At that moment, Jiraiya felt as though his heart had plunged into an icy abyss.
He had never expected that his carefully devised tactics would be seen through so completely by a mere boy.
Worse still, he couldn't make sense of the countermeasures the boy had used. Not even a little.
Had he swapped with a Shadow Clone the moment he sensed my plan, moving his original body to my side?
Jiraiya couldn't wrap his head around it, but he knew one thing: if this continued, he was dead!
"Gamabunta!"
With a sudden roar, Jiraiya called out, and Gamabunta immediately understood. In midair, the giant toad dissolved into a cloud of smoke.
He had no interest in letting some inexplicable brat stand on his head, but while shinobi could maintain their footing using chakra, the best way he could help Jiraiya now was simple—disappear.
Once he was gone, both Jiraiya and the boy would lose their footing. And in the chaos of the fall, Jiraiya would have a chance to break free.
Just as expected, the moment Gamabunta vanished, Jiraiya used the force of gravity to his advantage, pulling away at high speed as he descended.
Natsuhiko hadn't anticipated that Jiraiya would still try to struggle. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have minded continuing the fight—he was even somewhat interested in seeing how far it could go.
But now wasn't the time for indulgence.
The shinobi forces of Kusagakure were already closing in. Natsuhiko had no desire to complicate matters or turn this into a larger incident—it would bring him nothing but trouble.
Besides, he had already obtained what he came for. There was no reason to linger.
On top of that, Jiraiya's Sage Mode seemed far less sustainable than Natsuhiko remembered.
Thinking about it, that made sense. The version of Jiraiya he knew came from sixteen years in the future. Sixteen years of growth could change a great deal.
Right now, Jiraiya hadn't even summoned Fukasaku and Shima. It was likely his mastery of Sage Mode was still incomplete.
Disappointing… but at least I've had a taste of the strength of one of this era's Sannin.
With that thought, Natsuhiko twisted midair, landing lightly atop a tree before leaping down to the ground.
Gamabunta's jump had carried them an impressive distance—far enough to escape the blast zone and reach a relatively safe area. It allowed Natsuhiko to land calmly and without issue.
Jiraiya, however, looked far more disheveled.
Though he managed to land on a tree and reach the ground, his movements were anything but smooth. The strain on his body was obvious—his chakra consumption had been excessive.
I've used too much… My Sage Mode still needs more training.
Gritting his teeth, Jiraiya began forming hand seals at once.
By now, he had a clear understanding of his opponent: blinding speed, flawless control over Sage Mode, and mastery of powerful elemental techniques.
There were hardly any weaknesses to exploit.
If anything… maybe overconfidence.
The thought flickered through his mind as he completed his seals. In his current state, escaping through speed alone was impossible.
Fortunately, he still had one last option.
The Reverse Summoning Technique.
By channeling his chakra, he could traverse space itself and return directly to Mount Myoboku.
Just as he was about to slam his hands onto the ground—
"Wood Release: Smothering Binding Technique"
In an instant, countless wooden tendrils burst forth from the surroundings, twisting and coiling wildly as they surged toward him.
Jiraiya didn't have time to react—if anything, his mind had gone completely blank.
By the time the wooden tendrils wrapped tightly around his body, he immediately felt something was wrong. The chakra within him was being violently siphoned away, draining at an alarming rate.
At the same time, a thick wooden branch coiled around his throat, locking it in place and preventing even the slightest sound from escaping.
Wood Release? How is that possible?
Jiraiya could hardly believe what he was experiencing. Of all places, of all times—he had actually encountered Wood Release here.
As Tsunade's longtime comrade, he knew full well what that ability represented.
Ever since the First Hokage, almost no one in Konoha had been able to wield it.
No… there was still one.
Could it be…?
"Lord Jiraiya, haven't you had enough fun?"
As his thoughts churned, the silver-haired boy appeared silently before him, as if he had stepped out of thin air—ghostlike, impossible to track.
At the same moment, the wooden branch around Jiraiya's neck obediently loosened and slipped away.
"This Wood Release…" Jiraiya's voice was low as he stared intently at Natsuhiko. "And earlier—you didn't use a shadow clone to lure me in. You were already there from the beginning. That was the Flying Thunder God Technique, wasn't it?"
