"Bearing children?"
"Bearing what children!?"
Raizen, who had just returned, overhead little Mirai and Konan discussing the topic and asked with an expression of pure, mischievous curiosity.
"N-n-nothing! Nothing about bearing children!!" Konan stammered, shaking her head frantically. Her face was flushed a deep, radiant crimson.
"Papa, you're back!" Mirai leaped from Konan's arms into Raizen's. He caught her deftly.
"Papa, I was actually just discussing with Auntie Konan. I want her to be my mama so she can give me a little brother or sister to pamper!"
"I... I have things to do! I'll be going now!!!" Hearing Mirai spill the beans so bluntly to Raizen, Konan's face burned even hotter. Overcome with embarrassment, she beat a hasty retreat.
Watching her fleeing back, Raizen wore a smug, knowing grin. "Mirai, would you really like Auntie Konan to be your mama?"
"Mhm! Yes!" Mirai nodded vigorously.
"Alright then! Papa will work extra hard to make sure you can call her 'Mama Konan' in the future!" Raizen said, lightly pinching her nose.
After playing with Mirai and the other kids for a while, Raizen headed out. If the original timeline hadn't deviated too much, Jiraiya should be back in Konoha by now. Raizen planned to stroll through various bathhouses and open-air springs; who knows, he might bump into the "Toad Sage" and discuss their respective "literary" insights.
At that moment, on a secluded tree overlooking an open-air hot spring in Konoha, a lecherous-looking man was holding a pair of binoculars. He was peering intently at several young girls playing in the water.
"Hahaha! Young and beautiful girls... so full of life!"
"Konoha's girls are the cutest after all!!!"
Suddenly, in the middle of his excitement, the man let out a loud sneeze.
"Who? Who is thinking about the great Toad Sage?"
Jiraiya wiped the drool from his lip and smirked. "It must be some Konoha beauty thinking of me! Hehe, beautiful lady, your Toad Sage is coming!"
He stowed his binoculars, leaped down from the tree, and looked over the village from a high vantage point. "Ladies of the Leaf, Jiraiya has officially made his entrance!"
He struck an incredibly eccentric pose before sauntering toward a certain red-light district with a familiar, lecherous grin.
"Ah, the familiar streets!" He strolled down the main thoroughfare, his eyes darting toward every shapely woman passing by. Before long, he reached the hidden street where Raizen had previously taken Might Guy.
Gazing at the "sisters" standing in front of the small shops, Jiraiya's excitement peaked. His smile grew even wider. Just then, two wobbling figures approached from the side.
"Asuma! That girl from last night was incredible! I'm definitely picking her again today!!" Might Guy shouted, his arm slung over Asuma's shoulder as they swayed down the street.
"Hehehe, the one with the long legs was the real prize. I'm going for the long legs tonight. I'll definitely 'defeat' her this time!" Asuma yelled back, his arm draped over Guy's.
The two "comrades-in-arms" staggered together into a small shop.
"Wait... weren't those two Guy and Asuma?" Jiraiya's eyes nearly popped out of his head. He knew Guy's personality—the man lived for training and nothing else. Since when did he start frequenting these places? And it clearly wasn't his first time.
And Asuma? He was the Old Man's son! Hiruzen was always strict. Jiraiya had tried to take Asuma to these places years ago, but the boy had strictly refused. Now, he and Guy were "bro-trip" regulars?
Jiraiya stood frozen for a moment before a grin split his face.
"Hehehe... now that's what I call being a man! Living life to the fullest!"
"If those two come here often, this place must have some top-tier talent."
"Hehehe, beautiful ladies, your Great Toad Sage is here!"
With that, Jiraiya followed closely behind, slipping into the same shop.
Half a day later, the three men emerged from the shop almost simultaneously.
"You are!?" Guy's eyes widened. "Jiraiya-sama!!"
"Jiraiya!?" Asuma stared in disbelief.
"Yo! Good to see you two! What a coincidence bumping into you here!" Jiraiya waved casually, letting out a boisterous laugh.
"Jiraiya-sama, when did you get back to the village?" Guy asked, scratching his head awkwardly. He felt like a teenager caught sneaking snacks by an elder.
Asuma was equally mortified. Of all the places to meet a legendary Sannin, it had to be here. This was beyond embarrassing.
"Haha! Just got back. I was doing some 'research' and ran into you. Small world!" Jiraiya slung his arms over their shoulders, laughing. "I had no idea you two were fellow men of culture!!!"
Asuma's face was beet-red. In the past, he would have denied it, but now? He was a "regular customer." There was no point in lying. Might Guy could only manage a pained, awkward laugh.
"Jiraiya-sama, to celebrate your return, it's my treat! Let's go have a huge meal!" Guy said, desperately trying to change the subject.
"A meal?" Jiraiya thought about it. "Sure. I just burned a lot of calories; I need to replenish my energy!!!"
A short while later, the three were seated in a restaurant. Jiraiya leaned in and asked, "Since you've been in the village all year, do you know a guy who goes by the pen name 'Next-Door Old Wang' (Gèbì Lǎo Wáng)?"
"Next-Door Old Wang?" Asuma frowned and shook his head. "Never heard of him. I've never even heard of 'Next-Door' as a surname."
"Next-Door Old Wang..." Guy furrowed his brow, thinking hard. The name felt strangely familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.
"Guy, have you heard of him?" Jiraiya noticed his expression and asked eagerly.
"It sounds familiar. I feel like I've seen it somewhere, but I can't remember!"
"Think hard, Guy! If you remember, tell me immediately. This person is very important to me!!!" Jiraiya urged.
"Mhm! Don't worry, Jiraiya-sama. If I remember, you'll be the first to know."
Guy was telling the truth—he had seen that name before. He just couldn't recall that it was the pen name written on the back of the "special" books Raizen often gave him.