Nagi and Orochimaru arrived at the Northern Hideout.
There, using the Sage Mode research data provided by Kabuto, Orochimaru successfully suppressed Jūgo's rampage. He informed him that Kimimaro would be returning soon. Until then, Jūgo was to remain obediently at their side and assist with experimental research.
Thus, Jūgo followed them back to Orochimaru's main base in Otogakure (Hidden Sound Village).
With that, the red screen faded out.
The White Screen Lights Up
"My bets on life are always accurate…"
Jiraiya infiltrates the Land of Rain.
When the roaming dragon returns to the sea,
if the sea rejects me, I am Jiraiya.
When the fierce tiger returns to the mountain,
if the mountain rejects me, I am the great hero.
When the cloud crane returns to the sky,
if the heavens reject me, I am of Mount Myōboku.
If none will accept me—
then I shall simply be Jiraiya!
[Naruto Uzumaki: Pervy Sage!!!]
[Tsunade: Jiraiya…]
[Minato Namikaze: Jiraiya-sensei…]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: Jiraiya… sigh.]
[Yahiko: Jiraiya-sensei! Nagato, Konan, you…]
[Nagato: In the end, Jiraiya-sensei and we walk different paths.]
[Konan: Jiraiya-sensei, I…]
**[Jiraiya: Hahaha! Konan, you've grown into quite the beauty. Nagato's right—our ideals diverged. I don't blame you.
So in that world… I died just like that?
Hah. Looking back on my life… it's been one long string of failures.]**
[Hashirama Senju: Boy, what nonsense are you saying? As long as you've acted without betraying your heart, what does success or failure matter? Everyone makes mistakes. I certainly did. What matters is how you face them.]
[Orochimaru: So Tsunade actually won her bet on life for once.]
[Tsunade: Shut up! You think I wanted that?!]
[Jiraiya: Now, now, Tsunade. That was another world. In this one, I might not die at Nagato's hands. And even if I do, wouldn't Uncle Nagi just revive me?]
[Tsunade: Hmph. Since you know the outcome, stop throwing your life away and stay put.]
Jiraiya's heart skipped a beat.
But—
[Orochimaru: Jiraiya, think carefully. If you die in the Land of Rain again and your body sinks into the ocean, how exactly is Nagi supposed to revive you?]
[Jiraiya: ...]
[Kakashi Hatake: By the way, Jiraiya-sama, what was the final code you left behind?]
**[Jiraiya: Let me think… It meant "there is no original body," I believe. Even though some of my books hadn't been written yet, based on the existing ones, that should be correct.
I must've realized those Pains were people I had met before—meaning they were puppets.]**
The white screen continued.
The battle of brothers—Itachi falls by Sasuke's hand.
Tobi reveals the "truth" of the Uchiha Clan Massacre.
Taka captures the Eight-Tails—battle at the Valley of Clouds and Lightning.
Utakata and his master—capture of the Six-Tails.
News of Jiraiya's death—the inheritance of the popsicle.
And…
The Lost Tower—father and son meet, yet do not recognize one another.
The Tai Chi Rasengan.
[Fugaku Uchiha: Itachi… Sasuke…]
[Mikoto Uchiha: My children…]
[Kakashi Hatake: So Itachi truly died at Sasuke's hands. And Obito manipulated Sasuke afterward…]
[A (Fourth Raikage): B!!! Damn Uchiha brat! Wait—B, you dare sneak off?! Prepare yourself for your brother's iron fist!]
[Killer B: Oh no! Bro, that's another world, not this one!]
[Darui: Boss, calm down. In our world, Sasuke won't be swayed by Obito.]
[Cee: But the Akatsuki will still target Lord B.]
[Gengetsu Hōzuki: What the hell?! Even the Six-Tails is gone?! Is Kirigakure losing everything?]
[Utakata: Second Mizukage-sama… I was a missing-nin.]
[Gengetsu: Missing-nin my foot! You already know you misunderstood your master. Stay put. And someone deal with that White Wave fellow—I don't trust him.]
[Kushina Uzumaki: Ahh! Minato, you met Naruto before becoming Hokage? That's wonderful!]
[Minato: Did I? I don't remember that.]
[Jiraiya: Minato, you sealed those memories away. Of course you wouldn't.]
[Chōza Akimichi: Right. Our memories were sealed.]
Yet Shibi Aburame frowned.
[Shibi Aburame: No… We did carry out that mission—but not like this.]
[Tsunade: What? Weren't your memories sealed by Minato?]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: That's right! I assigned Minato and his team to investigate the ruins of Rōran—not the Kingdom of Rōran itself. At that time, Rōran had already been destroyed by war.]
**[Sara: Yes… The timeline in that world feels different from what I remember.
I led my people into hiding to escape the war.]**
[Tobirama Senju: It appears there was a discrepancy here.]
[Kushina Uzumaki: So… Naruto didn't actually travel back in time?]
[Minato Namikaze: Kushina, perhaps that's for the best. If something went wrong here and altered the future, it could've been disastrous.]
[Ōnoki: As if Konoha hasn't suffered enough already. With Nagi around, how bad could the future get?]
[Minato: ...]
[Chiyo: Rasa.]
[Rasa (Fourth Kazekage): Mukade. Once this broadcast ends, you'll answer for yourself.]
[Mukade: Wait, the me from this world didn't time travel, right? Why arrest me?!]
[Rasa: Because you are still a missing-nin of Sunagakure.]
[Mukade: ...]
Konohagakure (Hidden Leaf Village)
Nagi and Sasuke had just completed a mission. They planned to return for training—Nagi wanted Sasuke to grow more accustomed to the Mangekyō Sharingan… and perhaps "incidentally" confirm whether his own abilities truly functioned as Orochimaru and Kabuto had theorized.
As they passed a yakiniku restaurant, they ran into Naruto, Kakashi, and Sakura.
Naruto waved first.
"Yo! Nagi, Sasuke! Perfect timing! We just wrapped up a super tough mission. Kakashi-sensei's treating us to yakiniku. Wanna join?"
(Kakashi internally: Naruto, it only became difficult because you targeted the wrong objective…)
Still, Kakashi smiled.
"Nagi, Sasuke, since we've run into each other, why not share a meal?"
Sakura hurriedly added,
"Yes, please! Sasuke-kun, Nagi! The last time we all ate together was years ago after a Team 7 mission!"
Sasuke glanced at Nagi.
Nagi glanced back.
Their eyes spoke silently.
Sasuke: I'll follow your lead.
Nagi: If Kakashi's paying, we shouldn't waste his generosity.
They nodded in agreement.
And accepted the invitation.
PS: I've been releasing chapters daily . Honestly, it hurts seeing almost no support on Patreon after all that work.If you're enjoying the fic, even a little, supporting me would mean a lot. It helps a student stay independent .
complete fic (all chapters ) are already up on Patreon → patreon.com/Chakraflow789
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Chakraflow789