Jiraiya nodded.
"Kakashi is right."
"So, no matter what, we need to infiltrate Amegakure beforehand and gather intelligence before taking any action."
"And there is no doubt that I'm the most suitable person for this task."
Tsunade's expression changed immediately.
"Jiraiya, that's extremely dangerous!"
Naruto's ominous premonition resurfaced once again.
He suddenly stood up, accidentally knocking against the table.
"No! I'm against the Perverted Sage infiltrating Amegakure alone!"
Jiraiya glanced at him and smiled.
"Naruto, this isn't child's play…"
However, Naruto's expression remained serious.
"Since this isn't child's play, then I absolutely cannot allow the Perverted Sage to infiltrate Amegakure!"
"Really? Why?"
"Because…"
Naruto clenched his fists.
His heart was pounding violently, and an inexplicable sense of fear was gradually overwhelming him.
"I feel like if the Perverted Sage leaves, she might never come back!"
Everyone's expression changed instantly.
Tsunade had the same concern.
Jiraiya was initially surprised, but then burst into laughter.
"What kind of reason is that?"
"You're just worrying unnecessarily."
This time, Naruto didn't back down.
"Perverted Sage, I'm serious!"
"Since Grandmother Tsunade allowed me to attend this Hokage meeting, I now have the right to express my opinion."
"Perverted Sage, I absolutely won't allow you to infiltrate Amegakure!"
Naruto himself wasn't sure why he had such a strong intuition.
It was as though…
Something similar had already happened somewhere.
As if a disaster and tragedy of this kind had already occurred to some extent.
But even if such a bizarre possibility were true, how could Naruto possibly know about it?
As the Perverted Sage had said, the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku didn't possess the ability to see the future.
Jiraiya's heart trembled slightly as she looked at Naruto's serious expression.
She naturally understood that Naruto was genuinely worried about her.
At the same time, watching Naruto grow into the person he was today filled her with emotion.
"You've really grown up, Naruto…"
Jiraiya nodded with a relieved smile.
"But Tsunade, Naruto, you don't need to make such a big deal out of this."
"I'm well aware of how dangerous infiltrating Amegakure will be."
"I won't act recklessly until I'm fully prepared."
"Although they were once my students, they are now the leaders of the Akatsuki Organization. I would never underestimate them."
Naruto finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Perverted Sage, you promised me before, didn't you?"
"When I made peace with the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox inside me, I asked you to teach me its greatest weapon."
Jiraiya frowned.
"Why are you bringing that up now?"
"Because…"
Naruto's eyes became determined.
"The moment I learn its greatest secret, I want to infiltrate Amegakure together with the Perverted Sage!"
Jiraiya's heart trembled.
Everyone else turned their attention toward Naruto.
His determined expression made it clear that he wasn't simply making an impulsive statement.
"Naruto…"
Tsunade, Shizune, Kakashi, and the others couldn't help but feel deeply moved.
Jiraiya suddenly burst into laughter.
"After all this time, you're still so obsessed with learning that technique."
Naruto immediately smiled.
"This was a promise you made to me, you perverted sage!"
Jiraiya chuckled.
"Well, as a legendary Great Sage, I certainly won't go back on my word."
"Before you're ready to infiltrate Amegakure, however, you must successfully master that technique."
Naruto's face lit up with excitement.
"Really? What happens after that?"
Jiraiya grinned at him.
"Then I'll take you with me."
Naruto instantly became ecstatic.
"That's great!"
Tsunade frowned.
Jiraiya was being far too reckless!
If Naruto really mastered the technique, would Jiraiya actually take him into Amegakure?
Wouldn't that be walking straight into a trap?
Yet judging from Jiraiya's expression, she clearly wasn't joking.
Now Tsunade had to worry about both Jiraiya and Naruto.
Perhaps this was the so-called bond between people.
Once such a bond was formed, it brought not only trust and affection, but also endless worries.
Naruto, meanwhile, was both excited and curious.
He couldn't help but ask:
"Perverted Sage!"
"What exactly is your greatest strength when it comes to Ninjutsu?"
Jiraiya no longer concealed it.
She raised one finger and spoke with confidence and pride.
"This is what I'm talking about…"
"Sage Mode!"
