"Hanzo?"
Jiraiya remembered all too well how much trouble Hanzo had given him back in the day. The three of them together had been no match for the man. If Konoha hadn't been on the verge of victory on the main battlefield, forcing Hanzo to hold back, they never would have earned the title of "Sannin."
"Back then, Hanzo and Danzo..."
Konan lowered her gaze, slowly recounting how they had founded the Akatsuki, only to be betrayed by Hanzo and Danzo. Yahiko had killed himself to save her. Nagato was left physically and emotionally scarred. The Akatsuki that Yahiko had created was now nothing more than a mercenary organization.
And it was all thanks to Danzo.
"That bastard Danzo!"
Thump!
Jiraiya slammed his fist into a nearby tree, leaving a deep indent in the bark. He was consumed by guilt. If he hadn't left them, Yahiko wouldn't have died, and Nagato wouldn't have become what he was now. Nagato's fall was something he simply couldn't accept.
Yahiko had been such a good kid, founding the Akatsuki to achieve his dream of world peace. Now, Yahiko was dead, and Nagato had twisted the Akatsuki into a dark mercenary group. Jiraiya had once placed great hope in Nagato, teaching him everything he knew about his philosophy and worldview. He had hoped that one day, Nagato would become the Child of the Prophecy, just as the Great Toad Sage had foretold.
He never imagined Danzo would destroy it all. Jiraiya had always despised Danzo for his unscrupulous, bottom-feeding methods. To think that on top of his secret experiments, he had also done something like this. Dozens of Konoha shinobi dead, Yahiko's tragic death, Nagato crippled and driven mad—all for the sake of Danzo's ambition to eliminate a rival.
"Kawasaki asked me to come here. He wants me to work with him to deal with Danzo." Konan's voice was low. "He told me not to be hasty, to tell you first. Kawasaki said that you would have a way, Teacher. Right?"
Jiraiya clenched his jaw. "Don't worry, Konan. I'll make the Third Hokage throw Danzo in prison."
Konan managed a weary smile. "I hope you don't make me wait too long, Teacher Jiraiya. Otherwise, I'll deal with Danzo in my own way."
Jiraiya looked up sharply. "Konan, what are you planning to do?"
Though Danzo's actions were enraging, Jiraiya was more concerned that Konan would do something rash. He didn't care if Danzo lived or died, but he couldn't let Konan throw her life away.
Konan's body dissolved into a flurry of paper sheets. "Don't disappoint me, Teacher Jiraiya."
"Konan!"
Jiraiya reached out, but his hand closed on nothing but a few pieces of paper.
His brows knitted together in a deep frown. He didn't want a conflict to erupt between Konan and the village. He was, after all, a "Guardian of Konoha." In his original world, when he was searching for Tsunade, he had warned her that he would take action against anyone who bore ill will toward the village.
But in this situation, the fault lay entirely with Danzo. Was he supposed to kill Nagato and Konan because of one man's crimes?
No! I have to bring Nagato and Konan back!
Forgetting all about Naruto at the food stalls, he immediately bolted toward the center of Konoha.
...
Uchiha Snack Street.
Sasuke had been brought over by his clansmen. The first thing he saw was Naruto sitting by a stall with Kawasaki, happily eating savory pancakes.
Naruto's face lit up when he saw Sasuke. "Sasuke! Sasuke! Over here! Senior Kawasaki is treating us."
Seeing Naruto's bright, cheerful smile, the corners of Sasuke's mouth lifted slightly before he quickly suppressed it. He put on his usual cool expression, first bowing to Kawasaki. "Teacher." Then he turned to greet Naruto.
Naruto had already grabbed a piece of pancake and shoved it directly into Sasuke's mouth. "It's fresh out of the oven, still hot. Try it."
"Mmph..."
Caught off guard, Sasuke's mouth was stuffed full. "Hey... be careful, your fingers are almost in my mouth."
Kawasaki, watching Sasuke choke and mumble complaints at Naruto, couldn't help but burst out laughing. It was so good to see the two of them like this. Neither had suffered a tragic childhood. They could play and share food like normal kids. They both had happy upbringings.
Isn't this exactly what I wanted from the beginning?
Seeing the simple joy on the children's faces, Kawasaki felt that everything he had done was worth it. It didn't even matter if their growth as shinobi was a little behind schedule.
A paper crane in his pocket vibrated gently, pulling Kawasaki from his thoughts.
"I've got something to take care of. You two go find something fun to do," he said. "Naruto, come back with Sasuke for dinner tonight, you hear?"
"Can I really?" Naruto was ecstatic. Although he often sent a shadow clone to hang around the Uchiha district, he had never eaten there himself. As a Jinchuriki, he knew the Third Hokage kept a very close eye on him.
"Don't worry, Naruto. Tsunade is in the clan compound right now. I'll just have a word with the Third."
"Yeah! Long live Kawasaki!" Naruto shouted in excitement.
Sasuke shot his friend a look for acting so goofy and punched him lightly on the arm. "Stop jumping around. Let's go eat somewhere else. My treat this time..."
