🚨Insert Some Funny Memes or GIF🚨
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The snow outside the window was falling harder, but Uchiha Hikaru and Jiraiya were still in Naruto's house.
Hikaru was silently considering how he might compensate Jiraiya in the future.
Jiraiya, meanwhile, was reflecting on every moment he'd spent with Naruto over the past few days.
"Hikaru, I have to go. I need to speak with the old man."
"No matter what, I want to understand what he's thinking."
"I need to know if Danzo's actions have the Hokage's backing."
Hikaru's thoughts were interrupted by Jiraiya's voice. He quickly recalled the original plan that had been brewing in his mind.
"Is it really wise to bring this up with the Third Hokage right now?"
"Have you really thought this through? The truth might not be something you want to hear…"
"I know!"
"But regardless, he's still my master. Even if the truth is disappointing, I've already made up my mind. Hikaru, don't try to stop me."
Hikaru opened his mouth to speak again, but when he saw Jiraiya's firm eyes and determined expression, he held the words back.
That's Jiraiya for you. What good would it do to stop him? Just let him go. Whatever happens next, I'm still the one holding the reins. Nothing will spiral out of control.
Having resolved that, Hikaru stopped trying to dissuade him.
"Go, Jiraiya. I understand how you feel."
"But remember—no matter what the Hokage tells you, we proceed with the plan. There's no turning back now."
Jiraiya looked at Hikaru and saw the gravity in his expression.
Only then did he realize how much Hikaru had poured into this plan.
With a familiar grin, Jiraiya raised a thumbs-up.
"Thanks, Hikaru."
"Don't worry—I'm the Toad Sage, one of the Legendary Sannin! I won't crumble over something like this!"
With that, he turned and leapt out into the snowy night.
Hikaru stood alone, his hair tousled by the cold wind.
He felt a crawling awkwardness under his skin. If he had tried to mimic Jiraiya's gesture and pose just now…
He couldn't help but curl his toes against the soles of his shoes in discomfort.
No, that would be too awkward. Only Jiraiya could pull something like that off so naturally.
Jiraiya ran swiftly across the rooftops, his feet leaving fresh prints in the snow.
When he reached the window of Sarutobi Hiruzen's house, four ANBU agents from the Hokage's personal guard appeared before him.
"Jiraiya-sama, is there something urgent you need from Hokage-sama at this hour?"
"If not, we request that you allow him to rest. He has given strict orders not to be disturbed tonight."
Seeing their clear intention to bar him, Jiraiya tensed.
"What if I insist on seeing him?"
His eyes scanned the four masked figures, tracking their stances.
"Then we're sorry for what we must do, Jiraiya-sama."
"Engage!"
The four ANBU quickly backed off to encircle him and began forming hand seals.
"Four Purple Flame Formation!"
A blazing purple chakra barrier flared into existence, trapping Jiraiya within its glow.
Inside, Jiraiya calmly formed his own seals and vanished in a puff of smoke—only to reappear behind one of the ANBU.
"You think a mere formation can hold me? Don't underestimate a Sage of Mount Myoboku!"
With a swift movement, his hand became a blade aimed at the back of the ANBU's neck.
Before the strike could land, a wrinkled hand caught his wrist mid-swing.
"That's enough, Jiraiya. Come inside."
"You four, return to your posts and ensure we're not interrupted."
The ANBU immediately stood down and lowered their heads.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Jiraiya's eyes followed the hand up to the face of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Old man… Naruto…"
"Let's talk inside. This isn't the place."
Jiraiya fell silent. He couldn't voice his questions in front of ANBU.
He followed Hiruzen into the house.
A fire crackled in the hearth—the only light in the dark room.
Jiraiya flipped the white switch on the wall, and a soft light filled the space.
The aged wooden table bore the wear of time. The walls were decorated with photos of Hokage past, one of the Team Tobirama students, and a portrait of Hiruzen's late wife, Biwako.
Hiruzen walked to the wall shrine and lit a few sticks of incense for the previous Hokage.
Jiraiya followed suit, offering incense to Biwako.
They both sat down on the tatami.
Hiruzen picked up his familiar brown pipe and placed it between his lips.
"I knew you'd come tonight. Ask what you want. I'll answer what I can."
He exhaled a slow plume of smoke.
Jiraiya looked at the old man—frail now, worn with age—and made up his mind.
"Was Naruto's abduction orchestrated by Danzo with your approval?"
His fist clenched under the table. He stared at his master, searching his face for the truth.
Hiruzen inhaled from his pipe, then sighed.
"I didn't order Danzo to do it. His Root division has nearly collapsed."
"He asked me to let him bring Naruto into Root. I refused. Then he requested the Sealing Scroll… and I gave it to him."
Jiraiya's eyes widened in fury. His fist slammed onto the table, cracking the wood.
"That scroll contains the Four Symbols Seal and the Eight Trigrams Seal—the very ones keeping the Nine-Tails at bay! You knew that!"
His voice shook with fury. Reason was rapidly slipping away.
"I did. But Uchiha Hikaru has awakened the MangekyĹŤ Sharingan. As long as the true culprit behind the Nine-Tails attack remains unknown, I can't rest easy. Do you understand, Jiraiya?"
At the mention of the Nine-Tails Rebellion, Jiraiya almost blurted out the truth about Danzo's connection to Uchiha Obito.
But just in time, he remembered Hikaru's warning.
They had already crossed the point of no return.
He swallowed the words.
Sensing his hesitation, Hiruzen tried to reassure him.
"Naruto may suffer under Root, but you still have the key to the Nine-Tails seal. If things spiral out of control, we still have options."
"But right now, the Uchiha's fire needs to be suppressed."
With those words, Jiraiya's last shred of hope was extinguished.
He stood slowly.
"I see."
Looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen now, he felt only disappointment.
Without another word, he turned and leapt out the window into the snow.
Hiruzen remained inside, pipe in hand, frowning quietly as he stared into the night.
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