While Konoha and Kirigakure finally signed an alliance treaty to watch over each other, one side began silently licking its wounds, while the other began working hard to prepare talent and resources for its coming expansion;
While Iwagakure and Kumogakure joined hands, using a series of methods such as bribery, enticement, coups, and puppet regimes to pull up an invisible iron curtain to the north of the Land of Fire, dividing the shinobi world into two clearly separated sides;
While Obito Uchiha faced the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and pondered deeply on how exactly he could advance further without gathering all the Tailed Beasts, raising the power of the Mangekyo Sharingan to a level sufficient to confront powerful enemies head-on;
While Akatsuki, through spies from various sides whose identities had basically already become open cards internally, sent invitations to every country and shinobi village, hoping they would dispatch representatives to the Land of Rain to discuss the shinobi world's major affairs, and declaring that all security within the Land of Rain would be handled by Akatsuki—
Winter quietly passed.
The spring of a new year arrived in the human world in the form of a gentle breeze before people had fully adapted to the shinobi world's situation, which had changed as quickly as the seasons.
It dyed the earth green and awakened vitality.
"What a scene of thriving life, with all things competing to flourish."
Standing on the Hokage Rock that had been repaired by Earth Release shinobi, Jiraiya looked down at Konoha Village below, where large-scale reconstruction work was proceeding with tremendous energy and the village had regained the liveliness he was familiar with.
He could not help letting out a long breath and sighing with those words.
Standing behind him was Tsunade, who had changed into a kimono that fully displayed her personal charm and characteristics.
She looked at Jiraiya, who had rarely refrained from peeping at the women's bathhouse at a time like this and was instead here reflecting on life. On her face, still like that of a girl in her prime, the corners of her mouth curved into a faint, gratified smile.
Then she cleared her throat slightly. After coughing twice, she walked behind Jiraiya, who was holding paper and pen while recording something. She lightly, very lightly, patted his shoulder and smiled at this old friend she had known for decades.
"Jiraiya? The first group of exchange students and supplies will soon depart for Kirigakure. As the head of the escort group, instead of properly reassuring people in the team at a time like this, what are you doing running over to Hokage Rock?"
"I'm just recording Konoha's current scenery a little. After all, we'll soon be staying in Kirigakure for several months. By the time we bring those brats back with us, the village's reconstruction should already be finished, right?"
Jiraiya naturally put away the notebook where he had just written a pile of short phrases. He was not at all worried that Tsunade would notice the erotic descriptions written in code on it.
He patted his formal clothing and sighed from the heart.
"Isn't it good that reconstruction will be finished? At least after I come back, I won't have to worry about being unable to find somewhere to gamble."
Tsunade shrugged indifferently. The exposed skin at her chest swayed with scenery that made Jiraiya's old face flush red.
Then she turned around and yawned as she said goodbye to Jiraiya.
"All right, I've delivered the notice. Remember to go over and encourage everyone about to depart… Don't forget, among the children going for this exchange project, there is one regarded by the Uchiha clan as their next clan head. If you act too lax, it will make things very difficult for that brat Minato Namikaze."
"Tch, Uchiha…"
Hearing Tsunade mention that name, Jiraiya's previously sunny expression immediately dimmed somewhat.
He pressed his brow and looked helplessly toward the Hyuga clan compound not far from the Uchiha clan.
Both sides were Konoha's dojutsu clans. Both sides also had clan members who had fallen into Kirigakure's hands.
So why did their attitudes toward Kirigakure seem so clearly divided?
Although the Hyuga clan had also sent children and guards to participate in the exchange project, they were all people from the branch family. It was obvious they did not want to give Kirigakure any further chance to take advantage of them.
But what about you Uchiha?
You clearly know that the child Shisui Uchiha was deceived by Rei Kaguya until he was spinning in circles, yet you still refuse to believe in evil and send out another genius youth from your clan.
Are you not worried at all that another future star of your clan will also be tricked lame by the people of Kirigakure?
Although he thought that way, Jiraiya certainly would not show dissatisfaction toward the Uchiha clan on the surface.
Although the culprit behind the attack on Konoha at that time was Obito Uchiha, who had been believed dead, looking at how he had driven the Nine-Tails without hesitation to bombard the Uchiha clan compound, forcing Fugaku Uchiha to pay the price of one Mangekyo Sharingan just to barely protect the core clansmen, even the ninja clans most heavily damaged in Konoha's defense battle could no longer regard the Uchiha clan and Obito Uchiha as enemies in the same camp.
If this was a bitter-flesh scheme, then the sacrifice was far too great.
However, not discussing behind their backs whether the Uchiha clan had colluded with the enemy did not mean no one discussed whether the Uchiha clan and Kirigakure might have some ambiguous relationship.
After all, while everyone else only sent ordinary juniors as a token gesture, the Uchiha clan directly sent its future young clan head for the exchange. It was hard not to feel there was something fishy inside.
One had to know that when the Uchiha clan submitted the list of personnel participating in the exchange project to Konoha, even Minato Namikaze himself personally came forward and repeatedly confirmed the authenticity of the list with Fugaku Uchiha.
If Fugaku Uchiha had not repeatedly emphasized that the list was not mistaken, and if Itachi Uchiha himself had not also stated that he had voluntarily signed up to participate, the Uchiha clan's list might have been directly returned as a joke.
"Sigh. I don't understand. I really don't understand. The current shinobi world's situation is changing even faster than the seasons…"
After muttering to himself for a while, Jiraiya left the Hokage Rock, which overlooked the full view of Konoha, with the Body Flicker Technique.
At the fastest speed, he arrived among the exchange team that was making its final inventory of supplies.
Seeing his arrival, one extremely young-looking white-haired jonin took the initiative to step forward and greet him.
"You've arrived, Lord Jiraiya."
"Oh, Kakashi."
Jiraiya nodded. Looking at Kakashi Hatake's left eye, which was covered by his forehead protector, he asked in a concerned tone,
"How are you adapting?"
"I've adapted very well. Thanks to Lady Tsunade's treatment, although I can no longer see anything on the left side, I'm no longer as uncomfortable doing everything as I was when I first lost this eye."
Kakashi Hatake nodded, indicating that his condition was good.
Seeing this, Jiraiya nodded and began walking toward the Ninja Academy exchange students gathered in front of the caravan.
Before their official departure, he was prepared to properly explain to them certain precautions they had not yet learned in class—or had already been taught but had forgotten completely for all sorts of reasons.
As for Kakashi Hatake, he raised his head and looked at the bright spring sky, blue and clear, then slowly exhaled.
Over these past few months, he still had not walked out of the mental shock caused by Obito Uchiha's darkening and fall.
But he had already prepared himself to go outside, clear his mood, and witness a broader world.
"Perhaps only by leaving Konoha and traveling for a while will I be able to see your reason for doing this, Obito."
Kakashi Hatake looked at the birds spreading their wings and flying high in the sky, and thought so.
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