Chapter 93: Konoha Year 55, The Uchiha Clan's Downfall Approaches
Deep in the forests of the Land of Fire, several black-clad ninjas were sprinting at high speed, as if they were being pursued.
"Where do you think you're running to?"
A voice suddenly rang out from behind them.
In the next instant, thick wooden tendrils shot out from all directions, swiftly binding every last one of them.
At that moment, three figures appeared atop the trees, looking down on them from above.
Clearly, these three were Haruta, Shisui, and Yugao.
Haruta glanced at the struggling ninjas, none of whom begged for mercy. He nodded and looked at Shisui.
"Looks like another mission completed. If I'm not mistaken, they're from Kumogakure, right?"
"The intel suggests so."
Shisui nodded before letting out a sigh.
"Honestly, working with you can be kind of boring sometimes."
"Agreed. We barely have to do anything, and he takes care of everything."
Yugao also nodded, which made Haruta a little unhappy.
"Hey, hey, hey. If it were me, I'd love to have a teammate like that. Finishing missions effortlessly—what's wrong with that?"
Haruta scoffed at their complaints. A mission was a mission—what was so bad about someone handling all the work?
If he had a teammate who let him slack off while still getting all the rewards, he'd be thrilled!
"Alright, let's head back."
Shisui glanced around and saw other Anbu squads approaching. He turned to Haruta.
"We'll leave the cleanup to them. But Kumogakure's retaliation sure came fast."
"No kidding."
Yugao sighed. Ever since they had 'invited' the Fourth Raikage to Konoha, Kumogakure had been stirring up trouble.
Whether it was spying on Konoha or attacking mission operatives, they had been retaliating in their own way.
It felt eerily similar to the dark days after the Fourth Hokage's death—one of Konoha's most humiliating times.
That was also when Hyuga Hizashi lost his life.
"Alright, let's hurry back."
Yugao and Shisui were filled with emotion, but Haruta didn't have much to say.
If anything, Kumogakure's increased activity worked in his favor—he had no urgent missions outside the village, after all!
---
Time had quietly crept into Konoha's 55th year, bringing many changes to both Haruta and the entire ninja world.
The negotiations between Konoha and Iwagakure had concluded, and both Kitsuchi and the captured Iwa-nin had returned home.
The results weren't bad—both sides reached an acceptable agreement.
But Danzo, Haruta's beloved boss, wasn't too pleased. Konoha had held multiple meetings because of it.
As for the results? A regular Anbu like Haruta wasn't privy to that.
All he knew was that his old boss had been in a surprisingly good mood lately.
"Well, might as well enjoy it while it lasts—who knows if he'll get another chance."
Haruta didn't comment further. It didn't matter much to him, and besides, he had been in a pretty good mood himself!
Kumogakure's antics meant more work for him after his return to duty, but these enemies also provided him with unexpected rewards.
He no longer had to patrol the village all the time and was frequently sent out to eliminate 'unidentified' ninja.
Even without any major missions, he was making a nice profit just from these encounters.
---
[Name: Haruta Shigaru]
[Overall Physical Ability: LV11]
[Chakra: LV9]
[Abilities: Wood Release LV7, Flying Thunder God LV7, Taijutsu LV6, Cursed Seal LV7, Yin Release LV6, Scorch Release LV7, etc.]
[Available Points: 0]
(T/N: Fuinjutsu really is lost now. Chinese author's never go into Fuinjutsu.)
Looking at his stats, Haruta nodded slightly.
He had originally saved up 5 free points, and thanks to his recent missions, he had finally leveled up Flying Thunder God, Taijutsu, and Yin Release.
Taijutsu had been a tough decision. Given his current physical abilities, he didn't need to specialize in it—he could already beat most people into submission.
But after thinking it over, he realized he had fallen into a flawed mindset.
"…I'm starting to think like those Otsutsuki."
Haruta remembered just how terrifyingly strong the Otsutsuki were. They had devoured Chakra Fruits and possessed Bloodline Limits on an absurd level.
Yet, despite their immense power, their defeats were nothing short of embarrassing.
Some might call it arrogance, others might blame plot armor, but when looking deeper…
It was clear they had raw power but lacked battle tactics.
