Just then, the Third Hokage finally arrived.
Worried about Asuma and the others' safety, he had slowed his pace slightly to ensure they wouldn't be grabbed as hostages by any unseen "spies."
Now, looking at the shattered ground and the scorched forest, the Third Hokage felt a jolt of alarm.
Ninja are usually experts in assassination, excelling at quick, precise strikes. If they have an information advantage, a Genin can even assassinate a Jōnin. But a battle that nearly changes the terrain, like the one before him, is rare among shinobi.
The Third Hokage quickly noticed a trench on the ground, seemingly carved by a shockwave. Following this gouge, he found Setsuna and Obito's supposed "spy" at the very end of it.
"Wait, isn't that..." The Third Hokage's eyes widened gradually. Although the person's injuries were horrific—their face swollen like a pig's head from being dragged across the dirt—the Third Hokage recognized them instantly: his own student, Jiraiya of the Sannin.
"Haha! Setsuna-bro caught the spy!" Obito cheered excitedly.
"This is the aftermath of Setsuna-senpai's fight with the enemy?" Asuma sucked in a sharp breath. Seeing the "spy's" terrible condition, he felt a chill of dread. Good thing I only sparred with him. If I had actually fought him, my small frame would have been flattened into a meat patty with one punch.
Guy's eyes were burning, sparkling with passion. "Body Flicker Jutsu... Can a taijutsu ninja really become that strong?"
The Third Hokage forced his voice to sound calm. "Tell me, why did you think he was a spy?"
Kakashi spoke up. "I found him peeking into the women's bathhouse and tried to catch him, but he easily beat me. That level of power is beyond even most standard Jōnin. Plus, he didn't explain himself when he was discovered—he just tried to run away. That kind of person looks exactly like an enemy village spy, doesn't he?"
Hearing that Jiraiya had been beaten to this state because of peeping, the Third Hokage's beard twitched slightly. "Ha... haha, children, you did very well."
He thought to himself, I can't use... ahem, I must be extra careful when using the Telescoping Technique from now on, or I'll ruin my reputation in my old age.
Just then, Setsuna came jogging back, holding Jiraiya, and pretended to be confused. "Lord Hokage, this person's forehead protector is engraved with the character for 'Oil' (Abura). Do you know which village symbol this is?"
The Third Hokage laughed awkwardly. "Haha, he's actually not an enemy spy. He is my student, one of the legendary 'Sannin,' Jiraiya."
Obito was disbelieving, his fantasy shattered. He muttered to himself, "So this is what a Sannin is like?"
Setsuna mentally scoffed. Instead of calling them the "Sannin," they should be called the "Three Vices" (San-Gai), as they perfectly embodied the vices of women, gambling, and alcohol.
Of course, in this chaotic shinobi world, Jiraiya, who was only "perverted," could almost be considered a moral model. At least he wouldn't repay kindness with malice, nor did he harbor any extreme thoughts of mass murder or clan annihilation. He was practically a breath of fresh air in the ninja world.
Kakashi was also surprised. He had seen another member of the Sannin, Orochimaru, a man whose presence was naturally terrifying. He found it difficult to connect that title with this pervert caught peeking into a bathhouse.
Asuma, meanwhile, looked at his old man with suspicion. He remembered seeing his father reading a book with a suggestive smile. When he asked who the author was, his father had said it was a gift from his student, Jiraiya, claiming the book contained very profound philosophical meaning.
But now, could a man who peeps into women's bathhouses really write anything good?
Seeing the kids' expressions grow increasingly strange, the Third Hokage cleared his throat. "Jiraiya was someone I sent out to gather intelligence. As for the matter of peeping into the women's bathhouse, it must be a misunderstanding. Perhaps there was an important person in the bathhouse he needed to keep an eye on."
Obito looked guilty. "Oh? So we beat up the wrong person?"
Kakashi frowned, recalling the memory. The lecherous grin he saw on the Sannin's face at the time was definitely not the look of someone conducting surveillance.
The Third Hokage quickly reassured them. "You can't be blamed. It was Jiraiya's own carelessness; he exposed his location. Long years of peace have made him lose his ninja caution, which is very dangerous. I should actually thank you for giving him a much-needed wake-up call."
