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"So the situation is actually that complicated?"
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the still visibly weary Kakashi and the deeply grave-faced Jiraiya. Even he couldn't help but rub the space between his brows with a weary sigh.
When he first saw Jiraiya return, he was quite taken aback, but deep down, he also felt genuinely glad.
Konoha was indeed going through a phase of waning strength and transition. While Kakashi and his generation had already grown into capable shinobi, the village still sorely lacked a true backbone to support it.
In truth, Hiruzen's own three disciples had once been just such pillars.
Yet now, one had defected and disappeared, while the remaining two had sunk into lives of crazy whoring and gambling.
Naturally, Jiraiya's return brought him some comfort. But the information this man had brought back with him was proving to be far more troubling than he had anticipated.
"Yes, old man," Jiraiya replied with a grave nod as he rubbed his own forehead in frustration.
"If it weren't this tangled and messy, I wouldn't have come back to find you. Though for now, it's all still just speculation, the place involved is simply too sensitive. That's why I need your help."
"So you know it's sensitive too?"
Hiruzen shot Jiraiya a disgruntled glare.
"We're talking about Kirigakure here. It's separated from us by a vast ocean. Even sending someone over is a logistical nightmare. And because of their current policies, they've practically cut themselves off from the outside world. No one really knows what's going on in there. How do you expect me to investigate something under those conditions?"
Kirigakure had always been difficult, but things had gotten especially bad in recent years. It was an island nation, which already made information-gathering immensely difficult.
Then came the infamous "Bloody Mist" policy, effectively turning it into a closed-off, isolated regime. Trying to obtain intelligence under such circumstances was near impossible.
To make matters worse, it was also tied to that organization.
"Uchiha Itachi is in there. How has he been spying for two and a half years without a single message getting through?"
Hiruzen bit down on the stem of his pipe and fell silent, a frown deepening on his already aged face. Even he felt utterly baffled at this point.
"Hokage-sama, doesn't the ANBU still have personnel stationed in Kirigakure?"
Kakashi, who had remained quiet until now, spoke up softly after a brief pause for thought.
"Even if it's difficult, could we perhaps mobilize them and request that they send us some sort of update?"
"Well…"
Hiruzen looked hesitant. His expression made Jiraiya visibly annoyed.
"Oi, old man, if this is really such a damn hassle, maybe I should just go over there myself. At least that would spare you the trouble, right?"
"You don't understand the full extent of what's at stake here."
Hiruzen sighed and rubbed his temples again. After a moment of deep thought, he finally spoke with reluctant resolve.
"Fine. I'll take care of it. But you had better not act on your own. You may be good at gathering intelligence, but you're no match for trained operatives when it comes to infiltration.
For now, stay in Konoha. Don't go running around. I will expedite the investigation as much as I can."
"Tch. As if I could leave even if I wanted to."
Jiraiya smirked faintly and gave a small nod before continuing with a trace of resignation in his voice.
"Relax, I'm not about to charge in recklessly. If I were, I wouldn't have come back here in the first place. Anyway, if that's all, I'm going to take Kakashi to the hospital now.
Later on, I still have to help his student celebrate completing their first mission. What a pain."
With that, Jiraiya began walking out with Kakashi following close behind. Kakashi turned to give Hiruzen an apologetic nod before departing.
Fortunately, Hiruzen knew his student's character well enough not to mind. Once the two had left, he let out a long and helpless sigh.
"What a headache."
Kakashi's situation was indeed troubling. While the ANBU were certainly capable of collecting information, the true masters of external infiltration had always been the (ROOT) Foundation.
Most of the highly confidential intelligence from other villages had come through Danzo's network. But now, at least in name, the Foundation had been officially disbanded by his own hand.
Unless it were reactivated, even he had no real way of utilizing those resources again.
"Forget it. If things are really as serious as they seem, then I suppose it's time to pay Danzo a visit. Besides, it's been quite a while since we last met anyway."
After a long and heavy silence, Hiruzen finally made up his mind. Rising slowly from his seat, he walked over to the window.
Gazing out at the bustling streets of Konoha, he remained quiet for a moment before murmuring softly.
