Jiraiya's return to the village was undoubtedly bad news for Yami.
As one of the Sannin, he couldn't be dealt with without a legitimate reason. Plus, the past friendship between the three Sannin still had to be considered.
The ideal situation was that Jiraiya wandered the ninja world while Yami remained in Konoha. They would each mind their own business.
But Yami was preparing to strike the remaining four major nations. With Jiraiya's return, it was inevitable that he would jump out and start preaching nonsense.
It was irritating.
Patting Hotaru's head, Yami nodded absentmindedly. "I know. Let the old man and the others handle it. We don't need to care."
Out of sight, out of mind. Yami simply ignored it.
Seeing the light in Hotaru's eyes with a faint trace of fire hidden deep within, Yami grinned evilly and picked her up.
"Let's go. Time for Sensei to check how your taijutsu training is going."
After drilling her with a few new taijutsu moves, Yami got lazy and didn't go out again. He slept until the next day.
By the time he got up around noon, the whole household was already busy, making him, the Hokage, seem particularly idle.
Since there was nothing else to do, he decided to eat to his heart's content.
He called his two apprentices to join him at Yakiniku Q for a big feast.
Sasuke paid.
While paying the bill, Sasuke's mouth twitched, and a red light flashed in his Sharingan.
A single ryō could humble even a hero. And several thousand? That could bring a former king to his knees for a bowl of rice.
Even though he'd earned quite a bit through the bounty station, life in Konoha wasn't cheap.
With Konoha expanding constantly, land was more valuable than gold.
To repay Naruto for the money he'd borrowed, provide a decent living space for his clan members, and establish a lasting family legacy, Sasuke had completely become obsessed with money.
Recently, most of Konoha's high-level missions had been handled by him and Naruto. Yami couldn't even bring himself to take his own cut.
The kid was suffering.
But even if he couldn't bear it, the rules couldn't be bent.
Naruto and Sasuke were still Genin, and he was their Jōnin instructor. Sharing the mission pay was standard procedure. As Hokage, he couldn't be the one breaking the rules.
Walking out of Yakiniku Q, seeing Sasuke's expression like someone owed him two million, Yami couldn't help but laugh.
"Don't be so bitter. I'll give you a piece of news. Think of it as me paying for the meal this time."
"What news?" Sasuke asked through clenched teeth.
"News about Uchiha Itachi."
Sasuke's gaze sharpened instantly as he waited for the rest.
"I've already arranged for your battle with Uchiha Itachi. One month from now, at Naka Shrine. That will be the day you settle everything."
Sasuke trembled with excitement, then gritted his teeth and nodded. "I'll be ready."
Yami continued walking ahead. "Izumi and Hikari are back too. Tomorrow they'll tell you Itachi's final trump card. You should spend the next ten days focusing entirely on training."
"Yami-sensei, those people…" Sasuke asked cautiously.
Knowing what he meant, Yami answered directly, "After delivering the message, Shun went straight to the Land of Snow. It won't be long before they return."
Sasuke felt a weight lift off his shoulders.
To Sasuke, restoring the Uchiha clan in Konoha was as important as killing Itachi.
Both were forms of redemption.
Killing Itachi was redemption for Itachi. Bringing back the clan was redemption for himself.
Just as Yami was about to say more, he suddenly sensed something and frowned.
"Alright. Wait for me at the training ground tomorrow. You two go on ahead."
Sasuke nodded and saw Yami's mood shift. Without asking anything, he grabbed Naruto and quietly left.
Not long after the two departed, a tall figure with a scroll on his back appeared on the rooftop ahead.
Yami glanced at him, then leapt a few times toward a quiet park in the village.
Jiraiya followed.
"Why'd you come back to the village instead of collecting folk tales…"
There weren't many people in the park. Small groups of villagers walked along the path with their families, admiring the beautiful autumn island scenery.
Yami sat on a bench and looked at Jiraiya, asking impatiently.
