Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi

The days following the preliminary rounds were warm and comfortable. After Kusuo successfully coaxed Hinata into staying at his home, she spent her days being teased until her face was constantly red. But most of the time, Kusuo knew where to stop and didn't go too far.

Early in the morning, Kusuo released the girl in his arms and said softly, "You stay home and rest for a bit. I'm going out to buy groceries." The two of them now had a clear division of labor. Kusuo was in charge of buying and preparing the ingredients, and Hinata was in charge of cooking. Each had their own role. Hinata's cooking was praiseworthy, and the young couple's life was very comfortable. Their feelings for each other also gradually warmed up in this sweet daily routine.

Carrying his sword, Kusuo walked down the street, preparing to go to the market on West Street to see if there were any fresh ingredients.

"Tsk tsk, this one's not bad, and this one's not bad either, hehe."

As he passed a street corner, a lewd laugh suddenly drifted into his ears. With his sharp hearing, he quickly pinpointed the source of the sound: the bathhouse to his right. The roughness and unrestrained nature of that voice... in his memory, there was no second person who matched it.

He walked over and took a look. It was indeed one of Konoha's Sannin, the renowned Toad Sage, Jiraiya. Also known by Naruto as the Pervy Sage, he was currently engaged in his favorite pastime:趴 (pā -趴) - peeping - on the outer wall of the bathhouse, secretly watching the scenery of the pools inside. In his hand was a small notebook, the original manuscript for the Icha Icha Paradise that Kakashi was so fond of.

Seeing Jiraiya's body bent over, a mischievous smile played on Kusuo's lips. He quietly walked up behind him and deliberately asked in a loud, clear voice, "Excuse me, old sir, are you not feeling well somewhere?"

The greeting made Jiraiya jump in fright. Subsequently, the sound of panicked splashing came from inside the bathhouse. The female customers had all seen Jiraiya's peeping head and shrieked in terror.

Jiraiya quickly pulled his head back, coughed twice, and turned to see Kusuo's figure. He immediately caught the formless aura about him. He had initially been preparing to scold what he thought was an ordinary boy but stopped because of this aura.

Jiraiya was stunned for a moment. He sized Kusuo up carefully from head to toe. A black ponytail, a bright red haori, a fine sword at his waist. The boy's upright posture, paired with his outstanding temperament, made Jiraiya's eyes light up. Looking closely at his face, he saw it was covered with mysterious black marks on the right side of his forehead. His eyes were calm and composed, with an inexplicable nobility.

What a handsome and graceful young man! he lamented in his heart.

"Well? Have you had enough of a look?" Kusuo asked faintly, letting Jiraiya scrutinize him.

"Er..." This brat. Only then did Jiraiya suddenly remember that his fun had been ruined by this kid. He reached out his hand, preparing to teach him a little lesson and embarrass him a bit.

Kusuo watched Jiraiya's arm reach for him and, with a seemingly casual step backward, "Huh?!"

Jiraiya was surprised to find that he hadn't caught the boy. Unlike the original story, where Naruto was easily lifted up by Jiraiya at their first meeting, it was clear that his seemingly casual reach was by no means slow.

"Kid, not bad moves," Jiraiya praised, standing up from his crouch. His tall body could now look down at the little brat in red. He threw a punch downwards.

Swish!

With another nimble movement, Kusuo dodged the fist that was about to hit the top of his head.

Good kid! This time, Jiraiya finally confirmed that this boy with the outstanding appearance and temperament was no ordinary person.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"No comment." With that, Kusuo prepared to leave. This chance encounter with Jiraiya was just a whim, a desire to spoil his peeping. His goal had been achieved, and it was time to go. Hinata was still waiting for him to bring back groceries.

"Wait! Kid, do you have a master? Do you want to become my disciple?" Seeing this peculiar, handsome boy turn to leave, Jiraiya quickly shouted.

"I already have a jonin instructor. I don't need a master," Kusuo replied, waving his hand without turning back, rejecting Jiraiya's invitation.

A jonin instructor... Jiraiya stroked his chin, lost in thought. Just a supervising teacher, that means he doesn't have a true master. I still have a chance. For some reason, the moment he saw Kusuo, his heart had stirred. He had originally planned to stay in the village for a while after returning from his travels this time. If he could take on a disciple, it would be interesting.

Thinking of this, Jiraiya put away his Icha Icha Paradise manuscript and swaggered off in another direction.

...

Konoha, Root Headquarters.

The secret chamber below was somewhat empty, with no ninja on guard.

