(To the reader: Well, hello there, it's been so long since the last time I made an A/N at the beginning of a chapter. I just want to say what has been on my mind regarding this fic, I've been thinking about the fact that the story of Naruto has a lot of plot holes and/or inconsistencies since Kishimoto tends to write stories on the fly and wings it most of the time. A good example of it was how he portrayed Hashirama and Madara to be shinobi from a bygone era, legends from their time but in reality, a couple of decades simply passed. Or like the tried and tested usage of Hashirama Cells to explain things much like in Bleach, the community tends to use CFYOW as catch all answer to most things that people question. With that being said, I'd like to reiterate that this fic isn't mean to be a more refined/better version of canon, haha no, that's not my intention nor will it ever be. Kishimoto has given us an interesting world but sadly it wasn't explored that much in the anime nor in the manga. Like characters that would've been cool to see more of, like Sakumo, Pakura, Gari, etc. Underdeveloped side characters which I've tried to tackle by giving chapters for them to shine in. Some aspects weren't fleshed out as well like the relationship between the Daimyo and the Kage though it was stated that Kishimoto based it on a time period in Japan before unification, but I digress. My point is, I want to make a story that I personally want to see and I'm just sharing it with y'all. I don't think I can ever make a story that is perfect nor a story that has no plot holes/inconsistencies, but I will try my best to make an enjoyable story at the very least. That's all, enough of the rambling haha, and on with the story!)
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO (AND IT WILL REMAIN THAT WAY UNTIL THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE)
Ch.52 - Konoha Inbound
- Somewhere at the border of Hi no Kuni -
(Evening)
As the night draped its inky shroud over the land, the moon emerged from behind wisps of cloud, casting its pale glow upon the earth below. The wind, a restless spirit, whispered secrets through the trees, causing the branches to sway in a silent dance.
On the lonely road, a caravan trudged forth, a string of flickering lanterns dangling from its sides like luminous jewels in the darkness. Their soft light painted fleeting shadows on the dusty path, guiding the weary travelers through the night.
Eventually, the leader of the caravan, a weathered man with eyes that held the wisdom of countless journeys, called out to halt. The caravan came to a gradual stop, and the air was filled with the rustle of activity as people dismounted their weary steeds and set about their evening tasks.
Some scoured the nearby woods for firewood, their footsteps crunching on fallen leaves as they gathered armfuls of dry branches. Others set to work erecting tents, their hands deftly tying knots in the fabric to secure shelter for the night. And a few, skilled in the culinary arts, busied themselves with the preparation of a hearty meal, their pots and pans clanging softly in the stillness of the night.
As the flames crackled and danced in the makeshift hearth, casting flickering shadows that danced upon the faces of the gathered company, the aroma of stew wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of wood smoke. The weary travelers gathered around the fire, their faces illuminated by its warm glow, as they passed around a steaming pot of sustenance, each taking their fill with grateful hearts.
One of the travelers, an middle-aged man, noticed the cloaked figure standing on the outskirts of the firelight. With a friendly gesture, he beckoned the stranger to join them, assuring him that there was plenty of food to go around. "Hey you, aren't you going to join us?..." he asked.
The cloaked man inclined his head in gratitude, his features hidden in the depths of his hood. "Thank you, but I'll pass," he replied, he said. With a graceful flourish, he produced a bottle of sake from within his cloak, holding it aloft for all to see. "I appreciate the offer, but I've got everything I need right here." he said and chuckled.
"Heh, suit yourself, more for me then!" the man said happily as he took a second helping of food from the pot.
As the travelers savored their meal and exchanged tales by the warmth of the fire, a rustling sound stirred the stillness of the night. One of them, his senses heightened by the eerie ambiance, tensed at the noise, his gaze darting towards the source with growing apprehension.
"It's probably just a squirrel or some shit," reassured his companion, a seasoned traveler with a penchant for optimism, as he took another hearty bite of stew. "Nothing to worry about."
