"Secret medicine?" Tōma repeated, thinking for a moment. "Do you mean pills like soldier rations?"
"Close enough," Jiraiya said with a laugh. "You really do know a lot for your age."
"I've read about them in the library. There are also blood-restoring pills and similar drugs."
Jiraiya looked at him quietly. What he couldn't understand wasn't Tōma's knowledge, but his persistence. This was a time of peace. No one was forcing the boy to push himself so hard. Yet he never stopped. Still, effort was never a bad thing, so Jiraiya didn't press the issue.
"The medicine I'm talking about isn't the common stuff," Jiraiya said instead. "It strengthens the body's foundation itself. Perfect for someone your age."
Tōma's eyes immediately locked onto him, clearly expecting Jiraiya to pull it out on the spot.
Instead, Jiraiya scratched his head, looking a little awkward. "That said… I don't have any on me."
The excitement drained out of Tōma instantly. He stared at Jiraiya in silent accusation.
Jiraiya read the look perfectly. Then why bring it up at all?
"Heh," Jiraiya chuckled. "I may not have it, but you'll get what you want soon enough. First, you need to master the next technique."
As he spoke, Jiraiya pulled out a scroll and summoned an even larger one atop it.
Tōma's heart skipped. If he wasn't mistaken, this was the summoning scroll of Mount Myōboku.
Which meant that signing it would bind him to one of the Three Great Sage Regions.
So this was it. The "secret medicine" Jiraiya mentioned came from Mount Myōboku.
As the scroll unfurled, Tōma saw countless names, all beginning with "Toad." When it fully opened, two names stood out at the end of the list.
Jiraiya.Namikaze Minato.
"Tōma," Jiraiya said, gesturing. "Write your name."
"Yes," Tōma replied, stepping forward and signing without hesitation.
Jiraiya rolled the scroll back up and looked at him. "You know what that was, right?"
"The toad summoning contract," Tōma answered.
"Correct. The medicine you want is there. For now, you'll focus on learning summoning techniques under me."
"Understood."
Tōma had the feeling he could grasp summoning fairly quickly, but he wasn't about to argue. Today alone had already given him more than enough to digest.
"Let's stop here for today," Jiraiya said, glancing at the sky. "It's later than it looks."
"Yes, Sensei."
Flying Thunder God. Secret medicine. A contract with Mount Myōboku.
Even for Tōma, that was a lot to process in one day.
Later, back in the village, Tōma stared at the half-melted popsicle in his hand. The scene felt strangely familiar, like a memory from another life, except this time he was the one holding it.
"You're not eating," Jiraiya said, puzzled. "Don't like it?"
"No, it's fine," Tōma replied, finally taking a bite. Sweet. Better than he expected.
"Kids usually love these," Jiraiya said. "You don't eat them often?"
"Not really. Most of our money goes toward food for training. Anything unnecessary gets cut."
Jiraiya paused. "You're a thoughtful kid."
He made a mental note to talk to the Third Hokage later. At the very least, Tōma shouldn't have to worry about meals.
What Jiraiya didn't know was that Fujimoto Sana's income was technically enough. The real issue was Tōma's appetite. Once his training intensified, and especially after learning Lightning Release body stimulation, his food intake skyrocketed.
Tōma stayed quiet, a little embarrassed by the praise. Still, if it helped ease things at home, he wouldn't mind.
Jiraiya hesitated. "The old man mentioned you and… never mind."
He swallowed the rest of the question.
Some things were better confirmed with his own eyes.
"I'll meet you here tomorrow morning," Jiraiya said, summoning a stack of scrolls, compressing them into one, and handing it over. "Open this at home."
Tōma watched carefully. Storage techniques like that weren't flashy in battle, but they were incredibly useful. He'd have to learn them someday.
After saying goodbye, Tōma headed home alone.
Jiraiya lingered, then slowly walked off in another direction.
Toward someone he wanted to see.
And someone he feared seeing too much.