Chapter 115 – Jiraiya's First Visit to Pansi Cave
The shopkeeper looked at Jiraiya in surprise and said with a bitter smile,
"Sir, you're not from the village, are you?"
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow, a little puzzled.
"Oh? Why do you say that?"
He wondered how the man had seen through him so easily. Technically, the shopkeeper wasn't wrong—Jiraiya hadn't set foot in Konoha for years.
The shopkeeper chuckled.
"Heh, that's simple. Pansi Cave is so famous now. There isn't a single person in the village who doesn't know about it."
"Pansi Cave?" Jiraiya muttered, half-understanding, half-skeptical. It's just a massage parlor… could it really be that popular?
"You still haven't answered my question."
The shopkeeper sighed.
"It's because they don't just offer massages—they opened their own restaurant too. And get this: the meals are free. Not only that, the food variety is huge, the flavors are incredible, and it's all you can eat. It's outrageous!"
He shook his head in frustration.
"Pansi Cave's only been open for less than a week, but it's already the most popular place in the village. Men, women, old, young—everyone's flocking there. A basic foot bath isn't expensive, and then you get a free buffet. Who wouldn't go? Our business can't compete."
The shopkeeper glanced helplessly at the few tables occupied in his own restaurant.
"These days, only some loyal customers still come to Barbecue Q. And even then, after they eat here, most of them head next door for a massage anyway."
Jiraiya listened in silence, secretly astonished. Could this parlor's services really be that addictive?
Then he remembered the faint pink glow from the signboard when he entered the street. His heart skipped a beat. Wait… don't tell me it's that kind of place…
He leaned in slightly, lowered his voice, and asked with a cough,
"The massage parlor next door… do they offer special services?"
He gave a suggestive wink.
The shopkeeper immediately understood what he was hinting at and shook his head.
"No, nothing shady. Their services are all legitimate. It's just… different. For example, their foot baths. Who would've thought something as simple as soaking your feet could be that comfortable? Once you try it, you just can't stop going back."
A nostalgic smile appeared on his face, as though he himself had been there.
Jiraiya blinked. So this guy's been sneaking over for massages too, huh…
"Shopkeeper! A dozen bottles of shochu over here!"
A customer's voice rang out.
The shopkeeper immediately turned.
"Coming!"
He gave Jiraiya a quick nod.
"Sorry, big brother. Duty calls."
He hurried to the back, fetched the drinks, and served the rowdy table, bowing politely as he went.
Jiraiya sighed, looking around at the near-empty restaurant. Not much gossip to pick up here with so few people.
He stepped outside and instinctively glanced toward the shop next door—just in time to see groups of villagers eagerly walking into Pansi Cave.
Looks like that's where the real crowd is. If I want to gather information, that's the place.
Without hesitation, Jiraiya strode across the street and entered.
The moment he stepped inside, he was greeted with an entirely different atmosphere than Barbecue Q.
A pretty shop attendant with a bright smile rushed up to him.
"Welcome! Handsome sir, how many are in your party today?"
The young woman had a figure that matched Jiraiya's tastes exactly. His eyes instinctively wandered, before he coughed to cover it up.
"I heard eating here is free?"
She giggled.
"That's right! Anyone who enjoys one of our services can dine in our restaurant at no extra cost. The food is plentiful, filling, and delicious—I guarantee you'll want seconds!"
Hearing her call him "handsome sir" again made Jiraiya puff up with satisfaction. He grinned.
"Is that so? Then what services do you offer? Maybe I'll…"
His hand instinctively reached to his pouch—only to remember that he hadn't collected his manuscript royalties in days. His wallet was nearly empty after chasing Orochimaru all this time.
Awkwardly, he switched his words.
"Uh… what's the cheapest service you have?"
The shop attendant's smile didn't falter.
"Our most affordable service is Ear Cleaning, just 5,000 ryō."
"Ear… cleaning?" Jiraiya repeated, confused.
She explained smoothly, as though reciting a script:
"It's a professional cleansing of the ear canal that improves hearing, relieves stress, and provides deep relaxation. Our specialists remove earwax safely, maintain ear health, and even improve circulation around the ear, leaving you completely refreshed."
Jiraiya blinked. So it's literally cleaning ears… I thought it was something else entirely.
He reached into his pouch, felt the few remaining coins, and sighed with relief. Just enough.
"Alright then," he said with a grand wave of his hand, "sign me up for the Ear Cleaning!"
"Wonderful! Handsome sir, please follow me~ I'll show you to your room."
"Wait." Jiraiya raised a hand. "Can I eat first? I haven't had dinner yet, and I'm starving."
The attendant chuckled.
"Of course! How about this—I'll show you your room first, then take you to the restaurant. After you've eaten, you can return to your room. Just press the bell inside, and your assigned technician will come to serve you."
Jiraiya was taken aback. Tsk tsk… so high-tech for a massage parlor?
"Alright then, lead the way."
He followed her inside, his eyes roaming over the lavish décor. The place was more extravagant than any hot spring inn he'd visited—even the Land of Hot Water didn't have shops like this.
Once shown his room, Jiraiya politely declined her offer to escort him to the restaurant, asking only for directions. After wandering curiously around the corridors for a while, he eventually found his way to the dining hall.
The sight stunned him.
The restaurant was packed wall-to-wall with customers, nearly every table taken. The air was full of chatter, laughter, and the aroma of sizzling food.
Jiraiya's jaw nearly dropped.
"This… is supposed to be a massage parlor? Looks more like the most popular restaurant in Konoha!"
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