"Correct."
Natsuhiko nodded with a faint smile, no longer bothering to hide anything. Judging by Jiraiya's reaction, there was no point in pretending anymore.
"Your analytical skills are impressive, Lord Jiraiya. To see through me so quickly…"
"In my understanding," Jiraiya said through clenched teeth, "there is only one person who possesses the Flying Thunder God Technique, Wood Release, and Sage Mode all at once…"
His voice trailed off as he lifted his head, locking his gaze onto the young man before him.
Sunlight filtered through the treetops, falling across Natsuhiko's figure. Paired with that calm, ever-present smile, he looked almost radiant—strangely reminiscent of Minato Namikaze.
And then Jiraiya spoke the name.
"Senju Natsuhiko!"
"That's right." Natsuhiko inclined his head slightly, his smile unwavering. "I am Senju Natsuhiko. I hope for your guidance, Lord Jiraiya."
So it really is him…
Hearing the confirmation, Jiraiya felt a trace of relief—but his heart remained anything but calm.
He had heard the name Senju Natsuhiko many times from Minato. He knew the boy was powerful, and that his mind was sharp, difficult to read.
But after this encounter, he realized that "powerful" didn't even begin to cover it.
This boy… was simply beyond comprehension.
Yet too many questions lingered in his mind, refusing to be ignored. After a long silence, Jiraiya finally spoke again, his eyes never leaving Natsuhiko.
"Why?" he asked slowly. "As the head of Konoha's ANBU, why would you do something like this?"
"Why?" Natsuhiko tilted his head slightly, still smiling as he looked at him. "I wonder—which part are you referring to? My failure to reveal my identity, or something else, Lord Jiraiya?"
"Don't call me 'Lord.' I'm not worthy of that."
Jiraiya struggled to rise, but the wooden bindings held him firmly in place, unmoving.
"Why attack your own people from Konoha? And what kind of mission would make you slaughter so many without hesitation?"
"Well, first of all," Natsuhiko replied calmly, nodding as if acknowledging the question, his tone unhurried and composed, "as the head of the ANBU, I am under no obligation to answer you."
"Even if you are one of the Sannin—and the teacher of the Fourth Hokage—you still have no authority over ANBU affairs."
He paused briefly, his gaze steady.
"Secondly, let me ask you this, Jiraiya…"
"If subordinates refuse to follow orders and, in doing so, delay the execution of a mission…"
"Do I not have the right to deal with them as I see fit?"
At that point, Natsuhiko paused slightly before crouching down so that he was eye level with Jiraiya.
The wooden bindings wrapped around Jiraiya's body rapidly receded, withdrawing as if they had never been there. Natsuhiko then reached out and lightly patted his shoulder.
Yet the moment his next words left his lips, Jiraiya felt a chill spread through his heart.
"Lastly, I have one more question," Natsuhiko said calmly. "As a disciple of the Third Hokage, you took the initiative to attack the head of Konoha's ANBU… what exactly were your intentions?"
—
"Alright, this is where we part ways."
In a small town within the Land of Fire, not far from Konohagakure, Jiraiya glanced ahead before turning back to speak.
Natsuhiko stood behind him, and beside him was a woman with long red hair, cradling an infant in her arms.
This mother and child were the true objective of Natsuhiko's mission—the survivors he had rescued from the underground laboratory, descendants of the Uzumaki clan.
When he had first encountered the woman, Natsuhiko hadn't been entirely certain he had found the right person.
But the scars covering her arms, along with a rather… thorough verification process, had quickly confirmed her identity.
Of course, that process had left its mark. Even now, whenever she looked at Natsuhiko, there was an unmistakable trace of fear in her eyes.
Then again, it wasn't surprising. After all, she had witnessed him casually turn the entire underground facility into a living hell.
Her name was Uzumaki Kasai, and the infant in her arms was Uzumaki Karin.
She had simply been one of the unfortunate ones—once living peacefully in the Land of Grass, until complications during childbirth drew the attention of the local shinobi.
From that moment on, her life had descended into tragedy.
Natsuhiko had no particular desire to dig deeper into her past. Stories like hers were almost always filled with suffering.
