Eyes of the Soul

by operation meteor

Passing beyond the veil, Itachi finds himself in an afterlife that is far from the hellfire he'd steeled himself for. With a chance encounter involving a pervy sage, a Flash Goddess and a healer whose angelic appearance hides more than a hint of steel, the bane of the Uchiha Clan finds a chance at a second life... and perhaps redemption. Slow burn. M for language and violence.

24. Chapter 24

Author's Notes: Hello there! Sorry about the wait, work's still a hot mess and a half, which means the writing's going slower than I'd like it to. Unfortunately, still doesn't look like it'll be easing up anytime soon. Updates might be a bit erratic until things start calming down, and until the corporate overlords see fit to finally address our staffing problem, verdict's out on when that'll actually happen.

On the bright side, I managed to make this chapter a bit shorter than the last one! Well, a little, at least. Hey, work in progress, okay? Cut a guy a break here.

Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Four: Unexpected Allies

One year later…

Late Spring, 135 years before Rukia Kuchiki's arrival in Karakura Town

When Captain Unohana had said she had something special in mind for tonight's healing practice session, Jiraiya hadn't known what to expect. Oh, sure, he had his hopes that the night might go in a certain steamy direction, if one would, but those were really just idle fantasies. Given his history with women, Jiraiya wasn't about to hold his breath on the prospect of Unohana inviting him for bit of 'adult fun' in her barracks, regardless of how open he'd be to such an offer.

So, one could imagine the newly minted Tenth Seat of Squad Eight's surprise when Unohana had requested that he meet her in the middle of the night atop Sōkyoku Hill. There, standing beneath the shadow cast by the Soul Society's giant instrument of execution, the light of the moon gleaming in her eyes, Squad Four's Captain had awaited him.

Or, more accurately, had been lying in ambush.

His only warning had been the sound of her sword being drawn from its scabbard, and Jiraiya had only barely been able to pull his own out in time to block Unohana's opening slash. The song of steel clashing with steel rang out in the night, and she wasted no time in driving him across the great plateau. For a panicked moment, Jiraiya wondered if he had unwittingly committed some grave offense, one that the Captain had deemed punishable by death, but after the initial exchange he realized that wasn't the case. Her strikes had been swift and powerful, yes, but he was still able to defend himself. More importantly, he was still alive. Jiraiya's skill had grown considerably over the years, but he was no fool; if Unohana wanted him dead, he already would be.

So, his laid back and somewhat cocky demeanor returned in earnest as Jiraiya parried a sequence of slashes from her that were as graceful as they were vicious. "Well, now, you weren't kidding about having something special planned for tonight! Couldn't wait for this year's Blade Dancer Festival to have a go at me, eh? I'm flattered!"

"Worry less about your ego and more about your swordsmanship," Unohana casually replied as she took a swipe at his chest, one that Jiraiya was only barely able to block, "I'd hate to accidentally inflict a wound you can't heal simply because you let your guard down."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow as he fended off a flurry of strikes. "Don't you mean a wound that you can't heal?"

Unohana smiled, but there was a familiar undercurrent of darkness in her gaze that made Jiraiya shiver. "You heard me right the first time."

Just what have I gotten myself into here?

I don't know, Jinsei no Kenja chimed in, and Jiraiya thought he heard a distinct crunching noise coming from the mouth of the armored toad, but I'm enjoying the show so far.

Are you actually eating popcorn right now?

No, don't be silly. It's bugs. I'm an amphibian, remember?

Doesn't change the fact that you're munching on snacks while I'm fighting here!

Perhaps you should focus less on what I'm eating and more on who you're fighting, then.

You're enjoying this, aren't you?

Oh, very much so.

Figures.

Jiraiya shouldn't have expected anything less from the spirit of his Zanpakutō, of course. The grouchy old toad still brought his game face out whenever there was a serious fight, but other than that he was more than happy to kick back and watch the fireworks whenever Jiraiya found himself caught up in the various hijinks that the afterlife seemed all too willing to throw at him. The fact that the Legendary Sannin had brought many of those upon himself always added to the fun, though in this particular case Jiraiya was still trying to figure out just what he'd done to get Unohana to come at him like this.

She might not be trying to kill me, he thought as he parried a high thrust before finally gaining the chance to counterattack, but she's definitely not going easy on me, either.

"You know," he grunted as he went on the offensive with a sequence of powerful vertical strikes, "I'm all for a bit of exercise, but I'm having a hard time seeing how practicing Zanjutsu with you is supposed to be related to any lesson in healing. If you wanted a sparring match, all you had to do was ask!"

"Oh, trust me, this is still very much related to your healing lessons," Unohana reassured him as she deflected his strikes with graceful ease.

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow as he pressed his assault. "Really? If this is some kind of puzzle, I'll freely admit that you've got me stumped."

"Do not fret over it too much," Unohana replied ominously as she parried a low thrust before replying with one of her own and retaking the initiative, "You'll understand the true nature of this lesson soon enough."

She quickly drove him back towards the Sōkyoku, her Zanjutsu technique becoming far fiercer now than it had been at the start of the match. Her aggression struck Jiraiya as uncomfortably close to bloodlust, and that wasn't helped in the least by the hungry look in her eyes. The Soul Society might know her as its premier healer, but her passion tonight was clearly not in the medicinal arts. In fact, were it not for her haori and Jiraiya's own knowledge of her, he almost would've pegged her as a member of Squad Eleven rather than Squad Four with just how viciously she was coming at him right now. The long blade of her sealed Zanpakutō struck with the speed of a viper, and in Jiraiya's eyes put any of Orochimaru's snakes to shame.

Actually, I think he might like her if he ever met her, Jiraiya mused as he furiously worked to deflect a flurry of slashes and thrusts, I don't know what darkness she's hiding beneath her beauty, but if I'm picking up on it, then Orochimaru definitely would as well. That wily old snake always did like a puzzle, and she'd be one he couldn't resist.

Her zealous offensive soon had him backed up to the base of the Sōkyoku, and that was when she went for the metaphorical kill. First came a series of low slashes aimed at his legs, all of which Jiraiya was able to fend off, but he quickly found out that they were merely feints for the real strike. With his own blade angled low to keep her blade away his feet, he was sorely out of position when she suddenly shifted and made an upward diagonal slash. The sage tried to shift his sword around to block the attack, but he was just a fraction of a second too slow…

…and Unohana's blade slashed him across the chest.

A crescent spray of blood glimmered in the moonlight as Jiraiya dropped to one knee, his left hand immediately going to his chest. He continued to hold his sword in his right hand and had it raised to block a follow-up attack, but such a strike never came. Instead, he found Unohana gazing with what almost looked like longing at the blood upon her own blade for a moment before she turned her attention back to him.

"The match is mine," she quietly declared as she looked him over, "Now, I believe you have work to do."

Immediately comprehending the true nature of this test, Jiraiya dropped his sword and held both hands over the wound in his chest. His palms began to glow with bluish-green light as he instinctively put the years of secret lessons with Unohana to work. Cool and soothing energy started pouring into the wound, and already the flow of blood was beginning to slow.

With the pain lessening as he put his Kaidō skills to the test, Jiraiya was able to spare his opponent a quick glance and smirk. "So, this is what you had in mind… naughty girl! Not nearly as much of an angel as Squad Four makes you out to be, are you?"

Unohana shook her head as she sent most of the blood on her sword flying away with a quick swing before pulling out a cloth from her robes and wiping off the stubborn remnants. "I never made any such pretensions. My subordinates did that on their own."

Jiraiya chuckled, then quickly regretted that as a sharp jolt of pain lanced through his chest despite the healing energy being applied to it. "Maybe, but only because you show them one side of yourself. The gentle healer that they all know and love… they don't know about the rest, do they?"

"Some might suspect a thing or two," Unohana confessed as she sheathed her sword before sitting on the ground next to Jiraiya, "Squad Four is generally very well-mannered, but there are still times when I must enforce discipline. A brilliant light makes even the faintest hint of darkness seem all the more imposing, and that brief glimpse tends to be enough to bring troublemakers back to their senses."

She was quiet for a moment as she watched him work to heal the wound in his chest. No doubt her expert eyes were appraising his technique, her mind making silent notes as to where Jiraiya needed to make improvements. As he met her gaze, though, Jiraiya suspected that there was more than just analysis and criticism going on in that lovely head of hers. She hid it well, but Jiraiya thought he caught just a hint of conflict in her eyes. It was as if she was debating something… perhaps even considering a confession.

"Tell me, Jiraiya," she said after a few contemplative seconds, "The medical Shinobi that you've mentioned in our past conversations… Tsunade was her name, yes?"

Jiraiya nodded, intrigued as to where she might be going with this. "That's right. What about her?"

"You've spoken of both her healing and combative prowess," Unohana replied, "As fearsome of a brawler as she was a skilled medic, I believe you put it. What do you believe she enjoyed more? Healing… or battle?"

Jiraiya blinked a few times; he hadn't expected that. "Well… she was fierce in a fight, that much is true, but I wouldn't say she enjoyed battle. Healing was her passion, although she lost it for a good long while when her brother and lover both died. Before I met my own end, though, I firmly believe she got that back. So, to answer your question; healing. No doubt about it."

Unohana smiled. "That is as it should be in our profession. To preserve life, to revitalize the wounded and cure the sick, is the noblest of callings. Our work might be grim, and even the best of us cannot save everyone, but I believe that those who are willing to enter the medical field should find joy in such work. To devote belief and passion to the healing arts is to express reverence for life, even in the afterlife."

That was all well and good, but even as he focused on healing his own wound, Jiraiya didn't miss a key word there. "They should find joy, and I imagine most do… but do you?"

Her smile became closer to a smirk. "Perceptive, despite your outward demeanor… the genial lecher act is an insult to the real you, in my opinion."

"It's just as much a part of the 'real me' as the insight provided by experience," Jiraiya casually countered, "and you still haven't answered my question."

Unohana looked up at the moon for a moment. "Healing is what I am devoted to now, and I do indeed find joy in it. That being said… it wasn't always so."

Jiraiya nodded, his eyes slightly narrowing as he watched her. "I had a feeling that was the case. The way you fought just now, and what I've seen from you at the Blade Dancer Festival… your Zanjutsu technique isn't just the result of studious training. You have experience, and from the looks of things, I'd say quite a bit of it. You didn't always stay back in the Seireitei treating the wounded and healing the sick."

Unohana shook her head. "No, I did not… and, I must confess, there are days that I find myself wishing I could go back. I will always love my role in the medical profession, but… well, the past is never as distant as we might like to believe. Even a past that is shadowed by copious amounts of bloodshed and death, one that most people would be more than happy to leave behind, can have its own sort of siren's call."

She then met Jiraiya's gaze. "Tell me something… are you familiar with the dualistic concept of Yin and Yang? Opposing or contrary forces, beliefs and feelings actually being complementary and interconnected, a necessary counterbalance to each other. I've seen forms of it referenced in several Realms of the Living. Does the Shinobi World have its own equivalent?"

Jiraiya scratched his chin as he thought about it. "Well… word for word as far as the name goes, although we had a little twist on it; it actually applied to ninjutsu. We called it Yin and Yang Release, basically Shadow and Light Style. The philosophical side of things existed as well, but… well, some Shinobi might wax philosophical before a fight, but usually we'll just get straight to the punching and jutsus."

"You at least understand the basic idea, then," said Unohana, "Rather fascinating that your Realm of the Living uses the same term for it that Terra and the Soul Society do… the Web of Worlds is vast, yet at times it feels smaller than it actually is."

Jiraiya shrugged. "As they say, it's a small world… or I guess small Web of Worlds, in this case. Anyway, I can only assume you're bringing up this dualistic philosophy in reference to yourself. Sound about right?"

"Hit the nail on the head, as it were," Unohana confirmed, and Jiraiya couldn't help but notice how her gaze briefly flickered towards her sheathed blade, "My hands are the hands of a healer… and of a murderer. One who was quite unrepentant about her love for battle and death in days long past… one who relished it."

"Hard to picture you like that," Jiraiya admitted, "Still, there is that old saying about bright lights casting dark shadows. With you, though… it almost sounds like it was the other way around. You were deep in the darkness, but something compelled you to seek out the light. What was it?"

Unohana closed her eyes for a few seconds, and when she opened them again, her expression was almost one of melancholy. "This may be an oversimplification, but… I suppose I found myself wanting something more. All the corpses left in my wake, all the fighting… it let me satisfy my short-term desires, but over time, the joy I found in it began to dull. There was an exception, an incredible foe, but he came along rather late. After my fight with him, I could find no others able to measure up. That was when my interests began to shift. I was a master at taking life, but preserving it? That was something new. I had become quite skilled at healing my own injuries, but I soon felt compelled to apply that experience to others. In doing so, I suppose I had an awakening of sorts. As one of the founding Captains of the modern Thirteen Court Guard Squads, I actually have quite a bit more authority than is officially stated. I used my influence with the Head Captain to persuade him of the necessity of setting up a unit devoted to keeping the rest of our forces healthy, to patching up the wounded and preventing the spread of disease. Hence the Squad Four that the Seireitei knows and loves was born. I was its first and, so far, only Captain. Squad One is the only other unit that can claim that with its own commanding officer."

Jiraiya whistled. "Whoa… so, you've gotta be… really old! Looking pretty good, all things considered."

She laughed at that, and to Jiraiya the sound was sweeter than the finest wine. "Why, thank you! Although, it's rather bold of you to just come out and call me old, Jiraiya. I thought you had more respect for women than that… and a healthier sense of self-preservation."

Jiraiya grinned. "Hey, what can I say? I'm a risk taker! When it comes to powerful women, I throw caution to the wind."

"Clearly," said Unohana as she leaned forward to check his wound, which had actually completely closed up, although the flesh over it was still quite tender, "Hmm… very nicely done. Now that we've established a baseline for your current skills, I can start taking some risks of my own."

Jiraiya did not like the sound of that. "Should I start running for the hills?"

"You're already atop the largest one in the Seireitei," Unohana pointed out with a smirk.

Jiraiya rolled his eyes. "Cute. Still haven't answered my question. Should I be worried?"

Unohana winked as she stood up and offered Jiraiya her hand. "Only a little."

He allowed her to pull him to his feet. His chest ached, but as Jiraiya gently rubbed the mended flesh he at least felt reasonably confident that his wound wasn't about to reopen. He saw Unohana take a few steps back before drawing her sword again, and a shiver of both excitement and mild dread ran down his spine.

