[The Next Morning - Konoha Gates]
The village was still in a state of mourning, but the ninja machinery never stopped turning. Rebuilding efforts were already underway, and the elders were scrambling to maintain the illusion of strength to the other hidden villages.
I knew Jiraiya was planning to leave today. The council had offered him the Hokage hat, and he had predictably rejected it, volunteering to track down Tsunade instead.
I found him near the main gates, adjusting his massive scroll on his back. Naruto was standing next to him, wearing a heavy backpack, looking determined but still slightly depressed.
"Alright, kid," Jiraiya grunted. "This isn't a vacation. We're going to be moving fast, and we're looking for soone who doesn't want to be found. Are you ready?"
"I'm ready, Ero-Sennin!" Naruto punched his palm. "We're gonna find this Tsunade lady and bring her back!"
"Excellent," I said, stepping out from the shadow of the gate. "I call the window seat."
Jiraiya and Naruto spun around.
I was dressed in a sleek, dark traveling cloak, my hands stuffed casually in my pockets. I didn't have a backpack—everything I needed was safely tucked away in my dinsional inventory.
"Kenji?" Naruto blinked, confused. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm coming with you," I stated simply, walking up to them.
Jiraiya frowned, crossing his massive arms. "No, you're not, brat. This is an S-Rank, highly classified mission assigned directly by the village elders. I'm taking Naruto because I need to keep an eye on him, and because he needs training. You stay here and help rebuild."
"I don't do manual labor, old man," I sighed, waving a hand dismissively. "Besides, you need ."
"I am a Legendary Sannin," Jiraiya deadpanned. "I don't need a twelve-year-old Genin who wears silk suits and cheats in the Chunin Exams."
"You're a Sannin on a budget," I corrected smoothly, pulling a thick, heavy wad of Ryo notes from my pocket and fanning them out like a deck of cards. "Tsunade Senju is a notorious gambler. She moves from town to town, hitting casinos and leaving massive debts in her wake. How exactly do you plan to track her?"
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed. "I have my information network."
"Your information network consists of peeping at brothels and asking bartenders for rumors," I scoffed, pocketing the money. "If you want to find a high-roller, you need to enter the high-roller rooms. You need a VIP pass. You need capital. I have more liquid assets than the entire Konoha rebuilding fund."
Jiraiya hesitated. He looked at the spot where I had just pocketed the thick stack of cash. His own wallet—which looked like a sad, deflated green toad—was currently very, very light.
I leaned in closer, dropping my voice so Naruto couldn't hear.
"Furthermore," I whispered, locking eyes with the Toad Sage. "I know for a fact that the towns we'll be passing through have so of the most... exclusive red-light districts in the Fire Nation. Places that cost a fortune just to walk through the door. If you let tag along... I'll fund your 'research' for the entire trip. Premium sake. Top-tier courtesans. The VIP treatnt."
Jiraiya froze.
The stoic, serious expression of the Legendary Sannin cracked instantly. His eyes widened, and a slight trickle of drool ford at the corner of his mouth. He imagined the sprawling, luxurious geisha houses. The endless rivers of premium sake. The soft, welcoming laps of high-class hostesses that he could never usually afford.
"You..." Jiraiya swallowed hard, wiping his mouth. "You would... fund the research?"
"Blank check, old man," I grinned wickedly. "Consider it an investnt in the literary arts. Even though your works are lackluster but I admire your determination."
Jiraiya stood up straight. He coughed loudly into his fist, trying to regain his composure, though his face was slightly flushed.
"Well," Jiraiya announced loudly, turning to Naruto. "It seems Kenji has made a compelling argunt regarding the tactical necessity of... logistical funding. Having a secondary combatant could also prove useful."
"Really?!" Naruto cheered. "Aweso! Kenji's coming on the road trip!"
"Just don't slow us down, brat," Jiraiya pointed a stern finger at , though the greedy twinkle in his eye gave him away.
"I'll try to keep up," I smiled innocently.
[System Notification]
[Persuasion Check: Critical Success.]
[Jiraiya's View of You: Sugar Daddy / Patron of the Arts.]
"Let's move out!" Jiraiya turned and began walking down the dirt path leading away from the village.
Naruto jogged after him, chatting excitedly about what kind of training they were going to do.
I followed at a leisurely pace, pulling a fresh apple from my inventory and taking a bite.
Tsunade Senju, I thought, looking at the road ahead. The woman, the myth, the legend. I wonder if she prefers younger n?
"Hey, Kenji!" Naruto called back. "Ero-Sennin says the first town has a huge festival going on! Do you think they have good ran?"
"I'm sure they have all kinds of delicacies, Naruto," I chuckled, tossing the apple core into the woods. "And I plan on tasting every single one."
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