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In the Land of Waves.
Proud-hearted people and former enemies, now brought together in an uneasy alliance…
This was no subtle hint. Kitagawa Gen's meaning couldn't be clearer.
Kakashi and Jiraiya surely understood, yet even so, they found it difficult to believe.
Just what kind of person, wielding what sort of power, could possibly suppress these arrogant and dangerous individuals?
Even if they maintained a façade of peace, the mere fact that none of them were causing trouble, and even cooperating in battle, was already beyond belief.
"Could it really be true…?"
Jiraiya's expression grew grim, though a flicker of hesitation lingered in his gaze.
If this truly was the case, then the situation was far more serious than they had imagined.
"We cannot confirm it, but we also cannot rule it out."
Kakashi, who had remained silent in thought, finally spoke in a low voice.
"When we encountered Uchiha Itachi and Biwa Jūzō before, I already had a strange feeling. But the situation was urgent, so I didn't give it much thought.
Looking back now, it really does seem off. And if we combine that with the information you've gathered, Master Jiraiya, then I fear things are exactly as we suspect."
Jiraiya fell silent for a moment, his face clouded with worry. Everything seemed to be pointing toward a truth he was unwilling to accept.
Yet the timing, the location, even the structure of the organization—all of it lined up far too well.
"This group… they may be even more terrifying than I imagined."
He rubbed at his brow, his heart heavy with unease.
"Uchiha Itachi. Biwa Jūzō. And if we count in Orochimaru as well… all S-rank rogue shinobi. What is this organization trying to accomplish?"
"Whatever it is, it certainly won't be anything simple."
Gen blinked as he spoke, and all of a sudden, a thought occurred to him—Kakashi's mission. He lowered his voice and asked quietly,
"There's one more thing. Haven't you noticed how close the Land of Waves is to a certain place?"
"It's very close."
Kakashi's reaction was immediate. Something clicked in his mind.
"You mean, the Land of Water?"
"Exactly, Kakashi-sensei. I've been wondering about something."
Gen nodded slightly, his eyes glinting with thought.
"For an organization that powerful, who could possibly afford to hire them? Obviously, the Land of Waves doesn't have the resources for that.
Well, I suppose there could be exceptions, but I doubt they would be able to make contact with such a group. For instance, take that rich merchant we were planning to rob before—Gatō."
"Hey hey hey! Robbing a merchant?!"
Jiraiya's eyes widened before Gen could even finish. He looked utterly scandalized.
"Kakashi, just what on earth have you been teaching this kid? That kind of thinking is dangerously reckless!"
"Stop talking nonsense, Gen."
Kakashi sighed and held his forehead in his palm. Gen hadn't mentioned this once during their journey, and Kakashi himself had nearly forgotten it. And now, here it was, surfacing again.
What a stubborn obsession!
"Who knows where he picked up that idea. Still, he made a good point. Ordinary wealthy men would have a very hard time establishing contact with a group like that."
Kakashi shook his head. Gen might be a handful, but he had offered an important line of reasoning.
"An organization like that would either accept assignments exclusively from the black market, or they would be directly contracted by villages to carry out warfare missions. Iwagakure, for example, often hires groups to suppress opposition during conflicts, so…"
"So, if they were near the Land of Waves, there's a strong chance they were commissioned by Kirigakure?"
Jiraiya followed the train of thought to its natural conclusion, and the haze in his eyes began to lift.
His gaze turned uncertain once more, as though he were weighing a heavy decision.
"Lord Jiraiya… you're not seriously thinking of going to Kirigakure yourself, are you?"
Gen caught the look in his eyes and immediately guessed his intention.
"Master Jiraiya, please don't be impulsive!"
Kakashi reacted just as quickly. He lowered his voice, urging caution.
"If our deduction is correct, then going there alone would be extremely dangerous for you. Especially Kirigakure—it's surrounded by the sea on all sides. If something goes wrong, there's no way to retreat."
Kirigakure… the geography of that place reminded Kitagawa Gen of a certain notorious troublemaker from his previous life.
A long, narrow strait shielded them from land-based attacks, giving them the freedom to launch offensives without restraint.
What's more, their grudge against Konoha was real and deeply rooted. Nearly every time a great ninja war broke out, they were among the first to strike at Konoha.