"Come, Jiraiya," she said, her gaze now that of a hunter eyeing their prey, "The night is young, and so is your lesson."

"Right," he replied as he drew his blade in response, "Still, I was hoping we'd chat for a bit longer. I was really enjoying your little story there. I wouldn't mind hearing more."

"Perhaps I'll indulge you another time," said Unohana as she raised her sword, "However, while I do find you to be pleasant company, I did not invite you here to reminisce about days long gone. Prepare yourself, Jiraiya. That wound you just healed will not be the last I expect you to mend before the night is over."

She then lunged forward, and once again the stillness of the night was broken by the song of clashing steel.

….

One week later…

Feeling the nature energy flowing through him, Jiraiya smirked as he saw his sparring partner's brow furrow. "Come on, Lieutenant; you really should be used to this ugly mug by now!"

Lisa shook her head. "Actually, I think you're doing yourself a disservice. Your transformation's not as… dramatic now as it's been in the past."

Jiraiya was skeptical. "Really?"

Lisa nodded. "See for yourself."

Normally, Jiraiya would've checked his reflection with his own blade, but seeing as he'd already unleashed his Shikai, that wasn't possible; the spiked club didn't offer any reflective surfaces. Fortunately for him, Lisa had no such problem. She swung the great polearm that was Haguro Tonbo around so that its blade was close to Jiraiya's face, allowing him to see himself in the finely polished edge of its spaded blade. It wasn't quite as good as an actual mirror, but it more than sufficed for his current needs.

What Jiraiya saw looking back at him came as a pleasant surprise. He still had the toad-like eyes, the goatee and red markings, but the rest of his face looked shockingly… normal. His nose hadn't changed at all; no increase in size, and no warts appearing. When he opened his mouth, he was relieved to see that his teeth hadn't sharpened, either.

"Well, what do you know?" he murmured, "I'm actually getting better at this."

He still had the toad-like posture, and he could feel the webbing between his fingers and toes, but all things considered, this was still a remarkable step in the right direction. For all the power Sage Mode had granted him in the past, Jiraiya knew that his mastery of the technique was incomplete. He'd never fully figured out how to properly balance his own chakra with nature energy, and he'd expected to have similar difficulty in doing so with spirit energy. That had indeed been the case at first, but with his Shikai doing much of the work of absorbing nature energy for him, it actually left Jiraiya free to concentrate more on balancing that nature energy with his spirit energy. It still hadn't been easy, but the face looking back at him now from the blade of Lisa's Shikai was a welcome sign of real progress.

Speaking of the Lieutenant, she swung her polearm away after a few moments and dropped into a more traditional ready stance while giving Jiraiya a moment to prepare. "Let's see if your improvement extends to your combat prowess, shall we?"

Jiraiya grinned as he gripped his club in his right hand while holding out his left and crooking his fingers back towards him, making a 'come-and-get-some' gesture. "Eager, are you? Well, what are you waiting for? Let's do this!"

Sitting on one of the benches lining the training yard, Kyōraku chuckled. "Play nice, you two! Try not to make too much of a mess."

"Come on, start already!" little Nanao egged them on excitedly from her perch next to the Captain, "Fight!"

Lieutenant and Tenth Seat shared a nod before Lisa surged forward. She wasted no time in thrusting her polearm forward, its spaded blade racing towards Jiraiya's face. With both his reflexes and physical strength enhanced by Sage Mode, it was almost comically easy for Jiraiya to simply swat the Lieutenant's strike aside with his spiked club. Lisa, however, had been expecting that. She built upon the momentum generated by Jiraiya's counter to swing her weapon around, and Jiraiya quicky found the heavy ball on the other end of the polearm now rushing towards his head. Rather than dodge or block with the club, Jiraiya instead raised his left hand and caught the ball in his open palm. The power behind Lisa's strike was impressive, and even with nature energy bolstering his might Jiraiya still had to put effort into holding the heavy orb back.

Rather than engage him in a contest of brute strength that she knew she'd lose, Lisa swung the weapon away. Whirling it around, she once again lashed out with the bladed end, only this time it was a low sweep aimed at Jiraiya's legs. Jiraiya simply leapt over the strike, forcing Lisa to backpedal as he came down and slammed his club into the ground where she'd stood just moments before.

"Hey, easy now!" Kyōraku called out as chunks of stone tile flew everywhere, "You guys want to piss off the masons again?"

Jiraiya laughed as he ducked beneath a retaliatory thrust from his sparring partner. "They can earn their pay today!"

He hounded the Lieutenant relentlessly across the training yard, raining down one mighty blow after another with his club. Lisa's brow was furrowed in concentration as she fought furiously to keep him at bay, whirling her great spear around her in a whirlwind of steel. Her advantage in reach made her defense a formidable one, with more than one sudden counterattack missing its mark by just the slimmest of margins. Those retaliations, though, only bought her a precious moment or two of respite before Jiraiya was once again on the attack. Although his rank was officially still well below hers, both knew the truth; in terms of pure power, Jiraiya was stronger.

That would've been true even without the enhanced strength provided to him by Sage Mode. After the great clash with the Hollows in Vanaheim years ago, Jiraiya had returned to the Seireitei determined to redouble his training. It had been difficult to balance that desire with his official duties, the writing of his next book, his secret practice sessions with Unohana, and the efforts to find more former Shinobi out in the Rukon District, but Jiraiya had not shied away from the challenge. Those efforts often left him exhausted nearly to the point of passing out, practically drowning in his own sweat while his own limbs threatened to give out and leave him a helpless heap on the ground. In fact, one time he had gone too far, and had wound up collapsing in Squad Eight's training yard one morning only to find himself awakening in the Squad Four barracks later that evening. While having Unohana herself attend to him had been a pleasant surprise, less so had been her sharp admonishments of his reckless behavior and the veiled threat to not be nearly so helpful should he repeat such a mistake in the future.

In the end, he'd had no choice but to make some cutbacks. The pace of his writing had slowed, much to the annoyance of his rather proliferate fanbase in both the Seireitei and Rukon District. Also, he had been forced to reduce his participation in the hunt for former Shinobi, leaving more of the legwork to Itachi and Shisui. Neither Uchiha had faulted him in the least for his decision, and in fact both had been quite supportive of it. Even so, Jiraiya couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of guilt whenever he thought about it.

The two of them have busy schedules of their own, he thought as he blocked a broad swing from Lisa's spear before hammering her defenses anew with a fresh barrage of powerful blows, especially with this business regarding Little Miss Vissy's family. What a mess…

When Itachi had informed him of the disturbing discovery he and Shisui had made during the party at the Drakken Clan's mansion and their ensuing investigation, Jiraiya had offered to help in any way that he could. In practice, though, said help amounted to little more than acting as a sounding board for the Uchiha and Visaelya to bounce ideas and theories off of. Yoruichi was already playing a dangerous game with this off-the-books spying on one of the Soul Society's most prominent noble families, and bringing in an outsider for even mere consulting and brainstorming was a risky move. Jiraiya appreciated the faith that Itachi, Shisui and Visaelya had in him, but he also knew just as well as they did that if he was spotted snooping around the Drakken Clan estate or making inquiries into the activities of the family it wouldn't lead to anything good. All he could really do for the time being was provide moral support to his friends and provide a willing ear should they need another's perspective on their unfortunate plight.

Jiraiya could ill-afford to worry about the mess that his friends were in at the moment, though. Lisa might have been on the defensive, but that didn't mean the sparring match was over just yet. While she could no longer match Jiraiya for power, she had other advantages. Jiraiya had plenty of experience now as both a Soul Reaper and a former Shinobi, but his years of life and afterlife were but a fraction of what the Lieutenant had seen. Many fights long past had gone towards forging the formidable woman that Jiraiya was now squaring off with, and she was putting them to work here.

Her footwork was impeccable. While Jiraiya continued to drive her back, Lisa never once lost her balance, nor did she allow her opponent to completely dictate her line of retreat. She was always able to angle her backpedaling so as to keep Jiraiya from forcing her into a corner and give herself options. When combined with her impressive defensive spear wielding, the result was a warrior who very much fit the definition of 'down, but not out' in this particular sparring match.

And she had plenty of tricks up her sleeves.

Leaping back as Jiraiya slammed his club down on the spot where she'd been standing mere seconds ago, she took her left hand off her polearm and instead placed it upon her badge. "Hadō 12: Fushibi!"

Multiple strands of orange spirit energy appeared, each one linked to a glowing central thread that led back to Lisa's badge. Two strands had caught Jiraiya, with one snaring his left leg while the other bound his right shoulder. It only took a glance for Jiraiya to recognize just how well the Lieutenant had played him.

Her 'retreat' was more than just falling back to avoid my attacks, he mused with a smirk, but to lay the groundwork for this net.

That smirk became a full-on grin when Lisa thrust her spear forward again, stopping its spaded blade just shy of his neck. "Clever girl."

Lisa smiled. "Were you expecting anything less?"

Jiraiya shook his head. "No, I was not. This match is yours, Lieutenant."

With Jiraiya's concession, Lisa dispelled the web. Jiraiya could've broken out of it, of course; he had more than sufficient power to do so. It would've taken a few seconds, but that brief window had been all Lisa needed to bring her spear to his throat, and they both knew it. Besides, he'd been looking for the chance to take a break, and this gave him the opportunity to do so while letting him save face.

As he deactivated both Shikai and Sage Mode, he became aware of applause coming from behind him. That was the direction Kyōraku and Nanao were in, of course, but Jiraiya's keen ears picked of the sound of three sets of hands clapping. Lisa was still standing in front of him, which meant that someone else had entered the training yard, and they'd done so without Jiraiya picking up on them. There were only a handful of people in all of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads who could do that, and Jiraiya suspected he knew which one had done so here.

Sure enough, his suspicions were confirmed when he turned around and saw a certain former Akatsuki member standing next to the bench occupied by Kyōraku and Nanao. Itachi was an uncommon sight around the Squad Eight barracks to say the least, but he had dropped in on occasion to speak to Jiraiya, so neither the unit's Captain or the girl sitting next to him were bothered by his presence.

"A splendid match," said Itachi by way of greeting, "I hadn't realized you'd improved your use of Sage Mode to such an extent, Jiraiya. Lieutenant Yadōmaru did well to last long enough to place her trap under that assault."

Lisa smiled. "You're too kind, Tenth Seat Uchiha… oh, wait… isn't it Eighth Seat now? That was the rumor, at least."

Itachi nodded. "The rumor was correct. My promotion became official just two weeks ago."

Jiraiya grinned. "Hey, you're really moving on up in the world! Congratulations!"

Itachi inclined his head. "Thank you."

"We're always happy to have visitors," Kyōraku chimed in as he eyed Itachi curiously, "What brings you here today, Itachi?"

"Do you have any stories to share?" asked Nanao hopefully.

Itachi gave the girl a gentle smile and a small shake of his head. "I have more stories than I'd prefer, but I'm afraid most of them wouldn't be to your liking. I'm actually here to speak with Jiraiya. I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

"We're just wrapping up sparring for today," Lisa replied, "Luckily for you, we have no missions assigned today."

Itachi looked at Jiraiya. "In that case, would you care to join me at our usual teahouse? I hear they've gotten in some new limited time stock from the Drakken Clan's Principality. Should be worth a sample at least."

Jiraiya smiled. "Sounds good to me! Captain, Lieutenant, little Nanao; if you'll excuse me."

"Enjoy yourselves!" Kyōraku called out as the two former Shinobi left the barracks.

"Stay out of trouble," Lisa added, giving Jiraiya a rather pointed look.

"Come back again soon, Eighth Seat Uchiha!" chirped Nanao.

Jiraiya playfully nudged Itachi with his elbow as the two of them set off down the tiled paths of the Seireitei. "I think little Nanao's sweet on you. Ever since you took the time to chat with her while you were waiting for me to wake up after that one drinking session with the Captain…"

"Which one?" Itachi asked with a very slight smirk, "You'll need to be a little more specific."

Jiraiya chuckled. "Ah, you haven't changed a bit! Actually, maybe that's not entirely true... feels like you loosen up just a little bit more with each passing year. I like it."

"As do I," Itachi replied before his gaze drifted off in the direction of the Drakken Clan's mansion, "I just hope that recent events don't cause me to… regress, as it were."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "Is that what this is about? News on your little… private operation, for want of a better term?"

Itachi shook his head. "Not that one. It's actually regarding another project. The one we have that's centered in the Rukon District."

Jiraiya perked up a bit at that. "You've got a lead?"

"I believe so," Itachi answered, "The problem is acting on it."

"What do you mean?" asked Jiraiya.

"Potential repercussions depending on who makes the approach," Itachi said, "There's also something of a scheduling conflict. Long story short, I've got something that I'd like you to check out. Shisui would normally be my first choice, but he's out on a mission with Visaelya in one of the Realms of the Living, and I've got one of my own set for tomorrow."

Jiraiya scratched his chin as they approached the teahouse. "Care to tell me just what I'd be getting myself into here?"

"Once we have our drinks," Itachi replied as they strolled inside.

The dinner rush was just starting to pick up, but they were early enough that a waitress was easily able to find an available table and get them seated. Both men placed their orders, and as the waitress headed off to fulfill them, Itachi leaned forward and clasped his hands before him.

"Remember that token you found out in North 62 several years ago?" the Uchiha asked.

Jiraiya nodded. "The one with the Hidden Leaf Village symbol carved into it, right? I still have it."

"Good," said Itachi as he reached into his robe and pulled out an identical one, "because you're no longer the only one."

Jiraiya's eyes widened as Itachi passed the token to him. "Where did you get this?"

"North Rukon 67," Itachi answered.

Jiraiya scratched his chin as he studied the token. "North 67… haven't we already scratched that one off the list? Shisui and Visaelya swept it and came up empty."

Itachi shook his head. "With how vast each individual district is, you and I both know that it would require far more manpower than our little group has available to do a truly definitive sweep. We've simply been moving through the most heavily populated parts of each district and playing the odds."

"That's true," Jiraiya admitted, "Always the chance that we'd miss something and have to double-back. Sounds like this is one of them."

"Quite so," said Itachi as the waitress arrived with their drinks.