"Orochimaru, it seems you have violated our agreement. Don't you think you've brought a few too many people?" Danzo said to Orochimaru from the darkness.

A glint of light flashed in the golden, vertical pupils beneath Orochimaru's purple eye markings. A mocking expression appeared on his face. "And haven't you done the same?"

"You've likely already guessed my objective, so what do you plan to do? You should know that my dear teacher's sun is setting. His body grows weaker by the day. Well? Will you choose to cooperate or to interfere? The decision is in your hands."

Hearing Orochimaru's tempting words, Danzo let out a heavy snort, slamming his cane on the ground. "Hmph! How would I know what you want to do? I will firmly maintain the peace of the village. My Root ninja will not neglect their duties and will certainly guard their designated territories with their lives!"

Orochimaru smiled. Danzo's words were layered with meaning. He had already implied that his Root forces would remain stationed where they were, and would not interfere no matter what he did.

Since Danzo had made his promise, Orochimaru naturally had to show something in return. "Hoh hoh~, of course. After all, besides my teacher, you are the only true pillar of the entire village. If my teacher were to die, only you could protect our Konoha, isn't that right?"

Hearing this, the pupil of Danzo's exposed eye contracted. If Sarutobi Hiruzen dies, he can take power. Is Orochimaru planning to kill his own teacher?

But surprisingly, Danzo did not refute it. Instead, he fell into silence. It was unclear if he hadn't understood Orochimaru's words, or if he had already tacitly approved.

After a moment, Orochimaru smiled and left the place. As he was leaving... "By the way, the intel you gave me was wrong. That little brat in red is much stronger than just a jonin."

Leaving that sentence behind, Orochimaru vanished completely.

In the deep darkness, Danzo's expression suddenly changed. Hatake Kusuo! The little brat in red Orochimaru had just mentioned was none other than Hatake Kusuo, the person he had been closely monitoring.

Much stronger than just a jonin? His eyes flickered, and he suddenly spoke, "Someone, come!"

...

After buying groceries and returning home, Kusuo took a simple bath. Wiping his still-damp hair, he went to the kitchen and smiled as he watched Hinata cook. Then, he walked up behind her and gently put his arms around her.

"I ran into the Pervy Sage when I was out just now."

Hinata's pretty face blushed slightly. "Who is the Pervy Sage?" she asked curiously.

"He... is a very charming, very perverted, and at the same time, a very tragic man. A true man." As if reminiscing, Kusuo's tone was filled with emotion. When a wandering dragon seeks to return to the sea, but the sea does not welcome him, I, Jiraiya, come nonetheless. He was one of the most tragic, and also one of the most beloved characters in the original story.

Sensing the faint emotion from her beloved behind her, although Hinata didn't know why he seemed so wistful, she chose to remain quiet, using her own gentleness to slowly soothe his mood.

"Kusuo..."

"This place is too small. Let's go to the bedroom." Kusuo said, pulling Hinata towards the next room.

"I haven't finished cooking yet! Mmph..."

The morning sun was brilliant. The scenery inside the house was warm and sweet.

...

"Jiraiya, you've finally deigned to return to the village?" The Third Hokage puffed on his pipe, not giving his just-returned disciple a pleasant look.

Jiraiya scratched his head sheepishly. "Haha! It's my own village, after all. How could I not come back to see it?"

"So you still remember this is the village where you grew up!" The Third rolled his eyes at Jiraiya. Seeing that his disciple's face also bore the scars of time, he felt a bit sentimental. "Tsunade... ah, let's not talk about that. Jiraiya, do you know that a lot has happened in the village recently?"

Jiraiya nodded. "I know. The Chunin Exams. Some jonin or spies from other villages are probing for information. That's all commonplace."

Unexpectedly, the Third shook his head. "It's more than that. Orochimaru is here."

This short sentence made the usually calm and unrestrained Jiraiya instantly tense up. "He's here? Where is he now? How do you know, Sensei? Did that guy come to see you?" After a rapid-fire series of three questions, the Third took two puffs from his pipe and sighed.

"Anko told me. She found traces of a battle between Orochimaru and a mysterious powerhouse in the Forest of Death during the second exam."

"I have a feeling his sudden infiltration this time is not for a simple reason."

The Chunin Exams? Has Orochimaru already mixed in with the ninja from other villages...? And what's this about a mysterious powerhouse?

Jiraiya, who had just returned to the village, hadn't even had two days of leisure time, and he could already feel the situation becoming tricky.

-------

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