Kawasaki waved to them and vanished in a flicker.
...
In the forest.
Following the paper crane's guidance, Kawasaki found Konan.
"So, did you deliver all the lines I gave you?" Kawasaki asked.
Konan nodded. "Will it work?"
Her entire conversation with Jiraiya had been scripted by Kawasaki. He knew Jiraiya's personality inside and out. The moment he learned the Child of the Prophecy was heading down a dark path, he would rush to the Third Hokage in a panic.
Right now, the Akatsuki was still lying low, earning money as mercenaries. To Jiraiya, that was still manageable. But if he waited for the Akatsuki to grow stronger, things would become much more difficult. Although Obito and Danzo were responsible for the organization's transformation, Jiraiya would undoubtedly blame himself.
Now, all they had to do was wait for Jiraiya to pressure the Third Hokage. Sooner or later, Hiruzen would abandon Danzo.
Danzo always claimed that everything he did was for Konoha. What would it feel like when, one day, Konoha no longer wanted him?
Kawasaki took out a map of Konoha and handed it to Konan, pointing to several locations. "Here, and here..."
"These places should have Exploding Tags buried, and they aren't heavily populated," he explained. "Go and blow them up."
Konan looked at the map, puzzled. "These places? There are Exploding Tags buried here?"
Kawasaki nodded. "Yes. They were planted by captives from a small village during a past war. No one's found them in all these years. Nagato needs you, so set off the explosions and then leave. I'll handle the rest. Remember to leave a note when you're done. I guarantee Danzo will end up in a prison cell."
It was only after meeting Konan that Kawasaki remembered that many places in Konoha had been booby-trapped with Exploding Tags thirty years ago. They weren't in busy areas, and the Hyuga clan never had a reason to use their Byakugan to search those specific spots. Though many of the tags had likely expired, if the remaining ones detonated, they could still cause considerable panic.
It was the perfect opportunity to exploit.
...
In Konoha Village.
The Hokage's Office.
Jiraiya vaulted through the window.
The Third Hokage's brow furrowed into a knot. "How many times have I told you? Use the door! The door! Do you ever listen?"
Jiraiya ignored him, his expression grim. "Old Man, you need to arrest Danzo immediately."
The Third took a long drag from his pipe, his brow still wrinkled. It was just as he feared. First Tsunade, and now Jiraiya was here to condemn Danzo. It seemed Danzo's luck had finally run out.
"What is it this time?"
Jiraiya was prepared. "During the last Great Ninja War, I took on three students..."
He began to explain everything in detail: how he had met Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan, how he had cared for them, and his discovery of Nagato's Rinnegan.
"The Rinnegan!?"
The Third Hokage nearly dropped his pipe. "Aren't those the legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths?" He slammed his hand on the desk. "Why didn't you report such critical intelligence sooner!?"
Jiraiya gave a bitter smile. "I heard they all died. That's why I never mentioned it."
The Third's expression softened slightly. "And now?"
"I just received word. After I left, Yahiko founded an organization dedicated to world peace called the Akatsuki."
"That sounds like a good thing," the Third said, perplexed. While idealistic, it didn't sound malicious.
"It was good while Yahiko was alive. But he was tricked and killed. Nagato's ideals twisted, and now the Akatsuki has become a group of mercenaries."
The Third pinched the bridge of his nose. "The mastermind was Danzo, wasn't it?" The moment he heard "tricked and killed," Danzo was the first person who came to mind.
Jiraiya nodded. "Danzo is responsible for Yahiko's death. Now Nagato and Konan are bent on taking revenge against Konoha."
Bang!
The Third slammed his fist on the desk. It had been a long time since he'd been this angry. Konoha was already in a precarious state, and now Danzo had made them a powerful new enemy. The Rinnegan... its abilities were unknown, but it was certainly a formidable power. They could have been allies, perhaps even been brought into the village. Such a golden opportunity, ruined by Danzo.
Fool!
The Third Hokage let out a breath. "Where did you get this information? Is there any chance of salvaging the situation?"
"Konan is currently in the Uchiha district. Ostensibly, she's representing the Hidden Rain to congratulate Kawasaki on his new position, but she's actually planning to team up with him to deal with Danzo."
"Kawasaki again!" The Third's anger flared. But this wasn't the time to worry about Kawasaki. "I'll summon Danzo here at once. You stay."
He had already been planning to abandon Danzo for the past two days. His men were in place. Although the Root base still existed, the organization had not yet recovered its strength. Danzo's agents could only hide and couldn't gather openly. He wanted Jiraiya to stay as a precaution, in case Danzo tried something desperate.
Jiraiya opened the door and spoke to the Anbu outside. "Bring Danzo here."
"Yes, sir."
The room was well soundproofed. The Anbu outside had no idea what the Hokage and Jiraiya were discussing.
...
Danzo had been hiding in the Root headquarters these past few days. The recent public announcement had only served to further tarnish his name.
"Lord Danzo, we've had no response from Line Three. They are no longer buying our intelligence," a Root operative reported.
