Kitsuchi stood at the village gates, broken and battered as he was. Regret and guilt thrashed the very fiber of his being, so much that he trembled as he stared at the beautiful village. The guards looked at him with concern. There were calls to get a medic, but he quickly banished depressing thoughts, and dismissed the concern – he was just fine, even though he was missing an eye. This was nothing compared to what would become of Iwagakure if the Uchiha prophecy came to life.

This was his beautiful home. It had a rough history. Blood, the deaths of many shinobi, some of them unknown, had made Iwagakure what it was. His father had always made the correct decisions. They were always for the benefit of the village. Some disagreed with ending the war with Konoha with a truce, but Minato alone had wiped out a thousand shinobi in a minute. If Konoha was offering a way out, they had to take it.

His father had taken it, for the sake of Iwa. The decisions had never put them in trouble. And so, he never questioned anything. He should have first verified in the Intel. He should have checked how it would affect their village before rushing to the Leaf like a giddy child, off to the playground to show off new toys, not knowing a bully surveyed the grounds.

"What have we done?" He asked himself. He'd asked a thousand times as he marched back. Fearful that the Uchiha could travel faster and then lay siege his village while he was still on the way.

As he walked in the streets, he felt his heart break. He felt shattered. He couldn't even look at them. He couldn't wave as they waved. For he knew, he'd condemned them to their deaths, or suffering, whatever it was that the Uchiha decided for them. How could he even face his daughter? He had no power to protect her. He had nothing to sacrifice for her protection.

The frustration made his blood boil. The concerns for him disgusted him. these people all trusted him to protect them. And he could do nothing. He'd betrayed that trust. And for what?

His father was waiting for him with impatience. He had the look of someone who'd seen a ghost, or maybe even worse. It seemed, the state of his appearance had made him realize that likely occurred. After all, it couldn't be that he simply met an enemy who attacked Konoha.

"The moment I arrived here, I knew we made a mistake," Onoki said tone, devoid of any emotion.

It wasn't on the nature of the Sandaime he should have counted on, but other reasons. He'd been too excited to see Konoha embroiled in a civil war, and too afraid of the Uchiha power turned against them to even think properly. The thing that scared him the most was the revelation that Madara hadn't been going all out on them when he faced them all years ago. What then, of Itachi and Naruto?

Even so, he shouldn't have run with the info to cause destruction. He should have just investigated it, bid his time. He could have used it devastatingly at an appropriate time, or even use it to cause the Sandaime Hokage to form some agreements with him.

"What happened?" Onoki asked, there wasn't even a hint of concern for Kitsuchi, just a cold expression. Perhaps he too, feared for the worst.

"It turned out the information was true. There was just something omitted, something fatal to our cause. If we'd known this, we wouldn't have done what we did. I did spread the information, but I was stopped by an Uchiha on my return. I lost in battle. It wasn't even the main Uchiha, but someone unknown," Kitsuchi said in a bitter tone. The Sharingan was truly a deadly Doujutsu, something that made the scales unfair. The authors of fear of the Uchiha were not wrong. "I was captured, tortured and they learned everything by manipulating me. They know what we wanted to do. They know everything."

Onoki turned pale. It was worse than he feared. Did he beg? Did he rush to Konoha and beg for the Sandaime to show his mercy? What did he do? Did he try to get the Cloud to fight Konoha? No, the Raikage wasn't going to do that. He wasn't going to send his men to die for purely greed. Not when Konoha possessed so much power.

"We've all but declared war," Onoki said. "Why are you here then?"

"Alive?" Kitsuchi chuckled bitterly. "To send a message. The Sandaime Hokage expresses his disappointment in you. It turns out, Konoha never had intentions of attacking us. Itachi is a pacifist who hates war with passion."

"What is the message?"

"Doom, father… doom… We screwed up. The Sandaime Hokage likely plans to ask for your head for the damage we did. And said there won't be a Kage Summit anymore."

"What is the message!" Onoki shouted with frustration.

"What the Sandaime Hokage want and the Uchiha want are two different things." Kitsuchi said, shaking his head. He thought his father would turn into a brick once he learned the message. "According to Naruto-san, he is going to slaughter everyone connected to us by blood. And then subject Iwagakure to suffering." He pointed out to his missing eye. "He took this out and said, 'an eye for an eye.' I believe, the suffering will be massive. He told me that death would be giving us mercy. At least me. everyone will die. You, Kurotsuchi, and everyone else. But the village will remain." Once more, he laughed. "He even indulged the idea of setting up Iwagakure for a civil war and watch us kill each other."

Onoki literally fell back to his chair, defeated, resigned. Where was the conspirator? Was this what he wanted? To see the Stone destroyed? Well, it has worked well, for the enemy at least. The Uchiha had been clear that if Iwagakure did something against the village, there would be hell to pay.

"What do we do, father?" Kitsuchi asked hopelessly. "What can we do? Do we do as they did in Sunagakure?"

"They'll just hunt everyone down and kill them one by one."

"Then you must save Kurotsuchi's life. I'm prepared to die. But we cannot allow her to be killed because our actions."

Onoki would not frown on Kitsuchi trying to save his daughter. He loved her just as well. "I'll make preparations to send her to a safe place. But we simply can't just sit and wait for our fate. They are not making a move yet, it means there is some time to talk. If we can't, then we must do what we must."

Which was what? The reason they rushed with this info was because the power of the Uchiha was something they couldn't compete with. And now that the power was going to be turned against them, they had to face it head on.

"We will bind both our Jinchuriki with cursed seals to ensure they can't attack Iwagakure. Then we will have them ready to defend the village. The Uchiha depend on raw strength. We can counter this by creating fortifications around the village. Once we do this, we will have a chance with my Jutsu."

After all, there was nothing he couldn't destroy. Earth Jutsu was perfect for creating fortifications that could stop the Susanoo. Nobody had unlimited chakra. If he wrestled with the fortifications while being forced to go on the defensive, there would be some joy for them. The Jinchuriki would be awaiting him if he made it out of the fortifications.

If his head was enough, Onoki would offer it on a silver platter, as long as he could get the Mizukage and Raikage to hold Konoha to account. But he didn't think he had enough time for that. Only a strategic move was viable. He already knew what to expect from a Susanoo. Creating defenses to counter its power was the only way out for them.

"In the meantime, we need to see if we can't hire the Akatsuki to aid us. I'll send a message to the other Kage to put some pressure on the Leaf to try to stall for time while we build fortifications around the village. The villagers will have to know and the shinobi have to be prepared."

