"Alright, back to the main topic. Although you haven't fought against that Shinno…"
Jiraiya's expression turned serious as he looked at Shinji and asked, "From your perspective, what exactly is going on?"
Although Jiraiya had already learned some details through the intelligence toad, he still wanted to hear Shinji's opinion.
Shinji said, "Him? His Jutsu style is completely different from that of a regular ninja, filled with an ancient, unsettling, dark aura."
"His tentacles, rather than being Ninjutsu, are more akin to some kind of biological modification and an aggregation of negative energy."
Jiraiya nodded in satisfaction and asked, "What did you think of?"
"The Tailed Beasts, of course." Shinji replied, twisting his neck.
After all, Nine-Tails has been known as the 'embodiment of hatred' since the Sengoku era.
"Good. When we get back, we can try to investigate this person's identity from this angle." Jiraiya nodded, his expression grave.
Konoha had been collecting data on such relics of forbidden knowledge and power since the village's founding.
"Akatsuki being able to recruit someone like him means their goal isn't just to collect Tailed Beasts."
"Hiruko seeks ultimate individual evolution, while this so-called Shinno demonstrates the power of artificial weapons, and then there's Akatsuki's leader…"
At this point, Jiraiya couldn't help but fall silent.
Why had Nagato, who possessed the legendary Sage's eyes, become like this?
He was supposed to be the Child of Prophecy who would bring change to the Ninja World, yet what he was doing now was…
"Senpai, I think you might want to consider it from a different angle." Shinji interrupted Jiraiya's wild thoughts.
"Oh? Tell me." Jiraiya asked with interest.
This junior of his was indeed not simple.
"For example, these two people today showed us that Akatsuki is not a monolithic entity. They each have their own goals, but they are united by a stronger will and a common objective."
"This could be their weakness, or it could make them seem even more unfathomable."
Jiraiya was stunned.
That's right, they had entered a dead end from the beginning. Their focus had been on the so-called Akatsuki, but they hadn't paid attention to the members this organization recruited.
There was too much of a sense of division. They clearly shouldn't be together, yet on the surface, they were one.
"I will investigate in that direction." Jiraiya nodded, Shinji's words giving him a new line of thought.
Shinji said, "Investigation is one thing, but if there's anything you want to do, call me. After all, you're not alone now."
Shinji rolled his eyes. He was too lazy to try and persuade Jiraiya anymore.
Besides, some things couldn't be kept under wraps forever, or else Jiraiya might just go off on his own. That would truly be a big joke.
"Got it. How come you've learned the old man's tricks too?" Jiraiya shot Shinji an annoyed look.
"Yes, yes. At least I've always been honest about training and guiding my disciples, while some people, oh dear…"
"Always using the excuse of 'creative research' to do unreliable things. Your book only fools pure-hearted old bachelors like Kakashi."
"When are you going to finish it? Haven't you noticed that Kakashi's spirit, which had just recovered a while ago, is starting to wane again?"
"You scoundrel! That's artistic creation! It's the beauty of life, the beauty!"
Jiraiya, hearing his masterpiece disparaged by Shinji, instantly lost his composure and shouted, jumping up and down.
"Hey! Don't jump on my head!" Mimi roared loudly.
Shinji could do that because he respected him, but what class was a perverted white-haired guy like him?
How dare he jump on his head?
"I'm very sorry!" Jiraiya said, cowering.
The aura emanating from Mimi was even more formidable than Gamabunta's. He had only ever seen something similar from the awakened Great Toad Sage.
"Hahaha!"
Seeing Jiraiya like that, Shinji burst out laughing.
—
With Shinji and Jiraiya's return to Konoha, not long after, Konoha's alert level was immediately raised by several degrees.
And the Jonin in Konoha all received a message to gather, a Jonin Meeting was being convened.
In the Hokage Office.
Hiruzen was smoking his pipe, listening to Shinji and Jiraiya's report. His brows were furrowed so tightly they could almost trap a fly.
Whoosh—
Exhaling a heavy puff of smoke, Hiruzen felt a throbbing in his temples.
"Shikaku, based on the information provided by Shinji and Jiraiya, have the Intelligence Division prioritize searching for relevant data."
"All other departments must prioritize this mission."
"Inform Kumogakure and Kirigakure to send people over as soon as possible. The Five-Tails Jinchuriki's treatment will proceed immediately."
"Also, remind Kumogakure to explain the situation of the Jutsu they detected, this is very important to us."
"As for Iwagakure, send a message to the Fourth Tsuchikage through diplomatic channels. Whether they want to cooperate or not is up to them."
Hiruzen issued his orders one by one, while Shikaku diligently took notes.
After Hiruzen finished speaking, Shikaku saluted the others in the office before turning and leaving.
There was still a Jonin Meeting to convene later, now was not the time for idleness.
Such a bother.
"Jiraiya, Shinji, although you two have just returned, you are the ones who directly faced this organization, so you cannot be absent from the upcoming Jonin Meeting." Hiruzen spoke, his gaze mostly on Jiraiya.
After all, he knew Jiraiya's personality. He might get annoyed later and simply not show up.
"Got it, old man." Jiraiya scratched his head in annoyance, speaking to Hiruzen.
Only then did Hiruzen nod in satisfaction. This was for the best.
"Hmph, what a troubled time." Hiruzen shook his head once more.
Jiraiya nodded in agreement. After more than a decade of peace, the Ninja World was once again as it used to be. In fact, it was even more chaotic than during the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars. After all, there was no Akatsuki back then.
"The structure of the Ninja World is undergoing drastic changes. If Iwagakure cannot let go of past grievances this time…"
"Then we don't need to pay too much attention to them afterwards."
"Shinji, the growth of the new generation must be accelerated. The future situation might be even more severe than we imagine."
At this point, Hiruzen couldn't help but become somber.
Konoha had just begun to recover, only to be met with such a situation.
Although this was inherently what it meant to be a ninja, Konoha's spark had not yet fully matured.
"Understood. I will be stricter with internships and school missions." Shinji nodded in response.