"They just brute-force their way through fights, while ninjas use strategy to maximize their combat potential."
Honestly, the only Otsutsuki who left a deep impression on Haruta was Isshiki—he had outright crushed Naruto and Sasuke.
He had even forced Naruto into using Baryon Mode, sacrificing Kurama to win.
But then Haruta realized he had been fooled—Kurama could revive.
Regardless, in Haruta's opinion, fights against Otsutsuki weren't as grueling as the battle against Madara Uchiha.
Madara had mastered both power and tactics, stacking buffs to the limit.
Meanwhile, the Otsutsuki fought purely on instinct, relying on their overwhelming strength.
"I can't follow in their footsteps."
Haruta sighed. Wood Release and Flying Thunder God had been incredibly helpful, but he couldn't neglect the fundamentals of being a ninja.
So, he had invested a little into Taijutsu. How far he'd take it depended on his future needs.
Additionally, he had successfully synthesized Scorch Release using the right formula.
Like before, he received a 'Bloodline Mutation' notification, which reassured him that his experiments were on the right track.
"All that's left is Storm Release, perfecting my Chakra Mode, and…"
And gathering a lot more free points.
Fortunately, the ninja world wasn't exactly peaceful.
If his memory was right, this year would bring plenty of interesting events.
---
"Good work. This mission is complete."
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his temples in exhaustion. Still, he smiled at Haruta, Shisui, and Yugao.
However, no matter how one looked at it, his smile seemed strained, and he looked even more fatigued than before.
Haruta wisely kept his mouth shut. He knew full well that he was the reason for all of this.
He had captured the Fourth Raikage, orchestrated the Iwagakure incident, and even secretly manipulated Danzo.
Now, Danzo was happy, while the Third Hokage was miserable. That said a lot.
"…Wow, I really am a menace."
But Haruta didn't care.
As Danzo's loyal subordinate, he considered all of this his boss's problem. Not his.
[Mission Completed]
[Captured Spies]
[Mission Rating: A]
[Reward: +1 Free Point]
Haruta glanced at his updated status screen and nodded slightly. These kinds of missions still had some benefits.
"Since there's nothing else, you three can go and rest now. You've worked hard."
Hiruzen sealed the scroll and smiled at the three of them.
"Lord Hokage, please wait a moment. I have some intelligence to report."
Haruta didn't leave immediately. Instead, he bowed slightly and spoke in a low voice.
"Oh?"
Hiruzen was momentarily surprised.
Even though Haruta had caused a whole mess of problems, Hiruzen still genuinely liked him.
Aside from everything else, Haruta's mastery of Wood Release and the Flying Thunder God was an invaluable asset to Konoha. Not to mention his work ethic was impeccable.
Yes, he had once followed Danzo, and he had likely assisted in some of Root's shady dealings—like that incident with Sunagakure.
But without solid proof, Hiruzen didn't dwell on it. Besides, at the time, he hadn't fully decided to pull Haruta over to his side.
He had no intention of questioning Haruta about the Sunagakure mission. In his view, Haruta was clever, but the mastermind had to be Danzo.
Even if he asked, Haruta probably wouldn't reveal anything crucial. Worse, it might make Haruta feel mistrusted—something Hiruzen wished to avoid.
That said, Haruta did have a clear flaw: he handled things too aggressively.
"Alright. Shisui, Yugao, you two—"
"No need, Lord Hokage. This concerns the Akatsuki."
Seeing that Hiruzen was about to dismiss Shisui and Yugao, Haruta quickly interrupted.
"They'll be involved as well, so it's better if they stay."
"The Akatsuki, huh…" Hiruzen nodded. "Understood. Kakashi and Itachi are on duty today. Go ahead."
"Yes."
Haruta had already sensed those two nearby, so he had nothing to hide.
"Lord Hokage, one of my informants has just reported in."
"Oh?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression instantly became serious.
In order to gather more information on the Akatsuki, Haruta had specifically requested permission to set up intelligence sources outside the village.
Hiruzen had approved it without hesitation—this was one of the most common tactics used by shinobi. He had even allocated a monthly mission stipend of 500,000 ryo for it.