The best they could, just to survive the carnage that would unfold. They couldn't be like cowards. It was even insulting that they were told what to expect and it didn't come immediately. It was like they were being told to prepare everything they could, and it still wouldn't matter. Retribution would come regardless, like a force of nature.

"What of that thing? Surely, this was what it wanted. But for what reason?" Given the damage to the Uchiha, and the questions they asked, it was evident they didn't know that thing.

"We'll have people investigate. But that is not our greatest problem."

Indeed, the greatest problem was their survival and that of their village.

Uchiha Compound

Thinking about it, Hiashi realized that Naruto had never been to the Hyuga clan compound. He has visited the Inuzuka, but never the Hyuga. He thought it was wrong and an error that needed correction. He was often the one meeting with the Uchiha. Then again, he was always the one who wanted something. Naruto never asked him for anything.

He smiled bitterly at the thought. He needed to change the dynamics. The best thing he had done was that even though he was always asking for something, he had not become a beggar. The day that happened, it would be a downfall for the Hyuga clan.

The hall was a little big and underground. The entrance was by the Naka Shrine. The walls were painted with Uchiha colors. There was a crimson throne, a small chair really. But behind it, a large Uchiha crest was on the wall. A small table was set in the hall, with a handful of bottles. There was no one else but him and Naruto.

Hiashi sat across the long end of the table and stared at Naruto. He didn't expect the Uchiha to have black eyes due to sleep deprivation. He didn't expect to see him miserable. His expectations were proved spot on.

"You've got yourself into a situation," Hiashi said, smiling a bit. He wasn't gloating. In any other situation, he would do so, knowing his clan would benefit more.

"What is life without a few bumps?" Naruto replied with an air of nonchalance.

Hiashi thought Naruto was being purposely indifferent just to annoy him. He wasn't about to drop it like that. He knew, aside from trying to blackmail or threatening the Uchiha, there was nothing he could say to Naruto that would ruin the relationship. The Uchiha appreciated his frankness in their dealings, and Hiashi appreciated it as well. Working with Naruto, he knew, he wasn't going to get stabbed in the back. The knife would come straight at him, if it ever came.

"You're going to have to live with this forever. And you've lost all popularity." The Hyuga pointed out.

He had not been the most popular Uchiha. The title belonged to Itachi and Shisui. But he had played enough politics to have an image beside the two. His power meant he couldn't be ignored either. He had been a dark horse when most people didn't even know he existed. He was a dark horse once more.

"And yours?" Naruto asked.

"I have a relationship with you," Hiashi frowned. "Some questions. But nothing we can't handle. We simply can't avoid the Uchiha to flee reputational damage. It doesn't benefit us."

"Unless someone starts thinking maybe the Hyuga clan has been involved as well." Naruto suggest, with an amused look across his face.

Hiashi stared in silence and then smiled. "Quite possible. People's imaginations often run wild."

Nobody could do it alone; allies were needed. But trust was an expensive commodity. Naruto didn't trust anyone, not even some Uchiha. It didn't mean his faith was simply blind; treacherous snakes existed everywhere.

He had never once considered Hiashi as an ally, much less a rival. The Hyuga clan was huge, and its political power was established within the Leaf. But Naruto had never placed them on a pedestal. Perhaps it was time he changed his approach. They were weak, but not completely useless. He could say that because he didn't see them as a rival. And it would be bad if the two clans ended up being competitors in the future. He would admit that the Hyuga clan could politically screw over the Uchiha clan. In a contest of pure strength, the Uchiha would trample of Hyuga pride.

"I trust your visit to the Fire Capital produced good results," Naruto said.

"It did. Are you not worried?" Hiashi asked curiously.

Naruto smiled. "A little," he said. What did it change if he showed his concerns to Hiashi? That would be no different than exposing himself. "But it's a challenge we must face. We'll get through this. I'm not entirely bothered. I've heard the Sandaime plans to visit the Feudal Lord."

"Yes."

"I'll also make a visit when I go to see Iwagakure."

See Iwa? Hiashi snorted. Naruto made it sound like he was simply going there for sightseeing. "You'll get everything from the Third then. Konoha and Kirigakure have agreed to let representatives of each village reside in each other's village. We'll be given a piece of land in Kiri where our representative will reside. Anyone sent on behalf of Konoha will also live there. The Military Police will come in with the protection of such a place and the diplomats. That means when they travel and are in Kiri, the Military Police will be in charge of their protection."

Naruto was glad they were bringing this up, probably because they didn't want to send Anbu to a far land for that long. The Military Police were being trained for such purposes, and they were high-caliber shinobi. It meant that the Military Police's influence would reach far.

"Who came up with that?"

"I did," Hiashi said. "There will be a lot of missions for regular shinobi to do, so the village can't be sending shinobi away. The village will provide you with shinobi to prepare for such a deployment."

"Acceptable."

"When I go on diplomatic missions, I want to be escorted by members of my clan."

"Teams are created with balance. There is no team solely made up of Hyuga."

"Create one," Hiashi said in a stern tone. "One that will be solely responsible for protection missions during diplomatic missions."

Naruto smiled. It was a demand. But he could guess that Hiashi didn't want the Uchiha to take all the credit. If there was a team made up entirely of Hyuga, involved in high-risk missions and battles, the strength and fame of the Hyuga clan would increase.

"I suppose you want them to undergo the same training as Neji."

"Yes."

"You always want something, and I always give it to you."

Hiashi glared at Naruto. He had a look of contempt and spoke in a cold tone. "Insulting, but you don't see us as a threat. If a child asks for something, and the parent has it, do they refuse?"

Naruto cackled. "What an analogy."

"Besides, you're not stupid. You know what you're doing. You don't bother with other noble clans because they have nothing to offer. You're not asking for anything because it is not necessary. But a time will come."

What could the Akimichi offer? They were a declining power. Maybe the Nara. But he avoided them because of their mindset. Hiashi knew the day would come, but he wasn't going to avoid benefiting his clan. Besides, he had already told the Uchiha that he would support him, as long as he considered it acceptable.

The Hyuga clan wouldn't always be in a lower position than the Uchiha. If their military power grew, they would be well-prepared. The future was going to be peaceful, and diplomatic talks would become the foundation of all relationships with other nations. The Hyuga would be responsible, and if that was the case, they would represent an equal force to the Uchiha. It would be a balance of some sort; the Uchiha represented Military power and the Hyuga represented political power.

