[Hokage Office]
The Third Hokage, who was bent over his desk working, moved slightly.
He saw a figure directly flip in through the window.
The Third Hokage was somewhat helpless, "How many times have I told you, use the door, do you remember or not?"
Jiraiya laughed, "Ah, forgot, next time for sure, next time for sure."
"So? How did the talks go?"
The Third Hokage couldn't help asking.
After all, Kakashi had already reported to him that Naruto now knew who his father was.
Jiraiya shook his head, "Senku can handle it, and he also knows the Four Symbols Seal, we can completely replace the person."
The Third Hokage was surprised, "He even knows the Four Symbols Seal."
Jiraiya then explained the story he'd made up about Senku to the Third Hokage.
Back when the Land of Whirlpools fell, many people escaped; things like this actually happen a lot.
"But…", Jiraiya's tone shifted, "The Akatsuki probably don't want to get involved in this."
"Konan is asking for tens of billions."
When the Third Hokage heard that, he wasn't frightened by the price. What he worried about was when something has a price, it can be negotiated.
But that price really was impossible.
He had just given the Hidden Sand three billion, it had already been a huge outflow.
There couldn't be that much money.
The One-Tail had originally been in the Uchiha territory; it could have been not captured. Intelligence from the Sand had already given it to him.
Although now they had somehow sent the One-Tail away, the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki would basically fall into the Uchiha's pocket.
"Konan used to be your student?", the Third asked in puzzlement.
Jiraiya smiled bitterly and shook his head, "After what happened last time, no longer."
While the Third Hokage was thinking, Jiraiya hesitated and asked, "Naruto, did you give him a rough time before?"
The Third Hokage's heart skipped a beat, 'Jiraiya has not been in the village for years, how did he know?'
But for a seasoned politician like Jiraiya, lies come easily.
The Third Hokage first drew on his pipe, then slowly spoke, "At that time Danzo was still around, always coveting Naruto, wanting to take him to Root."
"Some underlings also worried whether the baby Naruto could control the Nine-Tails."
"There were always debates about how to handle Naruto."
"If we exposed that Naruto was Minato's son, more people with ill intent would come hurt him."
"After all, in the Third Great War Minato did much to earn merit. If those opposing Naruto as jinchuriki learned he was the Fourth's son from leaks…"
"Then Naruto would certainly face endless assassination attempts."
"I could only hide his identity, and I couldn't give him much money."
"But you don't need to worry too much; that kid Naruto is very strong, and he's doing well now."
"We considered that having Naruto as the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki was too dangerous, so we wanted to replace the jinchuriki."
Jiraiya reflected and indeed convinced the Third Hokage.
"However… although Naruto is nominally under the supervision of the Senju clan right now…"
"The lead teacher and the ninja academy principal are both Uchiha. In this period, Uchiha Rengoku has already been using the opportunity of teaching Naruto ninjutsu to continually brainwash him."
"I'm very worried Naruto will be led astray without proper guidance."
Saying this, the Third Hokage's face showed deep concern.
The Third shifted the topic directly to the Uchiha brainwashing Naruto.
Jiraiya's expression changed when he heard this.
As a battle-mad person, an Uchiha bringing out the Nine-Tails, what would that be like? He couldn't even imagine.
Also, the Uchiha and the Third Hokage had long-standing conflicts.
Jiraiya was very worried that when the Uchiha rose to power they would purge the Third Hokage.
The Third Hokage continued, "Recently Uchiha Rengoku suddenly recalled all the clan elites back to the clan."
"Motives unclear."
So many people returning to the Uchiha lands, the Third couldn't have received no intelligence at all.
The Third himself didn't know Rengoku currently didn't want clan members taking risks and was also experimenting on the clan opening eyes.
He thought Rengoku was preparing for other matters.
Jiraiya frowned, "Then I'll stay in Konoha for now."
"As for cooperating with the Akatsuki, old man, you think of something first; I'll go see Naruto."
Saying that, Jiraiya opened the window and jumped back out.
The Third Hokage's eyes held thought, "What do you think about the Akatsuki side?"
Ishishu emerged from the shadows, "I've contacted Senku; he's an ascetic, even eats very coarse food."
"This was his own suggestion; given his character, he might even help for free."
Then Ishishu explained why Senku got involved with the Akatsuki matters.
"Can you find him?"
Ishishu thought for a while, "A bit hard; only the Akatsuki would know his information."
"If that's not possible, we can only probe Kakuzu."
Kakuzu is a famous bounty ninja.
Famous in the sense that… He loves money.
Loves money a lot.
Very much loves money.
A staple in the black market bounty area, anyone in the underworld knows Kakuzu.
After all Kakuzu has been alive so many years; people understand his character well.
"Hmm…", The Third Hokage took a drag of his pipe.
"Go check the situation again; the hawk will contact you at any time."
"Yes!"
After Ishishu left, the Third Hokage went to the nearby filing cabinet.
He took out some documents, on which were faintly written: Omi, Sawaki, Yokuto…
———
[Hidden Sand Village]
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Air blasts smashed into the ground, buildings massively collapsing.
Countless villagers panicked and fled, "My god, Shukaku has gone berserk!"
"Shukaku's berserk again!"
"Run!"
"Ah!"
Villagers screamed and ran continuously.
A shrill mad voice kept echoing through the village.
"Hahahaha… I'm out!"
"I'm finally out!"
"Die, all of you!"
"Practice Empty Bomb!"
"Practice Empty Bomb!"
Shukaku spat out practice empty bombs from his mouth, his hands waving to whip up countless yellow sand storms, like a moving natural disaster.
In the desert, Shukaku's combat power was extremely strong.
But at this moment a figure stood on a golden cloud, quickly approaching Shukaku.
"Magnet Release, Golden Sand Surf!"
Rasa swung both hands, and the sand on the ground kept surging up, growing higher and higher, like waves rushing at Shukaku.
Seeing Rasa arrive, Shukaku was a little panicked, "You again! Damn you! Go die!"
"Wind Release, Sand Scattering Bullets!"
Countless sand bullets shot at Rasa.
Rasa waved his hand; the golden sand wrapped him tightly like silk.
The sand-wave made of golden sand directly knocked Shukaku to the ground.
At this time the sealing team appeared around Shukaku, together unrolling scrolls and pressing them to the ground.
"Seal!"
A massive formation appeared at Shukaku's feet.
"I don't want to go back! I don't want to! Ah!"
Shukaku howled, madly struggling.
Rasa clasped his hands; the golden sand waves transformed the ground grit into golden sand, holding Shukaku tightly.
Shukaku's limbs were infiltrated by golden sand and became extremely heavy.
The huge formation lit up; Shukaku's body quickly shrank.
The sealing team took out a tea cup; Shukaku was soon sealed into the tea cup.
Where Shukaku had been, a youth now lay on his back.
He was already without a sound.
"What rubbish, collapsing after only seven days," Rasa said with a gloomy face.
Maki said nothing beside him. This was already the second jinchuriki experiment since Shukaku's return.
But none could endure like Gaara.
The first went mentally broken in twenty days; this second was worse, collapsing in only seven days.
"Kazekage-sama, the recent turmoil is too big; if the daimyo finds out…", Maki reminded.
Rasa was annoyed, "Then suspend searching for jinchuriki and first repair the village."
"Yes," Maki answered and left.
"Even compared to Gaara I'm not as good; they're all a bunch of trash," Rasa's voice came.
Maki paused slightly on his feet.
He felt perhaps it wasn't that these people were trash, but that Gaara was simply too outstanding.
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