Shukaku Highway, a 'Y'-shaped road connecting Sunagakure with the Land of Rain and the Land of Rivers.
It starts in Sunagakure in the west, built across the vast, uninhabited desert, and ends in the Land of Rain and the Land of Rivers in the east.
It continuously transports resources that enable Sunagakure to grow stronger.
At the moment of its completion, it naturally earned the title of the longest, widest, and most trafficked road in the entire Shinobi World.
The highway passes through three oases, and on each of these oases, Sunagakure has built a service area.
From east to west, they are: Shukaku's Strongest Service Area, Shukaku's Most Awesome Service Area, and Shukaku's Best Service Area.
Don't ask why.
Because only then would a certain tanuki be willing to cover the entire road and the three service areas with Fūinjutsu.
According to Shukaku.
"The highway is named after me, your great lord; if it gets damaged, wouldn't that be slapping my face?"
"But the other three service areas have nothing to do with me, your great lord."
"So, to make them related, the names of the three Shukaku service areas were born."
Currently, inside Shukaku's Strongest Service Area.
Being the outermost and the only service area open to everyone, this service area also undertakes the task of receiving tourists.
Many foreign visitors who want to experience the desert scenery choose to come here.
Therefore, it is also the service area with the most entertainment facilities, the richest food, and the most luxurious among the three.
It can be said that until the new city in the Wind and Rain Mountains is built, this place will be a vital source of income for Sunagakure, without a doubt.
What met the eye was a massive plaza.
In the plaza was an artificial lake, with fountains gushing around it.
That's right, the groundwater Sayan stole passes through here.
So, there's no shortage of water!
In the middle of the lake was a huge platform.
Shukaku's glazed statue stood there.
[It was originally agreed to be golden, but as Sayan's strength increased, he wanted to develop a powerful ultimate move, so gold was no longer enough. Later, after friendly negotiation and at the cost of adding certain embellishments, Shukaku finally agreed.]
Shukaku's statue was seen standing upright, its exposed chest radiating colorful light under the sun, its tail raised, its hands clasped above its head, roaring, and at its feet... it was stepping on a Kyūbi (Nine-Tails)!
Ahem, this was the embellishment Sayan agreed to.
After all.
Shukaku worked so hard.
To help him achieve his childhood dream.
Was it wrong!
Around it, the other seven Bijū were applauding.
It could be said that Shukaku was given plenty of face.
Of course.
Shukaku was also very satisfied.
He specifically used multiple Fūinjutsu for protection.
It could be said that these statues were the sturdiest things in the entire service area.
Even a Jūbi's Bijūdama (Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb) would probably struggle to damage them.
At this moment.
A certain white-haired shinobi, seeing the statue before him, had been in a state of disarray for quite some time.
[Is the Ichibi... that strong?]
The person who arrived was indeed Jiraiya. He recalled what his sensei had told him earlier.
"Jiraiya! Sunagakure's development has been too rapid these past two years. Ever since the Daimyō of the Land of Wind cut off Sunagakure's economic subsidy, Sunagakure's development has actually flourished. That Shukaku Service Area of theirs is quite popular, so go there and investigate, see how Sunagakure is developing, and remember! This mission is very important! Record all intelligence!"
"Should I record this information? Am I supposed to write in my report, 'Actually, the Ichibi can step on the Kyūbi'?"
"Oh well, I don't care. It's the Old Man's job to figure out if it's true or not."
Thinking this, Jiraiya no longer worried and walked in on his own.
Three large buildings, for entertainment, food, and merchandise respectively.
The three buildings were all different.
The entertainment city was a two-story building, similar to ancient Roman architecture, with intricate patterns and runes carved into its walls.
The two blended together, and if one wasn't skilled in Fūinjutsu, they wouldn't even notice, only thinking they were all decorations.
The top was a huge glazed dome, serving as the roof.
"Tsk tsk, how luxurious!"
"Well then, let me go in and take a look."
Soon, Jiraiya walked through the main entrance, not even glancing at the "Second Floor Hot Spring!" sign on the bulletin board next to him.
Nope, he didn't look!
He entered decisively.
Upon entering the main door, a uniformed greeter walked towards him.
"Welcome~, Sir, would you like to play on the first floor, or would you like to wash up on the second floor?"
"Whoa!!!"
