Chapter 47: What is the 'Tattoo Era'!
"Lord Jiraiya, it's been a long time."
In an izakaya in a small town in the Land of Rice Fields, Kakashi bowed respectfully to Jiraiya.
However, the corner of his mouth couldn't help but twitch, because Jiraiya was laughing heartily with his arms around two waitresses...
With that lecherous expression and the character for 'Oil' on his forehead protector, he looked like an unreliable, greasy middle-aged man no matter how you sliced it!
But Kakashi also knew how powerful this man was, and he was his own teacher's master...
"Long time no see, Kakashi."
Seeing Kakashi arrive, Jiraiya immediately dismissed the waitresses and finally broke into a smile.
"Not bad. The brat from back then has become a powerhouse capable of standing on his own."
"You flatter me, Lord Jiraiya."
Kakashi chuckled, but Jiraiya's expression suddenly turned strange.
He leaned closer to Kakashi and asked curiously in a low voice.
"Your teammates—one Hyuga and one Uchiha?"
"Yes, they both..."
"How long has it been since I left Konoha? Has the old man already settled things with these two clans?"
"..."
"Is the old man having a final burst of lucidity?"
"..."
Kakashi's smile faded; he didn't know how to respond to that topic.
While the two of them were talking, Yamato also spoke up in a low voice with a strange look on his face from behind.
"Is that Lord Jiraiya? Why does he feel..."
"So different from Orochimaru?"
Hyuga Makoto blinked, Uchiha Itachi's eyes flickered slightly, and Yamato nodded subtly.
"Indeed, a little bit..."
"Because this guy is just a super greasy, middle-aged pervert!"
"Hiss, don't talk nonsense..."
"Didn't you see what just happened?"
"Uh..."
"Besides, I've seen him peeping at the hot springs in Konoha!"
"..."
Yamato didn't dare speak up again, but both he and Uchiha Itachi had a hint of curiosity in their eyes.
Up ahead, Kakashi and Jiraiya also heard their conversation.
Kakashi looked completely embarrassed, while a throbbing vein popped up on Jiraiya's forehead.
Glancing at Hyuga Makoto, who seemed ready to keep talking, he finally snapped.
"Hey, brat! That's so rude! I was doing research! Research, do you hear me!"
"Oh, I understand, Lord Jiraiya."
Hyuga Makoto deliberately widened his Byakugan and then nodded 'knowingly'.
"Just research, only research."
"..."
Jiraiya looked at those large white eyes and felt something was off, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
He could only purse his lips and immediately change the subject.
"Let's talk about more important things. Where is that bastard Orochimaru?"
Jiraiya knew Orochimaru was in the Land of Rice Fields, but he didn't know exactly where.
As his teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew his personality all too well.
Once he knew all the intel, he would most likely rush over by himself—why would he wait for the Anbu?
Although he was annoyed, he could only accept it.
"It's said there will be more trouble this time, like his teammates from that mysterious organization?"
"Yes, he was previously with Sasori of the Red Sand."
Kakashi nodded and pulled out a map, his gaze sweeping over Uchiha Itachi very subtly.
"But I'm sure there are others, and they're all very dangerous. His current location should be in this area."
"This place?"
Jiraiya glanced at the map, his eyebrows twitching.
"I remember this is a forest. There's a small town nearby, but it's far away. To get this kind of intel... it must be that one-eyed old man, right?"
"..."
Kakashi couldn't answer that question; after all, he didn't know the specifics either.
Fortunately, Jiraiya didn't mind. He glanced at Hyuga Makoto and then spoke.
"Then let's get ready to head out. The forest is quite large. Brat, can your Byakugan handle it?"
"Don't worry, Lord Jiraiya, I'll be fine."
Hyuga Makoto shrugged; finding someone at this level was no problem for him at all.
In fact, he felt that he probably wouldn't even need to look that hard—Orochimaru and those guys would likely come to them!
"Uchiha Obito has been secretly observing Uchiha Itachi lately, most likely to confirm his eyes..."
Hyuga Makoto actually didn't know when Uchiha Itachi had let everyone know he had the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Or maybe he didn't say anything at all, but his performance made people realize he had obtained that power!
"However, his crazy father knows..."
After all, both father and son had seen the Uchiha stone tablet together, and that old lunatic also possessed the Mangekyo!
In his memory, Uchiha Fugaku was also quite a piece of work.
As the Clan Chief, he was indecisive and hesitant. He wanted peace, but he failed to suppress the dissatisfaction within the clan before things spiraled out of control.
Nor did he strike when he should have, failing to launch a decisive blow once they were set on the path to a coup.
In the end, he dragged the lives of the entire clan, young and old, and threw them all away in one go!
"To have made every mistake he shouldn't have, and then to encounter a son like this—he truly deserved his end..."
But whether Uchiha Fugaku lived or died, Hyuga Makoto didn't care at all. He was most interested in the old man's eyes!
"The Yin Release of the Mangekyo would be a huge supplement for my eyes."
What Hyuga Makoto wanted most now was for his eyes to be upgraded. If he could get the abilities of 'Blocking Technique Absorption Seal' or even 'Sacrificial Alchemy'...
"Then, maybe I could extract what I want from those things!"
Thinking this, he decided he had to perform well this time...
"It's also time to let people know what the 'Tattoo Era' is all about!"
They moved quickly, and in less than half a day, they had entered the forest.
"Stop!"
However, they had just entered when Hyuga Makoto raised his hand to signal them.
Uchiha Itachi and Yamato immediately split up to stay on guard, while Kakashi and Jiraiya came to his side.
"What is it, brat? Did you find something?"
"I think we should get ready for battle."
Hyuga Makoto scanned the surroundings with his Byakugan and whispered.
"Ever since we entered, I've noticed many snakes around us, and these snakes all have traces of Chakra on them."
"It's Orochimaru's doing."
Jiraiya understood instantly, and Hyuga Makoto continued.
"But isn't this too coincidental? How did they know we were coming from this direction?"
"Hmm?"
Jiraiya frowned immediately, realizing there might be some other complications involved.
Kakashi also frowned and asked in a low voice.
"You mean that guy..."
"Yes, I'm afraid Hokage-sama's judgment was correct."
Hyuga Makoto nodded, his answer being very honest!
"That guy has started making his move."
Kakashi thought quickly upon hearing this. He had already learned on the way that the guy had disappeared.
He had been wondering what that guy would do.
Now, everything was becoming clear!
"Orochimaru is so arrogant; having suffered at our hands, he won't just let it go. And..."
While thinking, his peripheral vision swept over Uchiha Itachi again.
"They can't leave either. Noticing us could be vigilance, but leaving would imply there's a mole. So, they have to play the part fully?"
Thinking this, Kakashi seemed to have a 'relatively clear' answer in his mind!
"Hey, what are you two talking about?"
Jiraiya listened to their whispering; although he had his guesses, he couldn't help but be curious.
But before he could finish, Hyuga Makoto suddenly spoke loudly.
"Prepare for battle! They're coming!"
Just as he finished speaking, several figures landed on the surrounding trees, looking down at Hyuga Makoto and the others.
One of them spoke in a raspy voice filled with disgust.
"I was wondering why I felt so uncomfortable. It turns out some annoying things have actually arrived..."
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