What mattered was that he had pulled her out of that nightmare. Life, after all, had to move forward.
When Jiraiya learned her surname, he fell into a brief silence.
It was obvious he had already pieced together the nature of Natsuhiko's mission.
"Not going back to take a look, Lord Jiraiya?" Natsuhiko asked with a faint smile, turning his head slightly. "You've come this far. You might even get the chance to see your teacher again."
"Go back, huh…"
Jiraiya shook his head firmly, a wry smile tugging at his lips as he looked at Natsuhiko.
"I think I'll pass. If I return now, I'll only bring trouble with me—and who knows, you might even throw me in prison."
He couldn't forget what Natsuhiko had said before. Just a single sentence had been enough to make him realize how precarious his situation truly was.
As a disciple of the Third Hokage, he had attacked the head of ANBU. And from what Minato Namikaze had told him, this particular ANBU commander did not get along with the Third Hokage.
It didn't take much imagination to see how dangerous that combination could be. If the young man in front of him chose to make an issue of it, his teacher would undoubtedly be dragged into trouble as well.
Still… Jiraiya had to admit something.
During the past few days traveling together after leaving the Land of Grass, he had come to see Natsuhiko in a different light.
They had spent that time side by side, inevitably talking, exchanging thoughts, and gaining a basic understanding of one another.
From Jiraiya's perspective, this young man possessed an astonishing breadth of knowledge and carried himself with a gentle, approachable demeanor—at least on the surface.
More importantly, Natsuhiko had offered him several insights regarding Sage Mode, suggestions that were invaluable.
After witnessing Natsuhiko's mastery firsthand, Jiraiya could no longer help but feel that his own Sage Mode was almost laughable in comparison.
Jiraiya's Sage Mode took far too long to activate, yet once it did, it couldn't even be maintained for very long.
In stark contrast, Natsuhiko could enter that state almost instantly, as if it were second nature to him. The power he displayed in that form was overwhelming, and its duration far exceeded Jiraiya's by an unknown margin.
The fact that Natsuhiko was willing to share his insights and help him improve—there was no denying it, that alone was an immense boon to Jiraiya.
Because of that, and after spending several days traveling together, Natsuhiko's image in Jiraiya's mind gradually became more complete, more human.
He began to see him not just as a prodigy, but as someone burdened with the weight of reviving his clan, someone who had sunk deep into the murky depths of Konoha's upper echelons, slowly becoming what he was now.
After all, Natsuhiko had entered the ANBU at the age of eight—how could that not shape his methods, his mindset?
Under the pressure of those three forces—his clan, the system, and his environment—anyone would have changed.
And at his core… Jiraiya felt that Natsuhiko wasn't a bad person.
Even knowing that Natsuhiko would likely use what had happened to attack the Third Hokage upon returning, Jiraiya found that he couldn't bring himself to feel angry.
What he felt instead was a quiet sorrow.
Perhaps sorrow for what Konoha had become.
Or perhaps for what Natsuhiko had been forced to become… and for what he had done in the Land of Grass.
"Maybe," Natsuhiko said with a casual shrug, his tone indifferent. "After all, you did interfere with my mission. And throwing you in prison would definitely benefit me—so there's a good chance I'd do exactly that."
"You really have no intention of hiding anything, do you?" Jiraiya shook his head helplessly, letting out a soft sigh. "It's honest, I'll give you that… but it's also pretty harsh. All the more reason I shouldn't go back."
"I see." Natsuhiko nodded, his smile gentle but distant. "In that case, I can only wish you a safe journey, Lord Jiraiya."
"Natsuhiko-kun…"
Jiraiya suddenly called out to him, his lips parting as if to say more—but the words refused to come.
Natsuhiko turned back, a hint of confusion flickering in his eyes. He had no idea what the famed teacher of the so-called Child of Prophecy was trying to say now.
Still, he remained silent, waiting.
After a long hesitation, Jiraiya finally let out a quiet sigh and spoke, his voice heavy.
"Natsuhiko-kun… this isn't what being a shinobi is supposed to be like. Konoha wasn't always like this. I…"
"I understand what you're trying to say, Lord Jiraiya."
