CH - 31 Spring planting

A/N: I express my heartfelt gratitude to Andiyah Bolds for Her generous support as patrons on Patreon. Your decision to join at such an early stage is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your valuable support!

p.s. - I apologize for bringing this up again, but this will be the last time I address this issue. It's important to note that this story adopts a lighthearted comedic style, which may not resonate with everyone. I understand that some readers have expressed their desire for more action or have found it to be lacking excitement. However, the decision to continue reading or to discontinue is entirely yours. If I have inadvertently wasted your time, I sincerely apologize. Thank you for your dedication in reading the story thus far.

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The Land of Grass, a nation that had undergone extensive reconstruction following its devastating downfall, captured Jiraiya's curiosity as he gazed upon its sprawling landscape.

Spring had arrived, bringing with it warmer weather. Yet, the Land of Grass he beheld defied its reputation in the shinobi world.

In the shinobi world, the Land of Grass was renowned for its adeptness in acquiring ninjutsu from other nations and skillfully maneuvering through diplomatic channels to maintain a delicate balance among the major powers. They were often regarded as "fence-sitters" within the shinobi community, swiftly adapting and safeguarding their own interests. If circumstances shifted unfavorably, it would not be surprising to find them aligning with Iwagakure the next day, despite their seemingly close ties to Konoha.

But why had the Land of Grass suffered such destruction during the later stages of the First Great Ninja War?

The answer lay in their complete lack of moral principles. They shamelessly peddled vast amounts of false information, selling it to Konoha today, Iwagakure tomorrow, Sunagakure the day after, and even supplying Kumogakure from far away.

With just a small village, they had provided more than half of the intelligence during the First Great Ninja War. However, a significant portion of that intelligence had been fabricated.

The First Great Ninja War descended into chaos due to the proliferation of false reports, believed to originate from the mountains of deceitful information supplied by the Land of Grass.

Consequently, the Land of Grass was left in ruins. Pondering this, Jiraiya couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy within his heart.

Undoubtedly, the shinobi from the Grass were valiant in their own right. It was highly unlikely that anyone had expected the Land of Grass, already decimated, to quietly rebuild itself during the tumultuous Second Great Ninja War while other nations were embroiled in fierce conflicts.

As for Jiraiya's current visit to the Grass Village, he had merely happened upon it during his travels and intended to pay a visit to Master Ekinu. However, he had not anticipated the unfolding circumstances.

Reflecting on his imprisoned newfound friend, a profound sense of regret washed over Jiraiya. Had he genuinely sought to purchase Land of Grass secrets instead of merely desiring a book, he might have become a wanted man within the Grass Village. Such a scenario would have necessitated a swift escape, causing him to miss the opportunity to meet with Master Ekinu.

How ironic fate could be! Earlier that morning, driven by the allure of obtaining a personally signed edition by Master Ekinu—an item that even the Fire Country couldn't boast—he had embarked on a special trip to visit.

And what did he encounter? In just a matter of days, his formerly like-minded companion was now seated at a table, pen in hand, muttering incomprehensible words like "virtu" and "inhertel."

With a stern tone, the friend reprimanded Jiraiya, saying, "I am not that kind of person. I possess nothing that you seek. Please refrain from disturbing me while I am engrossed in my studies."

He had already made plans for a future trading arrangement. Once he was released, he would make preparations to trade outside the Land of Grass.

However, until that time, they were not supposed to meet in order to avoid raising suspicion from the Grass shinobi. They would wait for the agreed-upon moment.

On a dark and windy day, when the sky was clear and filled with the gentle breeze of spring, they would execute their plan. The other party would be dressed in all black, wearing a black hat and glasses to blend into the darkness. They would carry a securely wrapped package containing books and quietly place it in a small grove outside the eastern borders of the Land of Grass.

At the designated time, he would appear at the designated location, dressed in black attire, donning a black hat and glasses. Carrying a box filled with cash, he would retrieve the securely wrapped package and place it down.

In this manner, the transaction would be completed without ever meeting face to face. Surely the Land of Grass wouldn't arrest anyone for such an arrangement!

The plan seemed flawless, but unfortunately, the other party had decided not to proceed with the trade. They claimed their spirit had undergone a transformation and that they were no longer that kind of person.

What nonsense! It had only been a short time, and even genjutsu brainwashing wouldn't work that fast. We were both avid fans of Master Ekinu, who didn't know that?

That person must be scared! Jiraiya rubbed his chin, planning to confront them in a few days' time.

He continued to stroll through the streets of the Land of Grass, observing a place that defied the rumors he had heard.

A serene smile graced his lips, and his warm gaze held hope. Such sights were not common during times of war. Unconsciously, a faint smile appeared on Jiraiya's face. In this moment, he once again felt the presence of peace within his heart. It was the first year of peace following the war, and it was likely that each village and nation was in the process of recovering and returning to normal life.

