Yagura never expected to receive such an answer. For just a moment, he stood frozen in place, unable to utter a word.
His small eyes, disproportionate to his massive frame, revealed unmistakable shock. His scaly face actually showed something close to genuine bewilderment.
Could it really be true that someone like Saitama Uchiha—a rogue ninja—had done everything for such a reason?
This turned everything upside down.
For just a moment, Yagura suspected that Saitama was toying with him. But seeing the sincerity and seriousness in Saitama's gaze, he knew this matter wasn't simple.
"This world has been heading in the wrong direction from the beginning. Everything I'm about to do is merely an attempt to slowly bring it back onto the correct path."
Saitama looked into Yagura's eyes as he spoke each word deliberately.
He also realized these words perhaps shouldn't come from someone like himself who currently played the role of antagonist.
However, this was indeed his ultimate goal.
"Coming from you—a rogue ninja—these words make me feel somewhat uncomfortable. A strong sense of dissonance is spreading within me, and my smile is already struggling to stay on my face."
There was something peculiar in Yagura's tone. Although the two were life-and-death enemies at this moment, it didn't prevent him from speaking with Saitama in such a calm manner.
"None of that matters anymore. What's important is that I'm now trying to build the ideal beautiful world!"
"No matter whether I'm a rogue ninja or a ninja from Konoha, these identities have long since lost most of their significance. Then let's fight—for our own ideals."
Saitama faced Yagura, his aura growing increasingly powerful. Oppressive energy radiated outward from him in all directions.
"That discomfort feels even stronger! What you're doing seems contradictory to the entire Shinobi World's development. Can you still insist on your own view at this point?"
Yagura's lips curved into a mocking smile. After finishing his sentence, he snorted loudly, creating two shallow craters on the ground.
Sensing Saitama's powerful battle aura, Yagura remained fully alert. He knew well that facing Saitama required complete seriousness—there could be no slack. After all, Saitama possessed tremendous destructive power along with unpredictable Space-Time Ninjutsu.
The conversation might seem casual, but it was actually a form of psychological combat preceding the fight—the opening phase of the coming battle.
As for what happened earlier, it might have simply been a powerful probe.
"That discomfort comes purely from fear—fear of facing the truth. Deep down, you believe we shinobi are incapable of ever rising up against oppression. Especially not for such a seemingly ridiculous reason. Perhaps you think our actions being driven by selfish desires would make more sense."
"I hate oppression, so I chose resistance—that's such a simple reason. I will gradually prove that it's you who are mistaken."
Saitama spread his arms open wide, extending them forward. Lightning crackled around his hands, accompanied by the faint growl of distant thunder.
He was already ready to attack. Preparations were complete, and the words had been spoken. It was time for real action.
These idle talks had all been building toward something—but neither party intended to break the veil just yet.
Yagura fell silent after hearing Saitama's words. His tiny eyes narrowed even further, now just narrow slits as he stared at Saitama standing a short distance away.
For a Rogue Ninja to speak like this felt incomprehensible and disorienting.
Every Rogue Ninja should be considered a disgrace to their village and a target for elimination.
After all, weren't they people who betrayed their village's values and chose to leave? Shouldn't they be nothing more than scum polluting the shinobi world, like rats running through streets? Then why does this person hold such lofty ideals? Although these ideals are also extreme, they're fundamentally different from those who commit evil for evil's sake.
Right now, Saitama's words were flipping everything upside down, completely transforming the identity of "Rogue Ninja" and washing it clean of its former stigma.
In Saitama's view, it had always been the powerful hidden villages and their high-level leaders who were wrong. The errors in this world had accumulated gradually through their actions.
"You think you know where the shinobi world's peace comes from? Tear it down blindly like this and all we'll get is endless war."
Suddenly raising his voice, Yagura's chakra surged violently, carving bare patches into the ground beneath his feet and leaving behind numerous spiral patterns.
Though Saitama's words sounded righteous, his actions deeply offended Yagura, who held the position of Mizukage.
According to Saitama's argument, he was striving to reform the entire shinobi world, leading it toward a brighter tomorrow, while people like himself—leaders of major hidden villages—were obstacles blocking progress.
How ridiculous! Without the balance maintained by the Five Great Villages' shinobi, who knows where the shinobi world would have gone? It is precisely through mutual restraint and opposition that today's peace exists.
And yet, someone like Saitama, working alongside the Akatsuki Organization, is gathering the Tailed Beasts across the shinobi world—causing chaos and undoing the fragile peace won at great cost during the Third Great Ninja War. That kind of act deserves nothing but condemnation and retribution.