In his estimation, as long as they got one useful piece of information, it would be worth it. But he hadn't expected results to come so soon.
"According to the report, it seems that the Akatsuki are taking action."
Haruta lowered his head slightly and spoke directly.
"They are currently recruiting new members, and based on the intel I've received, this recruit was once a member of Konoha."
Clearly, Haruta was ready to make his move.
At this point in time, he wasn't entirely sure how things would unfold with Kabuto, but he was certain that Danzo wouldn't just let this situation slide.
To Danzo, Kabuto and Nonō Yakushi were crucial pieces in his game of control over Haruta. But there were ways to turn that situation around.
For instance, framing things as: Kabuto betrayed Konoha after killing Nonō Yakushi, and now Haruta seeks revenge. But to get to Kabuto, he must rely on Danzo—the one who trained him.
Or, shifting the blame onto Orochimaru—who was infamous for his ability to escape. And coincidentally, Danzo was the only one still in contact with Orochimaru.
As long as Haruta believed that no matter what he did, he would have to depend on Danzo… combined with the Cursed Seal, it would be nearly impossible for him to break free.
These were all possibilities Haruta could foresee, but Danzo was a crafty schemer. Who knew what other tricks he had up his sleeve?
Since that was the case, Haruta had no problem playing the game with him. After all, he needed more free points, too.
"A former Konoha shinobi?"
Hiruzen frowned, feeling a growing sense of unease. But Haruta immediately provided the answer.
"It's very likely… Orochimaru."
"Orochimaru—"
Hearing that name, Hiruzen's pupils dilated slightly. He had not expected to hear his former disciple's name here.
Konoha had never stopped investigating Orochimaru, but his movements were incredibly difficult to track.
"Orochimaru?"
Shisui and Yugao also froze for a moment. Even Kakashi and Yamato, who were hidden in the shadows protecting Hiruzen, fell silent.
For Yamato, especially, Orochimaru was a major part of his past.
Now that the name had resurfaced, a wave of emotions stirred within them.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Haruta nodded with a serious expression.
"While I can't confirm this with absolute certainty, the likelihood is high. Orochimaru is a rogue ninja, and that organization…"
"I understand."
Hiruzen nodded seriously, knowing he could not take this lightly.
"What are they planning to do?"
"The details are unclear, but it seems they are heading toward Iwagakure."
Haruta continued, still bowing slightly.
The moment he mentioned Iwagakure, Hiruzen's lips twitched.
Again?
But thinking about it, Iwagakure had already been stirred up once by Haruta, which ironically made it safer in some ways.
And since this was just a reconnaissance mission to confirm Orochimaru's involvement, it shouldn't cause too much trouble with Iwagakure, right?
"I see. I need to consider this carefully, but I'll give you an answer as soon as possible."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Haruta nodded. He had reported everything necessary—now, he just had to wait.
He wasn't certain when things would escalate on Kabuto's side, but based on the timeline, there shouldn't be any major deviations.
"Orochimaru… Akatsuki…"
After Haruta and the others left the office, Hiruzen rubbed his temples in frustration.
Lately, there had been an overwhelming number of issues to deal with—problems outside the village were one thing, but the internal conflicts were just as exhausting.
Danzo's secret dealings, the growing tension within the Uchiha clan… and now, Orochimaru had resurfaced.
"I'm getting old… There are more and more things beyond my control."
Hiruzen sighed and made a decision.
"Kakashi, pass down my orders—summon Jiraiya back immediately. This matter is urgent. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
Kakashi instantly appeared, nodded, and left to carry out the command.
With Jiraiya back, maybe some things would become easier to handle…
---
"I never expected to hear news about Orochimaru."
As they left the Hokage's office, Yugao muttered softly before turning to Haruta.
"The intelligence agent you developed seems to be doing a decent job."
"It's still too early to say. Many things remain uncertain—this is just one lead."
Haruta chuckled and shook his head.
"Information itself can't be taken at face value. The real question is whether it holds enough value to justify action.
But an intel report involving the Akatsuki and Orochimaru? That's something Konoha will take seriously. I expect we'll be sent on a mission again soon."
Haruta wasn't just making things up. The intel he had chosen to report directly aligned with Konoha's highest priorities.
