Mandarin ducks playing in the water—infinite joy!!
The next morning, Raizen woke up feeling refreshed and invigorated. After eating the breakfast prepared by Seiko and the others, he took a group of children for a stroll around the lake.
They arrived at an open clearing where Raizen spotted Might Guy standing outside the barrier, peering curiously into the estate.
"Yo! Guy, what brings you here?" Raizen walked over with a smile and opened a gap in the barrier.
"Raizen! You're finally out for a walk!" Guy said, looking slightly frustrated. "Why don't you station someone at the gate? It's so hard to get a hold of you quickly when someone comes looking!"
"That was indeed an oversight on my part. I'll improve that in the future," Raizen chuckled. "But Guy, did you come all this way just to tell me that? What's the matter?"
"I'm here to introduce someone to you. There's a certain person who is dying to meet you!" Guy replied.
"Who?" Raizen looked left and right, then spotted a surprising figure standing right behind Guy.
Jiraiya...!!?? Raizen was internally stunned. He never imagined that the Toad Sage would actually come knocking on his door.
Jiraiya stepped forward, fidgeting slightly, his face practically beaming with a respectful smile.
"Master Next-Door Old Wang! It is an honor to finally meet you!" Jiraiya said, performing a deep, formal bow.
Master Next-Door Old Wang? Hearing that title, Raizen immediately understood what was going on. He feigned ignorance of Jiraiya's identity and asked, "And you are?"
"I am Jiraiya, the author of Icha Icha Paradise!" Jiraiya asked with a hint of nervous anticipation. "I... I was wondering if Master Old Wang has ever had the chance to read my humble work?"
"I've skimmed it. It's written quite childishly. Didn't even give me the urge to... 'polish my spear,'" Raizen evaluated bluntly.
Jiraiya's face fell, but his respect only grew. Compared to Raizen's books, his own work felt like amateur trash. Since the publication of The Overbearing CEO and His Three Secretatries, the sales of Icha Icha Paradise had plummeted to rock bottom with no hope of recovery.
"I admire you immensely! I've been longing to meet you and receive your guidance. I was wondering if the Master would be willing to give me a few pointers?" Jiraiya asked tentatively. After reading Raizen's work, he had stayed up for several nights in a row, completely addicted to the "masterpiece."
"Mhm... sorry, no time!!" Raizen thought about it for a second and refused directly. It wasn't that he looked down on Jiraiya, but he truly was busy. The Chunin Exams would be a massive turning point, and he couldn't afford to be distracted. He needed to protect his family while achieving his own goals.
"Then... when will the Master be free?" Jiraiya asked, unwilling to give up. Writing was his passion, and he didn't want to miss a chance to improve.
"After the Chunin Exams. I should have some time then. Right now, I have to give my 'nephew' (Sasuke) some special training. Sorry, Jiraiya!" Raizen smiled.
"Then I shall visit the Master again after the exams are over!!!"
"Sorry for the intrusion, Master. I'll take my leave!" Jiraiya bowed deeply again and turned to walk away.
He didn't get far before he spun around and ran back. "Wait, Master! Could I... could I get an autograph!?" Jiraiya pulled out one of Raizen's published books and a pen, looking at him with puppy-dog eyes.
Raizen nodded, took the pen, and wrote "Next-Door Old Wang" in bold, flourishing strokes across the cover.
"There you go."
"Thank you!" Jiraiya took the book back with trembling hands, bowing once more before finally disappearing. He was ecstatic—he knew Raizen had never signed a book for anyone else before. This first autograph was of immense historical value!
"Well, I'm off too! See you, Raizen!" Guy gave a thumbs-up and followed after him.
Watching their retreating backs, Raizen smirked. Having Jiraiya as a fan would make asking for favors in the future very easy indeed.
Not far away, Konan watched the scene with a complex expression. Her feelings for Jiraiya were frozen in her childhood. So many years had passed; everything had changed.
"Sensei... it's good to see you again," she whispered, her eyes turning slightly misty. She longed for the days when they all practiced ninjutsu together, carefree and happy. But time had changed everything.
The Akatsuki's goal was to collect the Tailed Beasts. As a Konoha ninja, Jiraiya would inevitably clash with them. It would be a fight to the death. Sensei, I hope that day never comes...
"What are you thinking about, Konan?"
Raizen had appeared beside her, wearing a knowing smile.
"I... I wasn't thinking about anything!" Konan startled, shaking her head quickly.
"You know that Jiraiya guy, don't you?" Raizen teased.
"I've met him before," she admitted honestly.
"Then why didn't you go say hello?"
"It's been too long. It's better this way. Even if we met, there would be nothing but sighs and old ghosts. Nothing left to say," Konan lamented.
Raizen smiled. "Don't push yourself so hard. Maybe if you let go of some things, you'll see a different world."
"Some things can't be let go," Konan replied. "If I let go, I'd lose my purpose. I'd be like a lost lamb, unable to find the way home."
"You aren't a lamb, and you won't get lost," Raizen said gently. "If you're willing, this is your home. The door is always open for you."
Konan looked at him, a small smile finally breaking through. "You bad man... what bad intentions are you plotting now?"
Raizen thought to himself: What bad intentions could I have? I'm just thinking about your 'sweet cones' (Sesshōmaru/Inuyasha reference/pun on her figure)!
But out loud, he said: "Me? I'm a very pure and simple person, okay?"
"You? Simple?" Konan laughed. If Raizen was simple, then everyone in the world was a saint.
"Yes! Simple!!" Raizen nodded with a straight face.
Konan rolled her eyes. "Hah! If you were 'simple,' you wouldn't have forcibly kissed me and stolen my first kiss!!"
"What? That was your first kiss?" Raizen was genuinely delighted. He had assumed Yahiko had stolen it years ago. To think Konan's first kiss had been preserved for him... what a steal!
Hehehe!!!