Natsuhiko cut him off gently, a faint smile still on his face.
"But you see the world as too beautiful… too idealistic."
"This world has never been beautiful," Jiraiya replied, shaking his head with a wry smile. "And I've never believed it was. I just want to make it that way—and I act on that belief."
"Then I can only wish you success in that," Natsuhiko said with a small nod. His expression, however, grew more serious. "But I don't agree with your ideals… or your methods."
As he spoke, his gaze sharpened.
He understood Jiraiya's intentions perfectly. The man wanted him to change—not just in how he acted within Konoha, but in everything he did beyond it as well.
But understanding was one thing. Agreement was another.
Respect… did not mean acceptance.
"Perhaps someday we can sit down and talk this through properly," Natsuhiko continued, his tone steady. "But now isn't the time. Still, there's something you need to understand, Lord Jiraiya."
"What is it?" Jiraiya lifted his head slightly, his voice strained.
"I respect your dream and everything you've done for it," Natsuhiko said, meeting his eyes directly. Then, word by word, he continued:
"But I do not agree with your beliefs or your way of doing things. And I will not change how I act—"
"Whether in Konoha… or beyond it."
—
"You'll stay here for now. I'll take care of your identity."
In a quiet residential district of Konohagakure, Natsuhiko stood calmly before the red-haired woman and spoke in a soft, measured tone.
"Understood?"
"I understand, sir."
Uzumaki Kasai held the infant tightly in her arms, nodding with a trace of fear still lingering in her eyes. "I'll follow your instructions."
Natsuhiko simply nodded in response. He could clearly sense her distrust—and her fear—but he didn't take it too seriously.
If anything, her unease likely stemmed more from the fact that this was Konoha.
After all, she had been forced to leave her homeland, wandering from place to place ever since the fall of the Uzumaki clan—and in no small part, that fate had been tied to Konoha itself.
Watching as she entered the house, Natsuhiko turned and walked toward a distant corner.
There, standing quietly within the shadows, was Senju Shōma.
"Elder," Natsuhiko greeted as he approached.
For Uzumaki Kasai and her daughter to settle in Konoha, two things were required: approval and surveillance from the village, and a place to live.
The first wasn't an issue. As the head of the ANBU, Natsuhiko held considerable authority, and bringing Kasai back had already been approved by Hiruzen Sarutobi. As for surveillance—that was ANBU's domain to begin with.
The second matter, however, had been resolved by Senju Shōma.
While Konoha could assign housing, Natsuhiko had no intention of accepting whatever the village offered. Since he had personally brought her back, there was no way he would allow her to fall under someone else's control.
"That woman… she's from the Uzumaki clan, isn't she?" Senju Shōma didn't bother with pleasantries, getting straight to the point. "A descendant of the Uzumaki?"
"Mm. She is." Natsuhiko nodded with a faint smile. "Based on ANBU intelligence—and after handling matters in the Land of Fire's capital—I went and brought her back."
"Good. Very good!" Shōma's expression brightened with unmistakable excitement. "Back then, when Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others—"
"That's enough, Elder."
Natsuhiko cut him off before he could continue, his tone calm but firm.
"I'm well aware of what happened to the Uzumaki clan, and I know how to handle this. Otherwise, I wouldn't have kept her under my watch."
Shōma paused, then slowly nodded. His excitement cooled slightly, though the joy in his heart was impossible to extinguish.
Years ago, when the Land of Water invaded the Land of Whirlpools, Konoha had chosen not to intervene directly.
That single decision had led to the destruction of the Senju clan's strongest ally—the Uzumaki—reducing them to nothing more than a fading memory in history.
And after the death of Mito Uzumaki, the Senju themselves had steadily declined, eventually becoming what they were today.
Konoha still had Kushina Uzumaki, of course—but she had been raised and shaped under Hiruzen Sarutobi's guidance from a young age.
In essence, she belonged to his faction.
Yet the destruction of the Uzumaki clan had left behind a serious consequence—the question of who would become the next Nine-Tails' jinchūriki.
Now, Natsuhiko had brought back an Uzumaki woman—and more importantly, she had a child.
With careful cultivation, the future jinchūriki could very well become someone aligned with them.