"Hmm... well, I've never been accused of stupidity," Naruto said. "I'll do what you want. We'll have that team."

"Just like that?" Hiashi asked skeptically.

Naruto smiled. "Should I demand something? Will that put you at ease?"

"Yes."

Naruto started in a serious tone, "The caged-bird seal. It is a form of Juinjutsu. The Mui family has one use for its prison. I want you to commission the creation of a Juinjutsu we can use for our prisoners and targets."

Hiashi frowned. "You were always going to ask that."

He felt as if he'd just fallen straight into a trap. Naruto did love to train but he was really strengthening the Hyuga clan. The favor he'd asked when he took care of Ao had never been repaid because there has never been a situation in which he had to go against everyone and defend the Uchiha clan. Nothing was ever truly free from this world. He was even beginning to think the Uchiha had deliberately avoided talking about the Caged-Bird seal for this very reason.

"Who knows?" Naruto smiled mysteriously. "Are you familiar with the jutsu used in the Houzuki castle?"

"Yes."

"I know some secrets about it. I'll give them to you. But I want it modified to include some of your clan's abilities."

Hiashi was silent. Without question, Naruto wasn't going to pay for anything. This was a favor he had to return for the work the Uchiha was doing for Neji, amongst other things. What was the harm in agreeing to do this? Should he demand a disclaimer? What was the disadvantage to his clan? As long as he didn't give away clan secrets, all should be well. Even if Naruto was asking, Hiashi wasn't going to divulge clan secrets.

"You can finally admit your disgust for my clan's practices," Hiashi said with a stare.

Naruto looked at the Hyuga with an expressionless mask. He didn't display any emotion, but the look he made had Hiashi's heart rate increase a bit. It was something he'd mentioned before, but never spoke of again. However, Naruto loved blood relationships too much to subject any member of his clan to the same treatment the Hyuga did. It wasn't because the Uchiha was small, it was simply because he saw equality among clan members.

There was no such thing as equality in the Hyuga. They shared the same blood, the same Doujutsu and yet, some of them were treated as slaves, servants. It was ridiculous really. But a tradition Hiashi had grown into and one he knew those elders in the clan would never agree to changing.

"You're all Hyuga but treat others like slaves. Filth. I pity young Neji. He had some warped view of things. I'll admit, I considered whether I should set the branch family against the main family. But decided against it."

It would have been a little interesting. No doubt, he'd get the blame. But at least, with one branch wiped out, the remaining would be united. How did you treat someone with the same blood as a servant? If the Uchiha hired people outside the clan as servants, Naruto could understand. But putting a seal on a fellow Uchiha and making them a slave?

It was just blasphemy. Even to this day he couldn't understand how anyone had the heart to do such a thing to a brother. Neji was Hiashi's nephew, he could have spared him. But no, he'd even been subjected to some of the Caged-Bird seal's obedience pain. Naruto could never understand this, nor did he have any desire to understand it.

"We do what we must to protect our Doujutsu."

Naruto snorted. "Let's not talk about it. I don't want to get mad," he said. "How soon can you get it done?"

"We'll have to study the seal. Conduct tests. My clan doesn't exactly have seal masters."

Maybe he could exact some pain to Iwagakure for what happened to Uzushio. He wouldn't even be surprised if Iwa had been the one behind the plot to destroy Uzushio. There were no more Uzumaki who could teach anyone Fuinjutsu. Kushina was dead. Curse Obito. A fellow Uchiha, but a scum who cursed all of them by doing what he did. He was glad there was not even a memory of the Uchiha anywhere in the village or clan grounds.

"Then you can give me a basic outline of your clan jutsu. I'll talk to Jiraiya." Jiraiya was the only one with some sensible skills in Fuinjutsu. He could try something. Even if it was a low quality work. It couldn't be worse than what was used in the Houzuki castle.

"No. We'll handle it. When Jiraiya-sama returns, we can talk to him ourselves."

Naruto smiled. "You really don't want me to learn clan secrets, do you?"

Hiashi stared. "Would you tell me clan secrets?"

Naruto shrugged. "It depends, but probably not. I don't care for your clan secrets. As long as it gets done, I'm happy."

How he wished he had Naruto's confidence. Even when the Sandaime said he would work something, he held some doubts. But Naruto was proceeding as if he was certain nothing would change and the Feudal Lord would still give his seal of approval. Nothing was that simple. Well, if this crashed and burnt, the Uchiha would be less powerful.

"You just thought of something bad, didn't you?" Naruto said with amusement. "What is it?"

"I thought it wouldn't be the end of the world if the Feudal Lord decides to scrap this. You'd still operate a powerful army in the Leaf and the Wave. It is just its size and influence that would be reduced." Hiashi said with a shrug, seeing no point in denying anything.


"Sandaime-sama," Riku greeted the old man with a small bow. Kouseki followed suit.

He had interacted with the old man before, but for other members, they were unlikely to interact with him. The current generation didn't even go to the academy but became shinobi through the Military Police. The village still registered them as shinobi, but it was all done through the Military Police.

"Please sit."

Riku didn't stare, but he was tempted. There was a part of him that wanted to hate the Third for allowing Danzo to run the village and drive the Uchiha into a corner, but whenever he stood before the old man, he always saw this kind and gentle soul.

"Thank you."

Hiruzen smiled and watched as the two Uchiha sat on the chairs in front of his desk. As far as he understood, they were Naruto's lieutenants. It went without saying that they were of considerable skill.

It was often that he dealt with other members from the clan aside from the usual suspects. He hadn't even spoken with Mikoto since Fugaku's death. Perhaps he should visit her to pay respects to a man who served and loved Konoha with everything.

"I was told you visited the Hidden Rivers," Hiruzen said.

"We did," Kouseki replied. "We also visited the River Lord."

Hiruzen nodded and waved his right hand for an explanation.

"Naruto-sama wanted to see how things were going. He was also curious about the villagers' attitude toward the Uchiha."

"Fear of an enemy?"

Kouseki laughed off the idea. "No," he said. "I imagined if Pakura-san never left the village, she may have ended up with Naruto-sama."

Riku glanced at Kouseki. Naruto had never looked at Pakura in such a manner. In fact, he didn't even look at other women outside of the Uchiha. They were all beneath him.

"That's new."

