"Shisui, are you leaving?" Uchiha Itachi looked at Shisui and asked.
Shisui hadn't had any private conversations with him since coming over.
"Yes, I have some training to complete next."
Shisui nodded his head and bid farewell to Uchiha Itachi.
"Goodbye then."
Uchiha Itachi felt a bit reluctant but didn't try to hold Shisui back.
"Come visit us again when you have time, Shisui." Uchiha Mikoto smiled and waved farewell.
"With such excellent talent and effort, maybe he truly can make the Uchiha different." Watching Shisui's back, Uchiha Fugaku's expression was complex.
He was certain Shisui could change the Uchiha, but whether this change was good or bad for the Uchiha, he couldn't say.
Back at his home courtyard, Shisui started practicing Fire Attribute Chakra Nature Changes and the Breath of Flame.
Mokgetsu had made it clear that the new Ninjutsu he would be teaching next involved Fire Release, so Shisui wanted to brush up on his fire-related abilities over the next couple of days. This might help him learn the new Ninjutsu faster.
"Shisui is truly excellent, just thinking about how both you and Obito are Uchiha makes me feel like Obito got the better part of the deal." Zorua commented like a cheerleading squad, praising Shisui.
Bang!
Shisui instantly appeared behind Zorua and gave him a karate chop.
"Don't praise one while belittling the other." Shisui said, rubbing a tuft of fire-red fur on Zorua's head.
"It's just the truth, isn't it? If you don't believe me, go ask Charizard and Lycanroc. Everyone seems to think so." Zorua said, unfazed.
Shisui smiled helplessly. Given the relationship between Charizard and Obito, Charizard would definitely agree with anything bad said about Obito.
Obito often argued with Kakashi, and Lycanroc was very close to Kakashi, so naturally, Lycanroc wouldn't think much of Obito and would mostly agree, too.
"Put more effort into training; you often hang out with Charizard, who's evolved twice, whereas you haven't even evolved once." Shisui thoughtfully pulled at Zorua's cheek.
Though Shisui wasn't rushing Zorua to evolve, he did hope to motivate him for more training.
"What's good about evolving? Getting that big means I won't be able to stand on Shisui's shoulder anymore." Zorua pouted.
Shisui chuckled, not paying much mind, "You should be more aware; you're not light, yet you like standing on my shoulder so much."
Zorua currently weighs fifteen kilograms. If not for Shisui being a Ninja, and having training from the Breathing Technique, any average nine-year-old might tumble if Zorua stood on their shoulder.
"Hey, my head just got knocked dizzy. What did Shisui say? I didn't hear it." Zorua feigned selective hearing loss.
Shisui rubbed Zorua's head and continued his training.
Training continued until 9 PM, then Shisui took Zorua to Obito's house.
If it got any later, Shisui worried they might disturb Obito's grandmother's rest.
"Obito, there's a clan meeting in a week. Are you free then?" Shisui asked directly.
There was no need for beating around the bush between them.
"A clan meeting? Is it to help you? I should be available, provided I don't have any urgent missions." Obito replied.
Urgent missions were uncontrollable factors, so Obito didn't make any firm promises.
"I'll count on you for that." Shisui nodded and said.
To smoothly execute his plan at the clan meeting, Obito was indispensable.
"Have you eaten?" Charizard enthusiastically greeted Zorua.
"No wonder you can't get Milotic's attention, you really aren't good with words." Zorua said mercilessly, piercing Charizard's heart.
Charizard's eyes widened and his body shrunk in disbelief at Zorua, surprised that his trusted friend was so aggressive today.
...
Land of Grass.
Since the plan to jointly eliminate Hidden Rock with the Grass Ninja was mysteriously exposed last time, the battle situation in the Land of Grass had inexplicably calmed down without any big conflicts.