"With you here, the clan has truly begun to change," Shōma said with a soft sigh before breaking into a smile once more. "By the way, you went out with Hiruzen Sarutobi this time—did you gain anything from it?"
"Gain something?" Natsuhiko tilted his head slightly, a smile forming on his lips. "Quite a lot—more than you could imagine. Though… some things aren't easy to talk about. I hope you understand."
And it was true—his gains this time had been immense.
Not only had he and Hiruzen successfully squeezed funding out of the daimyō, but he had also unexpectedly obtained leverage over Danzo… along with that experimental subject—whether he would be called Tenzo or Yamato in the future remained unclear.
After that, he had reclaimed the Ryūmyaku, allowing the small Nine-Tails within him to evolve from a rudimentary state into something far more developed, even granting it the potential for continuous growth.
He himself had also acquired a portion of that chakra. Even if he couldn't fully control it, it was more than enough to intimidate others.
Most importantly, he had managed to use the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode—effectively creating a new "identity" he could rely on when doing things that couldn't be traced back to him.
Then, during his time in the Land of Grass, he had encountered Jiraiya—and been attacked by him, no less.
An incident like that… would have far-reaching consequences.
If Hiruzen Sarutobi claimed that Jiraiya's actions had been unintentional, then what did that say about one of Konoha's highest-ranking shinobi—not even knowing who the head of his own ANBU was? Could such a person truly be considered one of the legendary Sannin?
But if it had been intentional… then the blow to Hiruzen would be even more devastating.
There were simply too many complications involved, and many of them weren't things Natsuhiko could speak of openly—especially since his own plans were intertwined with them.
Some of those plans even touched on matters as sensitive as the remains of Hashirama Senju.
If Senju Shōma were to learn about that, Natsuhiko couldn't guarantee the old man would remain calm. And if he lost control, it could very well disrupt everything.
Natsuhiko had no intention of letting anyone interfere with his plans—no matter who they were.
"I understand," Shōma said at last, clearly having expected this outcome. He didn't press further. "You should handle these matters yourself. I trust you, Natsuhiko—always have."
"Don't put it so absolutely," Natsuhiko replied, shaking his head lightly. "Especially when it comes to trust."
With that, he turned and began to leave.
"I'll take my leave for now. I need to return to the ANBU."
"So busy? Not even a moment to rest?"
"No," Natsuhiko said without looking back, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "There's someone… far more interesting waiting for me there."
—
"Commander, this way."
Inside the prison of the ANBU's Third Division, Pakura led Natsuhiko deeper inside.
The "interesting person" he had mentioned was, of course, the boy he had captured—Yamato.
The child had been locked up for nearly half a month now, and Natsuhiko was genuinely curious to see what state he was in.
"Thank you, Pakura."
Though his thoughts were still on Yamato, Natsuhiko offered her a polite nod.
"By the way, you don't have training today?"
"I do," Pakura replied. Even through the mask, there was a faint hint of a smile in her voice. "But right now, I'm training while carrying out missions."
"Captain Kakashi Hatake is too busy, so he's arranged for me to participate directly. It's the fastest way to adapt—learning while doing."
"I see." Natsuhiko nodded with a soft chuckle. "You've all been working hard."
And that was the truth.
Kakashi was exhausted—Natsuhiko knew that well. But it wasn't just him. Others like Antelope and Trout were equally overworked.
After all, the expansion of the ANBU had been placed squarely in their hands.
Whether it was for the authority they held or out of loyalty to Natsuhiko for the trust he had shown them, they carried out their duties with utmost dedication.
Still, Natsuhiko wasn't in a hurry.
In his view, completing the expansion within two years would already be a success.
After all, cultivating talent was never easy. Even with the ample funding they had secured from the daimyō, such progress couldn't be rushed.
As they chatted along the way, Natsuhiko soon arrived at the cell where Yamato was being held.
Through the bars, he saw the boy sitting quietly on the ground. His chakra had been sealed, and he made no attempt to resist—just sat there, subdued and obedient.
Natsuhiko gave a slight nod to himself.
"Then I won't disturb you any further, Commander," Pakura said tactfully. "I'll be right outside. If you need anything, just call."