But just moments later, another rustle, closer this time, shattered the fragile calm. The anxious traveler couldn't suppress his fear any longer and brought it up again, his voice tinged with urgency.
His companion, now annoyed at the interruption of his mealtime tranquility, sighed heavily. "Alright, alright! I'll go check it out, jeez... A grown man, scared of forest critters..." he grumbled, setting down his bowl with a reluctant gesture.
As he approached the bushes, his companion's heart pounded with anticipation, the silence of the night amplifying the sound of his footsteps. With a mixture of dread and determination, he reached the trembling foliage and gingerly parted the leaves and twigs.
A fleeting moment of relief washed over him as he caught sight of the raccoon nestled within the bushes. "It's just a raccoon, happy now?!..." he called out, his voice carrying back to the circle of travelers, who let out a collective sigh of relief.
But before he could turn back to reassure his companions, a sudden, sharp pain erupted in his neck. His vision blurred, his limbs grew heavy, and darkness descended upon him like a suffocating cloak. With a muffled thud, he crumpled to the forest floor, unconscious, leaving his companions to stare in shock and horror at the sinister turn of events.
From the murky depths of the forest, shadowy figures emerged, their forms obscured by the cover of darkness and the hoods that shrouded their faces. With silent efficiency, they closed in on the unsuspecting travelers, their movements swift and purposeful.
Panic erupted among the caravan as the hooded assailants charged forth, their footsteps like echoes of impending doom in the stillness of the night. Some of the travelers attempted to fend off the attackers, swinging makeshift weapons in a desperate bid for survival. But their efforts were in vain, as they soon realized they were hopelessly outmatched by their assailants, whose skill in combat far surpassed their own.
As the chaos unfolded, the remaining travelers turned to flee, their hearts pounding with terror as they dashed through the undergrowth in a frantic attempt to escape. But their pursuers were relentless, their movements fluid and precise as they closed the gap with alarming speed.
One by one, the travelers fell, their bodies succumbing to the effects of the darts that had been skillfully aimed by their assailants. With each strike, a wave of dizziness washed over them, clouding their senses and rendering them helpless against the oncoming darkness.
In the aftermath, only one figure remained standing amidst the carnage, the cloaked man from earlier, his gaze fixed upon the unconscious forms of his companions with a mixture of sorrow and determination. Alone and outnumbered, the cloaked man stood unfazed amidst the chaos unfolding around him, his demeanor calm and composed as he brought the bottle of sake to his lips, taking a long, contemplative swig. A memory then popped into his mind, he recalled that a friend and teammate of his used to drink sake straight out of the bottle as well, and he couldn't help but chuckle softly to himself.
Lost in the bittersweet nostalgia, he was startled by the sharp voice that pierced the night. "WHAT'S SO FUNNY, OLD MAN?!" one of the hooded assailants snapped, their tone dripping with hostility.
The cloaked man's laughter tapered off, replaced by a wry smile as he lowered the bottle, meeting the gaze of his accuser with a knowing glint in his eyes. "Old, huh?..." he mused; his voice tinged with amusement. "Well... I mean my age might be catching up with me, but old?... I don't think so..." the cloaked man said.
With a quiet resolve, the cloaked man raised the bottle once more, a silent toast to the memories of days gone by and the hope of reunions yet to come.
As the tension thickened in the air, the assailants launched a flurry of darts at him. The cloaked man's senses sharpened; his instincts honed by years of experience. With lightning reflexes, he dodged each dart that came hurtling towards him, even catching one mid-air between his index and middle finger with a taunting smirk. He rolled the dart between his fingers, examining it with a critical eye.
"Pointy," he remarked with a wry smile. "By the way, what did you guys lace these with?..." he asked with a smile.
His demeanor seemed to ignite a spark of fury among the hooded assailants, their faces contorted with rage as they exchanged a knowing glance. Without a word, they launched themselves at the cloaked man, their movements coordinated and relentless, intent on overwhelming their opponent with sheer force.
But they were unprepared for what came next.
