Just as Jiraiya was drowning his sorrows and sitting wordlessly with Fukasaku and Shima, at a complete loss—plop.
A soft thud hit the floor.
A small, bright-green messenger toad bounded into the slightly noisy tavern from who-knows-where. Ignoring the patrons, it pushed off with its hind legs, sprang lightly, and landed squarely on Jiraiya's bottle-strewn table.
"Gu-gwa! Gugu-gwa!"
It chattered urgently at Fukasaku and Shima.
Jiraiya immediately noticed the flicker of surprise the two old toads couldn't hide. After the little toad finished relaying its message and hopped back into the shadows, their expressions grew even more complicated.
That snapped some clarity into Jiraiya's booze-fogged head. He blew out a breath heavy with sake and leaned in, lowering his voice. "News from Mount Myōboku? Did the Great Toad Sage send new instructions?"
Fukasaku coughed lightly, as if gathering his thoughts, then nodded. "Mm. A courier from the Master."
Jiraiya's eyes lit up. "What orders did the Great Toad give? Is it—about a new plan for the Child of Prophecy?"
"Er…" Fukasaku hesitated, unsure how to start.
Shima sighed and took over, her tone much lower than usual. "The Master wants us to suspend any attempts to approach the Child of Prophecy for the time being. And we're to avoid direct conflict with Uchiha Chizumi and the Slug Sage as much as possible."
Jiraiya blinked, not quite processing it. "That… that's all?"
"Not just that," Shima said, shaking her head. "The courier also gave us the reason. The Master wants to wait and see—watch what 'Absolute Justice' actually brings to the shinobi world."
Jiraiya was stunned into silence.
Fukasaku added by way of explanation, "Most likely the Master made a strategic compromise after negotiating with the Slug Sage himself. He doesn't want a head-on clash with Shikkotsu Forest, another of the Three Great Sacred Grounds, at a moment like this. That helps no one—Myōboku would only gain a powerful new enemy for nothing."
He exhaled. "It's just… the Master didn't say what we should do next if 'Absolute Justice' really does change the shinobi world for the better."
At that, Shima shook her head firmly. "How could a 'justice' upheld by extreme killing bring true positive change? It'll only spawn more killing out of thin air, drag the shinobi world into endless infighting, and keep draining its lifeblood."
"Even we have to admit: the evils lurking in this world can never be wiped out. As long as greed, selfishness, and desire exist in the human heart, new villains will keep sprouting up."
"I can't even imagine—how many people would you have to kill to 'kill them all'? By then, how many living people would be left?"
"Even if Uchiha Chizumi could slaughter every current evildoer and forcibly suppress all crime, is an order maintained by terror and violence really the 'change' people want?"
"Exactly," Fukasaku nodded. "Take Konoha as an example—hasn't Chizumi already dealt with over a thousand, openly and in the shadows? And even that hasn't come close to 'cleansing' Konoha's sins. To purge the entire shinobi world—what kind of horrific number would that be? That's not reform. That's a massacre."
Jiraiya hesitated, then couldn't help pushing back. "Chizumi isn't that extreme, is he? From what I've seen, he doesn't kill over minor offenses. The Hyūga main-house folks, for example—he just put them in the village prison. His 'Absolute Justice' is aimed at the truly heinous. People like that are still a minority."
Shima frowned and looked at him earnestly. "Jiraiya, that's naïve. People with extreme temperaments tend to drift further down that road. They don't stay the same."
"Can you really guarantee Chizumi will always keep this 'restraint' you're talking about, instead of carrying his extremity through to the bitter end?"
Jiraiya had no answer. He didn't know Chizumi that well—most of it was observation and hearsay. Hearts change—especially in those with great power and an uncompromising creed. Who could guarantee where he'd end up?
He fell silent.
"But," after a few seconds, Jiraiya looked up with a trace of helplessness, "the Great Toad also told us to stop approaching the Child of Prophecy for now. In that case… there's nothing we can do, is there?"
Fukasaku: "…"
Shima: "…"
This time the two sages were the ones left speechless. Whatever their misgivings about "Absolute Justice" or worries about the future, they couldn't defy the Great Toad's decision.
"Wait!"
Jiraiya suddenly slapped the table and sprang to his feet like a coiled spring. The bottles rattled; the two sages jumped.
A spark of inspiration lit Jiraiya's face. "I just thought of a way to have it both ways! We won't disobey the Master, won't tick off Tsunade, and won't provoke Uchiha Chizumi directly!"
Fukasaku and Shima stared. "What way?"
Jiraiya's eyes gleamed. He enunciated each word: "The Ninja Academy!"
Meanwhile, in Konoha's streets and alleys, everyone was buzzing about a major event that would soon decide the village's future—the election of the Fifth Hokage.
There were two candidates: Tsunade of the "Legendary Sannin," and Hiruzen Sarutobi, the current Third Hokage, the "Hero of Konoha." To ordinary villagers, both were towering figures, and many had no clear preference. So their eyes turned, almost instinctively, to the village's shinobi—hoping to read the wind from their attitudes and remarks.