"Still, Jiraiya's return is not entirely a harbinger of bad news. At the very least, he is back. At the very least."
A gentle sigh escaped his lips.
"It would seem yet another prodigy has been born in Konoha."
"So easily... is that even possible?"
Feeling the changes coursing through his body, Kitagawa Gen's expression took on a hint of baffled astonishment.
Even though he had already speculated about the outcome, mastering Sage Mode had never been known to be an easy feat.
Just look at Jiraiya. It had taken him years of arduous training before he succeeded.
And even then, he still needed the support of the Two Great Toad Sages of Mount Myōboku, and a significant amount of preparation each time he entered Sage Mode.
Though Naruto's path had been smoother in comparison, even he had been thoroughly pummeled by Fukasaku before his breakthrough came.
Yet Gen, without any sage tools, without stepping foot on Mount Myōboku, had merely relied on Jiraiya's knowledge. And on his very first attempt, he had successfully entered Sage Mode.
"This bloodline... it really is the ultimate cheat."
After a long moment of silence, Kitagawa Gen finally cursed aloud through clenched teeth.
Thinking back to the grueling thirteen years he had endured, he could not help but feel a bit dejected. If only that novice's gift had arrived a little earlier, how much easier everything might have been.
"Still, both Naruto and Sasuke endured years of struggle before their plot armor kicked in."
Rubbing his temples, Gen consoled himself with a muttered thought. But soon, the bitterness welled up again.
Naruto and Sasuke had their power-ups delivered on a silver platter, while he had to build his own step by step from the ground up.
Truly, some are born into Rome while others are born to pull the cart.
"But at least now I finally have a far more powerful means of attack."
The might of Sage Mode had already been demonstrated with stunning clarity by Jiraiya, Naruto, and Hashirama Senju.
And when paired with the steadily refined Purple Lightning technique he had been developing, Gen now had effective counters against nearly all foes. So long as he did not face a truly monstrous opponent, he was confident he could hold his own.
What was more, as he continued to develop his bloodline, he was certain that one day, he too would stand among those so-called monsters. Perhaps he would even surpass them.
"Still, I need to find a way to whitewash this technique. Ugh, whatever. I should start getting ready for tonight's gathering."
Stretching his arms above his head, Gen realized he had been sitting still for far too long. Even his body had started to feel numb.
"Hm?"
But at that very moment, something felt off.
He was suddenly struck by a surge of violent chakra coursing through his system.
More than that, he could sense that even his physical strength had taken another leap.
And then, almost imperceptibly, he felt a thin trickle of chakra streaming into his eyes, as though something deep within them was beginning to awaken.
"Could it be…"
Frantically, Kitagawa Gen pulled up his personal status panel. The moment his eyes fell upon the new information, he was struck speechless.
◇◆────────────────◆◇
[Name: Kitagawa Gen]
[Age: 13]
[Bloodline: Ōtsutsuki (Development: 5%)]
[Total Chakra: S- Rank (Between elite jōnin and slightly below Kage-level)]
◇◆────────────────◆◇
"To think it would have this kind of effect?"
Gen's breathing grew ragged. He had just unlocked Sage Mode. It had only been his first, somewhat clumsy attempt. Yet somehow, it had triggered further development of his bloodline.
Even if the development was still pathetically low at five percent, it was a start.
"So the natural energy... is it actually a part of the Ōtsutsuki's power?"
Gen furrowed his brow in thought. But soon, he shook his head.
"Not necessarily. It's more likely that an Ōtsutsuki who possesses the power of the Ten Tails indirectly gained access to natural energy as a result."
That idea made Gen's eyes gleam with a hint of excitement.
Originally, he had been truly worried. Could his plan of collecting everything really work? And if it went wrong, what then?
But now, he understood that as long as he did not do anything too reckless, the bloodline within his body would serve as his safeguard.
A bloodline of this magnitude was its own assurance—its own foundation!
If that was the case, then he could boldly pursue the complete evolution he envisioned: the final form of the Ōtsutsuki.
"It's just... there are so many things I'll have to gather first."
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[Chapter End's]
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