"Konoha's Dimensional Pirate: Reborn Uchiha Gin"

"Maybe we'll surpass the Slug Forest and the Ryūchi Cave after all?" the elder toads mused. But they quickly stopped themselves. "Oh wait... Comrade Jiraiya is under contract with the slugs, and Orochimaru with the snakes."

If the Slug Queen and the White Snake Sage learned of this advantage, would they also seek cooperation with Konoha—offering sage training and summoning contracts of their own?

Fukasaku and Shima felt a sudden jolt of alarm. But after a brief moment, a solution came to them:

"We need to outperform them!" Fukasaku declared. "We'll offer better service, better results! Our edge lies in temperament—the snakes are too violent, the slugs too passive."

Having calmed themselves, Fukasaku produced a pair of scrolls: the Mount Myōboku summoning contract, and a complete guide to Sage Mode training—penned by none other than the Great Toad Sage himself.

He presented them to Gin with great solemnity.

"These are the sacred scrolls of Mount Myōboku," he said. "We deliver them into your care, Hokage-sama."

"We hope you'll soon choose worthy shinobi to sign the contract and begin Sage training," Shima added. "We're prepared to welcome them at any time."

"And with that, unless you require anything further, we shall take our leave."

The two toads turned and vanished in a puff of smoke, returning to Mount Myōboku—to issue a standing order that all Konoha contractors be treated with honor and provided ample supplies of sage-enhancing nutrition pills.

"Well, then I won't see you off," Gin said lightly, tucking the scrolls under one arm.

Once the smoke had cleared, he unrolled the documents and scanned them carefully, paying special attention to the Sage Mode techniques, principles, and attached research. After memorizing it all, he handed the scrolls to Ai_Free_Dom for safe storage, then turned to Jiraiya.

"You did well this time," Gin said plainly. "It seems there's no more reason for a falling out. You made your choice."

If possible, Gin preferred not to place Jiraiya in opposition to the village. Jiraiya was a comrade—Tsunade and Orochimaru's partner. It would have been an emotionally difficult confrontation. Though... his perverse spying habits remained utterly revolting. Even Sage Mode couldn't cleanse that stain.

"Heh-heh!" Jiraiya scratched his head sheepishly. "Come on, don't praise me. I didn't do anything! The toads made the decision. I was just a messenger."

"Even so."

"Is it true that you can help Tsunade and Orochimaru master Sage Mode? To perfection?" Jiraiya asked, rubbing his hands together hopefully. "Could you teach me too?"

The dream of a perfect Sage Mode—it had haunted him for years. Despite his long training, Jiraiya had hit a ceiling. His version of Sage Mode was flawed, incomplete. It altered his appearance—made him look more like a toad than a human. It embarrassed him, especially in public. If Gin could help Tsunade and Orochimaru, maybe he could finally overcome that barrier too.

Gin stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"Given your role in securing Mount Myōboku's cooperation, I could agree to train you. But—on one condition: you must give up peeping. Entirely."

Jiraiya blinked.

"Not just in Konoha. Not just in the Land of Fire. Everywhere. If you don't agree, I won't teach you—and you wouldn't succeed anyway. My method requires a specific mental state."

In truth, Gin's approach to perfect Sage Mode revolved around a meditative technique. Only through true mental stillness and unity with nature could a shinobi overcome the innate resistance to Sage energy.

"At the right moment, you must discard all distractions. Every thought must fall away—only then can you synchronize with nature," Gin explained. "That's the key to surpassing the final barrier."

With this method, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and even future contractors could perfect Sage Mode. But without a contract, Gin couldn't share the full details. The most complete meditative arts—like Sharingan Meditation and Crystal Meditation—were restricted.

Simplified versions were already available for merit exchange in the Uchiha Clan's Pavilion, but they were pale imitations. None of them could bring someone into full harmony with nature.

"You mean your method is built on that principle too?" Jiraiya asked, wide-eyed.

"Exactly." Gin nodded. "Even if I wasn't bound by the contract, I wouldn't teach someone who lacked the self-control to use it responsibly. I don't intend to create a bigger disaster. Or are you just pretending to agree—planning to find loopholes?"

