Konoha BBQ Restaurant.
Team Seven had gathered once again.
The four of them sat around the grill table, watching the sizzling fat on the meat as it cooked under the high heat.
However, their eyes couldn't help but drift to the owner standing nearby.
The owner was glaring at Jiraiya with clear disapproval.
"Owner, what's with the look?" Jiraiya asked hesitantly.
"If you're eating here, pay first," the owner said matter-of-factly.
A few years ago, this guy had pulled the trick of washing dishes to pay for his meal instead of handing over cash. The owner wasn't about to let that happen again. These big eaters could bankrupt the place if they didn't pay. Washing dishes wouldn't cut it anymore.
It's been years. How are you still holding a grudge over this?
Jiraiya gave the owner a deadpan look. Did he, the great Jiraiya, really seem like someone who wouldn't pay?
"I'm one of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya! Do you really think I'd skip out on a single meal?"
He was a renowned figure, after all. Being looked down on like this was insulting.
The owner wasn't impressed.
"I don't care if you're one of the Sannin—even the Hokage has to pay for their food."
Did he think the Akimichi clan was just for show?
"Fine, fine, fine." Jiraiya laughed angrily, repeating the word three times. Today, he'd prove this owner wrong. He, Jiraiya, would—
His hand froze as it reached for his waist pouch. His body stiffened.
After patting his empty wallet, Jiraiya fell into silence.
He hadn't earned any income in the last three years.
Konoha didn't have the same generous welfare system as the Land of Rain. No missions meant no money.
Jiraiya snorted at the owner, then turned to his three students with a pleading expression, blinking rapidly.
Save your teacher!
The three of them—Kinoe, Kushina, and Minato—could only sigh at their unreliable sensei.
Of the three Sannin, he was the least dependable. How had they ended up as his students?
Oh, right. Orochimaru and Tsunade didn't take disciples.
Never mind.
"Owner, I'll pay for this meal," Kinoe said.
The BBQ owner's demeanor instantly shifted.
"Director Kinoe, please enjoy your meal. We have many specialties here—I'll bring some out for you, free of charge."
Is this how Konoha's residents act now?
Jiraiya shook his head in disappointment.
The world has changed. People's hearts are no longer pure.
The owner, now all smiles, finally left.
"Kinoe, you're even more impressive than me now," Jiraiya said with a sigh, looking at Uchiha Kinoe.
Now a department head, Kinoe stood just below the Hokage in rank, above all other ninja. Among the Sannin, only Tsunade had reached such a position.
Elite jōnin were, at the end of the day, still ninja who took orders. Department heads gave them.
The difference in power and status was clear.
"It's true. In every way, Kinoe is far more reliable than a certain irresponsible teacher," Kushina said, shooting Jiraiya a cold glare. If she weren't a generation younger, she'd have wanted to be Kinoe's student instead.
Minato nodded in agreement.
"Am I really that bad?" Jiraiya scratched his cheek.
Even Minato was turning against him?
"You are. Disappearing after the war ended was rather negligent as a teacher," Kinoe agreed.
"Hahaha…" Jiraiya laughed awkwardly. "Isn't this supposed to be my welcome party? How did it turn into a roast session?"
He'd come to see his students the moment he returned.
"Anyway, Kinoe, does your department need any help from me?" Jiraiya quickly changed the subject.
Of the three Sannin, he'd taught Minato the most, followed by Kushina. He hadn't done much for Kinoe, so he wanted to make it up now.
"I could use more researchers. Right now, the R&D Department has too few people with actual development skills."
Kinoe did need help with talent.
While the department was filled with his own people, they were better at fighting than research. The latter was… questionable at best.
Jiraiya stroked his chin.
"I can recommend some research-oriented ninja to you."
Konoha did have ninja skilled in research, though the village hadn't prioritized them before, and they'd been focused on missions.
Jiraiya's reputation in the village might not be the best, but his connections were solid.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Jiraiya-sensei."
This would help fill out his team.
"If you have time, you should visit my department," Kinoe invited.
"No problem here."
R&D Department
Kinoe led Jiraiya into the recently renovated R&D building. Minato and Kushina had gone off to "shop," but Kinoe suspected they were sneaking off together.
Given the timeline, the two of them probably had something going on by now.
Originally, the Cloud ninja incident would have played a role, but that hadn't happened.
Yet Kinoe could still tell something was up between them.
Looks like I'll be eating dog food in the future.
What a pain.
"Aside from the remote location, this place looks pretty good," Jiraiya remarked, snapping Kinoe out of his thoughts.
The two were touring the R&D Department, which currently had nothing to hide.
As they wandered, a voice called out.
"Jiraiya?"
Jiraiya stiffened at the sound.
Both of them turned.
"Tsunade!?" Jiraiya's face lit up with surprise and joy as he saw her. Unlike her old ninja attire, Tsunade now wore loose clothing with a green haori bearing the character for "gambling."
"You finally decided to come back," Tsunade said, her forehead vein twitching.
Her gaze shifted to Uchiha Kinoe beside him.
"Yo, Lady Tsunade. Fancy a date with me?" Kinoe flashed what he thought was a charming smile.
Jiraiya whirled around to glare at him.
"Go die, both of you!!"
BOOM!! BOOM!!
Two loud crashes later, Kinoe and Jiraiya were embedded in the wall.
"I didn't even say anything!" Jiraiya protested, looking aggrieved. Why did he have to take a hit too?
"Hmph. You taught him well," Tsunade snorted.
Jiraiya shot Kinoe a resentful look.
You're the one who flirted with her, so why am I getting blamed?
Kinoe whistled innocently and looked away.
Tsunade's Laboratory
"So you're here researching a resurrection technique?"
Tsunade nodded, her expression darkening.
Hearing her reason for joining the R&D Department, Jiraiya's face fell.
People die. Why try to bring them back?
It sounded absurd. Even with the Edo Tensei in mind, true resurrection felt like something out of a fantasy.
"But is a resurrection technique even possible?" Jiraiya asked curiously.
"I've already seen hope," Tsunade said, a spark of determination in her eyes. "Recently, I've made progress."
She pulled out a scroll and tossed it to the two of them.
Kinoe already knew about this technique.
"Transformation of Death Rebirth Technique!"
(End of Chapter)