Obito looked at Jiraiya's swollen face, and admiration swelled in his heart. "Amazing! Only a Sannin would refuse to reveal his identity even after being beaten like that! Talk about dedication!"
"I'm just glad you arrived in time, Lord Hokage, or I might have accidentally killed Lord Jiraiya," Setsuna sighed, then gently tapped a few points on Jiraiya's body.
The Third Hokage looked surprised, thinking, He knows chakra points as well?
Jiraiya managed to stand up, wincing in pain, and laughed awkwardly. "Haha, actually, I was testing you! You all did very well. I can't believe the village has produced so many excellent ninja while I've been away."
Setsuna knew, of course, that this wasn't Jiraiya's true power.
In Sage Mode, Jiraiya's attack, defense, sensing, and recovery are all far superior to his normal state, and he also has the assistance of the two other sages. That is Jiraiya's complete form.
But Setsuna wasn't modest either. Unless Jiraiya prepared in advance, he couldn't activate Sage Mode against him. Setsuna's current strength was definitely at the very peak of the ninja world.
Jiraiya looked at Setsuna. "Especially you. You must be the village's newest Jōnin, right?"
From Setsuna's appearance, he looked about fourteen or fifteen. For a genius ninja, becoming a Jōnin at that age wasn't unheard of.
Setsuna shook his head slightly. "I only graduated from the Ninja Academy today. I don't even know when I'll be able to take the Chūnin Exams."
Jiraiya felt like cursing. This is a goddamn Genin?!
Seeing that no one else looked surprised, Jiraiya knew Setsuna wasn't lying. He couldn't help but pity the candidates in the next Chūnin Exams—being in the same class as this monster was going to be an insane level of difficulty.
The Third Hokage said, "Children, thank you for your hard work today. You can all head back now. I have some matters to discuss with Jiraiya."
After Setsuna and the others had walked far enough away, Jiraiya finally let out a raw scream of agony that startled even the Third Hokage, who grumbled irritably, "Shouldn't you be used to being hit by Tsunade by now?"
Jiraiya winced, clutching himself. "That kid hits hard! His fists are heavier than Tsunade's!"
The Third Hokage snorted. "You only have yourself to blame. You're old enough to be a great-grandfather and still peeking into women's bathhouses. You deserved to get beaten."
Jiraiya's mouth twitched. Teacher, does your conscience not bother you when you say that?
But knowing his teacher had just bailed him out, he couldn't argue. He just sighed dejectedly. "I was going to write a new book to give to Minato, too."
The Third Hokage thought of the "Red Hot-Blooded Habanero," Kushina Uzumaki, and coughed a few times. "If you don't want to get beaten again, maybe give him something a little more normal."
Jiraiya's eyes widened. "What's not normal about my Tale of the Gutsy Ninja?"
The Third Hokage sneered. "Is it so normal that you need to visit a women's bathhouse for 'research'?"
Jiraiya defended himself. "This wasn't research! It was stimulating inspiration! Just like you need to smoke when you handle political affairs to relieve fatigue, I occasionally need some visual stimulation to spark my ideas."
The Third Hokage shook his head slightly and asked, "By the way, how exactly did you lose? Were you careless?"
Jiraiya's expression turned serious. "I wasn't careless. Aside from not using Sage Mode, I was using all my strength. His speed is too fast; I couldn't weave the hand signs for complex jutsu in time. And his physical strength is terrifying. Even the fleshy wall of the Giant Rock Toad I summoned couldn't block one of his punches. He's a monster."
The Third Hokage's eyes were bright. With a little cultivation, Konoha would have another top-tier powerhouse—a war machine like the Raikage.
Jiraiya then asked, "By the way, Teacher, what is that kid's name?"
The Third Hokage replied, "His name is Chiaki Setsuna."
Jiraiya looked suspicious. "Teacher, are you sure it's Chiaki Setsuna, and not Senju Setsuna?"
The Third Hokage shook his head and smiled. "I understand what you mean, but he is indeed not from that clan. Like Orochimaru, he is a dedicated genius born from ordinary bloodlines."
"Ugh, I'm always just a stepping stone for the geniuses, aren't I?" Jiraiya sighed miserably. "I think I'll wander outside the village again for a while. If Orochimaru and Tsunade see the wounds on my face, I don't know how much they'll mock me."