Naruto: IY Ch. 43

"Join Yoake, Yahiko-sama is the one who can truly bring peace."

"That's right."

The two of them had clearly become Yahiko's loyal fans.

First, they got beaten up by B and saw the strength of Yoake. Then, they were talked into submission by Yahiko's speeches and saw the ideals of Yoake.

After that, they even watched a movie.

When the movie ended, Yahiko himself invited them over and treated them to legendary dishes, roast duck, roast beef...

The two of them were completely won over. Was there really such a great leader in the world?

Anyone who opposed Yahiko was now their enemy.

If Sunryu didn't agree, they'd keep hacking away at him until he did.

At first, he didn't take it seriously, but when he saw the two looking at him with eyes more loyal than a dog's, he couldn't help thinking, did Yahiko drug them or something?

---

"Delicious, delicious."

That night, at Yahiko's home, Jiraiya came over to freeload a meal.

The house wasn't big, but it was tidy.

Konan was still busy in the kitchen. Yahiko had taken off his shirt, showing his lean upper body, and was drinking beer at the table.

Every dish on the table was made by Konan. He had taught her a few times, and after some study, she had mastered it.

Damn, Jiraiya was honestly envious, sitting there with jealousy twisting his face. He picked up a meatball the size of a bun with his chopsticks and popped it into his mouth.

But halfway through chewing, it suddenly didn't taste so good anymore.

"Ah..." Yahiko let out a satisfied groan from across the table.

"All you know is how to drink. Don't you feel sorry for Konan, don't you know to go to the kitchen and help her?" Jiraiya scolded him.

"Come on, drink up." Yahiko waved his hand and raised his glass.

Jiraiya had six students in total, three in Konoha, three here.

The most promising, the one most like him, was without a doubt Yahiko.

But... Yahiko had Konan.

The two of them had the same teacher, him, the most handsome and gentle toad sage from Mount Myōboku.

He himself had met Tsunade, but their teacher back then was that old man... sigh...

He clinked glasses with Yahiko, wearing a bitter expression.

"Something on your mind, Sensei?" Yahiko asked with a smile.

Finishing up a matter, clocking out from work, there was nothing more satisfying than moments like this.

He leaned back in his chair, relaxed and cheerful.

"You wouldn't understand." Jiraiya took a sorrowful sip of wine.

Actually, Yahiko did understand, at least a little.

The awkwardness was... well, let's just say it.

Jiraiya was definitely thinking about Tsunade, probably wishing she could be as gentle as Konan.

But the problem was...

Gentleness and tolerance are only for the ones you actually like. A little temper in a woman is fine, once in a while, it's even flirting. But if she's giving you that little temper all the time... well, cough cough...

Yahiko didn't know how to comfort Jiraiya, what if one wrong sentence shattered the man's heart?

Still, matters of the heart were unpredictable.

After all, Dan was... well... dead.

"The movie will succeed."

"Jiraiya-sensei, companionship is the most sincere confession. Don't panic, the advantage is yours."

"Come on, another round."

One drink after another.

---

The movie premiere was about to start.

These days, Jiraiya had been under a lot of pressure, he hadn't had a single good night's sleep.

Yahiko decided to invite representatives from the Five Great Ninja Villages, and also put out a newspaper announcement to turn Rounders into a nationwide craze and boost the box office.

In the Raikage's office, the Third Raikage and A's foreheads bulged with veins as the father and son paced back and forth in the office, both clearly agitated.

How many times has it rained heavily, and B still doesn't think to come home? Where has he gone?

"We must step up our efforts to bring B back!" A's voice had gone sharp with anger, his eyes wide and round.

"When we find him, I'll break his legs!" Big teardrops rolled down the iron-willed A's cheeks.

The Third Raikage nodded, I can break them too.

"Report!"

"Enter."

The Third Raikage glanced toward the ninja outside the door.

A rushed forward, grabbing the man by the collar in excitement. "Did you find B?"

The ninja wiped his mouth before answering: "No... not yet. We still haven't found B-sama's whereabouts. But... an emissary from Yoake requests an audience."

"Tell him to get lost!" A released the ninja, his voice booming like thunder.

The Third Raikage's mouth twitched, I'm the Raikage here.

"Send him in," the Third Raikage said.

Before long, the visitor arrived.

"Raikage-sama, Yoake will soon hold a movie premiere."

The Yoake emissary spoke calmly and respectfully.

---

In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen looked at the Uzumaki chunin before him and grumbled.

"Jiraiya starring in a movie? What could he possibly act in?"

Not doing missions, not going to find the Child of the Prophecy as promised, instead, he was off filming movies to earn money for Yoake?

As for why the Uzumaki clan members were in Yoake, he was well aware. This was also one reason he hadn't used his authority as Hokage to suppress Yoake, in fact, he'd even given them some protection. You could call it guilt.

"Ask around and see who in the village has free time and wants to go. I'll personally sign their leave slip," Hiruzen ordered openly, right in front of the chunin.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama," the Uzumaki ninja nodded slightly.

From the shadows, ANBU immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to spread the word.

The corners of Hiruzen's mouth curled upward unconsciously. It was spring now, the village was in its busiest season, and mission pay rates were up 15% compared to usual.

Who would give up the chance to earn money just to go to some premiere?

Fifteen minutes later... He fell silent.

Before him, the office was packed with young ninjas, each one elbowing to be the first to sign up.

His heart ached.

"Minato! Nonsense! What are you doing here? You're my most promising protégé, you should be focusing on improving yourself."

Minato was his chosen successor after Orochimaru for the position of Fifth Hokage. How could he waste his time on frivolities?

"And you! You're still an Academy student, what are you even doing here?"

"Get out!"

Asuma, who had slipped into the crowd, was unceremoniously tossed out by the two ninjas beside him.

"The movie... I'm co-starring in it with Jiraiya-sensei."

After Asuma was thrown out, Minato awkwardly scratched his blond head.

At those words, the whole room was stunned.

Hiruzen sighed. No surprise there, Jiraiya had put in a mission request not long ago... sigh...

"There's really such a thing?" Inoichi, his golden hair standing out, stared in shock at Minato. His current girlfriend was a big Yahiko fan, often gossiping with her best friend about what Yahiko was like in private.

At least Yahiko wasn't from his own village.

But now, with Minato starring in the movie, his girlfriend might start admiring him too.

All the men present who had girlfriends looked a little pained.

Shikaku muttered, "What a drag. It's too far, I don't really want to go."

He left, complaining about the hassle.

Hiruzen looked at the noisy crowd, then at Shikaku's retreating back. At least there were still some sensible people in the village.

The others kept arguing, all of them wanted to go to the premiere.

Before long, Shikaku came back. His face was ashen, as if afraid to recall what had just happened.

"Hokage-sama... can we bring relatives along?"

Just as Hiruzen frowned and was about to scold him, someone suddenly piped up: "I think Pain lives in Yoake."