"You wouldn't dare refuse. Remember to come early tomorrow, and don't be late."
Tsunade glanced at Jiraiya as she spoke.
"You're asking me for advice on ninjutsu training. Can't you at least be a bit more polite?" Jiraiya protested.
"Do you have a problem with my attitude?" Tsunade's expression turned icy.
"You're always right—because of your... uh... assets. See you tomorrow."
Jiraiya's gaze flickered to her chest. Raising an eyebrow with a cheeky grin, he bolted before she could react.
"That damn Jiraiya! I'm going to kill him!"
Tsunade erupted in fury, but Jiraiya had already fled, his speed making it impossible for her to catch him.
"Well, at least he's not wrong..."
After he was out of sight, Tsunade glanced down at her chest, a proud smile tugging at her lips.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya was already back at his home. After a brief rest, he headed to his training room, resuming his rigorous workout routine with push-ups and other exercises designed to build his strength.
Though he hadn't mastered any taijutsu techniques yet, he knew the importance of improving his physical condition.
...
At the Hokage's office,
Danzo stood before Hiruzen Sarutobi, a serious expression on his face.
"Hokage-sama, both the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth have begun sending numerous ninja into the Land of Rain to gather intelligence. It won't be long before they launch an attack. We need to act quickly and investigate the Land of Rain ourselves."
"If they seize a significant portion of the Land of Rain's resources, their ability to train ninja will surpass ours. We can't let them get ahead of us."
Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe, his face clouded with thought.
"The Land of Rain may be smaller than ours, but their strength is formidable. Invading their territory won't be easy."
The Land of Rain's leader, Hanzo of the Salamander, was known as a demigod—a title well-earned given his terrifying power. If not for his presence, the Land of Rain, caught between great nations, would have been annexed long ago.
"If the three great nations strike simultaneously, even Hanzo won't be able to resist us. We need to secure the resource-rich areas first. With more resources, we can train more ninja, creating a cycle of strength."
Danzo leaned forward, his tone insistent.
"Hokage-sama, we can't afford to hesitate any longer. We're already a step behind the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth. Delaying further will only harm Konoha's interests."
Hiruzen frowned deeply.
"Let me think it over," he replied.
"What's there to think about?" Danzo's voice rose. "The Land of Wind and the Land of Earth are already taking action. If you don't order an investigation into the Land of Rain now, you'll be failing Konoha."
"Danzo," Hiruzen said coldly, his eyes sharp. "You don't need to teach me how to protect Konoha's interests. Remember, I am the Hokage. Know your place."
Danzo's face twisted in anger.
"You'll regret this, Sarutobi."
With that, he stormed out of the office.
Hiruzen sighed, watching the smoke from his pipe curl upward.
"War is an inescapable part of this world," he murmured to himself.
Though he disliked the idea of war, Hiruzen understood its implications. Winning a war could elevate his prestige, but losing would bring immense suffering to Konoha—and damage his reputation as Hokage. The villagers would blame him, and he might even be forced to relinquish his position.
For now, he needed Danzo's help for the less savory tasks required to maintain Konoha's strength. But the looming war over the Land of Rain was a double-edged sword, one that could strengthen Konoha—or break it.
"Prepare for the inevitable..."
Hiruzen finally called for his personal guard.
"Inform Danzo to send ninjas to investigate the Land of Rain's situation. Keep an eye on the movements of the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth as well."
If war was unavoidable, Konoha needed to be ready.
The next morning, Jiraiya opened his eyes, muttering in his mind:
"System, sign in."
"Ding! Sign-in successful. You've received five years' worth of taijutsu training experience. The reward can be claimed at any time," the system announced.
"What does that mean?"
Jiraiya frowned, confused by the explanation.
"Upon claiming this reward, your physical strength and stamina will instantly improve as if you had trained diligently for five years."
Hearing this, Jiraiya didn't hesitate.
"Claim it."
The moment he spoke, a warm sensation flooded his body. Power surged into his muscles, strengthening every part of him down to the cellular level. The process lasted three minutes before the feeling gradually subsided.
"This... this is incredible."
Jiraiya clenched his fists, marveling at the newfound strength coursing through him.
"Boom!"
He punched the air, producing a loud shockwave.
'My strength might even rival Tsunade's now,' he thought, excitement gleaming in his eyes.
Though his Sage Mode wasn't fully developed yet, he could sense the potential for monstrous strength similar to Tsunade's. After all, her strength was inherited from Hashirama Senju himself.
"It's time to find a good taijutsu technique to train. With my current chakra and physical condition, it would be a waste not to."
Jiraiya's gaze burned with determination as he began planning his next steps.
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