"So this is Konoha, huh, Senior! The architecture here is quite artistic, isn't it! Hmm!"
On a hilltop not far from Konoha Village, three figures, dressed in identical black robes and wearing straw hats that concealed their faces, overlooked the bustling Konoha Village below.
The youngest of them, Deidara, spoke with a tone full of novelty and appreciation.
"Konoha…"
Uchiha Shisui, wearing a mask, whispered with a complex tone, his gaze piercing through the mask's eyeholes, fixed on the homeland he once protected, but where he could no longer belong. He never imagined he would return here in such a guise.
Kakuzu's deep, slightly hoarse voice interjected with a warning. "Deidara, don't forget the mission the Leader assigned. We need to remain completely hidden until the plan begins. Mind your mouth; don't let your bluster draw unnecessary attention."
However, Kakuzu's own gaze was firmly drawn to Konoha's most prominent feature, the Hokage Rock. His eyes were locked on the first rock carving—the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.
The man who had completely altered his life's trajectory, the one who had made him realize, for the first and only time, how minuscule and vulnerable his own power was, a god-like existence… In Kakuzu's green eyes, complex, inexpressible emotions surged.
This time, Leader Menma's mission was very clear: Sunagakure and Otogakure intended to attack Konoha during the Chunin Exams, inciting war.
Their task was to secretly infiltrate and lie in wait in Konoha before the Chunin Exams concluded. If war truly broke out, the Leader himself would also come, and together they would use absolute power to completely suppress the conflict.
Kakuzu had actively volunteered for this mission. After all, as a core combat member of the organization, he was constantly holed up at the base dealing with tedious financial transfers and business negotiations, which was truly contrary to his primary role. Moreover, last time, thanks to the Leader, he had witnessed an unimaginable scale of wealth in the Land of Waves… Kakuzu had always remembered this favor.
"Everyone, do you still remember our current identities?" Shisui composed himself and reminded them.
The two nodded, each taking out an entry permit from their pockets. These were not forged documents, but genuine credentials obtained through legitimate business channels operated by Hizashi's organization.
At this moment, Shisui, Kakuzu, and Deidara were posing as representatives of a business association who had come to Konoha to observe the official Chunin Exams.
After reconfirming the documents were correct and quickly applying simple disguises, the three lowered their hats and walked down the mountain path towards the gates of Konoha Village.
——————
"Jiraiya-sensei… Are you alright?"
Naruto looked helplessly at Jiraiya, who had quickly dived into the roadside bushes for the Nth time. Just now, it was merely a passing Konoha Ninja, yet the legendary Sannin had hidden himself like a startled rabbit.
"Shh—be quiet, Naruto."
Only after confirming it was safe did Jiraiya poke his head out from the bushes, brushing off the grass from his clothes. With a hint of embarrassment, yet feigning profoundness, he explained, "Although you might find it hard to understand, what I'm doing… has deeper reasons."
He was actually quite troubled. Who would have thought that after just returning to the village and meeting the Old Man, he would suddenly be asked to take over as the Fifth Hokage immediately after the Chunin Exams?
While Jiraiya was happy for the Old Man to retire from the heavy burden of being Hokage and enjoy his later years, the prerequisite was that the successor wasn't him.
For Jiraiya, who loved freedom and was accustomed to wandering around in search of "material" and the Child of Prophecy, being confined to the Hokage's office dealing with endless documents was tantamount to torture.
'Is it because I failed to bring back concrete intelligence about the [Ember] Organization, and the Old Man thinks I'm just aimlessly wandering outside, so he's using the Hokage position to trap me?'
Jiraiya grumbled inwardly, feeling a bit wronged. When he left Konoha last time, he had indeed promised the Third Hokage that he would do his best to investigate the mysterious and powerful [Ember] Organization.
However, just as he was investigating aimlessly, the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku suddenly summoned him and delivered a reassuring prophecy.
According to the Great Toad Sage's dream, the unfathomably powerful [Ember] Organization, which intimidated nations with its military might, was not as threatening as it appeared on the surface and would become an indispensable key force on the path to peace in the future.
