja truly a close associate of both the Grass Leader and Advisor Mubuki?

However, Yahiko's response was unexpected. He appeared confused, furrowing his brows as he asked, "Who?"

As Yahiko's words echoed in the room, both Jiraiya and the guard ninja fell into an uneasy silence. Jiraiya's smile faltered as he stared at Yahiko, hoping for recognition. "It's me, Jiraiya," he insisted, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Ji-what?" Yahiko's puzzled expression deepened as he tilted his head in confusion.

"Jiraiya!" Jiraiya repeated, hoping to jog Yahiko's memory.

"Ji-what?" Despite Jiraiya's repeated attempts, Yahiko still seemed perplexed.

"Jiraiya!" Jiraiya reiterated, his patience wearing thin as he noticed the guard's skeptical gaze.

"What-what?" Yahiko's confusion persisted, leaving Jiraiya feeling increasingly frustrated.

Jiraiya's mouth twitched as he glanced at the guard ninja, who seemed poised to detain him, his mind racing to come up with a solution. Hastily, Jiraiya interjected, "Actually, I come in peace! I'm here to redeem Konoha's Advisor, Shimura Danzo!"

Actually, Approaching this area, he had received some critical information from the village, which had prompted his direct approach. But he hadn't anticipated the misunderstanding that nearly led to him being mistaken for a… spy.

Before anyone could respond, Yahiko's voice broke through the tension. "Did you bring the money?" he asked eagerly.

Jiraiya hesitated for a moment before nodding reluctantly. "I...I brought it."

At the mention of the money, Yahiko's face lit up with enthusiasm. "Uncle Jiraiya, you're finally here!" he exclaimed.

Before Jiraiya could respond, Yahiko rushed forward, clasping his hand tightly. "I'm Yahiko. Do you remember me? When you and my dad, Mubuki, were in jail together, I was the one who brought you food."

A speechless expression dawned on Jiraiya's face. How had that simple kid from back then transformed into this? He couldn't decide whether to be amazed or bewildered. The sunny, cheerful child from his memory now bore a striking resemblance to... Mubuki?

Jiraiya hesitated for a moment before attempting to speak. "Then I..."

"It's a misunderstanding! Absolutely." Yahiko interjected, turning to the Konoha guard. "This person is a friend of the Grass Village, one of Konoha's Legendary Three Ninjas, and he's practically family to my dad, Mubuki. There's no way he could be a spy. You must have apprehended the wrong person."

Without waiting for Jiraiya's reaction, Yahiko promptly ushered him outside. "I'll explain to the higher-ups later to avoid any future mistakes. Let's go, father was very thrilled to hear you're here. He has already prepared a feast for you and eagerly awaits your arrival in the village."

Jiraiya muttered under his breath, his mouth twitching with uncertainty. "I have so much to say, but I'm not sure where to begin..."

"No need for gratitude. Let's move quickly. Everyone's been eagerly awaiting your return," Yahiko insisted, brushing off Jiraiya's reaction.

Finally, Jiraiya couldn't contain his frustration any longer. "Damn it!" he cursed under his breath.

…

In the end, despite the unexpected turn of events, Jiraiya found himself arriving at the Grass Village. He embarked on the peculiar Harmony Train, a mode of transportation that proved to be not only swift but also remarkably steady.

As he journeyed, he couldn't help but marvel at the transformation of the Land of Grass. Recollections of its once desolate and ruined state contrasted sharply with the vibrant scenes passing by. The development was nothing short of remarkable, no wonder it was often rumored as the Sixth Great Ninja Village.

Upon his arrival at dusk, Jiraiya stepped off the train, still in a state of mild disbelief. Reflecting on the village's remarkable progress, he couldn't help but sigh with admiration. "Truly, the Grass Leader's leadership has brought remarkable progress to this land. I never imagined the Land of Grass would evolve at such a rapid pace."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiraiya heard something that made him quickly look up. His eyes widened in disbelief when he saw the banner hanging before him.

["Welcome, esteemed guest from Konoha, one of the Legendary Three Ninjas, Toad Sage Jiraiya, to the Grass Village!"]

Before he could gather his thoughts, Mubuki, standing in front, waved his hand. "Start the music!"

Suddenly, joyful music filled the air, and a swarm of Grass reporters approached. "Hello, Lord Jiraiya. Is your visit to the Grass Village on behalf of Konoha this time?"

Caught off guard by the unexpected reception, Jiraiya struggled to make sense of the situation. 'What in the world is happening here?'