"Six Paths City."
Jiraiya displayed an interested expression while looking at the large boulder standing beside the avenue ahead.
Because Nagato was now a Ninja of the Ninja Sect, Jiraiya took a detailed look into the Ninja Sect, and then developed a great interest in both the Ninja Sect and Sosuke.
In this era plagued by war, there was actually a top-level ninja willing to set aside prejudices to lecture all ninjas, even establishing a ninja organization dedicated to maintaining peace. How could this not pique Jiraiya's curiosity?
"It's quite a promising new town." Upon entering Six Paths City, Jiraiya instinctively began wandering around within it.
After the youth martial arts tournament ended, Six Paths City was no longer as bustling as before, but neither did it become deserted; rather, it returned to being ordinary.
Due to the strength displayed by the Ninja Sect and aided by public opinion shifts, many people purchased property in Six Paths City.
Additionally, Six Paths City took in numerous refugees displaced by the war.
So, in essence, Six Paths City was continuously expanding.
"There isn't much time to waste now." After exploring a third of the city, Jiraiya focused and began inquiring about Nagato.
Even though his time wasn't so restricted that he couldn't finish touring a small town, Jiraiya still wanted to devote time to interacting with Nagato and the other two, and to learning about the Ninja Sect.
Jiraiya's method for gathering information was simple: directly asking a Rain Ninja.
After all, he had come openly and didn't need to hide anything.
But the Rain Ninja did not directly respond to Jiraiya's question. How could he answer just anyone asking about the Ninja Sect?
Suddenly, the Ninja of the Ninja Sect found Jiraiya oddly familiar.
"The Sannin of Konoha?" The Ninja of the Ninja Sect remembered something.
"Hmph, hmph, that's right! I am indeed one of the legendary Sannin, the dashing man whose mere presence can silence crying children—Lord Jiraiya!" Jiraiya introduced himself unapologetically.
"So it's Lord Jiraiya, please wait a moment. I'm not sure myself; I need to ask first," the Ninja of the Ninja Sect said respectfully.
In the Ninja World where strength commands respect, the Sannin, as high-profile renowned figures, warranted respect from all factions.
Jiraiya nodded to indicate it wasn't a problem.
He was quite aware of the situation.
Being a well-known strong figure from Konoha, it was understandable for the opposing party to report him when he suddenly appeared in the territory of the Ninja Sect.
After a while, the Ninja of the Ninja Sect returned and led Jiraiya to the internal training ground of the Ninja Sect's base.
"Hey, is that Jiraiya-sensei? Am I dreaming?" Yahiko, who was in the midst of cultivation, noticed Jiraiya's arrival and was somewhat incredulous.
He hadn't seen Jiraiya for a long time, or rather, apart from the three years when Jiraiya looked after them, Yahiko hadn't seen Jiraiya at all.
The time spent with Jiraiya was not only cherished by Nagato; Yahiko felt the same way.
After all, back then, they were all lonely war orphans. Compared to living a life of wandering and surviving through theft and scavenging, the three years spent with Jiraiya were indeed too blissful.
"Hahaha, being too excellent is indeed a troublesome thing, isn't it? Do you miss me that much?"
Jiraiya laughed heartily as he strode forward and patted Yahiko's shoulder, taking a closer look at the three who were diligently cultivating.
Although Jiraiya didn't possess the Identification Jutsu, it had been too long since he left the three, and Yahiko and the others' mere height and appearance had changed significantly from his memory.
"Turns out it's not a dream." Feeling the force on his shoulder, sensing Jiraiya's thick and broad hand, Yahiko's expression turned excited.
"Jiraiya-sensei, I really have missed you," Yahiko said straightforwardly.
"Actually, I have too." Jiraiya laughed heartily.
"Jiraiya-sensei, here." Konan quickly used Secret Technique to craft a paper flower and handed it to Jiraiya.
Jiraiya watched as Konan handed the paper flower to him with a smile, and couldn't help but recall the scene of their first meeting in his mind.
Back then, Jiraiya and Orochimaru had just finished confronting Hanzo; they were resting when they happened to encounter Yahiko and the other two.
Jiraiya remember's clearly, back then Konan and Nagato were quite fearful of them and didn't dare look openly, only Yahiko, the bolder one, directly approached them asking for food.
As a return gift for the food, Konan folded the paper wrapping the cookies into a flower and handed it back to them as a gift.
"Konan, you're not only prettier now, but your paper folding skills have greatly improved too." Jiraiya generously praised.
It was Konan's actions that initially stirred Jiraiya's compassion, leading him to stay in the Land of Rain to take care of Yahiko and the others as war orphans instead of returning to Konoha with his teammates.
At the time, Jiraiya didn't know Nagato possessed the Rinnegan; he just considered Nagato a normal war orphan.
"Jiraiya-sensei is just as handsome as before." Konan smiled back with praise.
Though they hadn't seen each other in a long time, Jiraiya seemed hardly changed and was almost identical to the Jiraiya in Konan's memory, just appearing more mature.
"Haha, of course." Jiraiya put his hands on his hips, displaying a proud smile, accepting Konan's compliments.
"Jiraiya-sensei."
Nagato didn't show Yahiko's fiery enthusiasm, nor did he present a present like Konan. He merely, as always, quietly walked to Jiraiya's side and called out 'sensei'.
Jiraiya looked at Nagato, at those eyes of Nagato's that were identical to the legendary Six Paths Sage's.