"You people hoarded most of the benefits before. I pursue reform without considering your interests because you've already rotted beyond redemption!"
[Lightning] crackled and exploded outward, transforming into searing electric currents that swirled around Saitama's body.
"I was once a ninja of Konoha—fought for its future, believed in what I was doing."
"Until one day, someone from my own village told me I was never truly valued and swung his scythe at me, trying to make me his nourishment."
"The one who revealed this to me was Konoha's former elder, Danzo Shimura."
"And it was him who made me realize that the world wasn't as beautiful as I'd imagined—and taught me just how desperately this world needs change!"
Staring at Yagura, Saitama began bending his legs. In an instant, he pressed downward forcefully, shattering the ground beneath him. A spiderweb-like network spread outward rapidly.
"When I saw how rotten and broken this world really was, I made up my mind to change it—no matter how idealistic that sounds!"
"At least this gives me some hope, rather than living numbly in darkness, waiting to be saved."
"If no one ever tries to do these things, nobody will ever know what the world will become afterwards. Every era needs its pioneers. The end of the Warring States Period was brought by Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha along with the founders of the Hidden Villages. Then now, I want to be the one to transform this era!"
"The road ahead is long—but I'm running toward it!"
"You people who've been compromised by this era, it's time to step down and witness a brand-new age."
"So then, for the sake of this new era, Yagura Karatachi, your Three-Tails will be mine!"
As Saitama spoke his last word, he vanished from the ground and reappeared midair.
His entire body was enveloped in Sage Chakra, radiating a chilling and detached aura—[Snake Sage Art].
"This is... Sage Technique?"
Yagura wasn't surprised by Saitama's reaction, simply watching him while narrowing his eyes slightly.
He noticed the sudden appearance of nearly transparent white chakra surrounding Saitama's body—an aura both familiar and oppressive dawning in his mind.
Right now, Saitama's entire demeanor had changed—crueler and darker.
If previously he was merely a cold-hearted and aloof teenager, now he resembled an almost ruthless machine—his whole being radiated a sense of utter disregard toward everything.
This coldness reminded Yagura of Orochimaru, though this Saitama seemed even more serpentine than his memory of Orochimaru—his indifference and ruthlessness, the way he looked at enemies like prey...
Sage Techniques weren't unfamiliar to Yagura—he had encountered them before.
Years ago, during battles between Mist and Konoha, he had fought against Jiraiya, the self-proclaimed Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku and one of Konoha's Legendary Three Sanin.
Back then, he had suffered greatly under Jiraiya's use of Sage Mode, which also became a major turning point in that war.
It was after that encounter that he learned about another extremely powerful type of chakra—Sage Chakra—existing alongside normal ambient chakra and Tailed Beast chakra in the Shinobi World.
That was Sage Chakra—a fusion of natural energy and regular chakra, possessing characteristics far stronger than ordinary chakra, even rivaling Tailed Beast chakra.
Although Saitama's overall presence felt completely different from Jiraiya back then, that chakra resonance was unmistakable.
This rogue ninja from Konoha had indeed formed Sage Chakra—and based on the changes happening to him, he had likely entered Sage Mode.
And judging by how quickly he activated it, it seemed even faster than how Jiraiya did it back then!
Yagura remembered how Jiraiya needed Orochimaru to hold him off for quite a while before barely entering that state—only then managing to suppress Yagura's already frenzied condition and secure victory.
But here was Saitama, seemingly slipping into that state smoothly and effortlessly right in the middle of conversation, without even forming visible hand seals.
This caught Yagura off guard—and made him even more cautious.
In midair, Saitama hovered like a godlike figure, utilizing the Snake Sage Art's brief aerial suspension. Lightning surged around him, weaving up and down his body like serpents.
This brief hovering ability was achieved by using Sage Chakra to harmonize with the surrounding air currents, generating a stable updraft—a skill every master of the full Snake Sage Art possessed.
"If that's how it must be," he said gravely, "then carry your burden to the place it belongs."
Yagura's maw widened as violent chakra began to gather—another attack shaped like the [Tailed Beast Ball].
Seeing that Saitama had no intention of continuing the conversation and seemed trapped in his own thoughts, Yagura launched his attack. A massive amount of Chakra condensed rapidly, taking shape into a dense, dark energy sphere.