As for why, there were rumors that their old clan leader had refused to join Konoha at its founding, or perhaps tried to bargain for a better deal.
In the end, they ran into Uchiha Madara, who had no patience for drawn-out negotiations. Without a word of nonsense, he simply sent the whole lot of them into the sea to find new careers.
"Indeed. There is the accumulated hatred from all those past wars… and now, possibly, a mysterious organization that has not only drawn in Uchiha Itachi and Biwa Jūzō, but even managed to rein in Orochimaru."
Kitagawa Gen nodded solemnly from the side, then added with a casual tone that belied the weight of his words.
"Kakashi-sensei often visits the memorial stone to honor his fallen comrades. Who knows, maybe by this time next year, we'll be burning quite a few more paper offerings."
"…"
Jiraiya's eyelids twitched fiercely. He shot a sharp glare at Kitagawa Gen, his expression a mix of exasperation and disbelief. This kid truly had a knack for saying the most tactless things.
Still, he did not get angry. Deep down, he understood—every word had been the truth. What pained him was not the tone, but the fact that he could not refute it.
"Lord Jiraiya, why don't you return to Konoha with us?"
Seeing Jiraiya remain silent, Kitagawa Gen exchanged a glance with Kakashi before gently continuing.
"The situation has clearly grown beyond what a single person can investigate alone. If this truly involves Kirigakure, then returning to the village might at least bring some support."
"That's right, Master Jiraiya."
Kakashi gave a firm nod as well. He truly did not want to see Jiraiya rush into danger on his own.
"This organization is shrouded in mystery and their strength appears to be extremely powerful. Acting recklessly would be unwise in the extreme.
Besides, Gen makes a valid point. If Kirigakure is truly involved, then the village's aid will be indispensable. You returning with us will certainly bring greater cooperation.
After all, whether it is Orochimaru or Uchiha Itachi, both are traitors of Konoha. Faced with such a dangerous force, the village will not turn a blind eye."
Kakashi's words carried significant weight, and Jiraiya fell silent once more.
He truly did not want to return. But now, things had spiraled far beyond what he alone could manage. There really seemed to be no better option.
"Fine, I understand."
With a deep breath, Jiraiya finally gave a reluctant nod.
"Unbelievable. Who would've thought things would turn out to be so complicated, and in the end, even my freedom must be the price. Damn it."
Hearing this, both Kakashi and Kitagawa Gen let out a silent sigh of relief.
Kakashi, in particular, had been genuinely worried that Jiraiya might act on impulse. If their deductions were correct, then Jiraiya charging into Kirigakure would be nothing short of suicide.
In the shinobi world, no one could challenge an entire village alone.
Only the legendary First Hokage had ever been said to accomplish such a feat.
But even that remained just a legend.
"Settled."
Kitagawa Gen, on the other hand, had a much simpler motive. He merely wanted Jiraiya to go home and "see the cherry blossoms of his homeland."
Otherwise, he would not have bothered steering both Kakashi and Jiraiya step by step like this.
Of course, while persuading Jiraiya to return to Konoha, he also managed to stir up some fun for Uchiha Obito. That certainly was not a bad outcome.
After all, Kakashi's [Exclusive Mission] was still waiting to be completed. He could not afford to let any opportunity slip by.
"Still, if Jiraiya really did go there, he might just end up bumping into Uchiha Obito."
Kitagawa Gen was genuinely curious. When exactly did Uchiha Obito lose his grip on Kirigakure? After all, the original story never specified it clearly.
He figured it must have been within the past few years. A period that marked Obito's complete loss of control over the Hidden Mist.
One sign was the death of Biwa Jūzō. Another was Kisame forming a team with Uchiha Itachi.
"Maybe that exclusive mission will even get a little boost."
Kitagawa Gen murmured to himself under his breath. And right at that moment, his system finally lit up.
The moment he saw the reward, Kitagawa Gen instantly understood—Jiraiya, that old man, had just exploded with gold.
[Side Quest Completed: Jiraiya-sama, the Cherry Blossoms Are in Full Bloom in the Village]
[Reward Obtained: Jiraiya's Sage Art]
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[Chapter End's]
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