Chapter 117: ?
As soon as the shop assistant left, Shizune exited the room, following her guidance toward the free restaurant. The assistant lingered thoughtfully at the door, gesturing Shizune in the right direction.
After bidding farewell to the kind and elegant woman, Shizune's steps were light with anticipation. Walking through the lavish corridor, she caught glimpses of people in the rooms on either side.
"With service this excellent, it's no wonder this place is so popular!" she thought with a faint smile.
But suddenly, a thought struck her: Could there be others like her, using the cheapest service merely to eat? If too many people did this, would Pansi Cave even make money? Maybe it would even run at a loss.
Shizune did a quick mental calculation and felt a twinge of guilt.
Her stomach growled, cutting through her concern. She shook her head. No matter, I need to eat first.
Once she earned enough from missions in a few days, she promised herself she would return and order some of the pricier services to make up for it.
Turning a corner, she finally saw the free restaurant. Her gaze immediately froze. A tall, white-haired figure stood at the bar, his back to the entrance.
Even with a mask covering part of his face, Shizune recognized him instantly.
"Jiraiya-sama?" she whispered, instinctively ducking behind the corner.
A conflicted expression crossed her face. A few days ago, she had seen the Fifth Hokage while eating unagi don, and she had been pondering the same question: Jiraiya-sama seems to be acting against the Hokage… should I inform her?
Now, seeing him again, the thought returned sharply.
Since Jiraiya-sama had appeared here, Orochimaru-sama must be nearby as well, she reasoned. Shizune recalled that Lady Tsunade had told her Jiraiya, after being rebuffed, went to find Orochimaru.
Cautiously, Shizune peeked around the corner, surveying the restaurant. Unfortunately, the corridor offered only a limited view: she could see the bar and a few tables, but not the entire area.
Jiraiya quickly left the bar with his food, moving out of her sight. Shizune clenched her small hands, torn between loyalty to her Hokage and concern for Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
After a moment of hesitation, she made a firm decision. She turned and hurried toward the Hokage residence, resolve stiffening her steps.
But halfway there, she remembered Lady Tsunade's words from the night before: the Hokage didn't often work overtime. So she should be at home now.
Realizing this, Shizune quickly altered her course, heading toward the Uchiha Clan Land instead.
Meanwhile, unaware that his infiltration might be exposed, Jiraiya continued to eat heartily in the restaurant, already having polished off five or six empty bowls. The food at this massage parlor was far more delicious than he expected, tasting like a true home-cooked meal.
"This is amazing! Boss, another serving!" he called out, raising his empty bowl.
The chef smiled, showing no impatience. "Coming right up!"
Jiraiya leaned back, satisfied, picking his teeth with a toothpick as he hummed contentedly. There was no sense of urgency; gathering intelligence could wait.
Orochimaru, unable to restrain himself, leaned forward. "Aren't you supposed to be gathering information? When will you act?"
"What's the rush?" Jiraiya replied, patting his rounded belly. "I just finished eating. Gathering intel is easy—I'll do it later."
Orochimaru: …
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Far above Konoha Village, under the night sky, a massive bird glided smoothly. Several figures sat atop its back, their forms almost blending with the darkness. The bird's wings hardly flapped, yet it moved steadily toward the village.
At the front, a young man with deep golden hair, a spiky topknot, and a long braid tucked into his clothes gazed curiously at the twinkling lights of Konoha below. It was his first time traveling so far, and the sight of the village at night left him momentarily dazed.
Beside him, another young man with distinct tear troughs on his face pointed toward the monumental Hokage Rock. "That's the landmark of our village," he explained. "The carved faces are of past Hokage, similar to the Tsuchikage Rock in your village, commemorating past leaders."
"So I'll be working here from now on?" the golden-haired young man muttered gloomily, pondering whether joining Konoha's ninja counted as defecting from his own village. The memory of his master's stern face made him inwardly grumble.
"Alright, we've arrived. Let's land," Itachi said, guiding the bird toward the central area of Konoha—the Uchiha Clan Land. Landing here would spare them the trouble of entering through the main gate.
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