"…And perhaps even find a way to interact with it—or counter it."
"All we can do now is hope Jiraiya and the others manage to bring Karin back safely."
This had become the last straw Konoha—and indeed the entire shinobi world—could cling to in the face of the world-shattering mystery of these so-called "chakra vessels."
Almost instinctively, everyone had pinned their hopes on that unpredictable, enigmatic "Demon Child."
The wilderness shown in the sky projection—the place where Karin was destined to meet Orochimaru—had now become a temporary convergence point for forces across the shinobi world.
Jiraiya's team from Konoha.
ANBU units led by Kakashi.
Shinobi from other villages and organizations who had rushed in after hearing the news.
Like a vast net cast wide, they searched the region again and again.
Everyone wanted to be the first to find the key to unraveling the "chakra vessel" mystery—Karin herself.
But several days passed.
There was still no trace of her.
It was as if she had vanished from the face of the earth.
At sunset, Jiraiya stood atop a rise, looking out over land that had already been combed through multiple times. He scratched his white, spiky hair and let out a tired sigh.
"Looks like… we're not going to find her."
Even with so many people mobilized—and with him personally leading the effort—they hadn't uncovered so much as a shadow. It left him frustrated.
Kakashi appeared soundlessly beside him. His half-lidded eyes swept across the empty landscape as he spoke calmly.
"We can see the sky projection. So can Karin."
"She's not a fool. In fact, judging by her previous behavior, she's extremely perceptive—and unpredictable."
"If she saw that the projection foretold her meeting Orochimaru here… she may have deliberately changed course."
It was a reasonable conclusion.
Knowing the "script," someone as erratic and wary as Karin could easily choose a completely different path to avoid trouble.
"Yeah… that makes sense." Jiraiya gave a wry smile. "That makes this tricky. The shinobi world's huge. If she's hiding on purpose, searching blindly like this is like looking for a needle in the ocean."
He had hoped finding Karin might provide answers about Naruto and Sasuke.
Now that hope seemed increasingly distant.
"Should we expand the search area?" an ANBU captain asked.
Kakashi shook his head.
"The area's already extensive. Expanding further would reduce efficiency and increase the chance of clashes with other factions. If this place holds no value anymore, staying here is just wasting time."
Jiraiya nodded.
He cast one last reluctant glance over the land destined to yield nothing.
"Withdraw. Report the situation to Lady Tsunade. And notify all intelligence outposts to monitor unusual activity and any sightings of a red-haired girl. The moment there's the slightest lead, report it immediately."
The order was swiftly relayed. Konoha's forces began their organized retreat.
Jiraiya sighed again.
"Heading back empty-handed like this… doesn't sit well with me."
"After seeing the projection, Orochimaru probably didn't even bother coming here. If we could've dragged him back instead, at least that'd be something."
Then, mid-thought, Jiraiya paused.
"…Wait. If both of them changed direction… could they still run into each other?"
Kakashi's normally lazy eyes widened slightly.
"No way…" he said, rare surprise coloring his tone. "The shinobi world's enormous."
The odds were absurdly low.
If both deliberately altered their routes, they would be like two stones tossed in opposite directions across a vast landscape.
The chance of them colliding again was practically nonexistent.
Jiraiya frowned, as if realizing how far-fetched he sounded. He shook his head, brushing the thought aside with forced levity.
"Yeah… maybe I'm overthinking it. Guess I'm just too hung up on Orochimaru."
But deep down, the idea refused to fade.
Fate.
Jiraiya had spent his life chasing prophecies and tracing the threads of destiny. More than most, he believed there was a certain pull to the world—an unseen gravity guiding events.
Orochimaru and Karin.
Two anomalies.
Would a simple change of direction truly be enough to separate them?
The sky projection had revealed their meeting.
Now that outside interference had altered their paths, would something else—something beyond their understanding—drag their trajectories back toward a new intersection?
The more Jiraiya thought about it, the stronger the uneasy feeling grew.
He was almost certain of it.
Orochimaru and Karin would not simply miss each other.
They were likely drawing closer to a new, unknown crossing point—even now.
The only question was where.
He didn't know.
"Let's go, Kakashi," Jiraiya said at last, pulling himself together. "We'll report back to Tsunade first. As for Orochimaru and Karin… keep an eye on any abnormal movements. I've got a feeling they won't stay quiet for long."
Kakashi studied Jiraiya's serious profile and nodded.
He wasn't as inclined to believe in fate—but when it came to sky prophecies and individuals carrying dangerous secrets, even the most unlikely outcomes could become reality.
"And one more thing," Jiraiya added, his expression darkening. "Find a way to contact Orochimaru. Even if it's just to pass along a message."
"If he really does run into Karin… tell him to come to Konoha and have a look."
That astonishing suggestion even stunned Kakashi.
"…That's an option?!"
His eyes widened fully this time.
Initiate contact with Orochimaru—a long-time missing-nin responsible for countless atrocities?
And expect him to bring the "Demon Child" to Konoha… just to "have a look"?
Wasn't that wildly unrealistic?
Jiraiya met Kakashi's disbelief with a solemn nod. There wasn't a hint of humor in his face.
"I know it sounds ridiculous," he admitted. "But Kakashi, what we're facing now is beyond conventional solutions."
"The issue with Naruto and Sasuke doesn't concern only them."
"It may very well concern the future of the entire shinobi world."
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