"Konoha's Dimensional Pirate: Reborn Uchiha Gin"

"All right! We get it! Let's call Jiraiya!" Shima and Fukasaku nodded seriously.

Without delay, they used the Reverse Summoning Technique right there in the great hall.

Poof!

A thick cloud of smoke filled the space—and out of it appeared Jiraiya, a bowl of noodles still in hand.

"Ah—what the?!" Jiraiya, caught mid-bite, toppled backward without a chair beneath him. Noodles and hot broth splashed everywhere as he hit the floor.

Blinking and brushing himself off, he glanced up.

"Shima-nee? Old man Fukasaku? And... the Great Elder Toad?" Jiraiya's tone turned wary. "Why summon me without warning? Something happen? A new prophecy from the Great Elder?"

He straightened quickly, wiping noodles from his robe.

"Indeed." Fukasaku and Shima nodded and began recounting the Great Toad Sage's latest prophecy.

"The future has... changed?" Jiraiya's expression darkened. "The Child of Destiny has disappeared? The ninja world is heading for unification? And the Great Toad Sage can no longer see the future clearly?"

Cold unease seeped through his chest as confusion crept into his heart. Recent memories of his conversations with Tsunade and Orochimaru came rushing back.

His conviction in the Great Toad's prophecies—his years of unwavering belief—suddenly wavered.

He had devoted his life to finding and guiding the Child of Destiny. And now? They told him the Child had vanished? That fate had gone blank?

"It sounds like I was chasing a lie."

His voice grew low and skeptical.

"So you summoned me just to tell me this? What's your real reason?" he asked, eyes narrowing.

Without realizing it, his tone had changed—cooler, more distant. The connection he once had with Mount Myōboku felt strained. And of course, the elder toads, who had lived for centuries, immediately noticed this shift.

They exchanged a glance, and then Shima stepped forward with unexpected honesty.

"Oh, little Jiraiya," murmured the Great Toad Sage, blinking slowly. "My past prophecies have brought you great trouble... I owe you an apology."

"From today forward, you are no longer bound by prophecy or by the fate of the Child of Destiny," the sage declared. "Stay in Konoha. Help it flourish. That's the path you should walk now."

"As a gesture of apology to you and to Konoha, I will send Fukasaku and Shima to your Hokage. We will formally apologize—and as compensation, offer Konoha the summoning scroll of Mount Myōboku. Let your village choose worthy successors for the contract."

With that, the Great Toad Sage closed his eyes, dozing once again.

Jiraiya stood in silence. The heavy knot of anger in his chest began to loosen. He looked at Fukasaku and Shima, caught off guard by their sincerity.

"Come with us," Fukasaku urged, leading him from the cave.

"Has anything happened in Konoha recently?" Shima asked as they walked. "When I went to the market, I heard something about the Third Hokage being overthrown. Is it true?"

She sensed that the "variable" mentioned in the prophecy was linked to the upheaval in the village. She wanted to understand more.

"Yeah..." Jiraiya nodded and began to explain everything that had occurred.

"I see..."

Fukasaku and Shima exchanged another knowing glance.

They quickly realized who the "variable" was—Uchiha Shin, the newly appointed Fourth Hokage. Who else could shift the fate of the entire world?

At just ten years old, he had defeated Hanzo of the Salamander and the Fourth Kazekage in an instant. He had wiped out nearly ten thousand enemy shinobi. His talent was beyond monstrous.

If given a few more years to grow... who knew what heights he could reach?

Now, it made sense why the Great Toad Sage had been so shaken. The future Konoha, under Shin's leadership, might become so powerful it would unite the entire shinobi world.

Even the Sage of Six Paths—and his mother, Kaguya—had never broken free from the grip of prophecy. But Shin? Shin might.

"If that's the case... we must act now," Shima declared. "We'll go to Konoha with you, request an audience with the Fourth Hokage, offer apologies, and deliver our compensation. What do you say, little Jiraiya?"

"Ah?" Jiraiya was startled.

But he understood.

They wanted to mend things. They felt guilty for using him—years chasing a child who no longer existed. And more importantly, they feared Shin. If they didn't make peace now, and Konoha rose to dominate the world, Shin might destroy Mount Myōboku in retaliation.

If they hadn't summoned him today—if they had continued to manipulate prophecies—he might have found himself opposing Konoha and Shin.

And that, surely, would have ended in disaster.

Tsunade and Orochimaru had already sown doubts in his heart. One more lie might have pushed him too far.

In truth, Mount Myōboku had shaped him. It had been his second home—his sanctuary. He had grown stronger there, even surpassed Tsunade and Orochimaru for a time. And Fukasaku and Shima... they had treated him like family.

"I agree," Jiraiya said at last.

He chose to forgive them—and to help.

"Let's go. Your apologies and compensation will smooth things over. I'll help with that too."

"Oh—and we should also offer Konoha access to the Sage Mode training of Mount Myōboku!" he added. "It's difficult, but it'll show good faith. I'm sure Shin will be interested—with his talent, he might master it quickly."

"The Sage Mode?" Fukasaku and Shima looked at each other, then nodded. "Okay! We'll include that. But make sure your Hokage understands—it's not easy to master. It's best to train on Mount Myōboku, with our help. That's the safest option."

This, they saw, was also a way to deepen their bond with Konoha.

"Of course," Jiraiya grinned. "Let's get going!"

"Mmhmm! First I'll cancel the summoning. Then you summon us again," said Shima.

"Got it!" Jiraiya nodded.

A moment later, the summoning technique was lifted—and Jiraiya reappeared right back in Ichiraku Ramen.

"Oh! You're back, customer?" said a surprised Teuchi, glancing over. "When you vanished, I thought something happened. I even called the Military Police. Are you all right?"

"Haha! I'm fine!" Jiraiya scratched the back of his head sheepishly. He pulled out his wallet and placed some bills on the counter. "Sorry about the mess. Here's for the noodles and the bowl. I'll be off now!"

With that, he turned and stepped outside.

"Jiraiya-san! We've informed Hokage-sama of your disappearance!" a Hyūga police officer called out. "He asked us to remain here and escort you to his office when you returned."

After the downfall of the Sarutobi and Shimura clans, their influence over the Military Police had been purged. Uchiha Shin had reformed the force, opening recruitment to the entire village.

Naturally, many powerful shinobi rushed to apply—it was a prestigious and well-paid position.

Even the Hyūga clan, despite their pride, had sent members from their branch family to serve.

"Oh?" Jiraiya was surprised but nodded. "I see. No time to waste—I'll head to the Hokage's office now. Thanks for waiting!"

With a smile, he vanished in a blur, making his way toward the Hokage Residence.

The officers returned to their posts.

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To be continued...