The two of them took quiet sips for a minute while more people piled into the teahouse. The background chatter quickly picked up, which served the two former Shinobi quite well; with greater volume, it would be harder for a determined eavesdropper to accurately overhear them.

Jiraiya leaned forward after putting his cup down. "So, lay it out for me. How'd you stumble across this?"

"Outer Rukon patrol," Itachi explained, "As you're well aware, Hollows have always been a nuisance out in the districts. Whenever we clamp down on a hotspot, they start popping up in a different region and the cycle begins anew. Squad Two and the Stealth Force are trying to be more proactive in nipping these incursions in the bud. With the wraiths now whittled down to the last one, we have more manpower to devote to such operations. I was working North 67 with a small team when a few packs reared their ugly heads. They weren't very well organized; I don't think they were expecting to encounter any real opposition. The Hollows involved here weren't particularly strong specimens, but they were spread out enough that at least some could potentially inflict civilian casualties before we'd be able to take them all out. We cut through them quickly enough, but the last group made it into a residential area. However, before they could actually attack, they stopped dead in their tracks."

Jiraiya wasn't sure what to make of that. "Hollows aren't known to hesitate when they have an easy meal in front of them."

Itachi concurred. "No, they're not. Yet these did… and it wasn't by choice. I was leaping between rooftops for a speedy approach, and that gave me a good vantage point. When I got close enough, I saw the Hollows completely frozen… by shadows that were coming out of an alleyway."

Jiraiya immediately grasped what Itachi had seen. "The Shadow Possession Jutsu."

"One and the same," Itachi confirmed.

Jiraiya's eyes narrowed. "What happened next?"

"I was about to engage when two figures ran out of a separate alley," Itachi continued, "Both wore cloaks, so I couldn't positively identify them, but I'm reasonably confident that they were men. One was unarmed, but the other was wielding a pair of knuckle blades. As for the unarmed one, I recognized the fighting style. It was Leaf Village taijutsu… more specifically, Gentle Fist."

Jiraiya didn't both to hide the first conclusion his mind had leapt to. "A Hyūga…"

Itachi nodded. "Without a doubt. I didn't get a clear view of their eyes, but the proficiency they displayed with that fighting style was top notch. More to the point, the Hollows struck by them, while not killed, were further crippled. The knuckle-blade user was able to handicap them even more with some good slices to the tendons. They were clearly acting to weaken them so that my team could finish them off, which we did in short order. Once the Hollows were dispatched, I tried to make contact, but… it's possible they recognized me, because they immediately retreated."

Jiraiya grimaced; if they'd been Leaf Village Shinobi from the era that he and Itachi had walked that Realm of the Living, it'd make perfect sense. "Seeing you in the Soul Society rather than the deepest pits of Hell probably threw them for a loop."

Itachi sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, doubtlessly replaying some rather nasty memories in his mind. "I imagine so. I pursued for a time, but the shadow user waged a skillful rearguard action. In the end, I decided to let them go rather than risk escalating the situation. However, I didn't come away empty handed."

"Clearly," said Jiraiya as he looked at the token again, "How did you come by this?"

"It slipped out of the Gentle Fist user's pocket while he was attacking one of the Hollows," Itachi answered, "What's more, although I did eventually end my pursuit, I was able to track them long enough to get a pretty good idea as to where they were probably operating from."

"And that would be?" Jiraiya prodded.

"North 67's central forest," said Itachi.

Jiraiya mulled it over. "If they're holing up in there, it would help explain why they weren't picked up when Shisui and Visaelya swept the area."

While most of the regions in the Rukon District were densely populated, there were several notable exceptions. Some had vast fields set aside for agriculture, particularly in support of the population within the Seireitei as so many of its inhabitants had high enough levels of spirit energy to require actual nourishment. Others had creeks or rivers running through them, with a few even playing host to lakes teeming with fish. Then there were the districts that had large forests in them, deliberately cultivated as such in order to serve as both stockpiles of lumber and homes for game animals. None of them were as vast as the great northern forest of the Kuchiki Clan Principality or the sprawling woodland expanses that could be found out in the Wild, but they were nothing to sneeze at, either.

"My thoughts exactly," Itachi replied, "Shinobi could easily make a home for themselves in there, all the more so if they're Hidden Leaf Shinobi. It's a good place if one wants to live off the beaten path and away from prying eyes."

"And Shinobi have plenty of reasons to want that isolation," Jiraiya noted, "I mean, there's a reason why Shinobi Villages in our Realm of the Living had the word 'Hidden' in their names, after all. North 67's central forest is definitely big enough for a Shinobi community to establish themselves in without fear of discovery as long as they're careful about it. The only real threats they'd have to contend with would be wildlife and Hollows."

Itachi nodded. "Yes, and the three I encountered seemed quite proficient in managing the latter, so the former would hardly be an issue for them."

Jiraiya closed his eyes in thought as he took a sip of his tea. "So, I'm assuming you want me to make the approach?"

"You're the only one who can," Itachi argued, "Shisui and Visaelya's mission is going to be a prolonged one, and I've got one of my own starting tomorrow. The cleanup from that big civil war in Terra's still ongoing, and I'll be helping Yoruichi hunt down some of the more troublesome Hollow packs roaming the North American continent. Even if I didn't have that on my plate, I'd still ask you to do this. As I said earlier, I'm fairly certain I was recognized. Given my crimes in the Hidden Leaf Village, I'd hardly count myself as qualified for making contact with former Shinobi from our old homeland."

Jiraiya sighed. "Yeah, you're right about that. Not many people knew the truth regarding the Uchiha Clan purge. The Third Hokage, Danzō, the councilors… pretty short list."

"Sasuke learned after our deathmatch," Itachi added, "and I believe your last apprentice found out as well, at least if my own confrontation with him following my resurrection was any indicator. Neither of them are in the Soul Society, though… at least, that's my hope."

"I can't see Danzō making it here," Jiraiya mused aloud, "Not after all the shady crap he pulled."

"I made it here after committing wholesale slaughter," Itachi pointedly reminded him, "I don't fully understand how it's determined whether or not a soul goes here or to Hell, so I'm not willing to rule anything out. If I got here, then as far as I'm concerned, the door is open to just about any of our old associates."

Jiraiya shrugged. "True, but I'm going to be cautiously optimistic and hope he's burning down there. We know for a fact that the Third Hokage died, and I'm pretty sure he'd wind up here. Don't know if the other councilors are still alive and kicking, though. I mean, they weren't exactly young even when you and I died, and plenty of time's gone by since then."

"It's completely up in the air," Itachi agreed, "Even if all of them had made it over here by now, though, I have a hard time seeing them revealing the truth of the massacre to other Shinobi they might encounter in the Soul Society. Great pains were taken to ensure secrecy regarding the heart of the matter, and part of that was due to just how scandalous the truth would be for the Hidden Leaf Village. If Shinobi from the Land of Fire who have passed on to the Soul Society have gathered here in any real numbers and are trying to form a community, the truth behind the Uchiha Clan's downfall could rip any such community apart depending on if it got out and who that community's comprised of."

Jiraiya nodded. "Yeah, that makes sense. We're getting a bit ahead of ourselves on that, though. You only encountered three Shinobi, not a whole community of them. Let's just focus on the trio for now."

"Yes, you're right," said Itachi, "I feel safe enough in stating that one's a Hyūga, and since one used the Shadow Possession Jutsu I'd say we can include a member of the Nara Clan amongst the group's numbers as well."

Jiraiya looked down at his tea in contemplation. "That just leaves the knuckle blade user. Any ideas?"

"A hunch," Itachi replied, "The cloak prevented me from getting a confirmation, but I recognized the fighting style. If I had to guess, I'd say it's Asuma Sarutobi."

Jiraiya's eyes widened at that. "The Third Hokage's son? Are you sure about that?"

"Not completely," Itachi confessed, "but when Kisame and I went after Naruto, he was one of the Jōnin that we fought. His combat style was a dead-ringer for the one employed by the knuckle blade user against the Hollows. They had a similar build as well; I could tell that much even with the cloak. I can't say with utter certainty, of course, but if we were making bets, my money would be on him."

"That's good enough for me," said Jiraiya, "Maybe he's got a lead on his old man."

Itachi shrugged. "Feel free to ask when you find him. Finding any of the previous Hokages would be interesting, although they're not what I'm concerned about at the moment."

Jiraiya nodded. "Right. I'll have to ask him if he's seen any Uchiha roaming around… apart from you, anyway."

"I'd appreciate that," said Itachi before taking another sip of his tea, "Your reputation as one of the Legendary Sannin makes you ideal for this. If they're going to trust any of us, it's you."

Jiraiya's brow furrowed as he looked at his friend. "If I do manage to make contact… what do you want me to say with regards to you? You took the secrets of your mission to the grave, but we're beyond that now. I know that you're concerned about the truth possibly fracturing any afterlife Hidden Leaf Village ninja enclave, but still… I don't think it's very fair for their perception of you to be defined by a single act without knowing the full context behind it."

"Even with context, the act remains monstrous," Itachi countered, "Choosing the lesser of two evils still means picking evil. What I did might have been in the service of a greater good and retroactively sanctioned by the Third Hokage and councilors, but that doesn't change the fact that it was an act of mass murder."

Jiraiya sighed. "All these years later, and you're still defining yourself by it… I thought your ambition for this second life you've found here was to move forward and find redemption. You're not going to free yourself from your past if you can't learn to forgive yourself."

"Maybe," Itachi murmured as he looked down at his drink, his gaze darkening, "I never said it was going to be easy. Given the scope of my crimes, it shouldn't be easy."

Taking another sip, Itachi then shook his head. "Regardless, that's for me to deal with. If you feel the need to tell the former Shinobi you encounter the truth about what happened to the Uchiha Clan, I will not stop you. Just promise me that you'll carefully consider the potential ramifications before doing so."

"I will," Jiraiya vowed, "You have my word on that."

Itachi gave him a small smile at that. "Thank you. When I was alive, one of my biggest failings was refusing to put my faith in others. It took dying and being resurrected to open my eyes to that truth. Jiraiya… whatever your decision might be, I trust that it will be what you think is best."

Jiraiya reached across the table and patted him on the shoulder. "You've come a long way from who you once were. I never thought I'd say this back when we first met, but I'm proud to be your friend, Itachi. Whoever these former Shinobi are, I doubt they're going to have anything nice to say about you, but I'll vouch for you. I doubt that alone will convince them to trust you, but we all have to start somewhere, right?"

Itachi nodded. "We do. I'll leave it all in your hands, Jiraiya. I'm not entirely sure when we'll be back from this mission. Could be a few weeks, possibly longer. Whenever it winds up being, I'll swing by Squad Eight's barracks as soon as possible."

Jiraiya chuckled. "You're not expecting a formal report from me, are you? Remember who you're dealing with here!"

"Nothing so neat and orderly," Itachi reassured him, "Just a general rundown of who you found and what their situation is."

Jiraiya took another sip of his tea as an idea came to mind. "What about potential recruits? If our little circle is any indicator, former Shinobi make good Soul Reapers."

"If any strike you as willing, I'd have no objection to you making a recruitment pitch," Itachi replied, "Since you're taking this task on for me, I'm not about to micro-manage you."

Jiraiya laughed. "Even though you outrank me? I can't tell if you're the best superior officer someone could hope for or the worst!"

"I'm only two ranks above you," Itachi reminded him, "and Eighth Seats don't usually go around commanding Tenth Seats from other units."

Jiraiya rolled his eyes. "We have got to work on your sense of humor."

"I'm simply not in the mood for jokes at the moment," Itachi casually shot back, "Someone needs to take this matter seriously, after all."

Jiraiya leaned back and stretched his arms. "Oh, don't worry; I'll have my game face on when I head out there tomorrow. You're lucky that Squad Eight's mostly working defensive duties these days. I've got a good stretch of free time tomorrow afternoon that I can use to get the ball rolling on this little mission. If the Shinobi you encountered recognized you, then I'm certain they'll know who I am as well. Lucky for me, I'm much more approachable."

"That's what I'm counting on," said Itachi.

….

The next day…

So, Jinsei no Kenja grumbled in Jiraiya's head, I can't help but notice that you don't seem to have a plan beyond wandering aimlessly through these woods?

That's because I don't.

Hmph. How typical. Playing it by ear, then. Well, at least I'll be in for a treat. I know how such adventures usually turn out with you.

Then sit back and enjoy the ride.

Jiraiya hadn't been lying; after entering North 67's central forest, the Legendary Sannin didn't have a plan. Well, not one beyond exploring the forest and looking for signs of recent human activity. Given that his objective was to find Shinobi, that would not be easy. Fortunately, Jiraiya had a few things going for him. Knowing the typical practices of Leaf Village Shinobi, he leapt from branch to branch between the great trees, looking for bent brush and strained branches that would be the tell-tale hints of ninja travelling in a similar manner. While the practice of travelling through the trees in thick forests rather than along the ground was pretty much universal when it came to ninja, Leaf Village Shinobi were better at it than most. It was to be expected, given the lush woodlands that made up much of the Land of Fire.

Having the hunt take place in such an environment was something of a mixed blessing. On the one hand, Jiraiya himself was quite familiar with operating in such forests, and while he didn't know North 67's well he still had little trouble navigating it. However, Leaf Village Shinobi would be difficult to track in such an environment. His hunt could take days, perhaps even longer, and there was no guarantee of success.

I won't be able to do it all in one go, thought Jiraiya, Squad Eight's not quite as busy these days as we were a few years ago, but the Head Captain's still giving us plenty of work. I've got a good stretch of time available for today, but I'll have less for tomorrow and the days afterwards.

Pausing on the branch of a particularly old and thick oak, he grabbed a flask from his hip and took a quick sip. The cool water trickling down his throat was quite refreshing, and the sensation helped him center his mind. After putting the flask away, he took a moment to survey his surroundings. His field of vision wasn't particularly broad given the thick vegetation, but the area struck him as a kind of crossroads, at least for Shinobi. The venerable oak he was perched on was simply one of many; there were plenty of trees with similarly sturdy branches leading in multiple directions.

"I came in from the south," Jiraiya murmured as he considered his options, "Should I keep going north, or switch things up?"

Making another visual sweep of the area, Jiraiya was about to settle on heading north when he caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye. Focusing his gaze to the northwest, he focused on a tree not too far from his own. More specifically, his attention was on a patch of bark just above a particularly thick branch. It was notched and carved, and Jiraiya thought he saw hints of a familiar emblem.