"He likes making things up," Riku said in a stern tone. "Naruto-sama had a philosophical way of thinking when he was younger. He still amuses himself with such thoughts. He asks himself philosophical questions regarding Pakura's village and wonders what it will take for them to stop hating him and Itachi-san."

It was nothing more than a social experiment. The threat of the village was non-existent, and its presence didn't change anything for them in any way. However, there was some level of carousing regarding the hatred of man.

"Perhaps an attempt to solve his own hatred issues," the Third said in a thoughtful tone.

Inwardly, Kouseki laughed. He didn't think anything was going to wash away the hatred inside of Naruto. He didn't show it. He wasn't going to explode.

"What did you learn?" The Sandaime asked.

"They absolutely loathe any Uchiha, and if given the chance, they'll try something stupid. The River Lord, on the other hand, is trying to build a wall between Konoha and his new military power. He wants to have control without the interference of the Leaf."

That was not going to happen. It was something that man simply had to accept. Hiruzen wasn't going to make threats, but Konoha's position had been made clear already, and the stance would not change.

"We've noticed," Hiruzen said before becoming serious.

He couldn't blame the River Lord, but it was still not the right thing to do. Even if he understood, Hiruzen couldn't allow or permit what he was trying to do. They had given back Gaara because they wanted Pakura to stand for herself and protect what remained of her people, while remaining an ally of Konoha.

If he allowed this to happen, he could allow an army to grow right at his borders. Those people had reasons to loathe the Leaf. He couldn't let them out of his sight, lest he condemn future generations to sneak attacks meant to disrupt the village.

"It is a problem, but one that we will fix. Those people hate us, as you say. If that hatred is allowed to grow, they might act against us in the future."

Maybe it was better they were destroyed, but their threat was minimal. Even Iwagakure couldn't use them now. They wouldn't even agree. But it was possible because Pakura was their leader. She had been betrayed before, Riku didn't think she'd be betrayed again. If they did try, she'd probably snap.

"We haven't done anything to set the River Lord straight, but we're more than happy to do so." It wasn't bad to work in coordination with the Third. The impression of a parallel government would leave some distaste in people's mouths. All decisions must appear to be from the leaders of the village.

Riku had begun to understand Naruto's vision. Even if Itachi wasn't there, he'd probably have accepted the Hokage position only if it benefited the clan in the long run.

"No, I will sort it out. I'll send Anbu," Hiruzen said.

Riku had nothing to say to him. Neither did Kouseki. Both accepted the Third's response and then decided to move on to why they were even in the office in the first place; the power of Internal Military Police Force against, Anbu and other leaders of the village. The internal force was intended for disciplinary, but it would also be the elite among the elite. They wanted the unit to have more powers than regular police officers.


At this rate, peace was simply a fantasy. Shinobi greed and hatred were too absolute to be reined in with understanding. It was such a simple thing, really. Konoha and Kumo's attempts to mend their relationship proved that resolution to conflicts through words was possible, but the world at large didn't agree.

Jiraiya felt it like a death blow to his many ideals. He had thought things were moving in the right direction. That the shinobi world would finally enjoy peace. Yet, here he was, Konoha and Iwa technically at war. In the blink of an eye, sparks could fly. Thousands could die. The streets of either village could be painted in blood.

What was the shinobi world becoming? Would the destruction of Iwagakure bring peace? Was that the cost of it all?

"What are we going to do, sensei?" Jiraiya asked with worry. He had returned, pleased to find that his students were alive and well. He had managed a conversation with them. They were not the same people. It could have gone either way.

"Afraid we will be known in history as the village that destroyed two of the Five Great Nations?" The Third asked, a small sad smile across his lips.

There were five. Then there were four. The Leaf had always held power. Great Nations had always fought. There had always been winners and losers, but it was a ritual. Battles never occurred within their villages. Yet, this time, it had happened with Suna and it was going to happen in Iwagakure if the Tsuchikage simply didn't bow. Throughout all wars, the number of Great Nations never changed. There was no war, and yet, the number had changed.

Konoha would be known as the destructive village that did it all. Hiruzen didn't want to think if it was what was necessary for the sake of peace. He couldn't reconcile such thinking.

"Yeah," Jiraiya nodded and then spoke in a quiet tone. "I'm just happy the village hasn't been fractured by this. We're still united."

That was the most important thing. For village security and their future. As long as there was Uchiha, Konoha would never be invaded. Of course, they had to maintain their standards. If they fell below, it was possible that even friends could try to take advantage. The best thing they could do was to be friendly with their allies instead of being overlords.

"Are you certain they are not enemies?" The Sandaime asked of the Akatsuki.

Jiraiya put on a serious face. Nagato had warned him that they could try to kill him if he didn't give the answers they wanted. "Yes," the Sannin replied. "If this Zetsu is related to the Akatsuki, I will go. But it seems he has his own agenda."

Jiraiya didn't think Nagato had duped him. It was unnecessary. And they could have fought him if they wanted. Letting him go was dangerous to them if they were indeed enemies. He had to go back.

He didn't like the fact that his role was becoming minor and minor as the days went by. He had failed too much to be given little for the sake of the Leaf. He needed to make up for his failures. But if this was a role he could play to ensure Konoha was safe, he'd play it, even if nobody would know. The aim wasn't glory, but the peace of his mind.

"There will be no war," the Sandaime said. "And there will be no Iwagakure destruction. I'm waiting for Naruto on how we go about it. But I will not have another Great Nation wiped out under my reign." He added in a firm stone, a slight shake of his head for emphasis.

He couldn't bear the weight of it all. Besides, it wasn't even necessary at this point. Call it kindness or naivety but Hiruzen had made his call as Hokage, and he was willing to accept the consequences.

"Will he accept that?"

"He has." Of course, Hiruzen didn't think it was simply from the goodness of his heart. Naruto had his own reasons. The deaths of thousands didn't move him. After all, he saw no value in all life outside of Konoha. "Sasori and Deidara?"

"I'll have to look. There was just so much to talk about. But they acted on their own. It appears Sasori was simply curious about his former village, and Deidara doesn't need an invitation to start destroying things." The Sannin explained with a shake of his head.

It had taken some doing for his sensei to even reveal to him what had happened with the Uchiha. He hadn't been willing, but finally said it. The things needed to be done to protect the village. It was always sacrifices. Perhaps, once the alliances with other Great Nations were completed, things would finally turn up.

"If we can solve this, I believe we can finally enjoy some peace. You'll be happy to learn some of the things the Mizukage has suggested. I have no doubt relations between the two nations will only grow deeper in the future," Hiruzen said in a proud tone.

