Land of Fire, Outside Konoha
"Is this the Land of Fire?" asked one of the traveling companions.
"It looks so much better than the Land of Rain," another remarked with emotion.
"Yes, the weather and environment here are unbelievably good," a third person chimed in.
Jiraiya, having just returned from the Land of Rain, was currently escorting Yahiko, Nagato, and the others to Konoha. Along the way, the group admired the beautiful scenery of the Land of Fire. Even Yahiko and the others began to feel a sense of longing for this land.
The stark contrast with the desolation and decay of the Land of Rain made them finally understand why so many nations in the Ninja World coveted the Land of Fire—the environment here was simply too superior.
However, Nagato within the group remained unusually silent. His gaze calmly surveyed everything before him. With both his parents having died at the hands of Konoha ninja, his heart was inevitably filled with mixed emotions as he followed Jiraiya to Konoha.
What truly piqued Nagato's curiosity were the words of Aoki that Jiraiya had relayed to him. The closer they got to Konoha, the stronger his anticipation grew.
Meanwhile, deep within the underground space of the mountain cemetery, a voice echoed faintly: "Lord Madara..."
"There's been a change in the situation. Jiraiya has taken Nagato to Konoha."
The White Zetsu delivering the message bowed as it reported. The moment its words fell, an overwhelming pressure suddenly erupted throughout the space. Even in his advanced age, the aura emanating from Madara Uchiha was enough to make the White Zetsu tremble uncontrollably.
Madara demanded harshly why Jiraiya hadn't been stopped, but now it was too late—the deed was done.
With the plan suddenly disrupted, Madara was filled with frustration. He had originally intended for Nagato to remain in the Land of Rain, closely monitored through the power of White Zetsu and Black Zetsu. But Jiraiya's unexpected interference had completely disrupted his carefully laid scheme. To make matters worse, Madara had suffered a crushing defeat in his final battle with Hashirama. Severely injured and advanced in years, he could no longer afford any more mishaps, nor dare he expose himself and ruin the entire plan.
Knowing full well the situation was now irreversible, Madara could only reluctantly accept this outcome and shift his attention to other matters. He asked the White Zetsu if there had been any progress on another investigation. The White Zetsu hurriedly reported that, due to the actions of the Fourth Hokage, Aoki, the Uchiha clan members dispatched to the battlefield were all individuals with restless, unsettled hearts.
Madara, wholly immersed in his own ambitions and grand designs, cared nothing for the fate of the Uchiha clan. He was only concerned with finding suitable candidates for his plan. He knew his aged body had little time left; he had to cultivate a successor as soon as possible to carry on his mission.
Madara ordered the White Zetsu to intensify the search for promising talent within the Uchiha clan. Time was running out.
The White Zetsu accepted the order and departed. Madara sat back down before the Outer Path Statue, drawing upon its life force to sustain himself. His eyes filled with resolve as he murmured softly, "Fourth Hokage Aoki... no one can stop my plan."
Outside Konoha, Jiraiya's group finally reached their destination. Gazing at the village entrance, Jiraiya let out a long sigh of relief.
"Whew, we finally made it, and the mission is successfully completed." He turned to look at Yahiko beside him and said with a smile, "Kid, this time I'm going to take a nice long vacation!"
Yahiko and the others following behind him were wide-eyed, gazing at the bustling Leaf Village before them, filled with amazement.
"Wow!" Yahiko couldn't help but exclaim. "Is this the Leaf Village? It's so prosperous! No wonder it's called the number one ninja village in the Ninja World!"
The lively streets, towering buildings, and the clearly visible Hokage Rock in the distance left a deep impression on Yahiko and his companions. The guards at the village entrance recognized Jiraiya and warmly welcomed him back, to which Jiraiya responded with smiles.
"Alright, let's go in and meet the Fourth Hokage," Jiraiya said. "From now on, you'll be staying in Konoha. Take your time exploring and learn as much as you can!"
With that, Jiraiya led Yahiko and the others into the Leaf Village. Along the way, he noticed that the demeanor of the Konoha guards had changed. The villagers no longer showed fear toward the Uchiha clan; instead, they were friendly and cheerful. He even spotted civilian ninjas among the ranks, which filled him with deep emotion.
When he had first learned of Aoki's plan from Tsunade, Jiraiya had been full of doubt and even considered stopping his former teacher, who had already stepped down. However, after seeing the evidence Minato had gathered, he fell into deep thought and remained silent.
In the end, he chose to trust Aoki and took on this mission. Now, witnessing Konoha's prosperity and harmony firsthand, the weight in his heart finally lifted.
Walking alongside Yahiko and the others, Jiraiya couldn't help but feel a sense of pity for the former Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. Yet, he firmly believed his decision was the right one.
He finally understood that everything Aoki had done was for Konoha. This realization strengthened his resolve to support Aoki.
Upon arriving in front of the Hokage Building, Jiraiya straightened his clothes, preparing to enter and meet the Fourth Hokage. Meanwhile, Yahiko and the others, who had been excited and curious moments before, suddenly grew nervous. Seeing this, Jiraiya smiled and reassured them, "Don't be nervous. The Fourth Hokage is a good person."
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