If this didn't get a reaction, then everything he had done so far would have been a waste—except for Danzo.
"I see."
Yugao nodded, understanding his reasoning.
And truthfully, she was looking forward to the next mission.
After all, she had trained under Tsunade for so long—she wanted to test her progress.
"Haruta-kun, can we talk?"
Just then, Shisui, who had been quiet the whole time, turned to Haruta.
"Hm?"
Haruta was slightly surprised, and Yugao also gave a questioning look.
But after a brief moment, she nodded and said, "I'll leave you two to talk. I need to check in at the Medical Corps anyway."
With a casual wave, she turned and left.
A beautiful, understanding woman… how could anyone not like her?
"So, what's up? Why all the secrecy?"
Haruta waited until Yugao was out of earshot before turning back to Shisui.
"You're acting all mysterious. I'm going to get an earful when I get home because of this, you know."
"As if you aren't secretly thrilled, you bastard."
Shisui snorted and led Haruta toward a secluded clearing.
As they walked, he spoke in a low voice.
"Haruta-kun, I might be leaving the Anbu."
"Hm?"
Haruta raised an eyebrow in surprise—but internally, he nodded in understanding.
In his memory, Shisui was never seen wearing an Anbu uniform, which meant that by this point, he had already left and shifted his focus elsewhere.
Perhaps for missions… or perhaps for his clan.
By Konoha's 55th year, the situation within the Uchiha clan had become extremely complicated.
And maybe, with Haruta stirring the pot, Uchiha Obito's existence had been exposed earlier than expected. That glimpse of the Mangekyō Sharingan had surely rattled the clan.
Shisui had also revealed his own eyes to counter Obito, which had completely altered the atmosphere among the Uchiha.
Haruta could already tell—Shisui was under tremendous pressure.
Between the expectations of his clan and his own beliefs, this guy was definitely struggling.
"I see."
After a brief pause, Haruta nodded.
"The Uchiha are in a tough spot right now. Leaving the Anbu to focus on your clan is probably the right move.
Besides, Itachi is still in the Anbu. You can trust him to hold things down here, right?"
"Trust him…?"
Shisui shook his head with a sigh but still nodded.
"Maybe. He is smart, but… never mind. If you could, please keep an eye on him while you're here."
Haruta could tell that Shisui had more to say but was holding back.
And honestly? Haruta had no intention of digging further.
This wasn't something he wanted to get involved in.
"Looking after him, huh? I think I'll leave that to Kakashi instead."
Haruta chuckled and patted Shisui's shoulder.
"Besides, you'll still be around to guide him within the Uchiha, right?
And seriously, all this just to tell me this? You're being dramatic."
"…Because I've decided to take a gamble."
Shisui looked at Haruta seriously. In an instant, his eyes transformed into the Mangekyō Sharingan, and he quickly scanned the surroundings.
Clearly, he was making sure no one was eavesdropping. After a brief moment, he finally spoke in a low voice.
"Do you remember the story you told me? The one where you said that if it were you, you would eliminate the leader of the first group?"
"I've thought about it for a long time… and I think you were right."
"You know the situation within the Uchiha clan. Or rather, everyone in Anbu does. We're all being pushed to the brink."
"If this continues, the first group will be able to smugly say, 'See? This is just how they are.'"
"Haruta-kun… I think you understand what I mean."
Shisui paused slightly before giving a faint smile.
"Your story had deep meaning… It truly gave me insight. Maybe if I had heard it sooner, I could have told more of my clan members about it."
"But things have already progressed too far. At this point, taking a gamble might be my best option."
"That said, don't worry—I'll still take part in the upcoming mission. Once it's done, I'll be leaving Anbu."
"This will be our last mission together, and I'll do everything in my power to complete it. But after that… I'm entrusting Itachi to you."
With that, Shisui bowed deeply to Haruta, then turned and walked away.
Haruta watched his retreating figure for a long time before sighing with a helpless smile.
"That little brother of yours… He's probably even more extreme than you are."
Shisui hadn't said much, but Haruta could already guess what he was planning.
Most likely, he intended to lure Danzo out for a private meeting… and then kill him.