With a sudden surge of energy, the cloaked man unleashed a flurry of movements, his body a blur as he countered each attack with precision and grace. Dodging, parrying, and striking with calculated efficiency, he turned the tables on his assailants, his movements a dance of defiance against the darkness that threatened to engulf him.
But as the skirmish unfolded, it became evident that their efforts were in vain. Caught off guard by the cloaked man's unexpected skill, the hooded assailants faltered, their attacks losing momentum as they struggled to keep pace with their nimble adversary. The cloaked man moved with fluid grace, effortlessly dodging their attacks and retaliating with precision strikes of his own. The assailants, realizing they were no match for his skill, began to retreat, backing away from the cloaked figure with a mixture of fear and frustration.
Seeing an opportunity to prevent one of them from escaping, the cloaked man lunged forward, gripping the hood of one of the assailants with a vice-like grip. But before he could detain them, the assailant swiftly tore off their hood and broke free, disappearing into the darkness of the forest.
As the cloaked man watched the fleeing figure vanish from sight, his eyes narrowed in determination. But in that fleeting moment, he caught a glimpse of something that would linger in his memory long after the encounter had ended—a tattoo on the assailant's exposed neck, a ring with a triangle in the middle.
As the hooded assailant disappeared into the darkness, the cloaked man's gaze lingered on the tattoo etched into his memory—a ring with a triangle in the middle. A flicker of recognition danced at the edge of his consciousness, a nagging sense that he had seen that symbol before. But he pushed the thought aside for the moment, knowing that his priority lay elsewhere.
As the fallen travelers lay scattered across the forest floor, the cloaked man's keen observation led him to a troubling realization—the darts that had incapacitated them were laced with potent sedatives. The purpose behind the assailants' actions became clear: they sought to capture these travelers alive. But for what nefarious purpose, the cloaked man could only speculate. However, he knew that unraveling that mystery would have to wait.
With a steely resolve, the cloaked man focused on his immediate task—bringing the fallen travelers back to safety. It had been his plan all along to embed himself within a group of travelers and gauge whether they would be targeted. Reports of numerous individuals disappearing near the border of Hi no Kuni (Land of Fire) had not gone unnoticed by him. Initially, he had dismissed them as mere happenstance, but as the reports multiplied, he recognized the ominous pattern emerging.
"Why on earth would so many people vanish without a trace all of a sudden?..." he pondered, the pieces of the puzzle slowly falling into place. And then, like a bolt from the blue, it struck him—the sinister machinations of a certain individual known for his insatiable thirst for experimentation, for obtaining a vast array of "guinea pigs" by any means necessary.
The cloaked man, now revealed, let the crisp evening breeze tousle his long, white hair. His attire was distinct: an unusual hitai-ate with 油 (abura/kanji for oil) emblazoned on it, red markings under his eyes, a green kimono and matching pants with visible mesh armor, handguards, a black belt, and a pair of geta (traditional Japanese sandals). Completing his ensemble was a red haori with two yellow circles on each side, adding another splash of color to his overall get up.
"Damnit... I knew I should've brought my scroll with me, but then it probably would have made me more noticeable..." Jiraiya pondered aloud, his brow furrowed with frustration. With a resigned sigh, he cast aside the idea of using his scroll and instead opted for a different approach.
Biting his right thumb, Jiraiya smeared blood onto his left palm, where a tattoo was emblazoned. With practiced precision, he performed a series of hand seals before slamming his palm onto the ground.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu! (Summoning Technique)" he exclaimed, his voice ringing out into the night. A swirling vortex of smoke enveloped the clearing, and as it dissipated, it revealed a majestic toad with vibrant emerald skin and polished onyx-like eyes.
"Jiraiya-sama, what can I do for you this evening?" the toad, named Gamazen, inquired with a deep rumble.