The decision to help out Kirigakure and make himself an ally has turned out to be a masterstroke. In a sea of failures, it was the one decision he has taken that could potentially secure the Leaf for generations to come.

"Hopefully, I'll be alive to enjoy this peace," Jiraiya said in a bitter tone. "I'll immediately go back to Amegakure. But I won't leave before I speak to Naruto."

"You should do that... speak to Naruto first." The Sandaime said. "You should also know there was an incident with Tsunade..." he sighed. "She has really fallen. Naruto asked her to train a few people for the Military Police Force to have its own Medical Corps. It has also been the intention of the village to have more people trained to be able to sell our medical expertise. We've even had some agreements with Kiri for the supply of herbs. She refused the offer. With no reason in particular."

"I take it he wasn't particularly pleased."

"That's an understatement. He threatened to kill her for being useless and a disappointment." She was a grown woman. She had to behave as such, and yet, a Genin had a better attitude than her. "I spoke to her. She will do it. But you should check up on her."

Loss affected people differently. For some, it was indifference, and some never truly got over it. Tsunade was not special. Jiraiya loved her. He did so dearly that it hurt. But she wasn't the only one who has lost her loved ones. She has had years to deal with it, and she couldn't. Or maybe she just didn't want to.

It was not about sides, but about what was the right thing. Jiraiya had often been disappointed by some of his sensei's decisions, but this time, he was doing something that could potentially bring lasting peace. He could only offer his hand to secure this.

Uchiha Compound

Jiraiya found Naruto talking to what he had come to learn were his 'students,' the ones who were students in his personal care. He had trained many people, but these three children had been selected to be his students. It had to be quite an honor, and they must have been impressive Genin for Naruto to personally take them in. He knew that Neji was known as the Hyuga prodigy, and his skill was impressive. As for the other two, Jiraiya knew nothing about them. They had become shinobi through the Military Police, where shinobi ranks were not really important. There were seniors and juniors, and all the seniors were supposed to be Jonin.

The four of them were by the Naka shrine in the Uchiha compound. It was a rarity for Jiraiya to be inside the compound. The older Uchiha was sitting on the stairs, watching his students bicker about something. It was the kind of scene that made Jiraiya question Naruto as a person. He wondered if he truly understood the Uchiha. Naruto displayed a total indifference to most things and looked down on almost everyone. And yet, he could just sit there and watch his students bicker with an amused expression.

"It seems I caught you at the right time," Jiraiya said, stopping before the stairs. He glanced over at the two unfamiliar faces. "Who are these two?"

"Yuto and Sora," Naruto said. "When did you return?"

"Just now. I was just speaking to sensei."

There had to be something special about them. Yuto was obviously an Uchiha, but the other one wasn't from any clan. He didn't seem to have any bloodline, but there was something about his eyes. "Are you off to Iwagakure?"

"Yes. I was just about to drop by the Sandaime."

"And you're taking them with you?" Jiraiya asked, a little alarmed, knowing that it was going to be a dangerous mission. It wasn't like Iwagakure was simply going to allow Naruto to roll it over.

"Not to the battlefield," Naruto replied. "They are good students, but I just want them to witness. They need to be strong. It's motivation. Someday, someone might be strong, and if I'm not around, they have to be strong enough to protect what they value."

Jiraiya glanced at the three. They looked like tough kids. They could be emotionally strong enough to handle whatever was going to happen. He was no judge. Each trained their student however they saw fit.

"What exactly are you going to do?" The Sannin asked in a serious tone.

"Ah, curious, eh... No, you are worried," Naruto said with a small smile on his lips. "I'm going to kill the Tsuchikage, bind the Jinchuriki, and take over the village for the foreseeable future. They'll be free once I deem it so, or someone else orders it."

"And you're not planning something sinister?"

"If it was some time ago, I'd be asking myself some questions as to whether this was justice and fair. But I don't really care for all that. They should be grateful I'm not killing them," Naruto said with a wave of his right hand. "We don't know how they'll react to the deaths of their Tsuchikage and others. To manage the threat, it's better to just oversee them."

Jiraiya nodded and then went over to sit on the Uchiha's right side. He had never spoken to Naruto about the Uchiha coup attempt and the Council's solution to it.

"Are you sure you can handle it?" The Sannin asked. Iwagakure was a great nation. It wasn't like Sunagakure. If Naruto was reckless, he could be killed. If the Uchiha died, it would be dangerous for the Leaf.

Naruto snorted. "You think I'm afraid of anyone? Who in Iwagakure can threaten me?"

"That arrogance will get you killed one day," Jiraiya warned in a stern tone. "You may have godly powers, but if you're arrogant, you'll be undone."

"I'm not stupid." Besides, he was Uchiha. He had ways to escape death. How could he not be arrogant with all that? Everyone else knew if they died, it was all over, but he knew that even if he died, he could simply rewrite his death.

Neither was Orochimaru stupid, but he met his end. Stupidity wasn't the only thing that killed a shinobi. "You really have to understand your position," Jiraiya said in a stern tone. "Your mere presence is enough to make any village listen to Konoha. The strength the Leaf projects is owed much to you. If you disappear, we fall. Our village could be in trouble."

Hearing this from Jiraiya was kind of amusing. "You didn't come here to lecture me, did you?"

Jiraiya sighed with frustration. Everything he just said meant nothing to Naruto—he was simply amused. "I'll handle Sasori and Deidara. I'm heading back to Amegakure to find more information about this Zetsu from Nagato."

"Nagato?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow.

"He is someone I trained during the Second War. He is an Uzumaki who awakened the Rinnegan."

"Rinnegan?" Naruto was staring at the Sannin with an expressionless mask. "Are you sure he has the Rinnegan?"

Jiraiya narrowed his eyes. It seemed Naruto was skeptical, but he sounded as if he knew about the Rinnegan. Then again, the Uchiha knew about the Sage of Six Paths more than he did.

"He has it. Nagato could learn any Jutsu he was taught at a young age. He has become so powerful now he calls himself a God. And he is the leader of the Akatsuki."

"God?" Naruto laughed. "Well, the Rinnegan does have that but to simply degrade the Rinnegan's abilities to that extent is treacherous. Even with the Sharingan I can learn all basic elements. Its powers are beyond what the Mangekyo Sharingan can do. You think the Rinnegan is a Doujutsu that shows itself in times of need. But that is false. The Rinnegan is not like that."