The bleak autumn wind blew through Jiraiya's long hair as he spread his hands helplessly. "The ninja world is in chaos now. Normally it'd be fine, but if I go to any of the other great nations now, I'll be branded a spy and hunted within two days."
"Why do you sound like you're blaming me?"
Yami let out a dry laugh. "You mean to say the tension in the ninja world is my fault, and now you can't go sightseeing?"
Jiraiya sighed and advised sincerely, "Weren't things fine before?"
"You're strong enough. The other villages were intimidated. The ninja world was stable and peaceful."
"So why are you suddenly targeting all the Jinchūriki? Isn't this deliberately provoking conflict?"
"With the Akatsuki organization already threatening the ninja world, Konoha shouldn't be making more enemies."
Yami couldn't be bothered to argue. "The village's policies don't concern an idle person like you. Don't you remember the ninja code: 'Do not disobey orders from your superior'?"
"As for the Akatsuki organization…"
Any remaining sense of camaraderie from fighting side by side was long gone. Yami didn't have the patience to continue this discussion and decided to give Jiraiya something to keep him busy.
"I've discovered some information about their leader."
Jiraiya's expression shifted. "You know the Akatsuki leader's true identity?"
"I only have some clues."
Yami briefly explained how he infiltrated the Akatsuki's meeting using the ring, and that the leader possessed the legendary Rinnegan of the Sage of Six Paths.
"What?!"
Jiraiya exclaimed in shock.
"You heard me right. Rinnegan."
Yami smiled. "With the Sage of Six Paths' eyes, no wonder he's ambitious enough to gather all the tailed beasts."
"Jiraiya, I'm assigning you the task of investigating the Akatsuki leader's true identity."
"I understand."
Jiraiya nodded silently, heart in turmoil.
Rinnegan…
Is it you, Nagato?
Jiraiya left the park in a daze and used the Reverse Summoning Technique to arrive at Mount Myōboku, one of the Three Great Holy Lands.
"Little Jiraiya, why are you here?"
Two old toads hopped in front of him.
"Fukasaku-sensei, Shima-sensei."
Jiraiya looked serious. "Today I received news that the leader of Akatsuki possesses the Rinnegan. I want to meet the Great Toad Sage and seek his guidance."
The two toad sages exchanged looks. Finally, Fukasaku nodded. "Come with me, Little Jiraiya. Let's go see Elder Sage."
Under their guidance, Jiraiya was brought to a large hall.
On a massive sage throne lay an enormous toad, slouched lazily. Its wrinkled skin resembled aged bark, telling of time's cruelty.
Though normally carefree, Jiraiya lowered his head and dared not make a sound, fearing he would disturb the Great Toad Sage's rest.
"Master! Master!"
Fukasaku hopped up and shouted twice into the Great Toad Sage's ear. The old toad finally opened his eyes with effort.
"Fukasaku… did you bring me more sake?"
"What?!"
Shima shouted. "What? You gave him sake again? Are you trying to bump him off and take over Mount Myōboku?"
"You know his memory isn't reliable," Fukasaku replied awkwardly.
"Is it memory or another dream? Master, tell us!"
As the two bickered, the Great Toad Sage finally stirred, looking down at Jiraiya with a gentle voice.
"It's… Little Jiraiya. Just in time… I have a new prophecy for you."
"A new prophecy?" Jiraiya's eyes widened. "Is it about the Child of Prophecy?"
"I don't know." The Great Toad Sage's answer was unexpected. He murmured, "Two boys close as brothers, one traverses among giant beasts, casting the anchor of hope into the abyss. The White Demon devours all. The fate of the world lies in his hands."
Jiraiya and the two toads fell into deep thought.
There was a lot of information in that prophecy. At least two boys and a demon god were mentioned.
Whether the demon god was human was unclear, but the boys certainly were. Though "boys" to a ten-thousand-year-old toad could mean anything.
"Great Toad Sage, did you clearly see who those two boys were? Is one of them the Child of Prophecy?" Jiraiya asked.