He leapt over to that tree and knelt near the base of the branch. A smile gradually appeared on his face as Jiraiya's suspicions were confirmed. The carving was quite rough, but the image was unmistakable.

A stylized swirl with a small point at the bottom left.

The symbol of the Village Hidden in the Leaves.

Casting his gaze around with renewed concentration, it didn't take Jiraiya long to find another tree with the same symbol carved into it. Leaping over to that one, he then surveyed the area from his new vantage point and soon found another one with the emblem engraved upon it. Climbing to the top of that tree, he looked around and compared his current position with the one he'd been in when he'd spotted the first emblem.

"I'm a bit northwest now from where I started," he said to himself, "I wonder…"

Climbing back down to his previous perch, Jiraiya then turned his gaze northwest. Sure enough, another tree in that direction had the same carving on it. Jiraiya grinned. He was on the scent now, as it were.

Let's follow this trail and see where we end up.

….

Several hours later, Jiraiya was wondering if he'd made a mistake. Following the trail of Leaf Village emblems deeper into the forest had so far yielded no result, and he began to suspect that he might have fallen for a decoy that had been set by the Shinobi inhabiting these woods meant to lead knowledgeable trespassers like himself astray. Overhead, the sun had already dipped down precipitously in the west, and beneath the thick woodland canopy darkness was quickly setting in. Night out here would be far more treacherous than in even the seedier parts of the Rukon District, with the exception of truly horrific regions like North 80.

"Maybe I should call it a day," Jiraiya grumbled, "I'm going to have a long hike back to the Seireitei as it is…"

If he left now, even using his fastest possible Flash Step, he wouldn't make it back to Squad Eight's barracks until well past nightfall. It wouldn't be the first time he'd returned home so late, of course; plenty of nights out drinking with Captain Kyōraku had seen the two men stumble into the training yard at the crack of dawn, oftentimes passing out right in front of subordinates who had gotten up early for a bit of practice. Such incidents had always been laughed off, and they gave Jiraiya leeway for his current situation, but without the Captain as a drinking buddy this time it would be a little harder to establish a good alibi.

You're Tenth Seat of Squad Eight, Jinsei no Kenja reminded him, I don't believe you have to justify your outings to anyone below your own rank.

People might still ask awkward questions. It's better to keep activities like this under the rug as much as possible.

Jiraiya knew that the armored toad was right. Matters would be particularly delicate when it came to the Hyūga that Itachi suspected had been among those he'd encountered. Knowledge of the Byakugan was likely to cause just as much of a stir amongst the elite of the Soul Society as that of the Sharingan. If great care wasn't taken, then Jiraiya could potentially doom someone to a life of confinement by the Central Forty-Six, if not worse. Other jutsus, those that could be learned, might perhaps be seen in a less unfavorable light by the conservative establishment than abilities inherited by blood. Regardless, caution and a deft touch were needed here.

The Legendary Sannin was still mulling over how best to handle such a scenario when an all-too familiar howl pierced the quiet of the forest. It was followed by a chorus of similar haunting calls; Hollows were on the prowl. Why announce themselves here, though? Using the forest as a rallying point before attacking residential areas made sense, but Jiraiya would expect the beasts to keep quiet in order to maximize the element of surprise.

More howls rang out, and as he closed his eyes to focus solely on the sound, Jiraiya realized something was off about the tone. These weren't Hollows signaling to their fellows that it was time to attack or trying to frighten their victims. Quite the opposite, in fact; the Hollows were the ones that sounded frightened. Flocks of birds took flight just a little way to the north of Jiraiya's position, cawing in panic as they ascended towards the setting sun. Then a series of distant explosions echoed through the woods, and the former Shinobi's experienced ears immediately recognized the source of the sound.

The blasts were from detonating Paper Bombs.

Anguished shrieks from the Hollows filled the air, and Jiraiya raced in their direction. Itachi had just shown him a few months ago how he'd managed to recreate Paper Bombs using spirit energy for the explosive payload instead of chakra. Jiraiya had taken the time to practice the technique himself, but he wasn't yet confident enough in his ability to use spirit energy to create stable explosives, so he had none prepared for this little adventure. It wasn't out of the question to assume that other former Shinobi who had been in the Soul Society for an extended period of time would figure out the trick. The sounds of additional Paper Bombs detonating ahead was further proof that Jiraiya had been on the right track since he'd stumbled across that first Leaf Village emblem carved into a tree hours before. Now Jiraiya had to make sure that whoever was using them lived long enough so he could make a proper introduction.

About time we got some action. I was starting to get bored.

Jiraiya smirked. He couldn't have agreed more.

The tree-line up ahead began to thin, and through the gaps Jiraiya spotted a modest clearing. Dark shapes were moving about, and while some of the silhouettes were easy to identify as Hollows, others were less distinct. Sometimes they seemed human, but then others would appear, like the writhing tentacles of a squid that had somehow found itself very far from the sea.

Only these tentacles were made purely of shadows.

Suppressing his spiritual pressure as much as possible, Jiraiya made the final approach in complete silence. When he reached the branch of a particularly thick fir tree, his right hand dropped to the handle of his sword while he held out his left for balance. From his high perch, he had a perfect view of the clearing. No less than five Hollows were writhing in the center of it, surrounded by craters that had been blown out of the ground by cleverly concealed Paper Bombs and trying to break the pitch-black tendrils that bound them.

Tendrils that Jiraiya recognized as coming from the Nara Clan's Shadow Stitching Jutsu.

Their source was on the western edge of the clearing. Crouched beneath the branches of an old oak tree was a middle-aged man that Jiraiya, despite having only encountered him a handful of times at most in his previous life, immediately recognized. Although he now wore a dark green tunic and leggings with a black cloak draped over them and leather boots protecting his feet rather than traditional Leaf Village Shinobi garb, the fact that the hood of the cloak was down gave Jiraiya a perfectly clear look at his face. Two long and thin scars ran across the right side of his face, one above his eye and one beneath it. His black hair was tied up in a spiky ponytail, while his chin was covered in a goatee of the same color. Raven eyes held the five Hollows in their gaze.

The gaze of Shikaku Nara.

As the Hollows struggled against their bindings, two men assaulted them, one an adult who appeared to be in his late twenties or earlier thirties and the other no older than his late teens at the most. Both wore the same tunic, cloak, leggings and boots as Shikaku, and thanks to the hoods of those cloaks being down Jiraiya recognized them just as easily despite his relatively few encounters with them and how long it had been since he'd last seen them. The former was a tall and athletic man with olive skin, brown eyes, short and spiky black hair with a matching beard on his chin. Wielding a pair of trench knives with grips designed to be worn around his knuckles, he was slashing at the limbs of the ensnared Hollows, clearly aiming for tendons. Meanwhile, the younger man fought empty handed, although it was perhaps more accurate to say that his hands were deadly weapons in their own right. Fair skinned and with long black hair that fell more than halfway down his back, he cut a slenderer figure than his comrade but was no less formidable for it. He struck at the Hollows with open palm blows, attacks that were guided by white eyes that looked blind but were in fact anything but. The Hollows staggered with each strike, their bodies spasming uncontrollably as the young man hit what Jiraiya knew were critical pressure points.

How unfortunate for those Hollows that they were at the mercy of Asuma Sarutobi and Neji Hyūga.

Watching the clash unfold, Jiraiya wondered if his intervention would be needed or even desired. Between Shikaku's shadow binding, Asuma's precise knife attacks and Neji's crippling Gentle Fist strikes, the three of them seemed to have the situation very well in hand. However, upon closer inspection, Jiraiya realized that the trio had yet to actually slay one of the beasts. For all the palm strikes of Neji and knife slashes from Asuma, the Hollows were still alive, albeit severely injured.

Intently focusing on the Shinobi, Jiraiya concentrated on sensing just their spirit energy. As he'd suspected, that energy was strong, but it needed refining. The trio had been in the Soul Society long enough to figure out how to control their spiritual pressure to the point that they could successfully contain it without harming weaker souls in their immediate vicinity, and in at least Shikaku's case to be able to recreate jutsus from his precious life, but not to the extent that they could pierce the hides of Hollows and administer killing blows.

At least, that was Jiraiya's conclusion, right up until he detected a spike coming from Asuma. Focusing on the Third Hokage's son, he saw him lunge at one of the Hollows. Coming in from the beast's left, he thrust out with his right arm, the blade on his knuckles aimed for the creature's neck. The edge of the knife was brimming with spirit energy, and Asuma drove it deep into his target. The Hollow shrieked before it dissolved, leaving its four compatriots behind in a state of ever-growing panic.

As Neji hammered another Hollow in the stomach with an open palmed strike, Asuma moved in for the kill. Just like before, Jiraiya detected a spike in spirit energy as Asuma focused his power into one of his knives, only this time that spike was immediately followed by a wild pulse. Asuma suddenly dropped to one knee, and Jiraiya's eyes widened in horror as he saw that the man's entire right side seemed to have seized up. At the same time, his spirit energy was all over the place, oscillating between great peaks and deep canyons. To make matters worse, he had collapsed just close enough to his target that he was within biting range, and the beast in question was all but drooling over him.

Knowing that his hand had been forced, Jiraiya wasted no further time in making his presence known. "Hadō 54: Haien!"

Leaping forward, he unleashed the spell in midair. Swinging his blade, he sent forth an oblong blast of violet energy that struck the Hollow about to chomp Asuma's head off squarely in the back. The creature howled in a moment of pure agony before it was completely disintegrated by the spell, and Jiraiya landed in the spot it had occupied just a split-second earlier. As Neji grabbed Asuma and pulled him out of the fray, Jiraiya turned his attention to the remaining three Hollows. Since they were still bound by the Shadow Stitching Jutsu, it was a simple matter for him to dispatch the trio. Three Flash Steps and sword thrusts to the back of their necks did the job quickly and cleanly. As the shadows previously binding the now-deceased Hollows receded, Jiraiya took a moment to scan the surrounding area for further threats. Seeing and sensing no additional enemies, he sheathed his Zanpakutō and turned to face the trio of appropriately stunned Shinobi.

Jiraiya grinned; it wasn't every day that he got to see the likes of Shikaku, Asuma or Neji looking upon him in disbelief, and he wanted to savor it just a bit. "Well, and here I thought I'd have myself just a quiet little stroll today! You three are a long way from the Hidden Leaf Village."

Asuma was the first to speak, and he still very much looked like a man who couldn't quite trust his own eyes. "You've got to be kidding me… Lord Jiraiya?"

"Naruto's master?" Neji added softly.

Jiraiya had a witty line or two in mind for the occasion, but it died on his tongue as he saw Asuma quickly grimace. There was another flare up of spirit energy, and the entire right side of his body spasmed.

"Easy there, Asuma!" Shikaku called out as he rushed forward, "Damn it, I was hoping it'd be longer before your next episode… we have to get you back right away!"

Jiraiya looked back and forth between the two men. "What's going on? What's wrong with him?"

"Come with us and I'll explain on the way," Shikaku replied before turning to the third Shinobi, "Neji, you got him?"

The long-haired man nodded as he hoisted Asuma over his shoulder, though not before casting a curious look at Jiraiya. "I do. Are you taking point?"

"Jiraiya and I both will," Shikaku confirmed before looking at the Legendary Sannin, "That's not a problem, is it?"

Jiraiya shook his head. "No, it's not. You lead the way, and I'll watch your back."

"Let's move, then," said Shikaku.

He rushed to the northern edge of the clearing and leapt into a tree, with Jiraiya hot on his heels. Neji was behind them, carrying Asuma and keeping pace with them and looking no worse for the wear in doing so. Then again, that was hardly surprising; the boy's Jōnin team leader had been Might Guy, after all, and that man had a reputation for putting physical conditioning at the top of his training regimen.

"I'm sure you've got a lot of questions," Shikaku continued as they jumped from tree to tree.

Jiraiya nodded. "I can think of more than a few, but first thing's first; what's up with Asuma?"

Shikaku was quiet for a moment before responding, and his question immediately gave Jiraiya the answer he'd been looking for. "What do you know about Edo Tensei?"

Jiraiya's eyes widened in comprehension as he looked over his shoulder at Neji and Asuma. "The reanimation jutsu… Asuma suffered a soul fracture!"

"So that's the proper name for his condition," said Shikaku, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Jiraiya, "I appreciate the information, but how do you know about it?"

Jiraiya knew that he would have to be careful here. "I have a friend who suffered from the same condition."

It took Shikaku no time at all to put two and two together. "That friend… it's Itachi Uchiha, isn't it? He shows up in our neck of the woods, then you come along just a few days later; it's no coincidence, and don't try to claim otherwise."

Jiraiya figured he might as well come clean; at least they were saving some time this way. "Yeah, it is. I imagine you've got more than a few questions about that."

"You could say that," Shikaku warily answered, "Lord Jiraiya… your loyalty to the Hidden Leaf Village was beyond reproach when you were alive. Considering that and the fact that you helped us out back there, I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. That being said, if you're really associating with one of the Leaf Village's worst traitors, then you've got some serious explaining to do."

"I'd be happy to do so," Jiraiya replied, "It's a pretty long story, though, and right now it looks like we've got more immediate concerns."

Shikaku nodded as he looked back at Asuma and Neji again. "We do. Asuma's our priority right now, but don't think for a second that I'm dropping this. One way or another, I'm getting answers."

Jiraiya smiled. "You'll have them."

"In that case, don't fall behind," said Shikaku, "The path to the village is treacherous, and I'd hate for us to lose you."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "Village? Just where exactly are we going?"

Shikaku smiled. "Where else would we be going? Home. It's funny to think about, really. I always figured there'd only be one Village Hidden in the Leaves. Then I died, got to know the afterlife… and things started getting very interesting."

….

It was a very good thing that Jiraiya had Shikaku to serve as a guide, otherwise he almost surely would've gotten himself turned around. While the man continued to follow a trail that was marked by Leaf Village symbols carved into trees, the deeper into the forest they'd gone the more Jiraiya had started noticing other trees marked with the same symbol that Shikaku wasn't following. Those were clearly decoys, and it would've been all too easy for Jiraiya to start following them and wind up going in circles well past sundown.

As it was, the sun had already dipped pretty low on the western horizon by the time Shikaku brought their group to the forest floor. Looking around in confusion, Jiraiya didn't see any sign of a settlement. There was just more trees and bushes as far as the eye could see.