Jiraiya was silent. Nagato said he awakened his Rinnegan after his parents were murdered. But Naruto was saying it shouldn't happen like that? And he sounded so skeptical, you'd think he said a non-Uchiha had awakened the Rinnegan.

"There is something I don't know?"

The Rinnegan wasn't just magical eye that appeared because of something and no emotional state could awaken it. As far as Naruto knew, it was a matter of genetics. Even Orochimaru's research had proved this much. The Snake Sannin had been a member of the Akatsuki, he must have met this Nagato, and yet, he didn't seem to question anything.

"Yes," Naruto said with a nod of his head. "Uchiha and Senju come from children of the Sage of Six Paths. There was a rivalry with the children and it caused the blood feud. Uchiha and Senju are one and the same. A person who doesn't have Uchiha blood in them cannot awaken the Sharingan. You can implant it, like Kakashi. But awakening it? Impossible. Some Uchiha can't even awaken it. In his torturous theories, Orochimaru determined that the Rinnegan was a natural evolution of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. However, that would only be possible if one had both Uchiha and Senju genes in them. You have to be genetically qualified to awaken it. Perhaps Nagato is a special cause. I'll see that myself."

There was a lot Naruto was saying. Jiraiya had never truly questioned anything, but Naruto, being an Uchiha, knew more about the Sage's power than he did. He wasn't even dismissing the possibility of Nagato actually awakening the Rinnegan.

"You're saying it's impossible to awaken something not within your genetics. Uchiha awaken the Sharingan because it is in their DNA."

Naruto nodded, and then smiled flatly. "Some powers are special, of course. None of Hashirama's children awakened his bloodline, nor did they have anything close to him in power. Mokuton, to this day, remains something only he was born with."

The Senju brothers were truly blessed as shinobi. They were true descendants of the Sage. There were so many jutsu in existence today in the Leaf, and they were developed by the Nidaime Hokage. Naruto may have issues with the man's memory, but his genius couldn't be denied.

"How about this," Jiraiya said in a serious tone. "We go to Iwagakure together. It would be irresponsible for me to let you go alone. After Iwa, we can both go to Amegakure."

"As long as you don't get in my way, I won't complain," Naruto said with a wave of his right hand.

"I'll join you along the way. I want to speak with Tsunade. I heard you had an incident with her."

Naruto's expression became cold. To be reminded of Tsunade was bothersome. He knew the Sandaime had spoken to her, and she was doing as she should, but the fact that she had to be ordered to serve her village was honestly disappointing. She brought shame to the Senju and to the selfless memory of her grandfather.

He stood up without responding to Jiraiya's statement. "You'll also tell the Third what we plan on doing. It should give him peace of mind if he knows we're going together. I'm with children, so you can quickly catch up to us."

"Sensei," Sora stared. "You're not an old man. You're not even that old!" And yet, he referred to them as if he was old enough to be their father.

Naruto ignored Sora and glanced at the Toad Sage. "I'm waiting for you to leave."

"You're being rude," Jiraiya said, standing up.

Naruto shrugged with nonchalance. "It's not like you're going to hold a grudge against me."

"You'd be surprised." Jiraiya faced the students of the Uchiha clan head and flashed them a grin. "I'll see you soon, brats."


Tsunade was at the library, going through some notes, and Shizune was sitting with a group of Kunoichi. There was a Hyuga among them. She seemed so focused on reading that Jiraiya thought it suited her. He dragged a chair and sat beside her. How he missed her scent, the smell of alcohol coming from her, the roll of her eyes when he said something perverted.

"Looking young as always, Hime," the Toad Sage said, grinning wildly.

For the first time, Tsunade glanced at him. Her look was a hard stare. She snorted. "Save that for the whores you meet in the streets."

"But you look so young and beautiful, Hime?"

"Did you come here to get smacked?" Tsunade asked, and then took her eyes off the Sannin, returning to the book in front of her.

"What are you looking at?"

"You're hardly in the village," Tsunade said instead of responding to the question. "You always come and go. When things happen, you're usually never around!"

She was saying that, but she meant it on a personal level. Who else did she have to talk to when things were difficult for her? She was beginning to think she saw him more when she had been roaming around the Fire Nation than being here in Konoha.

Jiraiya's mood was dampened. When the Kyubi went on a rampage, he had not been in Konoha. He frowned deeply. "Don't remind me," he said in a sad tone. "I heard there was an incident."

"An incident?" She scoffed with contempt. "Sensei threatened me with insubordination. What has happened to the old man? He used to be so kind." And if I may add, push around when one of his students demanded something. He'd always been willing to turn a blind eye to his students, even if their actions were evil. For how long did he turn a blind eye to Orochimaru's evil, even when warned and told about it?

She'd been moving about since the Third War with no consequences but never stepping foot in the Leaf. No Great Nation tolerated their shinobi simply leaving. Insubordination was no different from treason. It was a high crime. And yet, for years, she got away with it.

Jiraiya smiled. "He's still the same person. He's just no longer willing to turn a blind eye," the Toad Sage said, proud that Hiruzen had taken this step. "But why did you refuse?" he asked curiously.

"He doesn't like me. And I wanted to see how much he wanted it."

"Not that," Jiraiya shook his head. "Uchiha and Senju founded Konoha. Naruto highly values this contribution. If you listen to him carefully, he believes the Uchiha deserve a special place because this is 'their' village. He considers the Leaf a personal property, a legacy of the founding members of his clan. He'll protect Konoha, not because of love, but because of an obligation to what the Uchiha started. It must be highly disappointing for him to see a Senju, Hashirama's granddaughter for that matter, neglecting that duty without any justification."

Her pain? It meant nothing. Tsunade had come to learn that Naruto's love for his clan far surpassed anything. She had sat with the old man since news about the Uchiha was shared. The old man told her Naruto had been against the idea and loved Fugaku as a father, and yet, he watched as the man killed people he truly considered brothers and sisters, all for the sake of the future. What greater sacrifice was there than that?

It really pissed her off just thinking about it. She had no intentions of getting along with him. He was a dangerous person who only cared for his clan. He was arrogant and treated Konoha as his personal property. She could even understand why he held no ambitions to become Hokage. Why burden yourself with all the admin duties when you could just do anything you want?

"It didn't give him the right."

"Yes," Jiraiya said with a nod. "I'm going to Iwagakure with him..."