[Tailed Beast Ball] was powerful, but not something that could be used repeatedly in succession. At least not by him in his current state. Instead, he simply compressed vast quantities of Tailed Beast Chakra, following principles closely resembling those of the Tailed Beast Ball.
Meanwhile, Saitama positioned himself midair at eye level with Yagura, slowly rising even higher until towering slightly above Yagura's head.
He too was preparing his attack—Lightning continuously condensing and compressing before finally gathering into his palm.
Soon, a [Spear of Lightning] materialized in Saitama's hand, glowing blindingly as Arcs of electricity danced across his arm.
"Let the Tailed Beast sealed within you give its all!"
With a twist of his waist, Saitama spoke heavily, then hurled his jutsu forward with full force. The air groaned under the intense pressure of the lightning's speed. Instantly after releasing the jutsu, Saitama followed through—his Chakra surging and pressing behind him, giving him initial thrust and direction.
This strike was swift as lightning, majestic in scale, imbued with both conviction and killing intent.
Even he himself felt it surprising that he had said so much just now. Now though, he wanted to finish off Yagura quickly and seize control over the Three-Tails.
The [Spear of Lightning] shot forth, carving a white trail through the air and tearing open the atmosphere itself, allowing Saitama—following close behind—to maintain maximum speed without air resistance hindering him.
Below, just before releasing his jutsu, Yagura sensed something unusual. Almost simultaneously, he spat out the energy sphere from his mouth toward the airborne Saitama.
Fiery red Tailed Beast Chakra gave the projectile a volatile and formidable appearance. Its speed wasn't lacking either—it left his mouth so fast it left faint red chakra imprints in the air, targeting Saitama on a downward trajectory, matching the intensity of Saitama's jutsu blow for blow, perhaps even surpassing it in sheer terror thanks to its size and swirling aura of chaotic Chakra Vortex.
To ordinary eyes, Saitama's move seemed like a fool's gamble—a fragile pebble against a mountain.
Yet in reality, immediately after spitting out the energy sphere, Yagura prepared his next move, gathering large quantities of Chakra onto his turtle-like backshell.
Such actions suggested a cautious stance toward Saitama's Lightning Release Sage Chakra technique.
In the distance, the Hidden Mist Anbu ninja had already abandoned their fight with Konan because she kept flying high in the sky, rendering their techniques completely useless.
They watched Saitama reappear unharmed in front of Yagura, exchange a few words, and soon return to battle.
Looking at Saitama who fearlessly charged straight into Yagura's Ninjutsu, they had already discarded their earlier contempt, now regarding Saitama as a ninja equal to—or perhaps even slightly stronger than—Yagura.
In an instant, the two jutsu collided midair.
[Crackle!]
Midair, white pierced through red, then continued descending toward Yagura below.
Everything unfolded quietly—no flashy explosions, no dazzling effects, and certainly nothing dramatic enough to shock either fighter.
Saitama's Lightning Release Sage Chakra tore effortlessly through the energy sphere formed from Tailed Beast chakra.
Yagura's eyes widened as he fixed his gaze on that piercing white lightning spear, then released a thunderous roar. The sound wave rippled outward while the chakra gathered around his Kara shell began to shift.
The chakra around his back surged wildly, more of it converging there and forming into a massive red tentacle, which quickly lashed out toward Saitama and his technique.
From the start, he hadn't really expected that single energy sphere to finish off Saitama. In fact, just in case, he had prepared a second attack right from the beginning—a backup plan now manifested as this tentacle.
While the tentacle couldn't deal damage as heavy as the energy sphere, it made up for it with maneuverability. As long as he could seize Saitama with it, finishing the fight would be quick and easy.
This tail was somewhat larger than his own previous one, measuring nearly ten to twenty meters long, and far more flexible and robust. Wisps of red Tailed Beast chakra trailed its movements, spreading into the air and distorting the surrounding atmosphere slightly.
After all, this tail was condensed from Tailed Beast chakra, naturally carrying some corrosive properties, unfriendly to anything nearby.
[Whoosh!]
The moment the tentacle formed, it sliced through the air with a piercing sound, lashing toward the white figure above.
[Crash!]
Right after Saitama's technique broke through Yagura's Tailed Beast chakra sphere, the tentacle made contact with the white Lightning Release technique. For a brief moment, they were locked in stalemate, then both flickered, dimming momentarily before flashing again.
"Hm?"
Controlling the tentacle, Yagura felt the immense piercing force from the technique, so he forcefully increased its strength, trying to wrap the appendage around the white Lightning Release spear.
