The moment Minato spoke, Aosui and the others reacted instantly.
Weapons were drawn. Chakra stirred. Every member of the team shifted into a guarded stance, eyes locked firmly on the shadowy figure approaching through the rain.
In a place like the Land of Rain, caution was not optional—it was survival.
Then, a familiar and relaxed voice rang out from the darkness.
"Long time no see, Minato. I didn't expect to run into you all here."
The instant Minato heard that voice, his body stiffened.
His eyes widened.
Then, surprise and joy burst through his guarded expression.
"Jiraiya-sensei?!"
The figure stepped into view, tall and broad-shouldered, with long white hair cascading freely down his back. His clothes were travel-worn, and his expression carried the same carefree confidence Minato remembered all too well.
There was no mistaking him.
It was Jiraiya—one of the legendary Three Sannin of Konoha.
The Land of Rain was not peaceful. The violent fluctuations of chakra caused by Aosui and the others' earlier battle had naturally drawn the attention of nearby Rain ninja.
They had not revealed themselves, choosing instead to hide in the shadows and gather information.
Jiraiya, who had been following behind those Rain ninja out of idle curiosity, decided to step forward the moment he recognized Minato.
"It's Jiraiya-sama!"
Mikoto immediately relaxed her posture and bowed slightly, her expression respectful.
Mukai Yuuki and Sasaki Ayami, on the other hand, were completely stunned.
For a moment, neither of them could even speak.
They were just ordinary genin.
To suddenly encounter a legendary figure whose name echoed throughout the ninja world—it felt unreal.
Back when Jiraiya was merely known as a direct disciple of the Third Hokage, he was respected.
But now?
Now he was something else entirely.
A living legend.
A man who had earned a title of his own on the battlefield.
In the entire ninja world, only a handful of individuals were honored with such recognition—and all of them were monsters among monsters.
Ironically, to Jiraiya himself, the title "Konoha's Three Sannin" was not an honor.
It was a reminder of defeat.
During the Second Great Ninja War, he, Tsunade, and Orochimaru had fought together—and still lost to Hanzō the Salamander, who had mockingly bestowed that title upon them.
Because of that, Jiraiya never introduced himself using the Sannin title.
If anything, he preferred to be called the Toad Sage.
Among the group, only Aosui appeared calm.
With memories from his previous life and personal experience interacting with Tsunade, it was difficult for him to feel the same awe as the others.
He respected Jiraiya's strength.
But reverence?
Not quite.
"Minato," Jiraiya said casually, glancing around. "You're on a mission in the Land of Rain?"
Considering Jiraiya's identity—and the fact that this was only a C-rank escort mission with no sensitive information—Minato didn't bother hiding anything.
After listening, Jiraiya nodded thoughtfully.
"I see… You're all injured, aren't you?" His gaze swept over the group. "Why don't you stay at my place for a few days before heading back to Konoha?"
Although Aosui had treated everyone in time, medical ninjutsu was not omnipotent.
True recovery required rest.
And truthfully, it had been over a year since Jiraiya last saw Minato.
He had no immediate plans to return to Konoha himself.
This was the perfect opportunity to guide Minato again—to fulfill his role as a teacher.
Minato was clearly tempted.
But he didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he turned to Mikoto.
As the jōnin leading the squad, the final decision rested with her.
Understanding Jiraiya's intentions—and unwilling to refuse such goodwill—Mikoto nodded.
"Thank you very much, Jiraiya-sama," she said politely. "However, we must first complete our escort mission."
Under normal circumstances, they would never remain in the Land of Rain for long.
Mission completion meant immediate return to Konoha.
But now?
With Jiraiya here, staying a few extra days became acceptable.
"Of course," Jiraiya laughed. "I'll come with you. If anything happens along the way, I'll protect you."
"That's amazing!" Mukai Yuuki exclaimed, unable to contain himself. "Jiraiya-sama is protecting us!"
For boys like him, being able to travel alongside a legendary ninja was something he could brag about for the rest of his life.
After cleaning up the battlefield, the caravan resumed its journey.
Hidden in the shadows, the Rain ninja who had been observing everything finally recognized Jiraiya.
Their expressions changed instantly.
Without hesitation, they retreated toward Amegakure, rushing to report the situation.
---
Just as the Land of Fire had Konohagakure, the Land of Rain possessed its own hidden village—Amegakure, founded and ruled by Hanzō the Salamander.
Because Hanzō carried the title of "Demigod", the ninja world generally believed Amegakure to be the strongest village below the Five Great Ninja Villages.
But only insiders knew the truth.
Hanzō himself was indeed terrifyingly strong.
Even the combined forces of the Three Sannin had been defeated by him.
But Amegakure lacked depth.
Aside from Hanzō, there were no truly outstanding figures.
The village's prestige rested solely on one man.
"Hanzō-sama," a Rain ninja reported, kneeling respectfully. "Several Konoha ninja entered the Land of Rain earlier and engaged in battle with rogue ninja. They have now made contact with Jiraiya."
Hanzō's expression did not change.
He already knew Jiraiya was in the Land of Rain.
Jiraiya wasn't hiding.
And since he had behaved himself, Hanzō had chosen to ignore him to avoid unnecessary conflict with Konoha.
Suddenly, a man stepped forward.
"Hanzō-sama," Sōnosuke said firmly. "This is clearly a conspiracy by Konoha."
Sōnosuke was a jōnin of Amegakure, powerful and fiercely loyal.
He firmly believed that under Hanzō's leadership, Amegakure could one day become the Sixth Great Ninja Village.
It was only because of suppression from the major villages that they hadn't risen.
"Jiraiya staying here for so long was preparation," Sōnosuke continued. "Now they're making their move."
Immediately, another man stepped forward.
"Hanzō-sama, I disagree," Yoru said calmly. "Jiraiya has shown no abnormal behavior in the past year."
"Hmph," Sōnosuke snorted. "By the time abnormalities appear, it'll already be too late."
"This is our territory," he added coldly. "We can't allow a Konoha ninja to remain here indefinitely."
"And if we provoke Konoha?" Yoru shot back. "What then?"
Their argument escalated—until a cold snort echoed through the chamber.
Instantly, silence fell.
Hanzō the Salamander looked down at them, his presence alone suffocating.
"Enough."
Both men retreated immediately, fear etched across their faces.
"Continue monitoring Jiraiya and the others," Hanzō ordered. "Report anything unusual."
---
After successfully completing their escort mission, Aosui and the others followed Jiraiya to his residence in the Land of Rain.
"I'm home!" Jiraiya called cheerfully.
"Welcome back!"
Three figures rushed out of the house.
They were young—but their eyes carried weight far beyond their age.
And among them, a blue-haired girl froze the moment she saw Aosui.
Then her face lit up with pure joy.
"Aosui—big brother!"
She ran straight toward him without hesitation.
She was Konan.
The only girl among the three war orphans Jiraiya had taken in.
Rain continued to fall softly around them.
And somewhere deep in Aosui's heart, he knew—
This reunion was only temporary.
And this farewell…
Would echo far into the future.