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Summer night. The Land of Frost, on the remote border of the ninja world, was buried under a blizzard.
In an open-air hot spring amidst the snowy wilds, a man lounged, half his torso above the water. His arms were pillowed behind his head, a damp towel draped over his face.
From the other side of the mossy rock he leaned against came the crisp, pleasant sound of washing. Just listening to it painted a picture in the mind: billowing steam, a young woman's delicate hands scooping warm water, pouring it over fragrant hair and down smooth skin…
The man lifted a corner of the towel, revealing his mouth and the twin red lines marking his cheeks.
"Sorry, Konan… The only hot spring open in the Land of Frost on a day like this is a mixed bath…"
A cool voice drifted through the steam from the other side of the rock.
"Jiraiya-sensei, who has traveled the world and knows its customs so well… you didn't know this?"
"Hahahaha…" Jiraiya laughed heartily. "This time, I genuinely forgot. Troubled times, you know."
"Hm. I know. Sensei is an upright person. While you do have… certain stains that cannot be ignored, overall, the flaws do not obscure the virtue."
As she spoke, Konan rose from the other side of the spring. Her damp, fragrant hair trailed behind her as she waded to the edge, wrapping a pale purple yukata around her flushed body before sitting gently on the wooden deck.
Creak… The boards gave a soft sigh.
Jiraiya's expression turned grave. "What about that matter?"
Konan folded a piece of paper into a purple flower, tucking it into her hair. "According to that craftsman, someone did come asking about the identity of the person who commissioned those experimental devices. I used my abilities to trace them and found their base. But without alerting them… that was the limit."
"Not alerting them was the right move. After all, we can't be sure…" Jiraiya paused.
"—Whether 'Kara' is active in this era!!!"
Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle…
A yellow frog surfaced in the hot spring, two blissful blushes on its cheeks!
"Gero~ gero~ The hot springs of the human world are truly delightful… Much nicer than toad oil~!"
Jiraiya ripped the towel off his face. "Gamaryū…!!"
Gamaryū, Gamakichi's younger brother, grinned innocently. "Hehe… Of course I came to find you~!"
"Find me?"
"Yep! The old geezer told me to give you this scroll. But you looked so comfortable soaking, I couldn't resist a dip myself…"
Jiraiya took the scroll. Read it. His face changed.
He shot to his feet!!
"This is no time for a leisurely soak!!!"
"What happened?" Konan asked, her voice sharp.
"Konoha was attacked. By Madara, using Naruto!! My worst fear… it finally happened. I knew this day would come, but not this soon!!"
Konan's face hardened. As she stood, paper swirled around her, forming the familiar black robe with red clouds. "Do we move?"
Jiraiya was already pulling on his own clothes. "Yes! But not against Madara. Naruto and Madara… I've entrusted that entirely to Sasuke and Orochimaru. I believe they won't fail. We have to save Tsunade! On her way back to Konoha, she was captured by Obito Uchiha!!"
At that name, Konan's orange eyes sharpened. Icy.
"So… he finally made his move."
"Shouldn't we contact Pale Moon Island first?"
Jiraiya considered it. "Better not. We each have our roles. Orochimaru has one mission: to support Sasuke Uchiha with everything he has. He is the greatest hope for the future. Everything we do—even investigating Kara's intel now—is to clear the path for him, to remove future obstacles. Rescuing Tsunade… the two of us are enough."
"But how do we find Obito's location?"
"For that," Jiraiya said, tying his headband, "I need to go to Mount Myōboku. Konan, come with me."
"No. I'll pass on Mount Myōboku. Inform me directly once you have Obito's location. For now… I have preparations to make. For the battle to come."
She turned her gaze… northwest, across the Land of Frost.
Toward the sea bordering the Land of Rain.
"Very well."
Soon, Jiraiya stood before the Great Toad Sage in the Hall of Longevity.
"Tsunade captured by Obito Uchiha… Is this information reliable, Great Sage?"
On his throne, the Great Toad Sage spoke kindly. "Ma… Reliable or not, I cannot say. In any case, a girl named Haruno Sakura conveyed it to me directly through Katsuyu!"
Jiraiya's eyes widened. "Through Katsuyu? That girl? Now that is a surprise! But… it makes sense."
The Great Sage's perpetually closed eyes cracked open a sliver. "Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease. I summoned you specifically to confirm its reliability…"
"But Obito possesses the space-time dōjutsu 'Kamui.' He can go anywhere. How do we find his current hideout?"
"That, I have no answer for. We must seek out 'that one'…"
"That one?! You don't mean…!"
Each of the Three Great Sage elders possessed a unique specialty.
The Great Toad Sage's was prophecy. Through dreams, he glimpsed fragments of the world, extracting key information that could change its course.
The White Snake Sage of Ryūchi Cave… her specialty was divination. She could actively seek the knowledge she desired. But the art was immensely taxing, usable only once every three years.
And there was danger. A severe restriction. If her divination yielded an 'empty hexagram'… it foretold calamity for the Sage herself!
"Indeed. Tsunade's life is at stake. Now, we have no choice but to seek that old hag's help…"
"If I go barging in, she'll likely just kill me. That's not the main issue—Tsunade would be in even greater danger."
"Do not worry. I have already… sent word. Now, you need only go in person. Show our sincerity. Give her a way to step down from her pride…"
"You… contacted the White Snake Sage as well!?"
On his throne, the Great Sage's demeanor was more solemn than Jiraiya had ever seen.
"For the sake of the mighty deity who will inevitably descend… we old relics must let go of our century-old grudges. Now… is the perfect opportunity."
"I see!!"
"Fukasaku and Shima await at the gates of Ryūchi Cave, ready for your summoning. Little Jiraiya… I leave this to you."
"It would be my honor."
His heart swirled with emotion. To think… Sakura, that girl. A spur-of-the-moment choice to save her teacher… became the catalyst for reconciliation between the Three Great Sage families, enemies for over a hundred years. It truly shows…
The Great Age is upon us.
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