"Little Jiraiya…"
The old sage took a slow breath and replied, "The Child of Prophecy is still human. But the White Demon… is a being beyond human. The world has become incomprehensible to me. You must seek the answer on your own."
Even the old toad was confused. Recently, he had been having many dreams, but most had no clear revelations and ended with a red moon hanging high in the sky.
"Rinnegan… someone with Rinnegan must either be a sage or a demon god!"
Jiraiya, remembering his mission, told the Great Toad Sage everything Yami had revealed.
"Rinnegan…"
A flicker of memory crossed the Toad Sage's cloudy eyes.
Thousands of years ago, he had been smaller, younger. At that time, there was also a boy with Rinnegan. They sealed it together...
Wait!
The Great Toad Sage's eyes snapped open. Natural energy surged uncontrollably. The two toad sages were blown away by the pressure, and Jiraiya stared in disbelief.
This old toad… was this powerful?!
This amount of natural energy easily surpassed even a tailed beast.
"Master?"
Fukasaku and Shima looked at the now-upright Great Toad Sage in shock. They had been with him for centuries and had never seen him lose control like this.
"Little Jiraiya… this information cannot be ignored."
The Great Toad Sage composed himself and spoke solemnly. "I suddenly recalled what the White Demon might be. If it really is her, the ninja world faces a terrible calamity."
"To oppose the White Demon, the Rinnegan is essential."
Jiraiya's heart trembled. He nodded with a grave expression. "I understand."
After leaving Mount Myōboku, Jiraiya didn't delay. He immediately departed from Konoha and headed for the Land of Rain. His fate was once again aligning with its original path.
Meanwhile, Akatsuki's tailed beast capture operation continued steadily.
But in truth, there weren't many Jinchūriki they could still capture.
Three-Tails posed a challenge for Kakuzu and Hidan, and it was Tobi and Hiruko who ultimately subdued it.
While the Immortal Duo was still searching for the Six-Tails, news came that it had already been taken—by someone in Akatsuki's cloak.
The implication was obvious.
Furious, Nagato personally captured Seven-Tails and spent tremendous energy sealing the beasts into the Gedo Statue, even though they were out of order.
As things stood…
Once Eight-Tails was captured, it would be time for the final battle with Konoha.
If Konoha was defeated, the remaining three tailed beasts could be obtained, and the Gedo Statue would be fully revived.
"The mission to capture Eight-Tails is entrusted to you, Itachi, Kisame."
Pain summoned the two he considered most reliable.
No matter what secrets Kisame and Itachi might be hiding, at least they hadn't defected—yet.
"It will take a bit of time," Itachi said calmly. "I have a duel scheduled. I'll begin the mission after that."
"A duel?" Pain frowned, his tone cold. "The matter of the tailed beasts is critical. It can't be delayed."
"My eyes can't hold out much longer," Itachi replied. "The burden of the Sharingan is too heavy. I need new eyes to unleash their full power—perhaps even greater power."
"I've already arranged a battle with Uchiha Sasuke. With his hatred over the clan massacre, he won't refuse."
"And with Uchiha pride, he won't ask Yami for help either. I will win this fight."
"…I see."
Pain's expression softened slightly. He glanced at Kisame, who showed no reaction, and concluded Itachi was likely telling the truth.
"Then I'll take care of Eight-Tails myself."
With Konoha exerting immense pressure, Pain now treasured the organization's manpower. No other pair could handle Eight-Tails. Only he could guarantee success.
Itachi watched him leave and turned to Kisame. "Do you know where Orochimaru is?"
Kisame blinked, then nodded. "Base No. 3. That's where his lab is."
"I'm heading there to get some medical supplies from Kabuto. No need to come with me."
With that, Itachi departed.
But he wasn't going to get medicine—he was going to complete the final mission Konoha had entrusted to him.
(To be continued.)
***
For every 200 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support me on P/treon to read 30+ advanced chapters: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)