And the best way to bait Danzo would be to reveal his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Honestly, Haruta wasn't sure if he would succeed.
Maybe he could.
But more likely, he would fail.
After all, Danzo had Izanagi—and Uchiha Kagami's Sharingan.
With just one use at the critical moment, Shisui's fate was already sealed.
One could say that Shisui possessed the unique arrogance of the Uchiha clan.
But his arrogance lay in shouldering all the pressure himself, believing that he alone could solve everything.
And now… he was indeed the only one left who could try.
"Should I give him a little warning?"
Haruta had no interest in looking after Uchiha Itachi.
They had no real connection, and he had no idea what went on in that kid's head.
Besides, at this age, Itachi's mindset was already set in stone.
People like that gave Haruta the creeps.
If Itachi ended up betraying him someday, wouldn't that be a total loss?
"Wait a minute… maybe I can actually do something with this."
Suddenly, Haruta's thoughts shifted.
He rubbed his chin, lost in deep contemplation.
Shisui was planning to lure Danzo out, and knowing Danzo, he would absolutely try to steal his eyes.
And since Haruta was Shisui's teammate…
"There's a good chance Danzo will have me accompany him for protection."
Which meant…
Haruta could use this chance to entertain Danzo a little.
He wasn't sure what Shisui intended to do about his clan's growing madness, but to Haruta, it was already a lost cause.
He had warned him before—if he wanted to use Kotoamatsukami, he needed to prove he could control it.
But if he did prove it, the clan would only doubt him further.
If he didn't prove it and still attacked Danzo, things would escalate even worse.
That said, there were still other pieces in this game…
Like Uchiha Itachi.
"Looks like you might be more useful than I thought, kid."
A smile crept onto Haruta's face.
Besides, Danzo had been suspended over the Uchiha situation.
This was the moment Haruta had been waiting for.
He could already see it—Danzo's downfall.
---
After his meeting with Shisui, Haruta's life returned to its usual calm.
He had to wait for Hiruzen's decision, after all—there was no rushing it.
In the meantime, he continued exchanging messages with Kabuto through his communication scroll, gathering intel on Iwagakure…
And making sure Kabuto provoked Danzo a little.
If Danzo wasn't pressured, pushing things forward would be much harder.
"But seriously, why doesn't this guy understand my good intentions?"
Haruta erased the latest messages and rubbed his face.
Kabuto was clearly frustrated with Haruta's methods.
Wasn't stirring up Danzo just asking for trouble?
Especially when Haruta's team hadn't even mobilized yet—wasn't this terrible timing?
"Ah, well… People get irrational when they care too much."
If there was anyone Kabuto still had lingering emotions for, it was Nonō Yakushi.
Anything related to her threw off his judgment—he was terrified of making a mistake that could harm her.
But at this point, there weren't many choices left.
It wasn't about harming her anymore—it was about risking everything to survive.
If Danzo was going to be provoked anyway, how much he was provoked didn't really matter.
"Still… why hasn't Hiruzen responded yet? Don't tell me he got scared just hearing 'Iwagakure'?"
Haruta admitted he had an extreme way of handling things sometimes.
But was it really that big of a deal?
---
"Oi, brat."
Haruta was lost in thought when his door suddenly swung open.
The first thing that entered his vision—a pair of long, pale legs.
For a brief moment, he wondered what they would look like in stockings.
But he quickly snapped back to reality.
He was fifteen this year—just a little more patience…
"Tsunade-sensei? What brings you here?"
"Checking what the hell you're up to."
Tsunade sauntered into the room, plopped down beside him, and glanced at the scrolls he was reading.
"You spend all day holed up in here. Even if you are reading this stuff, do you really need to be so absorbed in it? I don't get what's so interesting about all this."
"Understanding the past is a form of respect," Haruta replied casually. "Besides, there aren't any missions right now. This is just how I pass the time."
Inwardly, though, he was wondering—why had Tsunade sought him out?
At this hour, shouldn't she be at a bar or a gambling den?
"Right… What do you need, Sensei?"
Tsunade sighed slightly before looking at him seriously.
"I heard you have intel on Orochimaru."
So that's what this is about.