"Thank you."
Natsuhiko smiled faintly and watched as she left.
It had to be said—her transformation was unmistakable.
Perhaps it was the depth of her betrayal… or perhaps it was the fervor that often came with newfound allegiance.
Pakura's current attitude—focused, disciplined, and fully committed—left Natsuhiko quite satisfied.
A woman of her strength and ability, only to have once been cast aside and nearly destroyed by schemes and betrayal… that would have been a real waste.
Turning his gaze back, Natsuhiko looked once more at the boy in the cell.
With a slight movement of his raised hand, chakra stirred—and the seal within Yamato's body instantly shifted.
Sensing the change, the boy snapped his head up, only to see the man he feared most standing before him.
The commander of the ANBU.
For those from Root, there was perhaps no one more terrifying to face—and for Yamato, there was no one he wanted to see less at this moment.
Through cruel experimentation, he had gained Wood Release. That power had shaped who he was now.
And yet, standing before Natsuhiko, he truly understood what it meant to face an insurmountable gulf.
His Wood Release… was utterly insignificant in comparison.
"Kid, do you remember me?" Natsuhiko asked, his voice calm and indifferent. Gone was the gentle façade he often wore.
"I do," Yamato hesitated briefly before answering. In truth, it wasn't just memory—it was something etched deep into his bones.
"Then tell me," Natsuhiko continued, his gaze sharp, "do you remember how you obtained that Wood Release power?"
He paused, then added deliberately:
"You'd better tell the truth—everything. That's the only way you'll have a chance to live… and perhaps even protect certain people behind you."
"I…" Yamato lowered his head, hesitating for a moment before speaking in a subdued tone. "I don't know what you're talking about. If you want to kill me, then just do it. I—"
"You won't say anything, is that it?"
Natsuhiko cut him off mid-sentence, nodding as if he had already expected this.
"I understand. But unfortunately, your resistance is meaningless."
He spoke evenly, almost casually.
"It was Orochimaru who conducted the experiments on you, wasn't it? And Danzo Shimura who took you in and raised you… correct?"
At that, Natsuhiko fell silent.
He cast a long, meaningful glance at the boy before turning and walking away without waiting for an answer.
Because in truth, he had never expected to get one.
He already knew everything.
What he wanted was simply to observe the boy's attitude—to lay the groundwork for what came next.
That was why he had spoken the way he did, deliberately planting a seed.
And just as he had anticipated, the moment he turned away, he caught the subtle flicker in Yamato's eyes.
Right now, the person Yamato most wanted to protect was Danzo. And Natsuhiko's words had given him a path—an opportunity.
If everything could be pushed onto Orochimaru…
What Yamato didn't realize was that this was exactly what Natsuhiko wanted.
His target wasn't just Orochimaru.
It was Danzo… and even Hiruzen Sarutobi as well.
—
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood with a pipe clenched between his teeth, staring at the two elders before him—Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.
The room was thick with smoke, evidence of how much he had been smoking.
It only made the atmosphere heavier… more oppressive.
After a long silence, Koharu finally sighed deeply.
"Hiruzen… we've only just resolved the matter with the daimyō. Is it really wise to turn around and deal with Danzo now?"
"He committed this act because of my own failures," Hiruzen replied, closing his eyes briefly, his voice weighed down with exhaustion. "We will proceed as planned."
"This time, Danzo has indeed gone too far," Homura added. "He's crossed the line. But still… not even meeting him once—this feels…"
"Meet him?"
Hiruzen's eyes snapped open.
In an instant, a vast surge of chakra erupted from him, filling the room with an overwhelming presence.
"Why don't you ask him why he hasn't come to see me?"
His voice was sharp now, edged with anger long held back.
"I gave him chances—again and again. But this time, he has completely disappointed me. Do you understand?"
Faced with the sudden eruption of the once-renowned "Professor," both Koharu and Homura fell silent.
They could see it clearly.
This time, Hiruzen Sarutobi was truly furious.
And they also understood what that meant—
Danzo Shimura was about to fall from power.
Because the order Hiruzen had issued was absolute:
Danzo was to be stripped of all his positions… including control over Root.
...
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