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"He should be here any day now you know." Jiraiya said, leaning against the side of one of the bookshelves in his village leader's office, "When I told him I'd be getting here before he would a week ago he told me to tell the old man that, 'When he got back he'd be kicking your ass and taking that hat.'"

A hearty chuckle came from Hiruzen as he sat in his chair looking out onto the village. While it seemed an unassuming act, the fact that he was willing to sit with his back turned to the door and to the only other person in the room showed the amount of trust he had in Jiraiya, "You know, these days I'd more than likely welcome such a thing. Koharu and Homura are getting on my case to find a successor."

"And?" Jiraiya responded with a raised eyebrow.

"There are many strong shinobi within these walls Jiraiya, but Hokage material?" Hiruzen said before a frown adorned his face, "I need to see more. You are still the number one candidate. You know this."

"Yet I still don't want the job." A sighing Jiraiya said. They'd been through the same song and dance for years now, "Sarutobi-sensei you know I'm not cut out for being Hokage. I'm not that guy. Someone will step up soon. And if not, hey, you're no older than the Tsuchikage and he's still squatting his gnome frame in his chair." At least he was able to get a chuckle out of Hiruzen with that last statement as he himself started looking out the window at the village as well, "Kami, this place never changes does it?"

"Let's hope it never does for a long, long time." Hiruzen remarked as he gazed upon his beloved village.

Better Left Unsaid, Chapter 43