Fourth Raikage A: "These war orphans—don't their countries have shelters? All they do is run around stealing!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Smaller nations don't have shelters."
Fourth Raikage A: "Even so, they shouldn't commit evil just to eat!!!"
Senju Hashirama: "Have you ever gone hungry, Fourth Raikage? If not, don't judge others so easily."
Senju Tobirama: "When people are starving, it's perfectly normal for them to act beyond their moral boundaries."
Uchiha Madara: "Kid, that's easy for you to say. Want to dance?"
Faced with these legendary figures speaking up, the Fourth Raikage clenched his jaw and fell silent.
These were giants of the Warring States Era—
Each one a shinobi of overwhelming power.
Only those who had lived through war and hunger truly understood—
How precious food was.
It was instinct.
When you're starving to death, and someone lectures you about morality—
You'd slap them without hesitation.
Minato Namikaze: "I actually have a good impression of these three children. In the end, they even returned the food they stole. I just wonder who they'll take as their teacher."
Naruto: "Haha, I want to know too! It's just a pity that little Chibi died…"
Minato Namikaze: "Naruto… I am Namikaze Minato. I'm your father."
Kushina Uzumaki: "Ah! I can really hear you! Naruto—how are you doing over there? Do you have enough to eat and wear? Who is your teacher?"
At first, Naruto felt a bit overwhelmed.
But from their words, he could feel the deep bond of blood.
His eyes grew misty.
Naruto: "Yeah, I'm doing great now. I have enough food and clothes. My teachers are Kakashi-sensei and Pervy Sage—haha!"
Minato Namikaze: "Oh? My teacher Jiraiya-sama is teaching you ninjutsu as well? That's a relief. If Nagato and the others had also been taught by Jiraiya-sama…"
"…then Konoha's destruction today would never have happened."
Jiraiya: "..."
Tsunade: "..."
Orochimaru: "If possible, I'd like to watch this from somewhere else."
Tsunade: "Damn it, you think I don't?! Jiraiya, stop pretending to be dead—say something!"
Jiraiya: "I really am dead. I'm not pretending. And right now… I'm actually glad I am."
That was the truth.
At this moment, Jiraiya truly wished he could disappear.
Because what was coming next—
Would be unbearably awkward.
The images in the sky continued.
The closer it got, the more nostalgia filled their hearts.
Even Nagato's expression softened slightly.
[The rain continued to fall endlessly.]
[Yahiko and the others pushed deeper into the battlefield, enduring mud and dampness, searching for the now-famous Legendary Sannin of Konoha.]
[The process was incredibly difficult.]
[Shinobi rarely left traces behind. Finding even ordinary shinobi was hard—let alone the Sannin.]
[But Yahiko refused to give up.]
[They ventured deeper into the battlefield. The more intense the fighting, the more frequently they went—believing the Sannin would appear in such places.]
[At last—they were attacked.]
[And at last—they met the Legendary Sannin.]
[It was fate.]
[Boldly, Yahiko stepped into a cave and bowed deeply to the three shinobi resting inside.]
["Please accept us as your disciples!"]
[Nagato, however, upon seeing the familiar Konoha forehead protector, recalled the moment his parents were killed.]
[He hid behind a tree outside, watching nervously.]
[The knot in his heart had never been untied—he could not accept Konoha shinobi.]
[Meanwhile, Konan stepped forward, holding a paper flower she had folded. With innocent sincerity, she said, "Thank you… this is a gift."]
[Orochimaru stared coldly at the three children, his voice hoarse.]
["I'll kill them."]
The moment those words were spoken—
All three children froze in terror.
[Under the rain, Orochimaru continued, "I've seen many war orphans. Their lives are miserable. It's better to kill them here—spare them future suffering."]
["Stop it, Orochimaru!" Jiraiya shouted, his voice firm.]
["You and Tsunade go ahead. I'll stay behind and take care of these children for a while."]
["…Consider it atonement."]
After that—
Jiraiya stayed behind with the three of them.
They ate fish and drank together—
And thus began their life as a group of four.
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "So they were Jiraiya's disciples… then why did they turn around and destroy Konoha?!"
Kushina Uzumaki: "Who was it that said everything would be fine if Jiraiya-sama taught them? Now I'm really worried about Naruto!"
Minato Namikaze: "This…"
Fourth Raikage A: "A shinobi you trained ended up destroying Konoha—what a spectacle."
Ōnoki: "Even I didn't expect this outcome…"
Mei Terumī: "So the Akatsuki, founded by Jiraiya's student, even captured the jinchūriki from our village?!"
Rasa: "Some people are born with darkness. Gaara has already died once!"
Fourth Raikage A: "This time, Konoha must give us an explanation! Why did it come to this? Even the Eight-Tails was targeted!!!"
Orochimaru: "You should have listened to me. Those who grow up in such environments are prone to extremes."
Jiraiya: "They were kind children… I didn't misjudge them. Something must have happened along the way."
"Nagato… Yahiko… Konan… what exactly did you go through?!"
"Did I leave too early…? Damn it!"