He turned to the scarred Shinobi. "Are you sure we're in the right place?"

Shikaku nodded. Heading off to the right, he motioned for Jiraiya to follow him. The Legendary Sannin found himself standing before another tree just a moment later, a particularly large specimen that was about twice as thick as Jiraiya was tall. Near the base was another Hidden Leaf Village symbol carved into the bark, and Shikaku pointed to a bare patch just below it.

"Put your hand there," Shikaku ordered.

Jiraiya gave the man a curious look but did as he had been instructed. He felt a tingle of spirit energy go up his arm and into his head, but nothing beyond that.

"What was that?" he asked as he turned to his guide.

Shikaku put his own hand on the spot, then stepped aside as Neji brought Asuma forward and the two of them touched the tree as well. Their gazed then turned in unison towards the area where they'd been standing mere seconds earlier. Jiraiya followed them…

…and was stunned by what he could now see.

The trees and bushes from before had disappeared, and in their place was a gate set in the middle of a tall wooden wall. The wall stretched both to the left and right, well beyond Jiraiya's field of vision. At the pinnacle of the archway in which the gate was set, there was a large crimson circle with the Hidden Leaf logo carved onto it. Thick brown wooden doors were set beneath it, and beyond Jiraiya could now hear the familiar hustle and bustle of a large village.

Jiraiya smiled as he realized just what he was looking at. "A Village Hidden in the Leaves, in the Soul Society… incredible!"

"It's not nearly as large as the genuine article," Shikaku noted, "and we don't have our own Hokage Mountain here either, unfortunately. That being said, it's still home."

Jiraiya had so many questions racing through is mind. "That was a genjutsu concealing it, right? How in the world did you guys come up with one that could cover such a wide area indefinitely? When was this place established? How did you find it? How…"

Shikaku raised his hand to politely silence him before gesturing towards their companions. "You'll have the answers to all that and more soon enough, but right now we need to get Asuma inside and treated."

Looking at the Third Hokage's son, Jiraiya saw that he wasn't looking too hot. Cold sweat matted his brow, and there was a small but noticeable tremor running down his right side. Neji was doing his best to keep him upright, but it was clear that Asuma really needed to lie down quickly.

So, Jiraiya dutifully fell in behind Shikaku as the man led their group towards the gate. The barks of a dog rang out from the gate, and it cracked open a moment later. A large white hound, nearly as big as the average adult human, came forward. Right behind it was a rather tall woman. Wearing the same kind of tunic, leggings, boots and cloak as Shikaku and the others, but her hood was down, revealing fierce brown eyes, long brown hair tied back in a ponytail, and a crimson triangular mark on each cheek. Rows of kunai were strapped to her belt, and Jiraiya caught glimpses of shuriken points poking out of a pouch. Even with the cloak covering her, Jiraiya could discern a muscular and powerful figure beneath; whoever this woman was, she wasn't to be trifled with.

Fortunately, she seemed quite friendly, with a broad grin appearing on her face once she met the gaze of the group's leader. "Shikaku, welcome back! How was the hunt?"

"Successful," he replied as he nodded at Jiraiya, "in more ways than one. Lord Jiraiya, meet Ryo Inuzuka. Ryo, meet one of the Legendary Sannin."

Ryo folded her arms. "Well, now… heard stories about you, but never thought we'd actually meet. It's an honor. Hey, Tadeo! Say hello to our visitor!"

The dog that Jiraiya had seen earlier approached him. It was cautious at first, but with an encouraging nod from Ryo it closed the distance and sat in front of Jiraiya. It barked by way of greeting, and Jiraiya took that as permission to reach out and scratch behind the big pooch's ears. That immediately set the canine's tail wagging fiercely, which Jiraiya figured was a good sign.

Ryo clearly did too if her smile was any indication. "Good boy, Tadeo! Who's getting treats tonight? Who's the best doggo in the village? You are!"

"Woof! Woof!" Tadeo enthusiastically barked.

"Glad he approves of our guest," Shikaku chimed in, "but we don't have much time for pleasantries. Asuma's in rough shape."

Ryo glanced at him and Neji, her eyes narrowing in recognition. "Another episode, eh? I thought it was supposed to be a while before the next one hit. Sarutobi, you look like shit."

Asuma chuckled bitterly. "Thanks for noticing."

Ryo turned to her hound. "Tadeo, clear a path for Neji and Asuma to the medic complex. Get moving!"

"Woof!" Tadeo replied, looking briefly at Neji and flicking its snout towards the door before running off, with the Hyūga and his charge hot on the hound's heels.

"Is he going to be okay?" asked Jiraiya as the trio slipped behind the gate and out of sight.

"It's not the worst episode he's had," Shikaku answered, "Our medical Shinobi will have him on his feet again soon enough. He'll just be down and out of it for a couple days or so at the most."

Ryo didn't seem so optimistic. "I don't know about that. He's had these little seizures and flare ups every few weeks, but this one came much more quickly. The gap was less than a week this time. Think the healers made a mistake last time they had him in their care?"

Shikaku shook his head. "Doubt it. They don't make mistakes. They're too experienced, and they've always taken extra care when it comes to Asuma's condition. Besides, he's not the only one they've treated for it, either."

Ryo shrugged. "Well, it's all over my head, anyway. Long as they can keep him together, that's all I care about. What are your plans for your new friend?"

Shikaku turned to Jiraiya and smiled. "I was hoping to give him a little tour of our home. You don't have a problem with letting him inside, do you?"

Ryo shook her head. "If you're vouching for him, that's good enough for me. Besides, it's Lord Jiraiya; he'd be the last person I'd think of as a threat to our home."

Jiraiya inclined his head in gratitude. "I appreciate that. I'll try not to cause too much trouble while I'm here."

Ryo laughed. "With your reputation, I doubt that! Word to the wise; if you're looking to get in any 'research' here for your books, I'd advise against it. The women who frequent the village's baths and springs don't take kindly to peepers. Don't give me a reason to throw you out of here, okay?"

Jiraiya smirked. "No promises!"

Ryo led the two men through the gate. As the heavy wooden door slid shut behind them, the woman headed back to the gatehouse. Meanwhile, Shikaku stepped aside and held out his right arm in a broad encompassing motion.

"Welcome, Lord Jiraiya," he said, "to the afterlife's Village Hidden in the Leaves."

For a moment, Jiraiya felt as though he'd stepped back in time. Sure, it wasn't a completely faithful reproduction; with no mountain in the background to carve giant stone faces in, it was kind of hard to recreate one of the original Hidden Leaf Village's most prominent features. Even so, the bustling settlement before him was very much a blast from the past. Just at a glance, he spotted people whose facial features alone were enough for Jiraiya to identify them as members of the Inuzuka, Nara, Aburame and Akimichi clans, just to name a few. Some were wearing the same sort of tunics and cloaks as the three Shinobi, while others were dressed in the more traditional kimonos and robes found in the Land of Fire. Lining both sides of the broad central thoroughfare that they now stood at the head of, Jiraiya recognized the architectural styles that had very much been favored by his homeland. The rounded buildings with slanted conical roofs interspersed with more traditional rectangular structures and triangular tops, the storefronts he could see proudly displayed familiar wares that Jiraiya hadn't seen in years… he hadn't been counting on a nostalgia trip today, but Jiraiya allowed himself to lose himself in one now.

Next to him, Shikaku smiled. "Quite the sight, isn't it? First time I saw this place, pretty sure my reaction was the same as yours."

"When was that?" asked Jiraiya.

Shikaku scratched his chin in thought. "Off the top of my head… oh, I'd say probably about seven years ago. When I first came to the Soul Society, I got dropped off in South Rukon 58, and I had quite a bit of wandering ahead of me before I finally found my way here."

Jiraiya whistled as he imagined the sheer distance; Shikaku had basically travelled from one side of the massive Rukon District all the way to the other. With the Seireitei in the middle blocking a direct path, such a journey was no small undertaking, especially for a soul with no formal training in the Hohō arts.

"You went down a long road!" the Legendary Sannin remarked, "I'm amazed you survived the trip. Hollows would've found you to be an appetizing snack. They certainly tried their best to take a bite out of me when I first came here."

Shikaku nodded. "It was rough going, especially in the beginning. Having to figure out how to properly manipulate spirit energy in place of chakra, suppressing my spiritual pressure so I didn't harm normal souls that I encountered… it was a challenging experience, to put it mildly. Had more than a few close calls with Hollows before I felt confident enough to start fighting back, and even then, it was really all I could do to buy some time until I could either escape or draw the attention of a Soul Reaper who could take out my enemy for me. You get a lot of those stories around here."

"I bet," said Jiraiya as he looked around, "Speaking of stories, got a place where we can swap some around here? Preferably one with food and drink on hand?"

"Sure," Shikaku replied as he started walking forward, "There's a tavern not too far from here that I'm a regular at. Technically, I'm still on duty, but I'm sure my superiors will let it slide once they find out just who I brought back with me."

Jiraiya smirked as he followed him. "Hey, you can always count this as interrogation! We can just leave the food and drink bit out of the official report."

Shikaku chuckled. "As mischievous as ever… you haven't changed a bit. Then again, I should've expected as much. Your books have made their way out here, and they're every bit as debauched and raunchy as the ones you wrote when you were still alive."

Jiraiya had the biggest shit-eating grin on his face at the implication. "So, you're a fan, then? Just say the word, and you can have an autograph!"

Shikaku rolled his eyes. "Thanks, but I think I'll pass."

As they made their way down the central avenue, Jiraiya let his eyes wander. He caught sight of families going about their late afternoon errands, some kids grabbing snacks from a street vendor, a handful of what he assumed to be police Shinobi patrolling the streets… it all left him with a bit sense of déjà vu. Sure, it wasn't the original Hidden Leaf Village, but whoever had set it all up had at least taken a good shot at replicating the genuine article.

It almost feels like home, he thought, I wonder who's all found their way here…

It only took a few minutes before they arrived at their destination. Shikaku led Jiraiya into a tavern that was situated just before an elegantly curved wooden bridge that crossed over a stream running through the village. The dinner rush was clearly in full-swing, with the atmosphere one of raucous good cheer. The waitress, a lovely-looking young thing in a pink kimono and with her dark brown hair held up by a pair of lacquered chopsticks, gave Jiraiya an inquisitive look and a knowing one to Shikaku before leading him and his companion to a private booth at the back corner of the tavern. She wasn't the only one; more than a few of the establishment's patrons strained to inspect the newcomer, and Jiraiya caught more than a few eyes widening in astonished recognition.

"Word's going to spread like wildfire," Shikaku said after the two of them had sat down and ordered their drinks, with the waitress closing a pair of blue curtains to ensure their privacy before leaving, "Don't be surprised if you find yourself mobbed later."

Jiraiya gave a hearty laugh. "Hey, if the women in this village are as pretty as that waitress, they can mob away!"

Shikaku groaned. "I suppose it was too much to hope that you'd take this seriously."

"Hey, relax a bit," said Jiraiya, "No need to be so uptight about all of this. I mean, if you're worried about Asuma, I get it, but it sounds like this is an issue that the medical Shinobi of this village are accustomed to dealing with."

"They are," Shikaku confirmed, "and not just in Asuma."

Jiraiya's brow furrowed at that. "So, there are other people in this village that were brought back with Edo Tensei, then. Who all have you found?"

"Apart from Asuma? Two so far," Shikaku replied, "One of them was Chen, believe it or not."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "Chen… you mean Old Master Chen? The famous taijutsu master?"

Shikaku nodded. "One and the same. He tends to stick around the village. Believe it or not, he actually agreed to teach taijutsu here, and we helped him set up a school. I think he'd prefer to be out wandering around, but with him suffering from the after effects of this… soul fracture, as you called it, he needs guaranteed access to healers. Stick around here, and you'll probably run into him before too long."

Jiraiya made a mental note of that. "I'll keep an eye out for him. Who's the other one?"

Shikaku looked at Jiraiya for a long moment before answering. "The other one… is Dan Katō."

It took Jiraiya a few seconds to really process that. "Wait a second… Dan? As in Tsunade's main squeeze Dan?"

"You got it," Shikaku confirmed, "I'm sure he'll be pleased to hear that you're in town. He'll probably try to recruit you, although given your uniform and the Zanpakutō, I imagine you'll have to turn him down."

"What's he up to?" asked Jiraiya, his mind racing, "What exactly would he be trying to recruit me for?"

"The village's Shinobi force, naturally," said Shikaku, "Dan's one of our top field commanders, and he's always on the lookout for former Leaf Village Shinobi to bring into our ranks. The fact that you're an old friend of Tsunade's and one of the Legendary Sannin will make you an irresistible recruitment prospect."

Jiraiya smiled. "Well, as jealous as I was of him getting with Tsunade, I wouldn't mind the chance to catch up with him. He's a good guy… Tsunade wouldn't have fallen for him otherwise. It's going to be tough turning him down, but… well, resignations from Soul Reapers aren't exactly accepted by the higher ups back in the Seireitei."

"So I've heard," Shikaku replied as the waitress brought them their drinks, "Why do you think most former Shinobi tend to steer clear of the Seireitei? I'm surprised you became a Soul Reaper. You've joined a rather harsh organization, Jiraiya. Should I be worried?"

Jiraiya firmly shook his head. "If you're concerned about me bringing the Thirteen Court Guard Squads down upon your head, you can rest easy. I'd never rat out my people. I would've thought you'd be smart enough to know that, Shikaku."

Shikaku nodded. "I'd very much like to believe that, but I never would've pegged you as someone who'd join an organization like the Thirteen Court Guard Squads to begin with. You do know what they've done to certain groups who they see as a threat, right?"

"If you're referring to the Quincies, then I certainly do," said Jiraiya, "Admittedly, though, I didn't learn of that until I was well into my term at the Academy."

Shikaku's brow furrowed in thought. "Are you saying that, had you known of their reputation beforehand, you wouldn't have joined up?"

Jiraiya considered it for a moment. "With that knowledge… I probably still would've said yes. It's not like Shinobi of the Hidden Leaf are paragons of virtue, after all. We did some pretty questionable things in service of what we believed to be a greater good. Besides, I had a more immediate reason for joining the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. You see, someone else was going into their ranks, and I wanted to keep an eye on him to make sure that he wasn't a threat."