Haruta immediately understood.
The Three Legendary Sannin had long gone their separate ways, but their bonds hadn't completely faded.
He figured Tsunade must have gotten the information from Hiruzen and had come to confirm it herself.
"Something like that."
Haruta nodded. There was no point in hiding it—but he wouldn't phrase it that directly.
"I have some intel, but it's not confirmed yet. Still, it does seem like Akatsuki is making a move."
"Akatsuki, huh? That damn organization never stays quiet for long."
Tsunade frowned—she had zero goodwill toward that group of rogue ninjas.
"So, what's your plan? If you do run into Orochimaru, what will you do?"
Use it as an opportunity to tighten the noose around Danzo, obviously.
Haruta held back a chuckle—he had already figured out how to handle this.
Orochimaru was just another piece in his game.
And the Akatsuki?
Same thing.
He was certain Kakuzu had played a part in leading them to that location.
A well-staged performance needed the right cast, after all.
Even if he was unlucky and didn't encounter Orochimaru, at the very least, he would run into the Akatsuki.
He needed something to report back with, after all.
Even if it was just Kakuzu.
"Sensei, I've faced him before—don't worry."
Haruta smiled confidently at Tsunade.
"And besides, worst case? I can always run away."
"Your grandfather's technique is amazing, after all!"
"Tch. I've told you before—don't put too much faith in the Flying Thunder God."
Tsunade shook her head and sighed.
"If it was really that reliable, my granduncle and the Fourth Hokage wouldn't have died."
Then, she suddenly looked at him intently.
"Brat, all this effort… Are you still chasing that Hokage dream?"
"Hmm."
Haruta knew she might be misunderstanding him, but he still nodded obediently.
"Honestly, I'll never understand why you guys are so obsessed with that cursed position."
Tsunade ran a hand through her hair and shook her head.
"It never ends well. One after another, you all throw yourselves into the fire. It's so stupid."
She trailed off, as if lost in memories—her younger brother, her former lover.
It was a long time before she spoke again.
Then, suddenly, she leaned closer.
Haruta caught a faint scent as her voice murmured beside his ear.
"Just… be careful, alright, kid?"
"Mm."
Haruta nodded absentmindedly—his attention was completely elsewhere.
Specifically, on the green pendant nestled between the impressive white valley in front of him.
---
"Kakuzu, you needed something?"
"Mm. I have intel to report."
In a tall tower in the Land of Rain, Pain studied Kakuzu with slight curiosity.
Meanwhile, Kakuzu—whom Haruta had just been thinking about—was in a foul mood.
Honestly, he hated coming to report to Pain.
And that damn brat with Wood Release irritated him even more.
That kid had humiliated him, nearly killed him—if not for that kid's own plans, he'd be dead by now.
No way in hell that felt good.
But still…
Kakuzu was a practical man.
That brat paid him—on time, every month.
For a moment, Kakuzu even felt like telling Haruta: "Boss, you've got a good eye for talent."
And he hadn't forgotten what Haruta had once whispered to him in private:
"For a bounty ninja, money is everything. Cold, hard cash is your true destiny."
"So don't let 'loyalty' get you killed."
Not that Kakuzu had loyalty.
But the money was too good.
And now, he had to pass along some questionable intel.
"I hear we're recruiting new members. I have a recommendation."
Pain raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? And who would that be?"
"A rogue ninja from Konoha… with a grudge against both the village and Hanzo."
Pain's real body, Nagato, immediately perked up.
"Who is it? Do you have solid information?"
Kakuzu smirked.
"You probably know him already. Konoha's rogue ninja—Orochimaru."
Kakuzu continued reading the report while Nagato couldn't help but raise an eyebrow upon hearing that name.
Orochimaru?
Of course, he knew Orochimaru—not just because of his reputation, but also because this man had nearly killed him when he was a child.
Nagato clearly remembered that when he and Jiraiya first met, Orochimaru had considered killing them.
His reasoning? Because war orphans were simply too pitiful, with no hope for the future.
Rather than struggling in misery, only to one day die in some filthy ditch, it was better to grant them a painless and dignified end.
In the end, Jiraiya stopped him and even became their teacher.