But overall, Konoha Ninja still have an advantage. The activity space of the Hidden Rock Ninja Squad has been gradually compressed by the Konoha Ninja Squad, and the situation is looking great for Konoha Ninja Squad.
In this environment, Jiraiya, as the squad commander, found himself with more free time, becoming less busy.
Thus, Jiraiya began to pay attention to information circulating about the Martial Arts Tournament.
The Land of Grass borders the Land of Rain, so news about the tournament spreads quickly to the Land of Grass. As a commander, Jiraiya often didn't have the mind to pay attention to such things.
"Youth Martial Arts Tournament's first place, the strongest genius in the Ninja World, Nagato?" Jiraiya looked at the tournament information with a face of bewilderment.
He wasn't too focused on the Youth Martial Arts Tournament, only knowing that it was a ninja competition in the neighboring Land of Rain.
Nagato, however, was someone he was deeply familiar with; wasn't he the disciple Jiraiya considered the prophesied child?
"Having the same name? Impossible. With such strength and in the Land of Rain, it must be him."
Remembering the three years in the Land of Rain taking care of Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan, Jiraiya had a touch of nostalgia on his face.
"The strongest genius in the Ninja World, if he can control the Rinnegan now, this title isn't unfit."
Nagato was the one Jiraiya believed most suitable as the prophesied child.
No other reason except the eyes of the Six Paths Sage were proof enough.
"Nagato has become so outstanding; I wonder what Yahiko and Konan are like now."
Jiraiya always wanted to visit Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan, but was always too busy with various matters.
Since the war began, returning to Konoha, Jiraiya couldn't find free time even in Konoha itself.
Partly due to tasks arising from his position and partly because Sarutobi Hiruzen kept wanting to add burdens on him to pave the way for Jiraiya to become Hokage.
Jiraiya was exasperated; scolded when young, now being pushed to become Hokage.
Anyone who wants to be Hokage can be, Jiraiya wasn't interested; he had more important tasks.
Because of Nagato, Jiraiya had collected more comprehensive information on the Youth Martial Arts Tournament.
Only then did Jiraiya discover that not only had Nagato participated, so had Yahiko and Konan, though their performances were middling—Yahiko eliminated in the first round, Konan in the second.
"That boy Obito actually got second place, could his strength have soared?"
Jiraiya saw Obito's ranking higher than Kakashi and Might Guy, feeling somewhat strange.
Jiraiya didn't overthink and continued reading the information, after all, the excellence of Konoha's ninja was certainly a good thing.
Carefully finishing the intel, Jiraiya was moved to head to the Land of Rain.
Now, with no wartime activity in the Land of Grass and Namikaze Minato, an excellent disciple, in the squad, Jiraiya could leave.
Given Namikaze Minato's current reputation and strength, he could replace Jiraiya as squad commander.
Jiraiya first called Namikaze Minato into the tent to ask his opinion.
"If it's not too long, it should be okay." Namikaze Minato thought and replied.
Given Hidden Rock having two fully Tailed Beast Transformable Jinchuriki, Namikaze Minato didn't feel he could fully replace Jiraiya.
His methods mostly had no effect on the fully Tailed Beast Transformed Jinchuriki. In battles against Hidden Rock's Jinchuriki, Namikaze Minato primarily supported Jiraiya.
"Hahaha, I won't let you sub for me too long." Jiraiya laughed, patting Namikaze Minato's shoulder.
He knew better; he wouldn't carry the same assuredly roaming mindset to the Land of Rain as before the war but would return promptly after learning of Nagato's current situation.
Lastly, Jiraiya issued an application to Konoha's headquarters.
As a commander, it would be irresponsible to run off without reporting.
Though doing so might as well allow Jiraiya to evade becoming Hokage, it wouldn't be polite.
PS: The extra chapters are almost done, no surprises this time, it's definitely releasing tomorrow.
The content mainly covers the events after Naruto deals with Nagato.
If interested, you can subscribe, if not, skipping won't affect the main story reading.