---
Chapter 328: Naruto from Mount Myōboku! Sasuke from Ryūchi Cave! Hinata from Shikkotsu Forest! Destiny Training in the Three Great Sage Regions!
Naruto's eyes immediately lit up when he heard the words "Sage Mode."
He no longer needed the System to push him forward.
After years of growth and experience, Naruto had already developed an extremely strict—even ruthless—sense of self-discipline.
The only things capable of attracting his attention and igniting his ambition were stronger Ninjutsu and greater power.
His desire for strength was somewhat similar to Jiraiya's obsession with beautiful women.
Tsunade's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"Jiraiya, do you think Naruto is ready?"
Jiraiya laughed.
"Tsunade, you still underestimate Naruto, don't you?"
"I feel like his current strength will soon be inferior to ours."
"No…"
"He may have already surpassed us."
Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had remained silent for a long time, slowly exhaled a ring of smoke and smiled.
"This is wonderful."
"A student should naturally surpass their teacher. Otherwise, what's the point of being a teacher?"
Tsunade nodded.
"Of course, I believe in Naruto."
"However, Konoha Village is currently facing threats from both within and outside the village."
"Moreover, since Konoha is home to the Dawn Alliance, we also bear greater responsibility in the Ninja World's struggle against the Akatsuki Organization."
"If Naruto goes to Mount Myōboku…"
Jiraiya understood what Tsunade was implying.
A slight sense of pride emerged in her heart.
"Tsunade, it seems you've already begun viewing Naruto as one of Konoha's most important combat forces."
"Of course."
Tsunade smiled.
"Naruto is already the backbone of Konoha Village."
"He's like one of the pillars supporting the entire village."
Jiraiya laughed heartily.
She was genuinely proud to hear Tsunade say that.
Naruto scratched his head awkwardly.
"Huh? Am I really that important now?"
Kakashi smiled as well.
"Naruto, you've already defeated numerous members of the Akatsuki Organization."
"In this great common struggle against the Akatsuki, you've made extraordinary contributions."
"There is no one else who can compare to you."
However, Naruto shook his head.
"No, I haven't done enough."
"Otherwise, so many Tailed Beasts wouldn't have fallen into the hands of the Akatsuki Organization."
"Besides, if we're talking about contributions, the Perverted Sage is actually the person who has done the most to support Konoha in its fight against the Akatsuki Organization."
"And, of course, Kakashi-sensei."
Everyone silently agreed with Naruto.
Recently, Naruto had been enjoying almost unparalleled popularity and influence throughout the Ninja World.
But everyone knew the truth.
Jiraiya was still the main pillar holding everything together.
Without Jiraiya, the entire Ninja World might not even have known enough about the Akatsuki Organization to prepare for the coming threat.
Even without Naruto, if the entire Ninja World united, the situation might still have remained manageable.
But without Jiraiya's intelligence gathering, the Akatsuki Organization could have secretly captured all the Tailed Beasts before anyone even realized what was happening.
Jiraiya wasn't particularly interested in receiving praise for these contributions.
She simply crossed her arms and smiled.
"There's no need for all this mutual flattery, Naruto."
"To fulfill the promise I made to you—and more importantly, to make you stronger—I've decided to let you train at Mount Myōboku."
"Everyone knows that, as the Nine-Tailed Jinchūriki, you're the Akatsuki Organization's most important target."
"And precisely because of that, you must possess greater strength than anyone else."
Naruto slowly nodded.
"Yes, I understand, Perverted Sage."
Jiraiya smiled.
"Besides becoming stronger, there's another benefit to going to Mount Myōboku."
"Your safety."
"Mount Myōboku is one of the Three Great Sage Regions, and it's extremely far from the Ninja World."
"Almost no one knows the route there except me."
"As long as you remain there, the Akatsuki Organization won't be able to find you."
Tsunade immediately understood Jiraiya's intentions.
"In that case, it really is an appropriate arrangement."
Naruto became slightly reluctant when he heard this.
"For my safety?"
"But you twisted sage, what if Konoha faces a crisis while I'm gone?"
"If I'm not here to help, I'll hate myself for it."
Jiraiya chuckled.
"Avoiding that situation is simple."
"Complete your Sage Mode training as quickly as possible and return to Konoha."
Naruto's face immediately brightened.
"Hahaha, you're right!"
"With my abilities, I'll definitely master it very quickly!"
________________________________________
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