Soon they kept hearing the same refrain from many Konoha ninja.
"You're asking who I'll vote for as the Fifth?" A seemingly ordinary chūnin was surrounded by curious townsfolk. After a theatrically cautious glance around to make sure no Anbu or informants were nearby, he lowered his voice. "If it's me, I'm not voting for the Third again."
He explained, "He's getting up there in years—his stamina isn't what it used to be. More importantly, he has zero authority with the Police Force! He can't command those Uchiha at all."
Then he pivoted. "Tsunade-sama is different. She's been semi-retired for years, sure, but her reputation with the Police Force is excellent. Rumor says she's on good terms with the commander, Uchiha Chizumi. If she becomes Hokage, she can mobilize and rein in the Police."
He summed up with the earnest tone of "I just want what's best for the village": "The Third can't control the Uchiha's power anymore. Only Tsunade-sama can unite the village's strength."
"In that case, for stability's sake, I'll vote for the one who can steady the ship."
Seeing the villagers' "aha" faces, he waved and slipped away. Not long after, he "happened" into another crowded street and brought up the election again—tweaked his talking points—and repeated the pitch. When the second crowd wore the same enlightened look, he vanished once more.
Clearly, he wasn't just chatting—he belonged to a clan that had already bet on Tsunade and was working to shape public opinion for their pick.
Elsewhere, outside a training ground—
Dripping with sweat, Kakashi—dead-fish eyes and all—looked helplessly at Tsunade blocking his path.
"Kakashi. Have you decided?"
Arms folded under her chest, Tsunade radiated pressure. She met his gaze without flinching, waiting for his reply.
Kakashi scratched his silver hair, pained. "Tsunade-sama, my personal view shouldn't matter that much, right? I'm just one man—no clan, no faction. I can't sway many people."
Tsunade didn't budge. She went straight for the heart of it. "You're underestimating your influence. Among the younger ninjas, you're a renowned elite jōnin with real clout."
"You think you don't sway others—but plenty of eyes are on you, especially the undecided middle. If you pick a side, those watching you will likely follow. So I need you to tell me plainly: what do you want?"
"…"
Kakashi felt like a rat trapped in a bellows—squeezed from both ends. Hiruzen had discovered and trusted him. Tsunade was a Sannin—and more importantly, she stood with Uchiha Chizumi.
Thinking of Chizumi only twisted the knot. He owed the man multiple favors he hadn't repaid. And Minato-sensei's kid—Uzumaki Naruto—was clearly close to Chizumi's camp now, too…
Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
"Um—Tsunade-sama," Kakashi tried one last dodge, weakly. "Could I… stay neutral?"
Tsunade calmly crushed the fantasy. "Even if you turn me down today, the old man will come knocking. You'll still have to choose. You can't run from this."
"…"
Kakashi drew a slow breath, as if making up his mind. "I need a little time to think."
"Not much time left," Tsunade said. "The vote is in a few days."
"Tonight," Kakashi gave a firm deadline. "Tonight I'll give you a clear answer."
As he walked away, Shizune, standing behind Tsunade, ventured, "Tsunade-sama… will Kakashi really back us? He seems like someone who hates offending anyone, and the Third has been good to him…"
Tsunade's lips curved with quiet confidence. "Shizune, while the old man is still Hokage, Kakashi didn't reject me outright—he bought time with 'I need to think.' That alone tells you his loyalty has wavered. He's not a hundred percent with the old man."
Watching the direction Kakashi left, she said with conviction, "When he says 'I need time,' what he means is… he already has his answer."
Shizune blinked. "What answer?"
Softly, Tsunade said, "In the end, he'll stand with us. Or, more precisely—with the Absolute Justice Chizumi represents."
Night fell as promised.
Kakashi found Shizune at her desk. Under her puzzled gaze, he spoke in a low, tired voice. "Please tell Tsunade-sama I'll support the candidate I believe can make Konoha better. I hope she won't betray that expectation."
"!!!"
Shizune stood there, stunned, watching Kakashi turn crisply on his heel and disappear into the night.
"Tsunade-sama called it," she whispered. "Even someone like Hatake Kakashi chose her side… Then this time, the Third really may be past saving."
Meanwhile, in the Land of Water, the night was deep.
Under dim moonlight and thin mist, the great, hazy outline of Kirigakure's gates loomed. Several figures walked straight in under cover of darkness: two in Konoha uniforms, a plump ninja cat perched on the girl's shoulder; another was a Mist missing-nin—the former Seven Ninja Swordsman, Jūzō Biwa. Two of the group were Mei Terumi and Ao.
Such a bizarre lineup instantly hit Kirigakure's rawest nerve. The moment they crossed the village's outer warning line—whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
From every shadow—rooftops, ponds, behind rocks—countless cold gazes snapped onto them.