9 years later

Tsunade stood in her office and looked out of the window, observing the villagers get on with their daily lives as normal, blissfully ignorant of everything outside the borders of Konoha.

"Tsunade-san," she did not have to turn to recognise the familiar voice of Shizune.

"Hai?" Tsunade asked

"Jiraiya has returned, should I get him to come here now?"

Tsunade had sent Jiraiya out three months ago to get information from his spy network on Sound, Rock and Lightning. Tsunade had been feeling uneasy recently, ever since Rock and Lightning had ceased all trade with Konoha, and had shut off their borders.

"Send him in Shizune," Tsunade said.

"No, need I'm already here," Tsunade turned to see Jiraiya leaning against the walls of her office, his arms folded, as Shizune excused herself.

There was a moment of silence before Jiraiya spoke, "Tsunade, I'm afraid to say things are looking bleak. The information I've found points to another Great Shinobi War. Sound, Rock and Lightning have shut off trade and their borders from everyone, except one another. It also seems as if the Raikage, Tsuchikage and Orochimaru have begun to go crazy training shinobi, there enlistment plans have become much more accepting, and Sound is send emissaries out to recruit wandering-nins and missing-nins. Everything points to a war, and I'm afraid that they are probably planning to attack Konoha. Mist is a mystery; I've found no information suggesting they will side with our enemies or us; they seem to be staying neutral. Also Sand's has been ambushed on a few occasions by Rock-nins."

"Is that the lot Jiraiya?"

"Yeah, that's about it, but there's one more thing I thought you might be interested in. My sources have told me that there is a mysterious shinobi that has entered Fire Country, he calls himself Rai, but there are rumours going around that he is really the wandering shinobi named in the Rock and Lightning bingo books as The Crimson Blade."

Tsunade sat rigid at this, and opened one of her drawers and grabbed out the Lightning bingo book. She flicked it open to the page with the nin Jiraiya had named. She read the description:

The Crimson Blade, called this because of the Black cloak he wears with a crimson flamed design adorning it, is a real enigma. Not much is known about this mysterious man, who made his first known appearance less than a year ago. He has wondered the Elemental Lands, challenging some of the finest shinobi in the land. He carries two katana, which are strapped diagonally across his back. He has only ever been known to use taijutsu, although he has expressed to opponents that he is equally, if not more skilled in ninjutsu and kinjutsu. This nin has never taken off his hood while facing an opponent, so his features and appearance remain unknown. It is unsure of where he came from, but he has been regularly sighted in the Land of Waves. He is ranked at S-Class, but he is mostly definitely more powerful than any normal S-Class ninja. If sighted he should not be approached unless you are in a group of S-Class shinobi.

Capture: Dead or Alive.

Reward: 100 million RYO (To be paid on proof of capture or defeat of this nin)

"Jiraiya this guy's reputation against Lightning and Rock could be very useful to us in the impending war. I'm going to set you an S-Class mission. If you accept, your task will be to confront this Rai, and see if he is really 'The Crimson Blade', if so you will analyse his skills by challenging him to spar. If he is really as good as this book says he is then you must convince him to come to Konoha. He might be able to scare Lightning and Rock out of this war, if not at least dishearten their ninjas."

"Alright Tsunade, I'll do it, but I can't promise anything." With that Jiraiya disappeared in a swirl of leaves.

Jiraiya had been searching continuously for The Crimson Blade, but to no avail. He found himself in a small tavern. He's just sat down with a bottle of sake when something caught his eye. A hooded figure had just approached the bar.

"Hey Genji, I'd like, to check out of my room please," he said hading over a set of keys.

"Of course Rai-san," the innkeeper said, bowing his head slightly.

'Rai?' Jiraiya thought, hoping this was the same Rai he had been searching for.

"Do you have any idea when we'll meet next?" Genji asked.

"You know me Genji. I don't even know where I go next myself, when we'll meet again, I don't even think Kami knows!" Genji laughed at this, and the two men saed hands before the hooded man left the inn. Jiraiya followed him, the untouched bottle of sake forgotten. Jiraiya was now pretty sure this was the man he was looking for, from the crimson flames on the man's cloak.

Jiraiya shadowed the man for about ten minutes before the man suddenly stopped and turned to look at where Jiraiya was crouching in a tree.

"You should come down old man. I don't particularly like being stalked, especially by one of your age," The man spoke out clearly. Jiraiya sighed slightly before jumping down to the ground, so that he stood a few metres away from Rai. They sized each other up for a moment before Rai spoke.

"Jiraiya of the Sannin, The Frog Hermit, Sensei of the Yondaime Hokage of Konoha and a widely known pervert. What would such a man want with a commoner such as myself?"

"Who are you trying to fool... Rai, or should I say 'The Crimson Blade'?" Jiraiya said.

"Very good Jiraiya, but I have not got time to squander here. Please tell me what you want from me or stop following me," the figure said evenly.

"I would like to test myself against you, Crimson Blade, to see if you are really as good as they say, and at the same time to see if I am as accomplished as my reputation says."

"I am sure you are as good as they say, but I am afraid I have no interest in sparring at this moment in time," with that the man turned on his hell and walked.

Jiraiya knew he could not give up here if his mission was to be a success. He ran at the turned back of the man, roaring, "I'm afraid I can't take no for an answer." The man stopped, and when Jiraiya was within a few steps of him he performed a small pushing motion with his hand, his back still turned. Suddenly Jiraiya felt himself lifted off his feet and thrown back into a tree by an invisible force. Suddenly the nin appeared in front of him, a dagger pressed against Jiraiya's throat.

"I do not take kindly to being attacked while my back is turned to my opponent Jiraiya," the man said, his voice raised higher by an octave.

"I'm sorry, please forgive me, and give me a chance to explain," to Jiraiya's surprise the hooded figure complied, and moved his dagger.

"What was that thing you did now? I've never seen anything like it, and without any hand seals! Boy did it pack a punch!" Jiraiya said, rubbing the back of his head.

"That would be because it wasn't a ninja technique. It did not even use chakra. It used another fuelling energy known as Kai. Kai is the name given to will. It is not as powerful as chakra, but it is more in tune with the body and reacts better to thoughts and motions. I fired a semi-concentrated kai blast at you."

"Semi! Boy I'd hate to be hit by the real deal," Jiraiya grinned.

The figure chuckled, "Well anyway tell me why you're here. Judging by your presence, it would seem as if Konoha has some bones to pick with me."

"Actually you're right. I am here on request of the Lady Hokage. You may or may not know that the Third Great Shinobi Battle is impending and unavoidable. Your reputation in Lightning and Rock makes you vital to our cause, and as such I have come to extend to you, an offer to join the ranks of Konoha. You do not have to say yes or no yet, but please come with me to Konoha, where you can talk the matter over with our Hokage."

"I'd love to but... I don't think I would be welcome in Konoha," the man said.

"Oh come on! You'd be my guest, it's not like the villagers are going to come after you with pitchforks or something!" Jiraiya jokes, and the man laughed with him half heartedly.

"I guess I'll come, but I'm not promising anything."

"Alright! Well come on then, we'll make it there for an early breakfast tomorrow!"