"The leader?"
Jokichi blinked his wide, confused eyes and pressed, "Which leader?"
"Pain!" the crow said indifferently. "If nothing unexpected happens, Madara will also be following in the shadows. He was the one who proposed the assassination."
"Holy shit!"
Jokichi couldn't help but curse.
Didn't we agree you'd send small-fry grunts to deliver exp?
Why is the big boss coming straight out to fuck me up when it gets to you guys?
If the person coming was Obito, that would be fine. Knowing his abilities, dealing with him wouldn't be too difficult.
He might even avenge his parents right then and there.
But Pain...
Even knowing his intel, he'd be very hard to handle.
Under the premise that the Garb of Heaven and Earth couldn't be used, and without pulling out the Sharingan and the Ring of Kurama, it would be very hard to win.
And if both of them came at him together...
Pain attacking head-on, with Obito playing dirty tricks from the side. This isn't simple 1+1=2 mathematics.
The moment he thought of this scenario...
"Fuck!"
Jokichi cursed again.
Ninja battles aren't a guarantee that you'll win just because you're strong. Because a ninja's physical durability hasn't transcended the human realm; as long as their throat is slit by a kunai, they'll die. Therefore, they are full of unpredictable variables.
It's not like the settings in fantasy novels, where a lower level definitely can't beat a higher level. Even if they can, it's because some special technique or treasure grants the lower level stronger power than the higher level.
In reality, it still adheres to the setting that the weaker cannot beat the stronger.
But this doesn't work in the ninja world.
Sneak attacks, assassinations, poisonings, conspiracies, betrayals...
Ninjas, with their fragile bodies, easily fall victim to unexpected accidents when facing various situations.
Leaving aside the protagonists with plot armor.
As for the others: Yakushi Kabuto nearly defeated Tsunade; Zabuza failed to assassinate the Mizukage but managed to escape unscathed; Konohamaru defeated a Path of Pain; Danzo snatched one of Shisui's eyes in two moves; Uchiha Madara had his heart ripped out from behind by Black Zetsu.
All these examples were telling Jokichi that ninja battles allowed for no margin of error.
He possessed an immortal-like Sage Body, so his margin for error was relatively high. He could afford many mistakes, and could even rely on his super-fast healing to secure victory by trading injuries for lives. Ordinary people fundamentally couldn't do anything to him.
But Pain and Obito were different.
Pain could arm-wrestle with him in terms of pure power, while Obito could travel through space, appearing and disappearing unpredictably, and also possessed a vast number of Uchiha forbidden jutsu.
If these two teamed up to assassinate someone, there was almost zero chance they wouldn't succeed.
"If you have nothing else going on recently, just stay in Konoha!" the crow suggested. "If you're in Konoha, they won't find an opportunity."
Hearing this, Jokichi fell into deep thought.
To be safe, staying in Konoha was indeed the better choice.
As long as he developed for another half a year and waited for his Rinnegan to awaken, he wouldn't have to fear anything anymore.
However...
"I, Sakakura Jokichi, love nothing more than saying 'no' to those self-righteous people." Jokichi struck an extremely flashy pose, saying with utmost confidence.
"..."
The crow fell silent.
It looked quietly at Jokichi for a long while before saying, "Is this a fetish of yours?"
"Uh... I'm joking, just joking. Just trying to lighten the mood, hahaha..."
"But you didn't look like you were joking when you said that."
"Ah! Of course I wasn't joking." Jokichi's face turned serious, and he said earnestly, "If they dare to come, I'll kill them all."
"..."
The crow didn't speak. It looked quietly into Jokichi's eyes for a good while before saying, "Suit yourself. However, I will inform the Third Hokage of this news."
"Suit yourself. No one can stop my actions."
"Then, let it be!"
After speaking, the Sharingan in the crow's eyes reverted back to normal eyes.
It tilted its head, looking around its surroundings, seeming somewhat confused about its current environment.