Shikaku's gaze took on a dark edge. "That someone else was Itachi Uchiha, wasn't it? Given the sheer scale and notoriety of his crimes, I would've thought that him being a threat was guaranteed."

Jiraiya hesitated, his conversation with Itachi from the day before echoing in his mind.

"If you feel the need to tell the former Shinobi you encounter the truth about what happened to the Uchiha Clan, I will not stop you. Just promise me that you'll carefully consider the potential ramifications before doing so."

Shikaku was no fool; he immediately sensed that there was more going on that he'd initially been aware of. "You're not seriously about to defend him, are you? I can't picture you doing that… unless the picture we were given of certain events wasn't the complete truth."

Jiraiya took a deep breath and looked around to make sure no one was paying particularly close attention to them before answering. "It wasn't. Itachi did murder his clan, but… there's a lot more to it."

As briefly as he could manage, Jiraiya summarized for Shikaku everything he had learned from Itachi regarding that bloody night years ago and the events leading up to it, along with how the Legendary Sannin had known that the young man had not been lying. Even then, it took a while, long enough for the waitress to return, take their orders and then come back with their food. It was rare to see Shikaku caught off guard, but the paleness of his face told Jiraiya that he'd succeeded in rattling him.

"So… it was a sanctioned operation, then?" the former leader of the Nara Clan finally whispered hoarsely after a long moment of silence, "That slaughter… one of the worst crimes in the Leaf Village's history… he committed it because it was his mission? The Third Hokage actually signed off on this?"

"Retroactively," Jiraiya corrected, "Itachi made his move due to the combination of Danzō's ultimatum and the impending coup, but the Third Hokage did give his approval after the fact. So did the councilors. They all swore themselves to secrecy afterwards, for pretty obvious reasons."

Shikaku shook his head in astonishment as he processed it all. "Obvious reasons… no kidding. If the truth had gotten out, there would've been a full-scale clan revolt across the village. Forget an Uchiha coup… the village would've had a multi-clan uprising on its hands… and I honestly don't know if the Nara Clan would've been among them. The Hidden Leaf Village, the Land of Fire… it could've ripped itself apart. This… this paints Leaf Village history in an entirely different light, and not a flattering one."

"Why do you think Itachi fled the village afterwards?" Jiraiya pointed out, "Even though he'd been acting under orders and would've remained silent about the matter, there was no way he could stick around without people beginning to suspect the truth, especially if he wasn't immediately apprehended and executed."

Shikaku nodded absently, his mind clearly racing ahead and putting all the pieces together. "He allowed himself to be branded a criminal and went into exile as a fugitive. His joining the Akatsuki… it wasn't just for protection, was it?"

"That's right," Jiraiya confirmed as he started munching on his dinner, "He joined to spy from the inside. He spent years relaying information to the Third Hokage, Danzō and the councilors, but it was almost impossible for them to act upon it without potentially tipping off others as to the identity of their source. The Third Hokage took that secret to the grave, and I'm sure the councilors never divulged it to Tsunade. Danzō sure as hell didn't; I'd bet my life on that… or afterlife, I suppose."

Shikaku closed his eyes for a long moment, and when he opened them again, he gave Jiraiya a sharp look. "Why tell me this? This might be history from our past lives now, but such knowledge can still have a potentially dangerous impact, especially here. Itachi surely would be smart enough to understand that."

"He is," said Jiraiya, "and he trusts my discretion on the matter. I'm telling you this as an act of good faith, to show you that I truly do mean no harm and am being completely sincere when I promise you that I won't let the Thirteen Court Guard Squads threaten the community that our people have built here. Also… because it's my belief that Itachi deserves to have his name cleared. I've been watching him since the two of us first encountered each other in the Soul Society… and have gotten to know him pretty well over the years. I never thought I'd say this back when we first met, but I can tell you now without hesitation that he's a good man, Shikaku. His devotion to our village was absolute, and he sacrificed everything for it. For the village… and for love of his little brother."

Shikaku let out a heavy sigh. "If anyone else was telling me this… even my own son… I don't know if I'd believe them. The only reason I'm even trusting you right now is because of our own loyalty to the Hidden Leaf Village… and to your student. Itachi hunted Naruto on behalf of the Akatsuki… or so I had believed, until now. You believed that to be the case as well before you met Itachi in the Soul Society, right?"

"I definitely did," Jiraiya confirmed, "Imagine my shock when I learned the truth."

Shikaku wearily chuckled. "Yeah, I think I can. Anyway, the fact that you're now vouching for a man that we all once believed to be a threat to both the Hidden Leaf Village and Naruto is pretty much the only reason why I'm willing to hear you out on this. Even then… this isn't something I can just accept all in one go, Jiraiya."

Jiraiya nodded understandingly. "Of course, and I'm not asking you to. I am asking that you at least take it all under consideration, though… and to think very carefully before you let this knowledge spread any further."

"I can give you my word on that much, at least," Shikaku conceded before taking a sip from his cup of sake, "Here I thought today would be relatively uninteresting… boy, was I wrong."

The two of them sat in silence for a few minutes, eating their food and drinking their sake while contemplating all that had just transpired. In Jiraiya's eyes, Shikaku had taken the truth regarding the Uchiha Clan's downfall quite well, although in hindsight it shouldn't have been all that surprising. The former head of the Nara Clan had a reputation for maintaining a level head even during the grimmest of circumstances, and it was part of why Jiraiya had been willing to gamble and let him in on the truth to begin with. What would come of it in the long run, he couldn't say, but at the very least he hoped that it might make any future encounters between Itachi and former Leaf Village Shinobi in the afterlife a bit easier for both sides to handle.

"Village leadership will need to know eventually," Shikaku said as he refilled his cup and took another sip, "if for no other reason than to avoid any potential misunderstandings. Don't worry; I won't tell them right away. I still need time for it to all settle in my own head, let alone share it. I can see why you came out here looking for us instead of Itachi. It struck me as odd when he gave up the pursuit of us the other day; with his reputation, I figured he'd be relentless. Knowing what I do now, though, it's clear that he wanted to avoid the possibility of bloodshed. That's… surprisingly compassionate of him. Not something I ever would've pegged him for."

Jiraiya smiled. "Like I said, he's a good guy at heart. He was just never given the chance to really show it before now. Danzō, the Third Hokage, the councilors… and the Uchiha Clan… they all took that away from him. He still beats himself up over the whole mess something fierce, you know? Even all these years later, he feels that blood on his hands. I've been trying to help Itachi deal with it, but there's only so much I can do on my end. Fortunately, he's got some other good friends in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads to lean on… including two more Uchiha."

"Which ones?" asked Shikaku.

"His old buddy Shisui, for starters," Jiraiya answered, "As for the other, she'd be none other than Mikoto."

Shikaku's eyes widened slightly. "His mother… so, he found her, then. Shisui, too… that's more luck than we've had out here."

Jiraiya quirked an eyebrow quizzically. "What do you mean?"

"Many former Shinobi and inhabitants of the Hidden Leaf Village have either found their way here or been brought by others over the years," Shikaku explained, "You saw a good hint of it coming in; we've got a wide assortment of clans that call this place home now. All of the major ones that lived in the original Hidden Leaf Village have at least some form of representation in our population… with one major exception."

Jiraiya didn't need him to elaborate any further. "You haven't found any Uchiha, then."

Shikaku shook his head. "No, we haven't. Believe me, it hasn't been for lack of trying. This village has been looking for them long before I showed up. Wherever the members of the clan are in the afterlife, they're staying out of sight. Itachi was the first one we could conclusively identify. You can imagine the village leadership's shock when I delivered that report."

Jiraiya leaned forward, propped his elbows on the table and clasped his hands beneath his chin. "Speaking of village leadership, I guess now's as good a time as any to ask; who's running the place? If this settlement is a recreation of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, then I'm assuming it has a Hokage. Am I right?"

"No, actually," Shikaku replied, "It was decided that the system of governance employed by the Hidden Village setup had some flaws. One of the key points of contention was the concentration of power in the hands of a few, and I'm not just referring to the Hokage or the ruling council. You know the story of the Hidden Leaf Village's founding; the Senju and Uchiha Clans setting aside their differences and forming an alliance. Those who established the settlement here looked at that dynamic and found the roots of much of the village's ensuing troubles."

"You mean the tension between the Senju and Uchiha Clans that never completely faded away," Jiraiya ventured, "The grievances that resulted from the Senju ruling while maneuvering the Uchiha into the role of enforcers."

"Partially," said Shikaku, "That was certainly a factor, but a far more pressing concern was the sheer prominence that both the Senju and Uchiha Clans had in the overall affairs of the village. Even if the Uchiha didn't rule, their position as the overseers and preeminent members of the Leaf Village Military Police Force gave them rights and privileges not afforded to other clans. That bred resentment of a different sort; between the Uchiha and those that they had to confront during their course of their duties as internal peacekeepers. The Senju had the better of things from a public relations standpoint, but even then, there was some lingering suspicions that they were trying to maintain the Leaf Village as a bastion of their clan's power first and foremost. The leaders of this village might not have been aware of the truth of the Uchiha Clan's downfall, but had they possessed such knowledge, I believe that would've only further reinforced their determination to do away with the old power structure."

"That's a fair assessment," Jiraiya conceded, his curiosity growing, "So, how are things run around here?"

"A ruling council oversees government affairs," Shikaku explained, "While that may sound similar to how things were in our Realm of the Living, this council is composed of the heads of each clan that calls the village home. The council then elects a Chief Councilor to serve as an executive. And no, that Chief Councilor position is not the same as how the rank of Hokage was treated. For starters, the Chief Councilor serves a set term; five years. When that term is up, the council elects a new executive, and the current Chief Councilor is barred from running for consecutive terms. They may run for a future term, but they are never permitted to serve back-to-back in that position."

Jiraiya's brow furrowed as he considered the arrangement. "That's… not a bad setup, actually. Back in the Hidden Leaf Village when we were alive, Hokages served until they either died, resigned the position, or were otherwise incapacitated. Setting up term limits and barring consecutive runs allows for new blood to get into the executive position. Knowing that a Chief Councilor can't serve indefinitely lowers the political tension and can help comfort other clans, reassuring them that no single individual or family can seize control over the entire governing system. In fact, the system you've got here actually encourages clans to work together to ensure that no single clan becomes too powerful."

Shikaku nodded. "Well put. The runup to a Chief Councilor election can get a bit feisty at times, but nothing nearly as bitter as some of the old Hokage selections."

Shikaku's words brought Orochimaru to Jiraiya's mind, and he pondered what could have been as he took a few more bites from his dinner. If such a system had been in place for the Hidden Leaf Village, would his old friend have acted differently? Knowing that power would rotate regularly instead of being wielded for life might have served possibly as a deterrent for him aspiring to the position, or perhaps it would've made him more patient and circumspect in his ambitions.

That was when another thought, a potentially troubling one, came to the forefront of Jiraiya's mind. "Who's eligible to run in a Chief Councilor election? Are potential candidates only selected from council members, or can others throw their hats in the ring?"

Shikaku cleared his throat. "While council members commonly get elected to the Chief Councilor post, that's not always the case. The only concrete qualifications for candidates are that they must have been born and resided in the region that eventually came to be known as the Land of Fire during their times in our Realm of the Living, that they must have spent at least thirty continuous years residing in this village before being considered eligible for a potential run, and that they must be endorsed by at least two members of the ruling council."

"So one doesn't have to be a clan head in order to become leader of the village itself, then," Jiraiya surmised.

"That's right," Shikaku confirmed, "While clan heads get the nod more often than not, they don't have a complete lock on executive power. Several of them don't even go for the top spot, instead picking certain areas to specialize in and ensuring continuity of expertise. This makes them potentially attractive members of the Chief Councilor's inner circle once the election's over."

"And it's a system that doesn't require one to be a powerful Shinobi in order to climb to a leadership post," Jiraiya mused aloud.

Shikaku nodded. "Honestly, I think it's a better setup than what we had back in the original village, at least for civil governance. Powerful Shinobis don't necessarily make for skilled administrators, after all. Besides, one can make the argument that skilled and strong Shinobi should be more active in the field rather than in village politics."

"A position that definitely has merit," Jiraiya concurred, "Even so, you know how prideful Shinobi can be. Submitting to purely civilian leadership is kind of a tough sell for our lot."

"All too true," Shikaku conceded, "That's why the Chief Councilor doesn't command this village's Shinobi, at least not on a day-to-day basis. Officially, the Chief Councilor also holds the position of Commander in Chief of our Shinobi forces, but as part of the election process they are required to select a Shinobi to act as the overseer of our defense assets. That Shinobi, assuming the candidate who selected them wins their election, assumes the rank of General. Once they officially take office, that General then handles management of the village's Shinobi. Unlike the Chief Councilor, the General can be selected by nominees in the following election to continue holding the post. This is actually a pretty common practice since it allows for continuity in the chain of command, especially when the General in question is both competent and popular."

"I see," said Jiraiya, "If you don't mind me asking, who's currently holding that position? Anyone I'd know?"

Shikaku smiled. "Our current General is one of my ancestors, actually. You wouldn't know him personally or by reputation, but he was a skilled commander from back during the Warring States Period. He's held the position for actually the past three terms, although I think he's looking to step down soon. He'll probably make an official announcement of it before the next Chief Councilor election kicks into gear so the nominees can scout out potential replacements."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "Any idea why he's looking to call it quits?"

Shikaku smirked. "Oh, yes. You see, he's a lot like my son. He'd rather spend his days napping, playing shogi or gazing up at the clouds. Honestly, I'm surprised he was willing to stick it out for as long as he has. The way he probably sees it, he's put in his time and wants to retire on a high mark. Can't say I blame him for that, though I'll miss having him as our General. Family ties notwithstanding, he runs a steady and tight ship, so to speak. Not particularly charismatic, but he's cool-headed and sharp. Sometimes, a good leader doesn't need much more than that, and he's definitely been a good one for us."

"Well, I hope whoever comes in afterwards can fill his shoes," said Jiraiya, "What about the current Chief Councilor? Would I recognize them?"

Shikaku shook his head. "No, you wouldn't. He's the current head of the Shimura Clan residing in this village… and no, before you say anything, it's not Danzō. We haven't caught any sign of him in the Soul Society, and believe me, I've had my eyes out for him. Last thing we need is trouble from him rebuilding his Root organization here."