Danzo frowned. They weren't buying intel? Did that mean they were planning to send their own people to investigate? Kawasaki had invited so many guests with such fanfare; Danzo knew his previous schemes had failed. With an opportunity like this, the Hidden Cloud would surely send its own spies to probe Konoha's strength. He knew Kawasaki was no simple shinobi, causing such a stir right after his return.
Root's development had stalled. All he had managed to secure was the title of Honorary Elder, a far cry from his former position as the Hokage's Advisor. He no longer had the authority to recruit new members from the various clans. Besides Fu Yamanaka and Torune Aburame, Root was now filled with half-trained novices. The only one with any potential was Sai, but he wasn't yet ready for important missions.
"Anything else?" Danzo had suffered several major setbacks recently, and his funds were tight. He was waiting for an opportunity to make a comeback.
"That person has contacted us again. He wants us to investigate the Uchiha clan."
Danzo's eyes narrowed. Zetsu had just attacked Naruto not long ago. What was he planning now? Kawasaki was back, so getting into the Uchiha compound would be no easy feat. Obito had learned that the hard way. Besides, Itachi was still hiding there, his presence unrevealed.
Danzo glanced at his own arm, at the seals he had prepared as a precaution. Zetsu's mastery of Hashirama's cells was far superior to their own. But Zetsu was not to be trusted. He could only be used, and preferably...
"Lord Danzo, the Third Hokage summons you."
A Root member entered from outside, interrupting Danzo's thoughts. He considered it for a moment. Hiruzen probably wanted to discuss a plan to counter Kawasaki. After all, that kind of work had always fallen to him.
Danzo went alone, without his usual escort, heading to the Hokage's office as he always did.
...
In the Hokage Tower office.
"You're not with Naruto. What if he's in danger?" the Third suddenly asked, remembering that Jiraiya was supposed to be watching the boy.
"Tsunade is in the Uchiha district. Kawasaki wouldn't dare try anything," Jiraiya said dismissively. "And you, old man, you've been watching Naruto for years and he's never caused any real trouble. What are you so worried about?"
"Watching him is for his own safety," the Third said gravely. "If it weren't for the Anbu I had following him last time, he would have been kidnapped."
Jiraiya shrugged. "You're right, you're right. I can't argue with you." He adopted a lazy posture, and the Third knew he couldn't do much about it. That was just how Jiraiya was.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Enter."
The door opened to reveal two squads of Anbu standing guard. The Third nodded, and eight Anbu filed into the room. With a gesture from the Hokage, they quickly vanished into the office's various hiding spots. At a glance, it was impossible to tell eight extra people were concealed within.
The door was left open as the Third sat at his desk, waiting for Danzo.
Before long, Danzo walked in alone. But the moment he stepped inside, Jiraiya silently closed the door behind him and took up a position in front of it.
Danzo's face darkened. He looked at the Third. "Hiruzen, what is the meaning of this?"
The Third calmly lit his pipe. "Danzo, during the Third Great Ninja War, did you or did you not send men to the Village Hidden in the Rain?"
Danzo's expression turned grim as he scanned the room. Hiruzen clapped his hands, and the eight Anbu emerged from their hiding places, surrounding Danzo completely.
Danzo was silent for a moment. "And what if I did?"
Jiraiya couldn't hold back. "Why did you frame Yahiko? Why did you force him to his death!?"
Danzo lifted his chin slightly. "I have no need to explain my actions to you."
"You...!" Jiraiya's rage flared.
The Third raised a hand, stopping the furious Jiraiya. He sighed. "Danzo, you had no personal grudge against Yahiko. Why did you do it?"
Danzo glanced at the Third, then at Jiraiya, then at the circle of Anbu around him. He let out a cold laugh. "Utterly foolish. Do you have any idea what Yahiko's Akatsuki was doing?"
"Spreading peace!" Jiraiya answered.
Danzo narrowed his eye. "At that time, Konoha was the strongest of the great villages. Hiruzen, with you, the Three Sannin, and Minato, we had a real chance to unify the ninja world."
The Third Hokage stared at Danzo in shock. He had always known Danzo was ambitious, but he never thought he had entertained the idea of total conquest.
Ignoring Hiruzen's gaze, Danzo continued. "But the Akatsuki was spreading their ideals of 'peace,' creating obstacles on Konoha's path to unification."
"That's it?" Jiraiya was just as surprised.
Danzo snorted. "What do you know? If the Akatsuki were merely spouting empty words, they would have been no threat. But they had the power to stop wars. The Akatsuki offered a service: when two warring parties could not resolve their conflict through negotiation, they would aid the weaker side, forcing the stronger one to back down. Because of this, their reputation grew throughout the ninja world, and many smaller nations hired them as mediators.
"If the Akatsuki had been allowed to continue on that path, they would have won the trust of most of the smaller villages. In time, shinobi would have come to believe that only the Akatsuki could bring peace to the world. It would have reached a point where even declaring war would require the Akatsuki's permission.
"Konoha had the power to unite the ninja world. Why should we have stood by and watched the Akatsuki grow strong enough to threaten us?"
His meaning was clear. The Akatsuki's threat.