The room turned cold.

Gin's tone hardened, and the others in the office—Tsunade, Mito, Tobirama, and more—turned to stare at Jiraiya with sharp, judging eyes.

"No, no!" Jiraiya yelped. "I'm serious! I'll quit. I swear it!"

"I'll never peep again," he added quickly. "Not ever! I'm done!"

I'm a dead man if I don't fix this, he thought. What if Gin marked me with the Flying Thunder God Technique for surveillance?

No more sneaking around. I'll have to give up my old... research methods. I guess brothels are still allowed. Technically. That's not peeping, right?

"Hmmph." Gin's voice turned deceptively light. "Because if I catch you peeping again… I'll just castrate you. One stroke. That'll put an end to the problem."

Hissssss!

A chill ran down Jiraiya's spine. That wasn't a threat. That was a promise.

"I-I swear! I, Jiraiya, will never violate this vow! Otherwise, may I suffer a terrible, agonizing death!" he said, raising one trembling hand.

"We'll see," Gin said calmly.

He didn't trust promises. People swore things all the time after a loss. Whether Jiraiya succeeded or not would depend on his own will.

"I'll remember," Tobirama said coldly. "Break your word, and I'll personally castrate you."

As Jiraiya's former teacher, he saw it as his duty.

"Ye-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e—"

"Anyway!" Gin clapped once. "Go report to the Mission Department. We've got some S-rank missions that need handling—and you're just the shinobi for the job."

Kage-level shinobi were currently needed in the village for ongoing strategy sessions and investment discussions. But Jiraiya was a traveler. He could move freely.

"Yes! I'm on my way!" Jiraiya shouted, disappearing with a puff of smoke.

Once he'd gone, Gin teleported back to the other room—where Hashirama and Madara were still... resolving old tensions.

Apparently, Hashirama's head had just finished regenerating. Madara had been quite furious.

"Hmm?"

Noticing Gin's return, Madara looked confused—his clenched fist still mid-swing.

"Why'd you bring us back?" he grunted. "I wasn't done yet."

"That's enough." Gin waved dismissively. "You're not allowed to kill or maim each other. Just trade punches if you must."

"Tch. Fine." Madara dropped his arm and took his seat again.

Hashirama's head was now fully restored. He beamed.

"Apology accepted, right?" he asked cheerfully. "It was a long time ago! Time to let it go!"

"When you betrayed me, bit off a chunk of my flesh at the Valley of the End, and lured me into a trap—I didn't hold it against you! So let's move on, eh?"

Madara's eye twitched. That event, to him, was significant. But Hashirama treated it like a casual disagreement between friends.

"Fine. Let's say we're square," Madara said, voice stiff. "But don't ever bring up the Valley again."

"Deal!" Hashirama said happily, scooting closer and grinning like a child.

Uzumaki Mito twitched slightly at the sight.

Tobirama's temple pulsed. Veins rose on his forehead. His brother was hopeless. Nothing—not even Mito—could stop Hashirama from acting like Madara was his best friend. As the younger brother, Tobirama had no choice but to bear it.

"All right," Gin said, knocking on the table. "Back to the real matter—the investment plan."

They resumed their strategic meeting. It was crucial to finalize everything before tomorrow's general assembly with all jōnin and clan representatives. First, they needed full agreement from Konoha's inner circle.

After another hour of careful deliberation, the meeting concluded. But before everyone left, Gin turned to Tobirama.

"About your suggestion—to send someone to the Fire Daimyō to explain the leadership change… I've decided it's best if you go."

"Present the new investment plan. Ask the Daimyō to gather key merchants and nobility from across the Land of Fire to come to Konoha for negotiations. Can you do that?"

Gin had no interest in going himself. He was too young. The Daimyō and the court might underestimate him—dismiss him. And Gin had no patience for pretense or false courtesy.

Most of the other candidates were also unsuitable. But Tobirama—Second Hokage, famed strategist, war hero—would command attention.

Even if the Daimyō didn't agree on the spot, he'd take the matter seriously and come to Konoha himself.