Tsunade turned to face Jiraiya, with a look of concern. It was a dangerous place, and he was just going to go there with Naruto? It was an entire nation with people who wanted to destroy them. Did he not value his life? He was powerful, but not an army killer.

"You really have a death wish."

Jiraiya burst into laughter. "I've lived long enough. But what if I die? If it can save thousands from dying in war, isn't it worth it?"

"It's not," Tsunade said, hitting the table. "You're not going to fight, are you?"

Jiraiya shook his head. "No... I just want to make sure things go well. If Naruto dies, Konoha's military power will take a huge hit. He still has the Kyubi and is taking his students."

"Arrogance. He'll get his students killed. Even if he isn't going for destruction, do you think Iwa will not take the opportunity to kill him?" Tsunade asked. "If they kill him, we might have to go to war."

"That's why I decided to go with him," Jiraiya said in a serious tone. "I just came to check up on you, but it seems you're fine."

"Why wouldn't I be? You think a brat is enough to shake me? I've fought wars!"

Once more, Jiraiya laughed. "Stay safe, hime. And wish me luck. A kiss would do. Give me more reasons to come back home."

Slap.

Tsunade slapped the Toad Sage across the face, making him fall over the chair.

"Ouch!" he cried, getting up while holding his face. "What was that for?"

"Just come back home!"

"You didn't have to hit me!" Jiraiya exclaimed.

"You needed a reminder to wake you up."

The following day

Naruto sat on a throne-like chair, his head resting on the palm of his right hand. They were in the hall of one of the Uchiha's hideouts, watching his students battle in a three-way fight.

Adoption into a clan had been practiced before, but Naruto would never adopt anyone who didn't have Uchiha blood into his clan. Sora had made him ponder this principle. The boy was truly a rare child, the way he danced around the battlefield against two bloodline wielders, holding his own with his head held high.

Neji was a genius known throughout Konoha. A member of the branch family, the Main had tried to stifle his progress, but Hiashi stopped it. Once he was under him, the Hyuga began to proudly parade him as one of their own. Who didn't like a prodigy?

Yuto wasn't known to anyone. He wasn't even more skilled than his two teammates. But he was Uchiha, bound to have more power than those two, and ultimately, he would become much better than them. After all, he could copy the very techniques Neji was practicing day and night with just a single glance.

He called Yuto to come to him. His mother was not a shinobi, and his father died with just the normal Sharingan. If he awakened the Mangekyo, it would only become a problem as blindness would cut his shinobi career short.

Yuto knelt in front of him, but Naruto told him to sit. The boy settled down in front of him with his legs folded.

"Do you know why I took you and paired you with those two?" Naruto asked.

Wasn't it because they were better than everyone else? No, there was that girl. Naruto had liked her more than Neji. She was smart, but not the strongest. Unfortunately, his clan head preferred raw strength over most things. Yuto cocked his head in confusion.

"I want you to learn how to fight a strategic battle. Experience teaches you things. You can be an idiot, dense as a brick, but still fight against geniuses. You must observe, watch, and learn," Naruto said in a serious tone. "Kakashi is famous not because of the Sharingan, but because he is a skilled shinobi. I gave you a powerful sword, but without any skill, it is just a normal sword."

Yuto grabbed the Sword of Kusanagi. It was an unbreakable sword, a treasure coveted by many skilled shinobi. It was in his hands, but he didn't have any Kenjutsu style.

"You could teach me properly."

Naruto smiled. "Even I have limits," he said with disdain over the admission. "There is a woman in Anbu. I planned on asking her to teach Neji a few things. She'll teach you some sword skills. With your Sharingan, there is no limit for you to simply be better in one aspect. Your Taijutsu, Kenjutsu, and Ninjutsu must all be excellent. Genjutsu is only natural."

"You think I can surpass Sasuke?"

"Sasuke will never become blind if he awakens the Mangekyo Sharingan. It is better for you to not awaken it. If you awaken it, you'll have to use its powers sparingly," Naruto said with a shake of his head. "But raw strength doesn't always win. It makes enemies tremble. But in a one-on-one battle, it isn't always the defining factor." He realized he hadn't really answered the question. And then spoke again. "In pure strength? No."

This, Yuto knew. He had already experienced it. The Yondaime sealed the Kyubi, but did it mean he had more raw strength than the beast? No. It was simply because he was faster and had tools in his arsenal that could seal the Bijuu. Still, Yuto didn't think this applied to Naruto. He thought there was no amount of strategy that could win against him. He was just an immovable force of nature.

Yuto was not. He struggled with it. It frustrated him to no end. He wanted to achieve those heights, but he had his limits. He had come to learn that everyone could dream. He was a child, all he did was dream. But reality stung like a bee. He was completely awake from his fantasies. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but even with the Sharingan, he had his limits.

"I understand. Shisui-san said he'd be training me."

"He'll teach you well," Naruto said with a nod of his head. "You need belief and dedication. Hard work does pay off. You're blessed..." he pointed at Neji and Sora. "Remember, you're blessed with superior eyes. You must be better than them. If they beat you, don't sleep. Train harder and show them Uchiha superiority."

"Yes, sensei," Yuto said, smiling. "Can you teach me how to use the gunbai effectively? If I'm going to fight a strategic battle, the gunbai is effective," Yuto asked Naruto.

Naruto stared at Yuto and then laughed. "Well, you're learning something from Sora," he said. "I'll have one prepared for you when we return..." he trailed off, glancing toward the entrance of the hall.

"You have some skilled boys," Jiraiya said, walking into the hall with his hands folded across his chest. "Favoritism?" he asked.

"We're used to it, Jiraiya-sama," Sora said, with a shrug.

Neji fell down, tired from waving his sword around. Releasing those chakra waves consumed too much chakra. He really needed to train his body to be physically able to handle the stress.

"Shouldn't you be protecting your sensei's honor?" Neji asked Sora. Regardless, it didn't look good for your sensei to be known for blatant favoritism. Jiraiya was not just anyone—he was a Sannin. A man whose strength rivaled that of a Kage.

"Meh," Sora grinned. "You think sensei would care about that? He wouldn't even deny it if you asked him."

Jiraiya laughed and moved over to Sora. He stood just inches away from the boy and stared into his eyes. Without warning, he lifted his right foot, cleaving through the air and attempted to sever the boy's head from his shoulders.

Sora swiftly used both his hands to try to block the kick. It didn't do much. The Sannin's kick slammed into his hands and sent him airborne. He crashed into a wall with his back, creating a huge crack on impact.

