The great vine cage that had blanketed the sky slowly unraveled, its green tendrils fading into nothingness. From within the dispersing chakra, a lone figure emerged, rushing forward with staggering speed.
Jiraiya's eyes widened. "Unbelievable… so young, yet with such overwhelming power. Tsunade really chose well with this one." His voice carried envy, though his face was softened by genuine admiration.
Kaito stopped before him, calm as ever, and placed a lifeless body in Jiraiya's arms.
"This is yours, isn't it? Yahiko. I pulled the black receiver out of him. He's just a corpse now."
"Yahiko…" Jiraiya whispered, expression heavy. He bowed his head slightly. "Thank you."
Kaito shook his head dismissively. "No need."
"You're heading back to Konoha?" Jiraiya asked, voice stiff.
"Yeah. I'll need time to rest. What about you?"
"I'll return as well," Jiraiya answered after a pause, his eyes shadowed with fatigue.
Fukasaku, perched on his shoulder, chimed in. "By the way, didn't you say another of Pain's bodies was on that tower? Why didn't you go after him?"
Kaito sighed. "Don't remind me. Someone wearing a spiral mask got to him first. He used a space-time jutsu to take him away."
Jiraiya froze, his expression darkening. "A spiral mask… Space-time ninjutsu? Could it be… him?"
"You know who?" Kaito asked, feigning ignorance.
Jiraiya's jaw tightened. "When the Nine-Tails attacked Konoha, when Minato sacrificed himself… it was that masked man who orchestrated everything."
Kaito frowned, feigning ignorance, eyes narrowing. "So it was him."
"Either way," Jiraiya muttered grimly, "we can't track someone who manipulates space itself. If he has plans, he'll reveal them in time. Men like that always do."
"True," Kaito agreed with a short nod.
Jiraiya winced, clutching his side. Kaito raised an eyebrow. "Want me to take you back, or are you going to limp to Konoha yourself?"
Jiraiya shot him an annoyed look. "What do you think? With these injuries, I'd barely make it to the next tree."
Kaito smirked faintly. "Fair enough." Then he turned to the two elder toads. "What about you two? Staying?"
"Jiraiya-boy's safe for now. We'll return to Mount Myōboku," Fukasaku said with a small smile.
"Good," Kaito replied simply.
The two sages nodded respectfully, bowing slightly. "Farewell, Jiraiya-boy. Farewell, Kaito." With a puff of smoke, they were gone.
Kaito bent and lifted Yahiko's body once more. Then, gripping Jiraiya's arm, the two vanished in a flash.
As silence returned, the earth cracked open nearby. A pale, plant-like figure rose from the soil, his body half-black and half-white.
"Gone already?" Black Zetsu murmured.
"That black lightning… it's him. No mistake. The same one who fought Madara-sama long ago," White Zetsu hissed. "Kaito."
"Are you certain?" Black Zetsu asked sharply.
"No doubt. I was there, on Madara-sama's back at the time. I'd never forget."
Black Zetsu's face twisted. "That complicates things. With him alive, Madara's plan may falter. We must warn Obito immediately."
With that, their strange body sank back into the ground.
…
Half an hour later, Kaito appeared within Konoha's walls, setting Jiraiya down gently.
"You want to go straight to Tsunade, or take care of Yahiko first?" he asked.
Jiraiya's face darkened. "I'll bury him quietly. It's my responsibility as his teacher. If only I had brought him, Nagato, and Konan back to Konoha years ago… maybe none of this would've happened." His voice was laced with sorrow.
Kaito placed a hand briefly on his shoulder. "Then handle Yahiko. I'll report to Tsunade."
The two parted ways without another word.
…
In the Hokage's office, Kaito pushed the door open. Inside sat Tsunade, Shikaku, and Kakashi among other elite shinobi. Their expressions were grave.
"What's going on?" Kaito asked, noticing the tension.
Tsunade didn't answer immediately. Instead, she leaned forward. "First tell me—Jiraiya? Did you save him?"
"He's back," Kaito nodded. "Alive, though he needs the hospital."
Tsunade exhaled deeply, relief softening her face. "Good. That's good."
Her eyes hardened again as she gestured to the others. "Now to the matter at hand. A dangerous entity has been released—the demon known as Mōryō. Once, he commanded an undead army and nearly brought the entire shinobi world to its knees. Only the shrine maiden Miroku was able to seal him away."
Kaito's eyes narrowed. "Mōryō… from the Demon Country?"
Tsunade nodded gravely. "Yes. And now he's free again. For the sake of peace, Konoha has formed an alliance with the other nations to stop him."
"Do you want me on this mission?" Kaito asked.
"Not in the way you think. Your task is more vital. Protect Shion, the daughter of the priestess Miroku, who carries the burden of sealing Mōryō once more. If she falls, the shinobi world will be doomed."
"The priestess of the Land of Demons…" Kaito muttered, realization flashing in his eyes. "Understood. When do I leave?"
"Soon," Tsunade replied. "But this mission is delicate. Since the shrine maiden is a woman, I'll assign another ninja to accompany you, someone reliable enough not to weigh you down."
She raised her voice toward the door. "Come in!"
Footsteps echoed in the hallway.
The shinobi present—Kakashi, Shikaku, and the others—turned eagerly toward the entrance. Whoever was chosen to work beside Kaito must be exceptional. His strength was unmatched, and to fight alongside him, few in Konoha could even hope to keep pace.
The door creaked open.
A figure stepped inside, and gasps filled the room.
"She?"
"Her..."
Even Tsunade's advisors were shocked.
---
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