"Sir, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, I might have just bumped into something!"
"Huh! Are you really alright, Sir? But you're bleeding."
"It's fine, just a nosebleed from being overheated!!!"
At this moment, Jiraiya was clutching his nose with both hands, tears streaming down his face as he spoke.
Simply because the greeter in front of him was wearing a white one-piece dress and white stockings, perfectly showcasing her figure.
Most, most, most importantly... she actually had a pair of movable rabbit ears and a rabbit tail, and her ears could make different movements as she spoke.
"Alright then, I thought the guest found me ugly!" As the greeter spoke, the two rabbit ears on her head drooped down at the appropriate moment.
"Ah~!! I can't take it anymore!"
Seeing this, Jiraiya could no longer control his nosebleed, which gushed out uncontrollably.
He then fainted on the floor.
The literary giant, Jiraiya, collapsed right by the entrance.
"Ah~ my head is so dizzy, where am I?"
"You're awake."
Seeing Jiraiya awaken, the nurse beside him spoke up.
"Where is this? And who are you?"
"This is the service area's medical office. My name is Uzumaki Eri, and I'm the doctor here."
"Sō ka! I was brought to the medical office!"
Jiraiya said, utterly dejected, having received his answer.
He then burst into tears.
"Hey, hey, hey! What's wrong with you? Why is a grown man crying!"
"You wouldn't understand!"
"These are tears of excitement and emotion."
"This place... this place is simply..."
[Heaven!]
Looking at Jiraiya, who was now lying on the hospital bed, hands raised to the sky, head tilted back, shouting.
Uzumaki Eri expressed understanding.
"By the way, are all your Konoha shinobi this... this spirited?"
"Eh! Your 'yous'? Are there other Konoha shinobi here?"
"Naw, in another room, my colleague, Okuya Kiko, is giving him psychological counseling. You can go take a look."
"Oh, oh, then I'll go take a look."
Soon, Jiraiya arrived at the direction Uzumaki Eri had pointed.
Through the floor-to-ceiling window, he saw a tall woman sitting on a sofa in a room, crossing her legs, speaking to a white-haired man who was prostrating himself.
Seeing this scene, Jiraiya was a bit disoriented.
[Although I can't hear what they're saying, this posture doesn't look like psychological counseling at all! It's clearly dog training!]
Thinking this, Jiraiya could no longer suppress the anger in his heart.
[When!]
[When! Will a Konoha shinobi! Assume such a humble posture!]
[Unforgivable!]
[Clearly...]
[The one kneeling there, listening to the sacred teachings...]
[Should be...]
[I, the Gama Sennin (Toad Sage) Jiraiya!!!]
Thinking this, Jiraiya abruptly pushed open the door to the room, and then heard a rather stinging remark.
"Oh dear~, really, I've never seen anyone faint from excessive blood loss just by looking at a greeter before, ah haha! You're the first!"
Jiraiya: "..."
[Is she really talking about the person on the floor?]
And at this moment, the man kneeling on the floor, hearing the sound of the door opening, also turned his head at the opportune moment.
"Eh heh! It's Jiraiya-sensei, what a coincidence!"
"Hehe, it is quite a coincidence, Sakumo-kun!"
For a moment, the atmosphere became somewhat tense.
[What should I do, I've been discovered, should I kill him to silence him?]
[What should I do, I seem to have discovered something incredible, is it too late to run now?]
Just as the atmosphere was tense, Uzumaki Eri's voice came through in real-time.
"Kiko! Here's another Konoha shinobi who fainted from seeing a greeter, remember to sign for him, ah haha, how lame!"
"I didn't expect Jiraiya/Sakumo-sensei would also..." x2
"Hahaha..." x2
[Crisis averted!]
Inside the service area's food court.
In a sake bar, a woman with a beautiful voice was singing, and every now and then, cheers would erupt from below.
Of course, there were also those who paid specifically to request songs.
"Na~, the ambiance here is really nice, and the sake is delicious, this watermelon is super sweet!"
"Yes, Jiraiya-sensei, this is a place I painstakingly found."
At this moment, Jiraiya and Hatake Sakumo were sitting together, drinking sake, enjoying life immensely.
"So, Sakumo-kun, how did you end up here?"