"Gamazen-san, kindly bring these people to Hacho Village. I have other matters to attend to," Jiraiya instructed because he knew that they were headed to Hacho Village at the very beginning, he then gestured towards the unconscious travelers strewn across the forest floor. Jiraiya
With a nod of understanding, Gamazen assisted Jiraiya in loading the travelers onto his broad back. On top of that, Jiraiya fastened the unconscious travellers using ninja wire in order to ensure that none of them would wall off on their journey. However, there was one individual left, and no space remained atop Gamazen's back. Jiraiya and Gamazen exchanged a knowing glance, silently acknowledging what needed to be done.
Without hesitation, Gamazen opened his massive jaws, and Jiraiya carefully placed the remaining man inside the toad's mouth. Typically, such an action would be met with protests and resistance, but Jiraiya was spared from such complications this time, as the man remained unconscious.
- Moments Later -
Once the task was complete, Gamazen and Jiraiya bid each other farewell, each setting off in their respective directions. Jiraiya knew he could trust Gamazen to fulfill his duty and return to Mount Myoboku once the travelers were safely delivered to Hacho Village.
As for Jiraiya, he had a destination of his own to reach—a place he hadn't visited in far too long. His thoughts drifted to the letter he had received from his sensei, urging him to heed the call for assistance. Initially, he had considered ignoring the old man's request, preoccupied as he was with his myriad of duties and obligations.
Between managing his extensive spy network and pursuing his various lucrative side hustles, such as his writing endeavors, Jiraiya's plate was already overflowing. However, the mention of a certain bijuu (tailed beast) and jinchuriki (power of human sacrifice) in the letter gave him pause. It was a subject that struck a chord deep within him, stirring memories of a time long past.
In particular, he couldn't shake the memory of a certain individual who had once placed a weighty responsibility upon his shoulders—the care of a young child. Though he had made promises to fulfill this duty, life's demands had gradually pulled him away, leaving him with a gnawing sense of guilt.
He recalled the fleeting moments he had spent with the child in the past, recalling each interaction as precious and rare. Yet as time marched on, the opportunities for visits became increasingly scarce, until he could no longer visit at all, to the point he even doubted whether the child would even recognize him now.
With a heavy heart, Jiraiya sighed internally, acknowledging that answering his sensei's call was the least he could do. In addition, he couldn't help but wonder if his late student, would be disappointed or even angry with him for failing to fulfill his promises in the past. The weight of those unkept vows hung heavily on his conscience, a constant reminder of his shortcomings.
- The Next Day -
(Morning)
As the sun began to cast its first light upon the horizon, Jiraiya finally caught sight of the gates of Konoha (Hidden Leaf) in the distance. A sense of nostalgia washed over him as he approached, wondering how long it had been since he last set foot inside the village, and how long since he last gazed upon those familiar gates.
Having traveled throughout the night to reach Konoha (Hidden Leaf) by morning, Jiraiya's mind had wandered along the way, grappling with various thoughts and emotions. Yet, he was determined not to let himself be consumed by regret. Instead, he chose to focus on the present and the tasks that lay ahead.
With a renewed sense of purpose, Jiraiya contemplated his upcoming venture in his former stomping grounds. He envisioned delving into his latest project—a novel that had been simmering in his mind for some time. Despite the weight of his current mission, he found solace in the creative outlet that writing provided.
Considering his reputation as a renowned author in a rather questionable genre, Jiraiya couldn't help but anticipate the financial rewards that awaited him. With a wry smile, he allowed himself a moment of distraction, contemplating the lucrative future that lay ahead.
Before stepping through the gates of Konoha (Hidden Leaf), Jiraiya paused to ponder his first course of action. It had been far too long since he last set foot in his former home, and there were many places he longed to revisit. However, one destination in particular called out to him with irresistible allure.
With a grin spreading across his face, Jiraiya made his decision. His first stop? The Bathhouses.
(A/N: So yeah, finally ero-sennin joins us in this story haha. Can't wait to finally utilize his character, and y'all know what's about to come next haha, anyway I might take a break for a bit or perhaps simply plan out the next potential chapters that I'll upload. Other than that, show me some love, RnR, take care and cheers! ^^)