Chapter 21: A Peeping Tom, An Unexpected Encounter

The practical class concluded, Renzou stretched his stiff arms and walked to the window, gazing at the distant Hokage Rock and the Hokage Building below. The familiar vista offered a small respite to his weariness. A gust of cold wind swept through, swirling the yellowing leaves from the roadside into the sky. Already autumn? A shiver traced its way down Renzou's spine.

As he reached to close the window, a peculiar sight caught his eye. Konoha Hospital fronted the bustling Konoha commercial district, which eventually led to the Hokage Building. The area near the hospital was largely populated by barbecue restaurants and bathhouses. What made Renzou raise an eyebrow was the figure perched on the roof of a bathhouse not far from the hospital. A man lay prone on the eaves, peering intently into a small hole in the roof, practically yearning to squeeze his entire body through it. Saliva glistened at the corner of his mouth. His demeanor was undeniably lecherous. What's he doing here? Renzou was both surprised and not entirely so. Observing the blatant voyeurism, a mischievous grin tugged at Renzou's lips. He placed his hands on the windowsill, ready to slam the window shut, took a deep breath, and focused his chakra in his throat.

"There's a pervert peeping on the roof of the bathhouse!" Renzou yelled, quickly slamming the window closed.

"Huh?" Half the people in the Konoha commercial district heard the shout. Patients just discharged from the hospital, passing pedestrians, and street vendors all craned their necks to look at the roof of the nearby bathhouse. Soon, all eyes converged on a white-haired man who looked utterly bewildered. He tilted his head, confusion etched on his face. After a brief silence, the playful splashing within the bathhouse ceased. The girls inside, realizing what had been shouted, looked up, and a chorus of screams erupted. This jolted the stunned man and everyone on the street.

"Catch the pervert!"

"Damn it! My wife is bathing in there!"

"That white hair… it looks so familiar…"

The street instantly buzzed with outrage. Passing ninjas without active missions leaped onto the rooftops, giving chase. Women from all directions grabbed eggs and vegetable leaves from their baskets, pelting the peeper.

"Damn it, who made me lose my research material for my novel?!" the man cursed under his breath, scrambling to flee across the rooftops, a growing number of ninjas hot on his heels, all while dodging a barrage of rotten produce. The shout had clearly originated from the Konoha commercial area. I'll deal with that annoying brat later! He began to flee across the rooftops, a growing number of ninjas hot on his heels, while simultaneously dodging the airborne debris. The white-haired man swiftly weaved hand seals. "Shadow Clone Technique!" A thick cloud of white smoke billowed around him. When it dissipated, dozens of identical white-haired figures scattered across the streets. The pursuing ninjas gradually halted, their expressions frustrated.

"Damn it… he got away," a Jōnin wearing a flak jacket, who had been in the lead, growled through gritted teeth. His wife was among those whose privacy had been invaded, and he was out for blood.

"Speaking of which, that white hair… that must be the one from the rumors…" a Chūnin beside him said suddenly.

… "It seems… that's him."

"No! Even if it's him, we can't tolerate this kind of behavior! Let's go! We're going to the Third Hokage to demand action!" The furious Jōnin at the front led the group of incensed family members towards the Hokage Building.

Meanwhile:

The instigator, Renzou, was walking home with a spring in his step. Suddenly, a black blur caught the corner of his eye, followed by a white-haired figure darting into the alley beside him. That white hair… Intrigued, Renzou instinctively turned into the alley. When he saw the person ahead, the corners of Renzou's mouth quirked upwards.

Of course, Jiraiya also noticed Renzou. "Who are you?" Hearing the question, Jiraiya stood up quickly, smoothed his wrinkled clothes, struck a theatrical pose, and declared with a flourish, "Listen well, young one! East, west, north, south – the entire world knows the name of the peerless Sannin, the white-haired toad sage! The handsome rogue who can silence even a crying babe… I am the great Master Jiraiya!"

It really is him… Renzou's face displayed a mix of surprise, amusement, and a touch of awe. Jiraiya, student of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, one of the legendary Sannin, and the future sensei of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, and his son, the Seventh Hokage Uzumaki Naruto. A hero of the Second, Third, and Fourth Ninja Wars, a key figure in bringing peace to the Ninja world. He was lecherous and uninhibited, with a fondness for beautiful women and a penchant for voyeurism (a habit that had nearly earned him a fatal beating from Tsunade). Yet, beneath the crude exterior lay a reliable and kind heart. He had taken in Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko as disciples, trying to guide Nagato. He had rigorously trained Naruto, always watching over his growth. He had silently guarded the village, willing to sacrifice himself to relay crucial information. Jiraiya carried the weight of his failure to prevent his best friend, Orochimaru, from defecting. He loved Tsunade deeply, though he would never see her again after his final mission. To protect what Jiraiya had selflessly given his life for, Naruto had trained tirelessly under his tutelage, ultimately learning the Rasengan and the Toad Summoning Technique. Jiraiya was indispensable to Naruto's journey, teaching him the essence of being a ninja and the path he should follow. For Naruto, Jiraiya was both a teacher and a father figure. Compared to the future Jiraiya in his fifties, this younger version was less composed, more impulsive.

"A Sannin with the same name as Orochimaru-sama? Hello, Jiraiya-sama, I am Uchiha Renzou."

"Ahaha, hello, Boy! Your voice sounds strangely familiar. Have we met somewhere before?" Jiraiya responded cheerfully, then paused, a flicker of recognition in his eyes.

"Hahaha, really? Maybe you have a friend with a similar voice," Renzou said, scratching the back of his head, a bead of cold sweat trickling down his temple. This guy is sharp. He would definitely be in trouble if Jiraiya connected the dots. "If you'll excuse me, I'm heading home for dinner." Renzou turned and began to walk quickly away, as if pursued by a rampaging beast.

"Hmm?" The more Jiraiya thought about it, the more something felt off. A hint of suspicion clouded his features. After a few seconds, realization dawned on the white-haired Sannin, and his eyes narrowed, taking on a sinister glint.

Renzou, walking briskly with his head down, had just reached the alley's mouth when a hand landed firmly on his shoulder. "Boy, don't be in such a hurry. Let's have a little chat…" The sound of Jiraiya grinding his teeth was unmistakable.

It's over!

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End of Chapter 21