But none of that mattered now, because Orochimaru was already one of the key figures Nagato was considering.
This man was once one of Konoha's legendary Sannin—his strength was undeniable. More importantly, he had deep knowledge of Konoha's internal affairs. If he could be brought into the fold, it would be a huge advantage for Nagato.
"I can get more information on that Shimura Danzō."
Zetsu had provided him with quite a bit of intelligence, but Nagato didn't trust him—or that self-proclaimed Uchiha Madara.
He needed more sources of information to cross-check and verify the truth.
"As for intelligence, the information is incomplete, but there is one interesting detail."
Kakuzu had no idea what thoughts were running through Pain's mind and simply continued speaking.
"Based on the information I have so far, that guy seems to be somewhere near Iwagakure. Perhaps we should check it out."
"Iwagakure, huh?"
Nagato snapped out of his thoughts, murmuring to himself as his Rinnegan swirled slightly, as if he were contemplating something.
After a while, his gaze became firm.
"Iwagakure… It wouldn't hurt to take a look."
---
Konoha – Hokage's Office
"Jiraiya, how does it feel to be back?"
In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, looking at the tall, white-haired man beside him with a smile.
"Speaking of which, you still haven't gone to see Tsunade. She doesn't even know you're back."
"Not in a hurry."
Jiraiya stood by the window, gazing at the scenery of Konoha. He shook his head slightly, his white hair swaying with the movement.
"But, old man, I have to say—you really are something. Tsunade finally met someone from her own clan, and yet you sent him on a mission?"
"You really are an asshole."
Sarutobi Hiruzen almost choked on his pipe smoke. He glared at his student before finally sighing helplessly.
"You understand Konoha's current situation. The growth of young shinobi takes time.
Besides, sending Haruta on a mission wasn't solely my decision—he wanted to do it himself."
Speaking of Haruta, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt conflicted. He wanted to protect the Senju bloodline, but he also understood that a shinobi who hadn't been tempered through real battle would never become truly independent.
It was a harsh reality, but a reality nonetheless.
"Forget it, let's not talk about this."
Shaking his head, Sarutobi Hiruzen changed the subject.
"You've read his file. What do you think of this kid?"
"A ridiculously troublesome guy."
Jiraiya rubbed his temples, recalling the reports he had read. Just thinking about it gave him a headache.
An orphanage kid, taken into Root by Danzō, trained in a way that completely embodied Danzō's philosophy—ruthless and extreme in his methods.
"But there's no denying he's incredibly smart. He also knows both Mokuton and Minato's techniques. Honestly, I have no idea how Danzō trained him."
"You mean my teacher, the Second Hokage's techniques."
Sarutobi Hiruzen quietly corrected him, but seeing that Jiraiya didn't care at all, he didn't bother pressing the point.
"Danzō has his faults, but he does know how to train people. Still, I don't want this child to remain under his influence.
Tsunade can guide him. And I believe you can as well.
This mission is too important, which is why I called you back."
"So, in short, you want me to be his babysitter?"
Jiraiya joked, but Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was serious.
"No, he might end up being your babysitter."
"…"
Jiraiya rubbed his face. His old teacher was really hurting his pride today.
"Sensei, that's just rude."
"Enough nonsense. I need you to help him."
Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a smoke ring, gazing into the distance.
"You've read his records. You know his methods. This mission involves Iwagakure, the Akatsuki, and—most importantly—Orochimaru.
I'm really worried he'll stir up even more trouble.
I need someone who can both guide and support him.
Jiraiya, can you do that?"
At the mention of Orochimaru, Jiraiya's expression turned solemn.
Ever since his old friend had left, Jiraiya had been trying to bring him back. He had never given up.
After a long silence, he finally nodded seriously.
"I understand. I'll do my best. And…
I'll bring Orochimaru back!"
As he said this, his voice took on an almost ethereal quality.
Sarutobi Hiruzen remained silent, the smoke from his pipe curling around him.
"By the way, old man."
"Hm?"
"Aren't you supposed to be the strongest Hokage? Why don't you personally lead the mission? You just met with Ōnoki recently, didn't you?"
"You little bastard, show some respect!"
***
Currently this fic has upto 140 chapter.
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