He winced as he fell to the floor, his hands trembling. "There really is a difference between a Jonin and a Sannin," Sora said, smiling a bit despite the pain.

"You have good reflexes. A normal Genin wouldn't have been able to even try to block it. You sensed the attack."

"Well, I did sense the spike in chakra and slight shift in your facial expression," Sora said, shrugging a bit.

There was really a difference. It looked fast and deadly, but the Sannin hadn't really even tried. If he had tried, he may have had a broken neck.

"I'll always remember this, Jiraiya-sama."

"You want to kick me when you're ready?"

"Of course!" Sora exclaimed, getting up. "You have no bloodline either. Yet you became this powerful. I want to believe that I can also reach such heights."

Confidence, belief. Jiraiya could see it all. The boy looked lively even. It was obvious he was the one with a sense of humor in this group.

"Then what?" Jiraiya asked curiously.

Sora smiled. "I don't have any grand plans, Jiraiya-sama." He laughed. "I'm just a child. But if you ask, I want to be strong enough to protect my home. Create a world that doesn't blink when orphans like me are created."

While Jiraiya was impressed, Neji snorted in the background. "You're good at giving grand speeches."

"Some of us have eyes that see beyond the walls. You can't even see beyond the Hyuga walls," Sora said with a stare. "Such grand dreams motivate me to become stronger."

"I'm starting to like you," Jiraiya said. "I might just take you as my student."

"I already have a sensei."

Sora's flat response came a little too quickly for Jiraiya, and he was caught off-guard. He stared for a couple of seconds. "There are many who even try to pay me to become their teacher. I am the Legendary Sannin! Konoha only has one shinobi who has mastered Sage Arts, and that is me!"

Sora didn't know much about Sage Arts. But if the Sannin was saying he was the only one who knew it in Konoha, it had to be very powerful.

"Curious?" Jiraiya grinned. "Those who have a contract with the Land of the Toads can be taught Sage Art. I happen to be the holder of the contract."

"Are the Toads more powerful than the Kyubi?" Sora asked curiously.

Jiraiya felt deflated. A punch through his chest, knocking the air out of him. He twirled around to face Naruto with a glare. "What are you teaching him?"

"It's a fair question," Naruto replied, not hiding his amusement. "I don't think it's very noble for you to recruit my student while I am here."

Natural energy could be useful for Sora. It would only benefit the boy if Jiraiya was seriously considering taking him in. No, he should ask. Of course, a summoning contract was something personal. Jiraiya was only likely to share it with someone he would consider his student, just as he would never give the Kyubi contract to anyone outside of his clan, even to his student.

Jiraiya shrugged and then walked over to Naruto. "For someone who doesn't go out a lot, I didn't think you'd know about the Uchiha hideouts." As a traveler, Jiraiya came across a few of the hideouts. It was easy to tell they were built by the Uchiha given the clan's crest everywhere.

"I'll know every property of my clan," Naruto said, waving his right hand. "I'd be happy if you really took him as a student and have the Toads teach him Senjutsu. He is a bright kid."

"Sensei, you're selling me?" Sora asked, with a shocked expression across his face.

"Do you have a problem with me?" Jiraiya asked Sora, feeling offended.

"No. But you're just not better than Naruto sensei."

"Sora," Naruto said in a measured tone. "Stop fooling around."

"Hai." The boy quieted down just like that.

Jiraiya shook his head and then faced Naruto with a curious look. "Why would you recommend that to someone who is your student?"

"Not my property," Naruto said with a shrug. "I have taught them everything I can. But you can teach him things I can't. If he learns from you, he reaches a height I simply can't take him. Why would I stand in the way?"

Hiruzen was right, Naruto was a perfectly rational person. There was no emotion involved in his explanation, just logic. Teachers always believed only they could teach their students. If Naruto took in Sora, then he was someone who could possibly become a famous shinobi. There was an obsession with some to leave a legacy as being the ones who brought out such famous shinobi. But Naruto didn't care.

"I really don't get you at times," Jiraiya said with a shake of his head. There was just no greed in the Uchiha, despite his power and attitude. Perhaps his sensei was right in admitting that the Uchiha would make a better Hokage than even his chosen successor. "How can you admit I can take him to a far higher place than you?"

Naruto laughed, but it was Sora who explained. "You wonder, where is the arrogance? He is basically admitting a flaw," he said, shaking his head. "But it's more likely that while sensei is saying 'you', he doesn't mean that. Is it you or the Toads that teach Sage Arts? Besides, whether he makes the admission doesn't change the fact that he is still a superior shinobi compared to you."

All those thoughts about Naruto, just down the drain like that. "I don't think I'll survive being around this team," Jiraiya said, settling down on the floor.

Naruto's students were lively. The Uchiha showed wisdom despite his age. He didn't allow his power to cloud his reason. He saw a benefit and would not allow pride to get in the way.

"I'll stop saying you're arrogant and prideful. No arrogant person will say this," Jiraiya said. "When you look down on others and say things without care, that's not your arrogance, it is just you being rational."

"That's a first," Naruto said with a smile. "You'll get to see Sora and learn of his personality during our travel to Iwagakure. It's a long journey. We still visit Amegakure. By then, you should have decided whether the Toads can accept him. With peace coming along, you'll have more time in Konoha. Sora has already learned a great deal. You won't teach him much. No, I don't really want you to take him as a student, I just want the Toads to teach him Sage Arts."

"How powerful is Sage Art?" Sora asked, and his teammates' expressions tuned in. Jiraiya explained, and Sora almost jumped in front of the Sannin to beg him to make him his student.

But he faced Yuto, grinning. "With that power, you won't be able to defeat me!" he exclaimed and then pointed at Neji. "And your luck will run out!"

"It has nothing to do with luck. You've just hit a bottleneck while we can still improve because of our bloodlines," Neji said with a shrug.

"I hate it when you say things like that with a straight face. But I wonder if you'll still say it when I kick you to the ground once I learn Sage Arts."

"If." Yuto smiled.

Neji nodded. "Jiraiya-sama hasn't agreed."

Sora faced Jiraiya. "You'll take me in, right?"

"If you show me some respect."


End of chapter

Chapter 30 will be a wee bit action. I don't know when I'll update. It's nothing grand, but the battle scenes are 'unusual' from what I usually write. You know, it's strategy.

I noticed something very wrong. I was writing 'Sota' instead of 'Sora.' I'll have to find time and correct this from the previous chapters.