"What should we do?" Charlie sighed. "Given the connection between the Land of Grass and Konoha, what choice do we have? What's the relationship between Konoha and the Kusagakure?
They're close allies, trusted comrades willing to lay down their lives for each other. Our Kusagakure protects Konoha's borders, holding off attacks from Iwagakure. Even though the Konoha shinobi caused us serious trouble this time, we can't let that ruin the bond between our villages."
Charlie sighed deeply, his expression one of reluctant acceptance. "So, to keep our alliance strong and to save the Land of Grass, we have no choice but to let that Konoha shinobi help with the spring plowing. I heard his toad is pretty big... ahem!"
His tone grew serious. "This is about saving the Land of Grass. We're running out of time. The preparations need to be finished quickly."
"...Yes! Understood!" Kado answered firmly.
After Kado left, looking troubled, Charlie sighed again and sat down to continue sorting through the day's documents. As for Jiraiya... well, there was no other option. The Kusagakure was short on manpower. The Chinoike and the Uzumaki Clan had their own responsibilities, so they had to ask for outside help.
"Come to think of it, that toad should be able to carry the plow, right? Also..." He glanced at the documents from the academy. "School's about to start!"
***
"So, like this, like that!" Jiraiya said seriously. "You and I have never met, so even if your lord wants to arrest you, they can't do anything about it!"
"Just say you found the money outside, that's all!" Jiraiya suggested firmly.
Mujie couldn't help but praise him. "That's a brilliant idea! I didn't expect you to come up with something so clever. No wonder you're one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin!"
Jiraiya sighed, shaking his head. "I had no choice. I never imagined the Land of Grass's laws would be this strict. If I had known, none of this would've happened."
He glanced at Mujie. "Honestly, I didn't think someone like you, a high-ranking Kusa shinobi, would get arrested just for selling books."
Mujie remained silent. He knew his arrest probably had little to do with selling books, but he kept quiet. After all, admitting that would make it harder to justify raising prices.
Besides, if the lord found out he was complaining about how his own people were being treated, his punishment might get worse. His face grew serious. "Alright, let's get back to refining the plan."
Jiraiya smiled and nodded. "Exactly. This time, we have to make sure everything is foolproof."
Before he could say more, a Kusa shinobi approached, unlocking their cell with a tired expression. "You're free to come out now. Didn't expect you'd be released in under an hour. The lord has already decided your punishment."
He handed Jiraiya a piece of paper. "One week of community service."
Jiraiya blinked in surprise. He took the note and saw there was no fine or further detention, just a requirement to help with spring plowing. A smile crept onto his face. "That's fair enough…"
But then he suddenly remembered something. Looking at Mujie, who was pinching his nose, and then back at the Kusa shinobi, Jiraiya said in a self-righteous tone, "Well… keep me locked up for one more day! I, the Toad Sage, must criticize you! I caused such a serious problem for the Land of Grass, yet you only locked me up for an hour? That's not reasonable.
At least a day is appropriate. Keep me here and come get me tomorrow morning."
The Kusa shinobi stared at him, clearly confused. His mouth opened and closed a few times before he let out a nervous chuckle, clearly unsure of what to say.
After a brief pause, he finally spoke up hesitantly, "Sir... are you out of your mind?"
***
After coming to the Land of Grass, Jiraiya found himself in a situation he hadn't expected. When he asked to stay in prison just one more day, his simple request was firmly turned down.
"Your mission is to manage this entire region!" the Kusa shinobi reminded him sharply. "If you don't finish on time, the deadline will be extended. The task only ends when it's done. The Land of Grass and Konoha are close allies, don't disgrace Konoha's name!"
Jiraiya watched the Kusa shinobi walk away, then gazed out over the vast fields stretching before him, letting out a deep sigh.
`What am I even doing here in the Land of Grass? I was only supposed to visit Mr. Inevitable, but I couldn't find him. Instead, I ended up interfering with an important land reclamation project and got punished by being sent here to farm. What kind of nonsense is this ?`
In just two weeks, he'd been through far more than he'd planned. Especially at the start, he almost didn't make it back after trying to buy intelligence from another country.
Thinking about it now, Jiraiya shook his head quietly. The only bright spot was that in a few days, he'd finally get a rare, autographed novel personally signed by Mr. Inevitable.
"No use dwelling on this," he told himself. "Better to get the job done and wait for Old man to arrive. With his influence here, I can finally track down Mr. Inevitable."
Hoisting his hoe with renewed determination, Jiraiya muttered, "It's just farming, after all. The shinobi world still needs this sage to save it! A little farming won't slow me down."
But after only a short time working the fields, he stood silently, sighed, and shook his head. As expected, being the Toad Sage, a future literary master of the shinobi world and mentor to the Child of Destiny, wasn't exactly suited for this kind of labor.
Still, when he caught a Kusa shinobi sneaking glances his way, Jiraiya gave a wry smile and muttered to himself, "Looks like I'm stuck here until this is done."
Running off wasn't an option, not with the Land of Grass likely to report back to Konoha if he tried.
Jiraiya's expression hardened with determination. "If I said I'd finish it, then I will! A promise is a promise, that's my shinobi way." His face grew serious as he quickly formed hand seals and slammed his hands to the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!"
With a booming sound, a cloud of smoke appeared, revealing a massive toad. "Jiraiya, you summoned me out of the blue? What's going on?" the toad asked.
"Bunta," Jiraiya replied seriously, looking up at the giant creature, "are we partners?"
Gamabunta paused, furrowing his brow as he looked down at Jiraiya. "Looks like you're in big trouble!"
He gripped his giant cleaver and scanned the area with a serious expression. "Where are the enemies? I don't see anyone!"
"Enemies? There aren't any here," Jiraiya said.
"Then why call me? Just to take a trip?"
"No, no! That's not it..." Jiraiya licked his lips and grinned. "I've got a small favor to ask."
Bunta tilted his head in confusion.
"Can you help me with the farming?"