Meanwhile, Shikaku walked toward the Yamanaka and Akimichi Clan compounds, his steps noticeably lighter.
He saw things clearly: Jiraiya wasn't truly a chosen successor; he was just the only option Hiruzen had left. If given a choice, Shikaku would rather support the Uchiha than back Jiraiya.
At least the Uchiha, for all their volatility, weren't puppets of summoned creatures.
But now, Hiruzen had backed them into a losing gamble.
Yet, Shikamaru's words gave him hope.
The Ino-Shika-Cho trio might lose everything in this generation, but the future still holds possibilities.
"So be it. Let our generation be the sacrifice for the old era." Shikaku thought as he stepped into the Yamanaka compound.
... ... ...
"Kuragami Uchiha?" Upon hearing that name, Obito's face darkened instantly.
Back when he was still in the village, though he wasn't stationed at the battlefield where the Uchiha Clan was most active during the Third Shinobi World War, thanks to the fourth Hokage's arrangements, Obito had still heard the tales of this younger clan member.
Even now, in the Village Hidden in the Mist, where Obito had been orchestrating events from the shadows, Kuragami Uchiha's name remained a nightmare for the older shinobi who had survived that war.
Under the blade of his fearsome lightning-infused sword, dubbed the bloodless blade by the Kirigakure, countless enemies had been cut down.
But what truly unsettled Obito was that this famed war hero of the Uchiha had pulled off something unexpected.
Obito had carefully manipulated events to push the Uchiha Clan to the brink of self-destruction.
However, in the short time he had taken his eyes off the village, Kuragami had somehow unified the Uchiha's power. This was something Obito absolutely could not accept.
As someone born into the Uchiha Clan, he knew better than anyone just how terrifying their potential was.
Even among the Shinobi World's elite, the Uchiha stood at the top in terms of natural talent. And when one factored in the Mangekyo Sharingan, a power that defied all logic, the clan became a dangerous, unpredictable element in his Eye of the Moon Plan.
To Obito, the only good Uchiha was the dead Uchiha.
After taking a deep breath, he turned to the shadowy figure beside him.
"What exactly happened in the Uchiha Clan while I was away?" He asked with an icy tone.
"I'll have White Zetsu fill you in on the details later."
Black Zetsu replied. "But as for this particular clan member… Even White Zetsu hasn't been able to gather much intel."
Obito's brow furrowed beneath his mask. White Zetsu's near-omniscient information-gathering abilities had played a crucial role in his operations across the Shinobi World. If even White Zetsu had trouble, that was cause for concern.
"This guy's Lightning Style is… Unique." Black Zetsu explained. "There's a strange electromagnetic field around him that disrupts White Zetsu's spores, making it nearly impossible to collect information from up close."
Obito's exposed eye flashed with a sharp glint.
"So, what do you think, Obito?"
Black Zetsu's voice took on a coaxing tone as he moved closer. "Should we eliminate this unpredictable variable?"
Obito's voice was cold and decisive. "To ensure the success of the Eye of the Moon Plan, any unstable factors must be eliminated." Then, he shot Black Zetsu with a sharp glare. "And don't call me Obito. It's Madara Uchiha."
… … …
After Kuragami Uchiha and Kakashi returned to the village, things remained peaceful for a while.
During this time, Hiruzen Sarutobi made a point of bringing Jiraiya along whenever he attended public events, such as store openings where the Hokage was invited for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Despite his legendary reputation as one of the three Sannins, Jiraiya had spent most of his time traveling, and many villagers only knew of him by name. Hiruzen's goal was to make Jiraiya a more familiar figure in their eyes.
At the same time, stories of Jiraiya's heroic acts during the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars began circulating again throughout the village. It was clear that Hiruzen was making every effort to pave the way for Jiraiya's political ascent.
However, once Jiraiya officially took on the role of Hokage advisor, he quickly realized things weren't going as smoothly as he had hoped.
Although Hiruzen had granted him authority over the Anbu and Jonin divisions, Jiraiya soon noticed something peculiar, aside from the ninjas from the Ino-Shika-Cho clans and the Sarutobi clan, most of the others didn't seem particularly enthusiastic about his leadership.
They completed their missions efficiently, but when compared to how eager they were to assist the Konoha Military Police Force with joint operations, the difference was like night and day.
This was understandable; assisting the Konoha Military Police Force came with extra pay and even post-mission dinners as an added perk. Meanwhile, Jiraiya simply gave out orders with nothing in return.
What troubled Jiraiya even more was his difficulty in recruiting Minato's former subordinates.
He had assumed that, as Minato's teacher, he would have no trouble gaining their loyalty. Yet, the moment he suggested promoting them to Jonin, they submitted transfer requests to the Konoha Military Police Force that very same afternoon.
Despite their close ties to the fourth Hokage, it was clear that in their eyes, Kakashi, Minato's student, was a far more trusted figure than Jiraiya.
After all, when Minato had personally elevated these ninjas from obscurity, Kakashi had fought alongside them. And where had Jiraiya been? Roaming the world, collecting research material for his novels. He hadn't even been present the night Minato sacrificed himself.
And if that wasn't enough, Jiraiya had never once visited Naruto, the sole heir of the fourth Hokage, after Minato's death. Now, he suddenly expected their loyalty? Based on what?
To make matters worse, most of the Anbu and Jonin under his command had, at some point, received direct help from Kuragami Uchiha and Kakashi. Their respect for the two was evident in the way they spoke about them.
Jiraiya was deeply concerned.
"It looks like it's time for a serious talk with Kakashi." He thought while rubbing his temples. "And I should probably check in on Naruto, too."