Jiraiya couldn't argue with that. "Yeah, I haven't picked up any hints of his whereabouts, either. If we're lucky, he's roasting six feet under if you catch my drift. I know he always said he was acting in the interest of the Hidden Leaf Village, but with the shit he pulled… well, let's just say I'm not exactly taking him for his word on that. Just tell me whoever the Shimura is that's running this place isn't like the one we all know and hate, and I'll be happy."

"You can rest easy on that front, then," Shikaku reassured him, "This one's far more honest than his descendant could ever have hoped to be. A bit stern, but overall fair and honorable. Not the most popular leader this village has ever had, but his reign's been peaceful enough. Honestly, I'm more than happy to settle for that."

Jiraiya agreed. "Sometimes, that's really all you can ask for. Wonder what the Hokages would think of all this…"

"I wouldn't mind picking their brains on the topic," said Shikaku, "Unfortunately, that's not currently possible. No one here's seen so much as a hint of any of the past Hokages in the Soul Society, and it hasn't been for lack of trying."

Jiraiya sighed heavily; he'd been afraid of this. "No word on old man Sarutobi, then. When you led me here, I had my hopes…"

Shikaku gave him a sympathetic look. "I'm sure you did. I did as well when I first came to this place, and when I passed on to the afterlife in general. There was a lot that I wanted to talk to the Third Hokage about, although I would've just as eagerly sought the counsel of any of the others. We've had to get by without any of their guidance, though. I don't know if that's for better or for worse."

Jiraiya took another swig of sake. "It's a shame, really. I bet the Third, at least, would like this place. Honoring the Leaf Village in appearance while forging a new system of governance to avoid the mistakes made in the past… he'd appreciate that sort of thing."

Shikaku nodded as he partook in his booze too. "I think he'd do well here, either as a council member, Chief Councilor or General. I like to hope that he'll find this place someday, even though we don't make it easy."

Jiraiya smirked. "Yeah, that illusion you've got over the village is a neat trick! How'd you pull that off? Not many genjutsu work over such a wide area for an extended period of time like this one does."

Shikaku looked down for a moment, and Jiraiya realized he might be treading where he wasn't wanted. "Look, if it's classified and you can't reveal it to me because I'm an outsider and a Soul Reaper, I get it. No hard feelings. I'm just genuinely curious and impressed at the scale of the genjutsu."

Shikaku took a deep breath and another sip of sake. "It's not a genjutsu. An illusion, yes, but not the sort that Leaf Village Shinobi have used in the past. Not one that we came up with on our own."

Jiraiya was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Shikaku fixed him with a hard look. "What I'm about to tell you is supposed to be top secret. The only reason I'm willing to share it is because of who you are and what you did for the Leaf Village back when you were alive. So help me, though, if this spreads beyond you… Legendary Sannin or not, I'll find a way to take you down."

Jiraiya was no hardcore gambler like Tsunade, but he had played enough games of chance to know that the man wasn't bluffing. "It won't spread past me. You have my word."

Shikaku's demeanor softened somewhat. "I'll be holding you to that."

Jiraiya patiently waited for Shikaku to gather his thoughts, and the raven-haired man spoke again a moment later. "The people who founded this village… they didn't pick this spot by accident. Sure, the cover of the forest makes for an ideal little hideaway, but that wasn't the real reason why they set up shop out here. In the heart of this village, you'll find the council hall and the Chief Councilor's office, along with the General's annex. It's all one complex meant to concentrate the village's administrative functions. The buildings will look familiar to you; the architectural style is basically a forerunner to the kind used for the Hokage residence that you and I might remember from our time. However, before those were set up, the Shinobi who came here took shelter in an underground facility, one that actually still lies beneath the current complex."

Jiraiya leaned forward slightly. "What kind of facility are we talking about here?"

"From what they could tell, it was a combination of a library and a research center," Shikaku replied, "The facility was old, Jiraiya. We're talking thousands of years old. It was stocked full of books and scrolls in a language that none of our predecessors had ever seen before, and it took them years to even begin to properly comprehend the material. Translation efforts went on day and night before they finally made any real breakthroughs. Turns out that what they'd stumbled upon was an ancient repository and lab set up by a Mage."

The pieces began falling into place for Jiraiya. "The complex they found was a relic of the old kingdom… and the illusion that hides this village is a spell they deciphered from those ancient texts."

Shikaku actually looked a bit taken aback. "Well, that was quicker than I'd expected. Here I was hoping to drop something completely new on you, but it sounds like you've had some exposure to stuff like this."

"I have," Jiraiya confirmed, "Visited one of their ancient tombs in the north, not to mention helped deal with a mess caused by one of their more famous Mages… or infamous, depending on how you look at her. Finding a lost repository like that… the people who established this village really struck gold."

Shikaku nodded. "From what I understand, once they had a working knowledge of the language in the texts, the village took shape over the library quite quickly. I've been down there, Jiraiya… and it's unlike anything I've ever seen before. This isn't the little old student library back at the Leaf Village's Academy. There are entire vaults down there bigger than the Academy itself, filled from floor to ceiling with histories and treatises dating back several millennia. It's all incredibly well-preserved. Whoever the Mage was that set it all up, they took great care to make sure that their work would survive the ages."

Jiraiya smiled. "I wouldn't mind the chance to see it, although it sounds like this isn't something that gets shown off to outsiders."

Shikaku shook his head. "No, it's not. Actually, outside of village leadership and high-ranking Shinobi like myself, not many people here know about it. I hope you can appreciate the risk I'm taking in sharing this with you."

"I do," Jiraiya reassured him, "So, you guys found your wide-area illusion spell down there, and I'm assuming that's not all the head honchos here put to use from that repository."

"Far from it," Shikaku answered, "There's more than just ancient spell tomes down there. We've been able to use the knowledge gained from translating the texts to get a better understanding of how this afterlife truly functions, and there are some truly astounding artifacts tucked away in the vaults as well. There's an entire research branch dedicated to studying what's hidden away down there, and even after all these years it sounds like they still haven't come close to completely deciphering those secrets. I don't know if they'll ever be able to finish the job."

"I can name an entire unit of Soul Reapers who'd be willing to help them out," said Jiraiya, "A library like that sounds like it'd be Squad Twelve's wet dream right there."

Shikaku waives his hand dismissively. "I'm sure their assistance would be appreciated, but the security risk is too great. You know I'd have to pass on that."

Jiraiya shrugged. "Yeah, I know. It's a shame, really. If the Shinobi out here and Soul Reapers could work together, we could accomplish so much. The Central Forty-Six's dogma and paranoia is such a pain in the ass to deal with."

Shikaku sighed. "In a way, I can understand where they're coming from. Shinobi fought for their villages and countries, but Soul Reapers fight to preserve the balance of souls across the afterlife and the various Realms of the Living. The stakes are exponentially higher, so it makes a degree of sense why rigid conservatism dominates the Central Forty-Six. They don't want to rock the boat too much and risk potentially triggering the apocalypse. Still, they're far too hidebound and ossified, not to mention overly protective of their position. They care less about the safety of the Soul Society than they do keeping their own base of power secure."

Jiraiya tilted his head quizzically. "How do you know all of this? I thought you said that the Shinobi from this village tend to give the Seireitei a wide berth, but you seem to have a pretty good handle on our political situation."

Shikaku nodded. "We do keep our distance, but information still makes its way out into the Rukon District. The Seireitei might not care too much about what happens out here as long as the overall balance of souls is preserved and Hollows are somewhat managed, but we all know that what happens in the heart of the Soul Society has the potential to impact us as well. Gossip flows like a river throughout the Rukon District, and we've got agents out there keeping their ears open for news. Classic intelligence gathering and all that."

Jiraiya could appreciate that, given the kind of work he'd done for the Hidden Leaf Village in his past life. "That's a good approach. Your Shinobi can't be the only ones engaged in that sort of work, though."

Shikaku quirked an eyebrow. "Is that your way of asking me if we've found Shinobi from other Hidden Villages out there?"

Jiraiya smirked. "Your words, not mine."

"You could've just been up front about it," Shikaku grumbled.

"Where's the fun in that?" teased Jiraiya as he knocked back the rest of his cup.

Shikaku let out an exasperated breath. "I don't know how the Third Hokage put up with you half the time. Anyway, we've been on the lookout for familiar faces from across the border, as it were. We've definitely had some sightings reported, but they've always been from a distance. Whenever we try to get a positive identification or reach out, the people we spot always retreat. I guess old habits die hard… in more ways than one. Here I was actually being optimistic that the spirit of the Allied Shinobi Forces from the Fourth Shinobi World War would carry over into the afterlife. Turns out that was wishful thinking. The old guard's still prominent out here, and they're reluctant to open their hearts and minds. Not all that different from the Central Forty-Six, now that I think about it."

"I guess that's one way to put it," Jiraiya replied, "Think they've got a similar setup as you here? Their own Hidden Villages, as it were?"

"It's a distinct possibility," Shikaku conceded, "That being said, I find it hard to believe others would've gotten as lucky as we did. We were able to establish a large settlement thanks in no small part to the illusion spell that was discovered in the underground library. That's helped us fly beneath the notice of the Seireitei. Unless Shinobi from other nations were able to enact their own illusions, I can't see them being able to set up anything on the scale of what we've got going here, at least not in the Rukon District."

Jiraiya nodded. "Autonomous zones under the protection of Shinobi would probably have been noticed by Soul Reapers by now. The Stealth Force and Squad Two have been trying to be more proactive in patrolling the Rukon District, and their commander knows about Shinobi. She'd definitely have her eyes out for a place like this. Without illusions or other clever setups, any settlements similar to this one almost certainly would've been discovered by now. The Rukon District is vast, but there are only so many places to hide large villages in it."

Shikaku scratched his chin. "My thoughts exactly. If I had to guess, I'd say if any Shinobi from other nations established a large enclave, they've either done so in the Rukon District by going incognito and blending in with the wider population…or they're not in the Rukon District at all."

"You're not seriously suggesting that they might have set up shop out in The Wild, are you?" asked Jiraiya as he worked on finishing up his meal.

Shikaku shrugged. "If one doesn't want to be found, I can't think of a better place to drop off the grid than the expanses beyond the Rukon District."

"Sure, but surviving out there's another matter," Jiraiya argued, "Shinobi would do better than most, but if you think Hollow attacks are bad in the Rukon District, that's got nothing on what's out in The Wild. Believe me, I would know. There are very few independent settlements out there for a good reason. Most attempts at striking out and putting down roots in those lands don't tend to play out very well."

"I don't doubt that a bit," said Shikaku, "However, you said it yourself; Shinobi would do better than most out there. You had a long career back in your first life, and you were very well travelled. You got to experience more of the world outside the Land of Fire than most of its inhabitants do, and you had more than your share of encounters with powerful and skilled foreign Shinobi. I bet you can think of more than a few who would be able to survive and prosper out in The Wild."

Jiraiya nodded. "I can, but it still wouldn't be easy for them. Especially if they're fresh arrivals who haven't figured out how to properly control their spirit energy. We went our whole lives relying on chakra to perform jutsus; shifting over to a new kind of energy in the afterlife isn't as simple as flipping a switch. You ought to know that by now."

Shikaku sighed. "Believe me, I do. I don't know how it was for you, but for me… the best way I can describe it is like trying to learn how to walk using legs that aren't your own, or attempting to swim after having the knowledge of how to do so ripped away from your mind. Even that feels like an oversimplification. Our reliance on chakra… well, let's just say it doesn't do us any favors when we die and come here."

Jiraiya chuckled ruefully. "A lesson that Itachi and I both learned the hard way."

Shikaku gave him a thoughtful look as he swallowed a particularly juicy morsel. "Do you suppose he'd be open to a meeting? Off the record, as it were? Just me and him, with you acting as a mediator?"

"Possibly," Jiraiya cautiously replied, "but why? Is this about the Uchiha downfall?"

"I do have plenty of questions about that topic," Shikaku admitted, "but I was hoping more to get a general threat assessment from him. Even after his supposed treachery, he was still regarded as a genius. Knowing what I do now, I would like the chance to get his thoughts on any potential dangers to our village out here that we perhaps haven't considered."

Jiraiya thought about it for a moment. "I think he'd be willing to at least think about such a meeting, though when he'd actually be able to participate in one anytime soon is another matter. He's got a lot on his plate these days… including monitoring a threat of his own."

Shikaku's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

Jiraiya took a breath. "Itachi, Mikoto, Shisui… they're not the only Uchiha in the Seireitei, Shikaku."

Briefly, Jiraiya laid out for Shikaku everything Itachi and Shisui had told him about their sightings of Yashiro and Inabi at the Drakken Clan mansion. When he finished, he saw a dark look in Shikaku's eyes. Jiraiya could hardly blame him for that.

"So, they're hiding with one of the five Great Noble Houses, eh?" Shikaku muttered, more to himself than to Jiraiya, "Well, that doesn't sound like anything good."

"Did you know either of them back when they were alive?" asked Jiraiya.

"Inabi and Yashiro? Only in passing," Shikaku replied, "Never really liked them, to tell you the truth. Always struck me as embodying the worst of the Uchiha. The arrogance, the pettiness… they weren't exactly the most pleasant of folks to be around. Looking back on my few encounters with them and bearing everything you've told me today in mind, the idea of them fomenting a coup plot actually isn't all that farfetched. Honestly, I kind of feel like an idiot for not considering the possibility sooner. It explains so much of the behavior we were seeing from the Uchiha Clan in those last few years leading up to the massacre."

"Care to elaborate?" asked Jiraiya, "I was out of the village for most of that time period, so I never really got a good feel for the Uchiha Clan in those final days."

Shikaku sighed. "They became more insular, sticking mostly to their district when they weren't carrying out official duties. They were wary of outsiders; non-Uchiha who came into their territory increasingly got the stink-eye, if you will. It wasn't outright hostility, but there was definitely an undercurrent of resentment and suspicion. I didn't go out that way too often myself, but word started getting around that if you ventured into the Uchiha district, you'd better not linger for too long."

Jiraiya frowned. "They didn't actually start attacking outsiders, did they?"

Shikaku shook his head. "No, but things started going sour in other ways. The Leaf Village Military Police Force gradually became more aggressive in carrying out its duties. It got to the point where fights started breaking out between members of the force and civilians, even if no real crime had been committed. At the time, I figured it was a few bad apples acting up and that Fugaku would set them straight. He was always keen on maintaining discipline within the force, and he had a good track record as a leader. He could be stern, but overall was fair and respected by his subordinates. Knowing now about the coup plot, though… I wonder if he was secretly egging them on."

