Upon learning of Jiraiya's sudden arrival, Hikari Uchiha frowned. He exchanged a sharp look with Fugaku, his voice low.
"Jiraiya is here... Fugaku, I haven't had the chance to ask you yet. What is the current situation back in the clan?"
Fugaku's expression turned grim at the question. "After the Cloud's ambush at the Valley of Hell, when word got out that Ren was alive and planned to take his revenge on the Land of Lightning... nearly the entire clan rallied behind him."
"Several elders have already begun mobilizing for war. Yashiro Uchiha, the leader of the Hawks, even bypassed me to petition the Hokage directly, demanding the Uchiha clan be deployed to the Land of Lightning front. And Great Elder Setsuna, the only one who could have suppressed them, is..."
Hikari's eyes flickered. "I see. This atmosphere isn't much different from when the Great Elder was plotting to assassinate the Second Hokage and spark a coup."
"Konoha must be nervous. Jiraiya is likely here as a lobbyist for the village and the Fire Daimyo, trying to bridge the gap between the village and the clan."
Hikari took a deep breath and looked at Seiichiro Uchiha, who was waiting by the door. "Seiichiro, please invite him in."
Shortly after, a tall man with an intense expression entered. His long white hair reached his waist, he wore a forehead protector with the kanji for 'Oil' (油), and red markings streaked down from his eyes. Jiraiya took his seat, and Hikari immediately spoke up with a frown.
"Jiraiya, forgive my bluntness, but if you are here on behalf of the Fire Daimyo to convince Ren Uchiha to stand down—"
Jiraiya blinked, then shook his head, cutting him off.
"Wait, wait. That stuff doesn't matter. You two don't need to be so tense."
He waved a hand dismissively. "Regarding this incident in the Land of Lightning... while Ren Uchiha has been a bit reckless, we are still at war. A decapitation strike against an enemy head of state is a valid strategy. At the end of the day, his actions just lack 'official' backing. To fix that, we just need to find Orochimaru on the front lines and get him to sign a mission permit. That would clear Ren of all charges."
Jiraiya spoke with such sincerity, effectively siding with the Uchiha, that Fugaku and Hikari were left speechless. The entire clan was ready for war, and relations with the village leadership were at a freezing point, yet Jiraiya was acting like it was no big deal?
Seeing their skepticism, Jiraiya's face grew solemn.
"Gentlemen, I am here because of something far more important to me. Years ago, I received guidance from the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku. He prophesied that once I could stand on my own, I would travel the world, take a disciple, and pass on my teachings."
"In that prophecy, my student would bring a revolution to the world—though it was unclear if it would bring peace or destruction. That child is the one I have been searching for: The Child of Prophecy!"
Fugaku's brow furrowed. "You came for Ren because of a sage's prophecy? Are you saying Ren is this Child of Prophecy?"
He shook his head. "But Jiraiya, Ren is already Orochimaru's disciple!"
"Correct," Jiraiya nodded. "Ren Uchiha is definitely not the Child of Prophecy. My intended student is someone else entirely."
"Then..." Hikari looked at him, confused.
"I found this hidden Uchiha post in Unraikyō thanks to the Great Toad Sage's guidance. I came as an envoy for Konoha, but five days ago, I was reverse-summoned to Mount Myoboku. There, I learned of a new, urgent prophecy."
Jiraiya's expression became profoundly serious.
"A child who will forge a brand-new path for this world... someone even more important than the Child of Prophecy! A Child of Destiny, like the true Sages of legend, has appeared!"
"He shall wield the Sword of the Thunder God, wear the Jade of the Emperor, and descend upon this world in the form of a true Sage! And the name of that child was unmistakably clear in the Great Toad Sage's vision!"
Jiraiya took a deep breath. "Ren Uchiha!"
Hiss— Hikari and Fugaku both sucked in a sharp breath, their pupils shrinking.
"Child of Destiny? Forging a new path for the world?"
Were they talking about the same Ren Uchiha? That brat was a pure brawler. They'd spent the last few days getting massive headaches just trying to clean up his messes. Since when had "their" Ren become so legendary?
The two looked at each other, stunned. However, as high-ranking Uchiha, they knew of Jiraiya's history and the power of the Three Great Sage Regions. The Sages of Mount Myoboku possessed bizarre and potent abilities, and Jiraiya was their favored champion. His solemn tone and the fact that he found their secret hideout gave his words immense weight.
"Could it be true?" Hikari asked Fugaku, dazed.
"Of course it's true!" Jiraiya snapped. "And right now, my other students and Ren Uchiha have already joined forces! The legendary Child of Prophecy and the Child of Destiny have converged! This is a fated crossroads!"
Jiraiya spoke with desperate urgency. "The Great Toad Sage commanded me to find and protect that child immediately, then bring him to Mount Myoboku! This concerns the fate of the entire Shinobi world! Please, let me see Ren Uchiha!"
Hikari went silent for a moment, then nodded. But as he looked at Jiraiya's earnest face, an awkward expression crossed his own.
"Well... since it's a request from the Great Toad Sage, letting you see Ren wouldn't be a problem. However... we actually don't know where he is right now."
Hikari's gaze hardened. "But tomorrow—when the Five-Kage Summit convenes and the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning appears—he will surely show himself!"