Jokichi patted its head, opened the window, and let it fly out on its own.
Then, he went to sleep.
If Pain and Obito want to come assassinate him, let them come. There's nothing more to think about.
The night passed silently.
The next morning, Jokichi woke up early.
He washed his face, brushed his teeth, and ate breakfast.
Then he packed some necessary travel items, preparing to head to the Hokage building.
He planned to apply to the Third Hokage to leave the village for travel.
However, just as he opened his courtyard gate, a beautiful figure in purple occupied his vision.
It was Ino.
She had changed into a black yukata, holding a white carnation in her hand.
"Hmm?" Jokichi looked at her in confusion.
"What's this?"
Ino smiled. "I'm going to pay my respects to the heroes who passed away in this war. Want to come along?"
Heroes weren't just Minato and those famous individuals.
Every person who died silently sacrificing for others was a hero.
"I'm not going. I don't like sad atmospheres."
"I see!" Ino nodded and continued to ask, "Then how is your body? Are you okay now!"
Hearing Ino's question, Jokichi felt a headache coming on.
Yesterday, citing chakra exhaustion, he refused the higher-ups' suggestion to use Wood Release to build houses.
Somehow, word reached Ino's ears. She immediately ran to his courtyard with concern to ask after his well-being.
Even though Jokichi told her it was just a lie, she didn't believe it.
It took a lot of effort to calm her worried heart.
"Didn't I tell you yesterday? That was just an excuse to slack off." Jokichi looked exasperated.
"Then I'm relieved."
Ino patted her small chest, a smile appearing on her face.
"...Ino." Jokichi hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'm planning to travel and train outside the village. I probably won't be back for a long time."
"Eh!"
Ino was stunned, somewhat failing to process it.
This news was too sudden.
After a good while, Ino recovered her senses and asked tentatively, "Did you just say you're going to travel and train?"
Looking at Ino's expectant eyes, Jokichi sighed helplessly. She probably really hoped he would say "You misheard me!"
However, traveling outside was absolutely necessary.
"Mhm!" Jokichi nodded ruthlessly.
"I see!" Ino felt a bit down, but quickly cheered up. "How long until you're back?"
"Two or three years, probably!" Jokichi patted Ino's shoulder and said, "I'm still too weak right now. I need to become stronger to protect you."
Too weak...
Ino looked at Jokichi, who said this with a serious face, and for a moment didn't know what to say.
However...
I need to become stronger to protect you.
This sentence made Ino's heart feel incredibly sweet, and her face instantly flushed red.
"Then I'll wait for you to come back."
"Mhm!"
Jokichi nodded and smiled. "Before I leave, I have a gift for you."
"What is it?" Ino looked at him with a face full of expectation.
"A magic trick."
Saying that, Jokichi reached his hand out in front of Ino's eyes. Suddenly, two items appeared in his previously empty hand.
A heart made of metal, and a ball of light radiating a soft glow.
"Whoa!"
Ino squinted her eyes. "How did you do that? I didn't even see you form signs, nor did I feel any chakra fluctuations."
"I told you it's a magic trick, not ninjutsu." Jokichi smiled. "The performance isn't over yet. Watch me make them disappear."
Saying that, Jokichi held the heart and the ball of light and gently tapped them against Ino's cheeks.
"Poof!"
Like a bursting bubble, the two items were instantly absorbed the moment they touched Ino's cheeks.
However, because the movement was too fast, and she couldn't see what was happening on her own face, in Ino's eyes, it seemed as if the two items simply vanished when Jokichi tapped her.
Then, a wonderful feeling rose in her heart.
She didn't think much of it, only assuming it was curiosity stemming from this magic trick.
Moreover, this was the gift Jokichi gave her before leaving. Surrounded by happiness, she only thought of the person she loved.
"Thank you, Jokichi!"
Ino stood on her tiptoes, kissed Jokichi on the cheek with her small red lips, and then ran away shyly.