"Haha, I took on an escort mission, after all, there are many missions from the Land of Wind in Konohagakure now. I originally thought the mission would last a long time, but who would have thought it would end as soon as we delivered it here. I watched those merchant teams load all the goods onto something called a truck, and then they drove off.
I originally planned to go straight back to Konoha, but seeing how lively this service area was, I decided to come in and take a look, and then... hahaha, I met Jiraiya-sensei."
"Isn't that a coincidence, hahaha."
"That truly is a coincidence!"
"But seeing such a bustling service area, no one would choose not to come in, right?"
"Hahaha, indeed, indeed!"
"Na~, Sakumo-kun."
"What is it, Jiraiya-sensei!"
"I'm inviting you to join my mission."
"Uh, is that convenient?"
"It's fine, Sakumo-kun, because this service area is extremely dangerous, and my mission is to investigate it as thoroughly as possible, so I need your help!"
Actual situation.
[It looks like Sakumo-kun will be staying here for a long time. If I, the Gama Sennin, end up in the infirmary again during this time, Sakumo will definitely find out, so I can only drag him in with me!]
"So it's this mission, it seems very dangerous, especially that one building."
Both of their gazes simultaneously looked out the window. From this position, they could just see the entrance to the entertainment building.
"So, for Jiraiya-sensei! For Konoha! I am willing to accompany you on this adventure!"
Soon, the two arrived at the entrance of the entertainment building again.
As the saying goes, liquor emboldens the timid. With determined expressions, the two once again walked into this dangerous entrance.
"Welcome~, gentlemen, oh~, it's you two guests again. This time, are you planning to enjoy the first floor or go to the second floor to wash up?"
Having already mentally prepared themselves, this time the two chose to look down at the ground, although the sweet voice still had an effect on them.
But... it wasn't a big problem!
"Oh~, why are the two gentlemen looking down? Is there something I'm doing wrong?"
"No! Please don't say that! Our necks are just a little uncomfortable, it'll be fine in a moment. Please show us around the first floor first!"
"Sō ka, so that's it. Then, gentlemen, please follow me."
"Our first floor is the gambling area. If you two wish to enter, you'll need to exchange for chips at the front desk. You can only enter after exchanging for chips, of course, you can also exchange chips back for money when you're done."
"And..."
The greeter suddenly leaned closer, speaking in a breathy voice near their ears.
"After exchanging for a certain amount, you can also choose a greeter for one-on-one companionship!"
"Oh oh oh oh!!!"
"One-on-one!"
"Take me! All in!" x2
"Hehehe, you two gentlemen are quite amusing!"
"Then please come this way!"
Soon, the two were led to the front desk.
During this time, they saw over a dozen people wearing white, black, fishnet, or patterned stockings pass by them.
"Welcome, gentlemen, how many chips would you like to exchange for?"
Two more beautiful voices rang out.
Finally, Jiraiya could no longer resist, and with a sidelong glance upwards, he immediately lost control again, gushing blood and fainting once more.
As he fell, he was muttering.
"There's even... even a slug!"
"Jiraiya-sensei!"
Hatake Sakumo, seeing Jiraiya had fainted on the ground, quickly looked up as well.
After all.
If I don't look, won't I be missing out!
Then.
Another one lay on the ground, still muttering.
"Are those wolf ears? Ka... Kawaii!"
Still in the same medical office, Jiraiya and Hatake Sakumo woke up one after the other.
It was still the familiar environment, the familiar ceiling, and the familiar... Uzumaki Eri and Okuya Kiko.
"Yo, the two Konoha shinobi are awake, what a bunch of useless people!"
Clearly, it was Okuya Kiko who spoke.
"Hey, speak with more respect, or I'll..."
"Oh! What are you going to do?"
Saying this, she walked to Hatake Sakumo's bedside.
She hooked his chin with her index finger, then said pitifully.
"Sakumo-nii, look at him, I just said one thing about him, and he's being so fierce to me, unlike me, I only care about Nii-san. Sakumo-nii, did you fall anywhere, does it hurt?"
Looking at Hatake Sakumo, whose face was already flushed, Jiraiya said with bloodshot eyes.
"What's wrong with you, woman? Hurry up and let go of your..."
"Jiraiya!"
"Hmm, what's wrong?"
"Shut up!"
Jiraiya: "..."
"You make me feel like I don't know you! Sakumo!"
"You wouldn't understand! Jiraiya!"