Perhaps Konoha was going through the same process at that very moment. But... were those Grass shinobi? How did ninja end up living among civilians?

Just as Jiraiya pondered this mystery, he witnessed the Grass shinobi nearby suddenly forming hand seals, their expressions turning serious.

They were preparing to use ninjutsu! Ninjutsu against ordinary people? Could it be that they were rogue shinobi who disregarded the principles of being a ninja?

Jiraiya's expression changed abruptly as he recalled the reputation of the Grass shinobi in the shinobi world. It seemed that they truly were a group that flouted the principles of being a ninja.

Look at the person he had recently encountered in the Land of Grass. They ended up in prison because they openly defied the village's orders and engaged in illegal trades, didn't they?

Grass shinobi disregarding the principles of being a ninja... it appeared to be quite common.

But since he, the Great Toad Sage Jiraiya, had witnessed it, he couldn't pretend not to see! Just as the Grass shinobi's expressions grew intense and they uttered in a low voice, "Earth Release: Cultivation Earth..."

Jiraiya's face filled with anger as he leaped forward, shouting loudly, "Stop! Is this how you repay your leader? Is this how you treat the innocent civilians of the Land of Grass who trusted you..."

Before he could finish his words, his ninjutsu was abruptly interrupted. However, what he saw in front of him was not what he had anticipated.

Everyone glared at him, including the elderly person who should have been saved. Their stares were filled with disbelief.

"...Do... you... even... care?" His voice grew softer, the last four words completing his sentence. However, being scrutinized by so many people, Jiraiya was at a loss for words. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "I am the Great Toad Sage Jiraiya..." But he couldn't finish his self-introduction.

"You little brat! Why are you disturbing the ninja? What are you doing here, bothering us while we're working the land?" The enraged old man swung a hammer at him, and it didn't stop there.

"Someone interrupted our spring plantation! Help! Help! Someone, quickly!" someone shouted and then...

"Hush, hush, hush~" Suddenly, Jiraiya realized he was surrounded by a group of ninjas with crimson eyes. Just like that night... they closed in on him tightly!

"Um..." Jiraiya hesitated for a moment, flashed an embarrassed smile, and said, "Would you believe me if I said this is all a misunderstanding?"

…

"Who would believe that?" Akihiko's eyes narrowed as he examined the documents in his hands. He sneered and remarked, "It's only been a few days, not even half a month, and this person claims to have changed? That they deeply understand the spirit of the Grass? Lock them up for a month, no release before that!"

He promptly wrote the word "Rejected" on the document. These individuals, don't they realize there are numerous tasks to be accomplished in the Land of Grass at present?

Winter had passed, spring had arrived, and it was the perfect time to initiate a new wave of infrastructure projects.

One must understand that the Land of Grass had recently emerged from a war, leaving many lands abandoned during that period.

Akihiko sighed with a mix of emotions and muttered to himself, "It seems that the spring cultivation has been progressing smoothly these days. We'll convene another meeting shortly to determine if there are any other matters requiring attention."

Just as he finished speaking...

"Knock, knock." A knocking sound resonated from the door.

"Come in!" Akihiko's surprise was evident when he saw the Gatekeeper enter. At a time like this, the Chief of the Guard rarely made an appearance...

"Even you have come. It seems something significant has occurred," Akihiko sighed helplessly, shaking his head, and inquired, "Tell me! What happened? Is it that troublemaker Mubuki again, or is it Konoha from next door coming to criticize us?"

As he spoke, the Gatekeeper hesitated for a moment before saying, "No, it's neither! Leader!"

"Oh? Neither? Then what happened?" Akihiko's confusion grew as he observed Takeshi standing before him. He pondered for a moment and speculated, "Could it be that someone from Iwagakure has arrived?"

"No one from Iwagakure has come! It's just..." At this point, Takeshi Chinoike fell silent, uncertain of how to articulate his words.

This only piqued Akihiko's curiosity further. He sat upright and urged, "Speak up! If there's something, just say it!"

"Well, it's..." Upon hearing the leader's request, Takeshi could only respond with a perplexed expression, "We've received a report from the civilians! Someone is impeding the preparations for spring cultivation!"

"Who dares to interfere with the preparations for spring planting?" Akihiko's eyebrows shot up, his face contorted with anger. "Don't they realize that this is the most crucial task in the Land of Grass right now?" He slammed his fist on the table forcefully. "Quickly, arrest them! As the Chief of the Guard, why do you hesitate? Do you still want to serve? Is there something that frightens you? Speak up! Who is it? Are they remnants of evil forces within the country? Bandits? Reactionary elements?"

"Um... it's one of the three Sannin of Konoha... Jiraiya." As the words left his lips...

"???" Akihiko was momentarily stunned. He rubbed his ear and hesitated. "Who? Jiraiya?"

Why?

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