[Pap!] A hand slammed onto the base of the spear, boosting its glow, and pushed down hard, driving the tip deep into the tentacle.
Lightning crackled along the tip, clashing violently with the Tailed Beast chakra, causing the surrounding air to shriek with tearing sounds.
Earlier, Saitama had fallen slightly behind his own technique, but now he pressed a single hand against the back end of it, channeling more chakra to resist the incoming tendrils.
The two forces collided, locking in battle for several seconds. Above them, two vividly different chakra colors flared in the sky. Sweat dripped down Saitama's face as his Sharingan burned crimson, pulsing with fury. As for Yagura, his body began retreating slightly while letting out various meaningless growls and shrieks.
Although he was currently in the tailed beast state, how could he possibly be losing ground to Saitama in a direct clash?
A daze flickered across Yagura's mind as he prepared to exert more strength, but at that moment, the situation changed.
"Shatter!"
Saitama roared furiously. His arm, pressing against the lightning spear, became engulfed in intense electric shocks before thrusting forward toward Yagura. Instantly, the Lightning Release Spear tore straight through the front tendrils.
With a thunderous crash, Yagura's eyes revealed surprise and disbelief.
This clash, in which he had given his all, actually ended up an immediate defeat? Just like that?
Moreover, from the feeling upon contact, there existed a certain gap in power between them—an unbridgeable difference even his Three-Tails form couldn't overcome.
The tailed beast chakra that once made him unstoppable had now been overpowered in direct combat!
"Accept your fate, Yagura!"
Saitama spoke again, already gripping the Lightning Release Spear. After slicing through the tentacles, he shot upward, rising directly above Yagura before diving down, ready to tear into him with the spear.
Electric sparks raced across the Lightning Release Spear, crackling like thousands of chirping birds without pause.
At this moment, descending from the heavens, Saitama transformed into a divine presence, radiating infinite momentum.
[Pzzt!]
Yagura didn't have time to dodge; his previous agility no longer served him against Saitama at this point.
And the thick, menacing armor covering his body shattered on impact, torn through like paper.
...
"Master Jiraiya, have you decided?"
Minato gazed at the tall figure seated ahead of him, his expression serious and solemn.
Though asking, his tone carried underlying concern.
"Of course! I've made up my mind. This trip is something we must do."
Jiraiya chuckled loudly before leaning back against the sofa, resting his arms behind his head in a carefree manner.
"I won't let the old man's death go unanswered. Doesn't matter who it was or where they came from."
After pausing briefly, Jiraiya's expression shifted to a serious one, marked clearly by deep thought.
"Well then, Master, please be careful. If necessary, I hope you will summon the frogs from Mount Myoboku to ask me for help."
"After all, my techniques are quite practical."
Minato stared intently at his mentor, conveying his earnest beliefs slowly through glances and gestures. He understood that Jiraiya held strong feelings for the Third, and recent days had immersed him in a sense of guilt.
Jiraiya hesitated for a moment, then nodded solemnly. His right hand instinctively moved downward, grasping the metal object at his waist.
It was a kunai engraved with Minato's Flying Thunder God Jutsu, one of the few devices Minato had personally given him — a means for them to quickly locate each other.
"Well then, I came here just to let you know that. Since I'm done talking, I'll be off now."
Jiraiya stood up, clapped his hands together once, pushed open the window, and leapt outside.
Before disappearing completely, he cast another glance at his disciple, a faint smile forming on his face.
This student had been his greatest pride all his life. He never imagined that in the blink of an eye, the boy would already become Hokage (Fire Shadow), shaping the fate of the entire village.
His main purpose for leaving the village this time was to gather intelligence about Akatsuki. The second objective was to find Saitama Uchiha.
Orphaned at a young age, Jiraiya carried mixed feelings toward The Third — he deeply respected his mentor but had deliberately kept his distance due to certain actions taken during his reign.
But those were things of the past now. With the old man gone, as his disciple, it was indeed time to seek some answers.
Saitama Uchiha — the very boy he once admired so much — had chosen his current path, and Jiraiya couldn't help but feel partly to blame.
But since he had chosen this wrong path, it was up to someone like Jiraiya — a senior figure in the Shinobi World — to set him straight.
Jiraiya's figure leapt out the window, flickered through the shadows a few times, and vanished from Minato's sight, leaving Minato gazing outside, lost in thought.
"Teacher, please be careful out there..."
After a long silence, Minato finally murmured those words, then turned back, sat down, and resumed the work left undone.
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