"Is that so?"
Jiraiya pondered for a moment, then slowly raised his head.
[My gaze swept across the cluster of buildings.]
[It landed on the Shadow Rock above Konoha Village.]
"So many years have passed... Konoha hasn't changed."
His gaze lingered for a moment on the Fourth Hokage's Shadow Rock.
In the end, he simply shook his head and said, "The old man's decision to make you the Jonin instructor of Team 7... is not bad."
"However, this time is a little different."
"That's why I came back in person."
"The situation has changed, and it could very well pose a great threat to Konoha... no, to the entire ninja world."
Kakashi glanced at Jiraiya, whose face was completely serious.
["prophecy?"]
Jiraiya wasn't mistaken; Kakashi's tone carried other emotions.
"Yes...no." Jiraiya said solemnly, arms crossed.
"It all started before that."
Kakashi rolled his eyes.
[Just as she was about to interrupt him.]
Jiraiya continued, "It all started back when Orochimaru defected from the village... and I went after him."
"I haven't completely given up even now."
"Over the years, I have been searching... in addition to searching for information about Orochimaru."
"We found many of his former hideouts."
"Following the clues, we eventually discovered...an organization."
Kakashi shut his mouth.
[Fine, let's listen to it.]
"According to the timeline."
"He probably joined that organization not long after Orochimaru defected from Konoha."
"But not long after, he left the organization."
"The timeline for my withdrawal... was approximately five years ago."
Five years ago?
Kakashi frowned slightly.
[Why at this time?]
About five years ago, a major event occurred in Konoha—no, it was a major event for the entire ninja world as well.
The Uchiha clan was wiped out overnight.
Jiraiya: "That's right, it's pretty much what you thought."
"That organization...is very special."
"About five years ago, the Uchiha clan was wiped out."
"And the one who wiped out the entire clan was none other than Uchiha Itachi."
"Itachi Uchiha was also invited to join that organization."
"Shortly after Itachi Uchiha joined that organization, Orochimaru escaped again, reportedly wounded, and the person who injured him... was none other than Itachi Uchiha."
"The clues about Orochimaru end here again."
Jiraiya remained silent for a long time this time.
[He closed his eyes, as if recalling something.]
Kakashi became interested but didn't urge them.
"What organization?"
Jiraiya slowly opened his eyes.
"An organization composed of numerous S-rank rogue ninja from various villages—Akatsuki!"
The Fourth Raikage: "Hmph!"
Fourth Raikage: "Onoki, aren't you going to say something?"
The Fourth Raikage: "You've made several deals with them!"
Fourth Raikage: "And there's also the matter of Gato from the Land of Waves."
Onoki: "You brat! Shut up!"
Onoki: "I still regret it to this day!"
Onoki: "I shouldn't have given that rogue ninja organization disguised as mercenaries a mission in the first place!"
Onoki: "He took my reward and then turned around and kidnapped that idiot Deidara!"
The Fourth Raikage: "Hmph!"
The Fourth Raikage: "Only my Hidden Cloud Village has never had a rogue ninja."
These words were spoken.
The people from Hidden Cloud Village were dumbfounded.
Ma Buyi shook his head and rubbed his forehead in exasperation.
Tobirama Senju: "Perhaps the narration on the black-framed big screen is right; prejudice and discrimination should be imposed on you."
Mei Terumi: "Have there never been any rogue ninja?"
Mei Terumi: "You're just like bandits anyway, wouldn't it be better if you stayed in your hideout?"
Mei Terumi: "Honestly, if it weren't for those two from your village, the ninja world might be a completely different place now."
Mei Terumi: "Even if it has disadvantages for individuals or individual ninja villages, it will undoubtedly lead to greater peace for the ninja world, and the loss of life will be drastically reduced!"
Instantly, the Fourth Raikage regretted what he had said.
No rogue ninjas have ever appeared?
They were the first rogue ninja.
The second one... too!
Mei Terumi's words make some sense; Kumogakure is like a bandit stronghold.
It has its own set of rules.
And the first and second rogue ninja.
It really is from Kumogakure (Hidden Cloud Village).
The Golden Horn and Silver Horn Brothers.
This even accelerated the pace of the all-out war in the ninja world.
defying the will of the Shadows, slaughtering the Shadows...
Besides Kumogakure (Hidden Cloud Village), there's also Sunagakure (Hidden Sand Village).
Heitu, seemingly eager to stir up trouble, spoke with a joking smile.
Kurotsuchi: "The Kazekage is a high-risk position."
Kurotsuchi: "The Third Kazekage was killed by his own people."
Kurotsuchi: "The Fourth Kazekage was also killed by 'our own people'."
Yekura (Pakura): I was also indirectly killed by my own people.
Mei Terumi: "It's none of my business. I wasn't in power back then."
As it turns out, Hei Tu's statement was correct.
Of course, she was the only one who didn't have precognition.
Otherwise, I'd have to say something else.
The Fifth Kazekage was also killed by "his own people".
...
"The key point is the Akatsuki organization."
"As far as I know."
"On the surface, they are an organization composed of S-rank rogue ninja, and are a force that can be hired."
"But, secretly, a plan is indeed underway."
Jiraiya paused.
[His eyes became dangerous.]
"The Tailed Beast Collection Project."
[A plan to collect the tailed beasts?]
Kakashi frowned.
[Collecting Tailed Beasts?]
Therefore, the first to be affected will inevitably be the Jinchūriki.
Jiraiya shook his head again at this moment.
"I'm not sure if this news is true either."
"But it's not normal for rumors to come out of nowhere."
"It's certainly worth preparing for the future; the Tailed Beasts... they represent far too many things."
"This is also one of the reasons I personally returned to Konoha this time."
"If something like this were to happen, it would be an unimaginable disaster for Konoha and even the entire ninja world!"
"Also, there's one more thing."
"Orochimaru seems to have returned to Konoha as well."
Kakashi was not surprised by this.
[Orochimaru's return was something he already knew about.]
["so."]
"You came back this time, partly because of Orochimaru, and partly... because of Naruto, right?"
Jiraiya nodded silently.
[No denial.]
Kakashi suddenly smiled.
[You're only remembering Naruto now?]
[certainly. ]
Kakashi didn't ask whether it was because of Naruto or because of the Nine-Tails inside Naruto.
Clearly, he already had the answer in his heart.
No wonder they came looking for me first.
Kakashi immediately understood what Jiraiya meant.
"Kakashi, you should know how terrifying this possibility is."
"So, leave Naruto to me."