A few days later, after an investigation by Konoha's two other advisory elders, Danzo Shimura's crimes were confirmed, and he received the maximum punishment.
The investigation process? Sorry, that's classified village business.
The verdict? Didn't we just say he got the maximum penalty?
Geez, why are you so nosy? Are you a spy from another ninja village or something?
Amid the buzzing rumors, Konoha carried on with its peaceful daily routine.
At the village center, in the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe and opened a window to breathe in the fresh air.
"When'd you get back? Could've given me a heads-up," he said.
"Heh! That's rich, old man. Weren't you the one sending people all over the world to track me down?"
A man with long white hair stood on the roof of the Hokage Building, leaning casually against the wall.
Hiruzen chuckled. This disciple, the most rebellious and unconventional of the bunch, was also the one who warmed his heart the most.
"There's a young genius in the village who's been stirring up quite a storm," Hiruzen said. "With her talent, keeping her in the Ninja Academy is a waste. Plus, Danzo's got his eyes on her."
"So, I was thinking…"
He set down his pipe, letting out a weary sigh, and explained why he'd sent people to find Jiraiya.
After all—when there's work to be done, a disciple steps up.
"No way. Can't do it. Not taking her."
The white-haired man fired off a triple rejection without missing a beat.
Him, a wandering free spirit, dragging a kid around the ninja world? Yeah, right! How was he supposed to work on his next masterpiece or flirt with those gorgeous, curvy ladies?
"Jiraiya, her talent… it's not just on my level—it surpasses it. I don't want to see her go down a dark path!"
"And get this—she's mastered the Flying Thunder God technique."
A sharp glint flashed in Hiruzen's cloudy eyes, even as he faced the back of the aging man. Anyone caught in that gaze would feel the weight of his seriousness.
"Tch!" Jiraiya clicked his tongue at Hiruzen's words. "Fine, I'll meet her myself and decide if I'll take her on."
"Deal."
Hiruzen's smile returned as he relit his pipe, exhaling clouds of smoke.
"Ease up on the smoking, old man. And if you're that tired, just retire from being Hokage already!"
"Sure, you want to take my place?"
"Hell no! Let someone else deal with that miserable job!"
"Hahaha!"
---
At the training grounds on the west side of the village, Sakura finished her practice and shook out her hair.
Sweat plastered her locks to her skin and soaked her black ninja outfit.
"Ugh, better not stress Mom out. I'll hit the village bathhouse instead."
Covered in dirt and sweat, and not in the mood for a "how are you going to get married looking like that?" lecture at home, Sakura decided to clean up at the bathhouse.
She packed her ninja tools, sealed them in a scroll, and headed toward the southern streets.
The Crane Pavilion, the most famous hot spring in the south of Konoha, was beloved for its affordable prices and top-notch service.
When Sakura, exhausted, arrived at the bathhouse, her Observation Haki unexpectedly picked up on a white-haired man lurking near the women's bath.
"Oh?"
A mischievous grin spread across Sakura's face. Her presence instinctively cloaked itself as she crept up behind the man.
"Heh heh heh, now that's nice!"
Crouched outside the bamboo fence, peeking through a gap in the wooden slats, the white-haired man let out a slobbering noise. His brush scribbled furiously in a small notebook.
Sakura sat beside him, peering at his notes.
To be fair, if you ignored the flowery phrases like "round, full legs," "a waist so slim a single hand could span it," "a graceful, curvaceous silhouette," or "perfectly soft, mature curves," the writing actually had a decent grasp of character depth.
No wonder, in a ninja world lacking entertainment, this guy's books topped the bestseller lists.
"Uh, maybe skip writing about the mole on her thigh. Kinda ruins the vibe," Sakura suggested.
Her clear voice startled the man, who instinctively raised a finger, only to realize he was in the village and disperse the chakra he'd started to gather.
He turned to see the very girl he'd been sent to meet crouching beside him.
His jaw dropped, and he was speechless for a long moment.
Unbelievable! One of the legendary Sannin, caught off guard by a kid sneaking up on him!
Sure, he'd let his guard down in the village and was distracted by his "research," but the fact was, she'd gotten the drop on him. If she were an enemy, he'd probably be dead right now.
"You're pretty savvy, huh?"
Tucking away his "tools of the trade," Jiraiya took a serious look at the girl in front of him.
Massive chakra reserves, stellar Ninja Academy grades, signs of relentless training, and—according to the old man—the talent to master the Flying Thunder God… She was a genius, no question.
The world always had a few unfair existences—people born to push the limits of what humans could achieve.
Luckily, Jiraiya wasn't exactly a slouch himself.
"Kidding? I'm super savvy!"
Sakura flashed a cheeky grin and a thumbs-up, pointing toward the women's bath.
"Damn, I'm so jealous!"
Catching her meaning, Jiraiya bit his knuckles, a look of longing on his face.
"Hold up, you're a girl. You don't mind me… uh, researching?"
Jiraiya eyed her suspiciously. Most women in the village would've freaked out by now.
"Eh, who cares? People are like that, right? Driven by their desires."
"Everyone's got desires. But most of the time, they act all high and mighty, like they're above it."
"Want something? Shout it out. Dream big? Let it burn. That raw, shining greed—it's proof we're alive, isn't it?"
Her smile was clear and pure, her arms spread wide as a faint aura of dominance rippled out, enveloping the air.
Like the great conquerors of the seas, she never bothered hiding her thoughts.
As a king, she carried desires stronger than anyone, lived more boldly than anyone, and burned with fiercer passion than anyone.
And because she lived so fiercely, she captivated those around her. That overwhelming power, capable of shaking the world, stemmed from that very intensity.
In that moment, Jiraiya saw it in her—a human more real than anyone, embodying both light and shadow.
"You…"
His throat tightened, a dry rasp escaping him.
In just a few minutes of meeting Sakura Haruno, Jiraiya finally understood Hiruzen's fears.
If a kid like this wasn't guided properly, what if, years from now, Konoha ended up with another Madara Uchiha on its hands?
Well, then…
Jiraiya formed hand signs, swiftly summoning a massive toad beneath him. One leg propped on its back, he shook his head dramatically, letting his long, twin-tailed hair whip through the air like a kabuki actor.
"Let me—Jiraiya, the Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku, the one and only Gallant Jiraiya—guide you down the true path of a steadfast ninja!"
He spread his fingers wide, extending a hand toward Sakura.
"Kid, become my apprentice!"
"Nope!"
"Huh?!"