Upon receiving this prophecy, Jiraiya immediately felt relieved and no longer focused his main efforts on thoroughly investigating the [Ember] Organization… 'But, when the Old Man heard my report, he only sighed and didn't say much? Did that sigh contain such deep disappointment and anger?'
At this moment, after their initial, not-so-perfect "peeping" encounter, Naruto proactively expressed that he was still very curious about one of the legendary Sannin, and if Jiraiya didn't mind, he would like to treat him to a meal.
And Jiraiya looked at Naruto—the only child of his deceased disciple, Minato Namikaze. Yet, due to his own inner evasion and pursuit of the so-called "Child of Prophecy," he had never fulfilled even the slightest responsibility of teaching or protecting him for many years.
This child was so polite, humble, and understanding… He looked exactly like Minato when he was young.
Thinking of his warm, sun-like favorite disciple, Jiraiya's gaze towards Naruto unconsciously softened.
Finally, the two arrived at Naruto's highly recommended dining spot—Ichiraku Ramen. Looking at the small shop, Jiraiya had actually prepared himself to say, "Really, I'm an adult, how can I let a child treat me?" But he hadn't expected the meal to be much simpler than he imagined.
"We're here! It's Ichiraku Ramen! Jiraiya-sensei, don't let the small storefront fool you, the ramen here is the best in Konoha!"
Naruto's face was beaming with pure joy as he familiarly pushed aside the cloth curtain and entered. Jiraiya smiled helplessly and followed him into the shop.
The moment he stepped in, a blurry memory surfaced: Ichiraku… this shop… Minato used to bring Kushina here often, didn't he?
"Uncle Ichiraku! Two bowls of Tonkotsu Miso Ramen, please!"
"Oh! It's Naruto! Welcome, welcome! And this is… your friend? Just a moment, the ramen will be ready soon!" Behind the counter, Uncle Ichiraku warmly greeted Naruto, his hands quickly beginning preparations.
Watching this warm interaction, and then recalling the occasionally unfriendly glances from villagers on the way here, Jiraiya's heart stirred. Could it be… that this child's strong preference for ramen, besides the taste, also had that reason?
The two sat down at the counter. Jiraiya habitually cleared his throat, ready to use his usual way of interacting with children—sharing amusing adventure stories "adapted" from his travels to liven the atmosphere and, incidentally, enjoy their admiring gazes.
However, before he could speak, Naruto spoke first. "Um… Jiraiya-sensei, please… would you be my master?"
"What? No, I can't. I'm very busy."
Jiraiya responded almost instinctively, with his usual casual and perfunctory tone. He had been traveling for years and feared nothing more than such long-term commitments and restraints.
"Is that so… You're right. Sorry for asking such a strange question."
Naruto nodded, his expression calm as he accepted the answer, seemingly not too bothered. He then turned his gaze to the pot of noodles boiling on the stove, waiting quietly.
However, Jiraiya was now frozen in his seat. 'Oh no!' he cried inwardly. It was a completely subconscious refusal, but in truth, he wasn't opposed to teaching Naruto a few things… he was just too used to being carefree, his mouth moving faster than his brain… Seeing Naruto's lack of disappointment or persistence, simply accepting it calmly and starting to look forward to the ramen, Jiraiya actually felt a bit guilty.
He awkwardly cleared his throat, trying to lighten the mood. "Ahem… However, there's no need to be so absolute. But, you're quite impulsive, kid, asking a stranger to be your master the first time you meet."
Naruto scratched his cheek, a little embarrassed, and laughed. "Haha, it sounds strange, doesn't it? It might sound funny, but the reason I asked is that things have been so strange lately, so I just thought… why not give it a try?"
"Things you've encountered?" Jiraiya asked curiously. The way he said it, it was almost as if someone had told Naruto beforehand that he should seek him as a master.
"Hmm… First, promise you won't take it seriously, okay? Because… it was in a dream. A really huge, really old toad told me in a dream to find someone named Jiraiya, and said he was the teacher I was destined to have… It sounds like just a weird dream, right?"
And just like that, Naruto, with a playful and uncertain tone, uttered words that made Jiraiya's jaw almost drop onto the counter in shock.
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