"I don't think so," Jiraiya replied, "From what Itachi told me, it sounds like his father was reluctant to go along with the coup plan. Yashiro and Inabi were amongst the real firebrands, the ones trying to pull Fugaku towards more radical action. My read on things is that Fugaku ultimately lost control; the Uchiha were getting so whipped up that he couldn't contain their aggression. If he'd spoken out against the plot, it's possible that they could've tried to oust him as leader of the clan. I think he went along in the end more because he felt that, by doing so, he could still exert enough influence to keep things from getting too violent."

"For all the good it did," Shikaku muttered wearily as he leaned back in his seat, "Things got violent, all right… just not in the way that he was likely expecting."

Jiraiya nodded. "From what I understand, Itachi's attack was essentially a preemptive strike. The Uchiha Clan was on the verge of launching their coup; I think he said it was like a day or two away at the most. The Third Hokage was still trying to reach a diplomatic solution, but the rapidly escalating tensions in the clan combined with Danzō's maneuvering in the shadows pretty much killed any potential mediation in its crib. So, Itachi made his move, and the rest is history."

Shikaku's eyes narrowed. "History that's still finding ways to haunt us. Do you think Yashiro and Inabi are a genuine threat?"

Jiraiya considered the question for a moment. "I don't necessarily think it's them that we need to worry about. At least, I don't think they're the major threat here."

Shikaku looked intrigued. "Really? You think there's someone behind them pulling their strings?"

"More like holding their leash," Jiraiya replied, "Based on the way they were acting at the party, Itachi believes that they're well established with the Drakken Clan. They've gotten comfortable in the Seireitei, implying that they've been there for quite some time. Definitely long enough for word of Itachi being part of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads to reach them. They were hardly his biggest fans even before the night of the purge, if you take my meaning."

Shikaku slowly nodded as he finished clearing his plate. "I think I do. Itachi expected them to make a move against him given their past animosity, yet they haven't done so, either before the party or in the years since. Do I have that right?"

"You do," Jiraiya confirmed, "Itachi and I are of the same mind on this; if Yashiro and Inabi haven't attempted to attack him yet, it hasn't been out of restraint on their part. They hate him far too much to hold themselves back on their own. Someone far more powerful than them has to be keeping them in check. It's the only thing that makes sense in my opinion."

Shikaku concurred. "It's the most logical conclusion. Why tell me all of this, though? This sounds more like an internal Seireitei matter."

"You said that you and the other Shinobi here have been on the lookout for members of the Uchiha Clan," Jiraiya pointed out, "The ones we've accounted for are all in the Seireitei, but that doesn't mean that they're not potentially in contact with others who are out in the Rukon District. Besides, as you're well aware, what happens in the Seireitei doesn't often stay there. It's the beating heart of the Soul Society for a reason, after all."

"True enough," Shikaku conceded, "You think that the Uchiha hiding within the Seireitei are coordinating with any that might be out in the Rukon District, and that they could be a danger to our village. Is that correct?"

"It's a distinct possibility," Jiraiya admitted, "One that I think any Hidden Leaf Shinobi that ventures out into the Rukon District needs to be aware of. I'm not saying that any Uchiha sighted should immediately be considered hostile; I don't want to paint the clan as a whole with so broad a brush. Still, I would definitely advise caution in any approach."

"Assuming we even find any out there," Shikaku muttered, "All these years, and we've still come up empty. Been the same for those who inhabited this village since long before I showed up here. The Rukon District is gargantuan… I don't know what I expected from the afterlife, but I at least thought finding familiar faces would be a bit easier than this."

Jiraiya chuckled. "Yeah, it's not exactly the 'heaven' that the religions back in our world promised, is it?"

Shikaku shook his head. "Not even close. Actually, it's far more like life back when we were alive than I'd ever imagined. 'Afterlife' is a more accurate term than I'd ever really considered before. Neither heaven, nor hell… just a second life in a new world when you get right down to it."

Jiraiya smiled. "You could do worse, you know?"

Shikaku nodded. "Yeah, we definitely could. I'm looking forward to showing my son this place, although I hope that's not for many years to come."

Jiraiya poured them both another cup of sake before raising his own. "I'll drink to that."

The two of them knocked back their booze before Jiraiya set his cup down and pushed it towards the middle of the table. "I'd better call it there. Too much more and I won't be able to make my way back home."

"Speaking of home, shouldn't you be getting on the road soon?" Shikaku suggested, "It's getting pretty late. I don't know how much slack your Captain's willing to cut you if you're AWOL."

Jiraiya shrugged. "Oh, mine's pretty understanding. It'll take a lot more than a long night out for him to get upset. We're actually drinking buddies, believe it or not."

Shikaku smirked. "Somehow, I can see that."

Jiraiya leaned back and stretched his arms. "Anyway, I still want to check up on Asuma before I head out. I know you said this village's medical Shinobi have grown used to treating his condition, but I'd feel bad if I left without at least popping in to make sure he'll be okay."

"I can lead you over to our main medical facility," Shikaku offered.

"I'd appreciate that," Jiraiya replied, "Also, I've got one more question before we head on over there."

Shikaku regarded him curiously. "Oh? What might that be?"

"I know you said that none of the previous Hokages have been found," said Jiraiya, "but what about members of their families? You've already got the Third's son here. Anyone else?"

Shikaku's eyes narrowed. "We do… but not the one I suspect you're really asking for. I'm sorry, Jiraiya, but we've seen no sign of the Fourth Hokage's wife. Wherever Kushina Uzumaki is right now, she's beyond our sight and reach."

Jiraiya's shoulders sagged in disappointment. "I see. Well, it was worth a shot. If you do pick up any leads on her, mind letting me know?"

Shikaku smiled. "Of course. I might not have been close with you or the Fourth Hokage and his family, but I know that Minato Namikaze was once a student of yours and that you remained on good terms with him and his wife throughout their lives, as tragically short as they wound up being. Should I find any information on either of them, I will find a way to pass it on to you."

Jiraiya nodded in appreciation. "I owe you one."

Shikaku stood up. "Having one of the Legendary Sannin in my debt? A rare honor indeed. Well, if you're looking to square up the account early, maybe you can help our medical Shinobi figure out a long-term solution to Asuma's condition."

"I've actually had a good deal of training in the healing arts since coming here," said Jiraiya as he joined him in leaving the booth, "but I'm afraid mending the long-term damage of a soul fracture is beyond my current capabilities."

"You still have some experience with the condition, if nothing else," Shikaku countered, "Perhaps your eyes will spot something that we've missed. I can hope, at least."

The dinner crowd had died down somewhat over the course of their long conversation, and it didn't take Shikaku long to find the waitress who had greeted them earlier and give her payment. Jiraiya's eyes narrowed as he saw Shikaku pass her a sum that was of a considerably higher amount than what their food and drink might suggest, and he realized something else was going on here.

"You have an arrangement with the people who run this joint, don't you?" he ventured as the two of them left the establishment, "That's why they had that private booth ready for us despite the onset of the dinner rush."

"That's right," Shikaku confirmed as he took the lead, with the two of them setting off down the central avenue and deeper into the village, "The hostess and her staff are all former Kunoichi. They're no longer active duty, but they've consented to acting as an unofficial asset of sorts. Their tavern's a good place to keep tabs on the local gossip and monitor the populace's mood about current events, and that private booth's well suited to interviews that might be best kept off the official record."

Jiraiya gave him a knowing smirk. "Interview, or interrogation?"

Shikaku chuckled. "Can't slip much past you. Hope you don't mind."

Jiraiya shrugged. "It's not a big deal. Given your responsibilities towards this village and my membership in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, I can understand wanting to sit me down for a little chat. Besides, the food and drink were good, and it was all out of your pocket. Would be rude to complain after getting a free meal out of it."

With evening setting in, the village became quieter as its inhabitants wrapped up their business and went indoors for the night. Walking with Shikaku past candlelit windows and streetside lanterns, Jiraiya allowed himself to bask in the tranquility. Sure, it wasn't the Hidden Leaf Village that he knew and loved, but it had just enough of the right feel to it to elicit a bittersweet upwelling in the Legendary Sannin. It made him homesick for the Realm of the Living that he had passed on from years ago, yet at the same time it granted him a gentle comfort. To know that a place like this existed in the afterlife, that he could come here again if he wanted to take a stroll down memory lane, gave him a sense of peace, one that Jiraiya wanted to share with another former Shinobi someday.

I imagine it'll be quite some time before Itachi's comfortable coming out here, he thought with a smile, and likely even longer before the people of this village accept him in their midst. Still, when he gets back from his mission, I'm definitely going to tell him about this place. Perhaps someday him, his mother and Shisui can pay this village a quiet visit and reminisce together. I doubt it'll be enough to help Itachi completely find the closure that he's looking for, but if it brings him one small step closer to it, then that alone is more than enough.

….

The village's medical facility turned out to be far more than a mere hospital. Situated to the west of the administrative complex where Shikaku had said the village's governing affairs were handled, it struck Jiraiya as something closer to the campus of Shin'ō Academy. Comprised of several buildings arrayed around a central courtyard, it had more than just the look of an advanced educational complex; even at this late hour, there was a pretty decent-sized mix of students, nurses and doctors milling around. Some were engaging in idle chatter, others hurriedly conferring and comparing notes as they briskly strode towards one of the pearl-white structures.

Jiraiya smiled as he realized what he was really seeing. "Impressive. You've got both a center for healing and a school specifically designed for medical Shinobi all in one here, don't you?"

"You catch on quick," Shikaku remarked as he led him through the courtyard, the two of them drawing more than a few curious gazes from the assorted onlookers, "As it turns out, dying in the field tends to change Shinobis' outlooks on many things, with the healing arts being foremost among them. Becoming medical Shinobi isn't typically the first choice for most ninja; for most Academy students and Genin, the role is hardly even in the back of their minds. I've found things to be quite different here in the Soul Society, and it's not too hard to imagine why."

Jiraiya nodded. "Nothing like death to really hammer home the value of having skilled healers available, or having some knowledge of even basic medicine and first aid. After experiencing all the horrors that Shinobi life can entail, I bet this place never lacks for recruits."

"It really doesn't," Shikaku confirmed, "In addition to the primary medical facilities and the training program for aspiring medical Shinobi, regular classes are held here to teach basic first aid to any willing to sign up. They offer refresher courses to us veterans as well, something that I can't recommend highly enough. Never know when that knowledge is going to come in handy. All the teachers and staff are highly experienced, and some of them come from rather unlikely backgrounds."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"We get a rather surprising amount of former ANBU members enrolling here," Shikaku explained, "Not the types that you'd typically expect to enter the role of medical Shinobi."

It was a bit jarring at first glance, but after a moment of consideration, Jiraiya suspected he had an answer to the motives for those unusual recruits. "I wonder if they're trying to balance their personal ledgers, if you will. After taking lives back when they were alive, maybe they're seeking to make amends by working to preserve life here."

Shikaku shrugged. "It's as good a reason as any to go into the profession, though I suspect some of them are more interested in deepening their deadly skills. This is more than just a place to learn how to patch up wounds or cure ailments; regular courses are held regarding all the known poisons one can encounter in both the Realms of the Living and the Soul Society. While this facility's function is first and foremost as a center of healing, aspiring assassins can learn quite a bit here."

"Good point," Jiraiya conceded, "Is there a screening process in place to weed out such individuals?"

"Yes and no," Shikaku replied, "The staff keeps an eye out for them and flags any potential troublemakers, but they're not outright turned away unless they're deemed to be a serious threat. This may be the afterlife, but we're still in a Shinobi village; those kinds of skills are still in demand. They always will be."

Jiraiya let loose a regretful sigh. "I wish that wasn't the case."

Shikaku nodded, the look in his eyes rather somber. "That makes two of us."

The two of them entered a four-story building at the north end of the broad courtyard, and Jiraiya found himself inside the lobby of a well-appointed hospital. There were only a few patients waiting to be seen at this hour, with most either sporting minor injuries or seeming to suffer from minor ailments. He followed Shikaku to the front desk, where a slender receptionist with light brown hair and innocent-looking blue eyes awaited them.

"Commander Nara, we've been expecting you," she said, briefly glancing at Jiraiya, "You're here for Asuma Sarutobi, right?"

"Correct," said Shikaku, "Is he stable and up for company?"

The receptionist nodded and smiled. "He is. His case was serious, but we managed to get it under control. The doctor has already cleared him for visitors, although he's to remain here to undergo follow-up treatment and observation for at least the next three days."

Jiraiya sighed with relief. "That's good to hear. I was getting worried for a bit there."

"Is he in the usual room?" asked Shikaku.

"Affirmative," the receptionist replied, "Second floor, west wing, room B5. Neji is still there with him. Perhaps you can convince him to head on home now that the immediate danger's past? He could probably use some rest."

Shikaku nodded. "I'll talk to him. Thanks for your time."

"Tsunade would be right at home in a place like this," said Jiraiya as he followed his companion towards the nearest flight of stairs.

"She'd be more than welcome here," Shikaku remarked, "I imagine a good deal of the staff would be quite excited about the prospect of working alongside her. Her habits might pose a bit of a problem, though; the chief physician here takes a dim view on his subordinates partaking in vices such as drinking and gambling."

Jiraiya shrugged. "If it's off the clock, nothing he can do about it, right?"

"Officially, yes," Shikaku answered as the two of them arrived on the second floor, "Still, I've met the man, and he's never shy about making his opinions known or hounding particular subordinates who act up in his eyes. The fact that he's good at his job and otherwise treats the staff well balances that out, but we're always worried that he might end up alienating some talent."

There wasn't much activity at this time of night as they worked their way through the main hall. They passed a few nurses who started gossiping excitedly the moment they thought Jiraiya and Shikaku were out of earshot, but if there were any other patients on this floor apart from the one that they were visiting, they kept to their rooms. A minute or so later, they were outside the room that the receptionist had directed them to. Shikaku gave a quick courtesy knock before opening the door.

"You decent?" he asked.

"As much as I can be," Asuma replied.

Stepping aside, Shikaku allowed Jiraiya to enter the room. Lying on the bed next to the window was Asuma, looking a bit pale but otherwise in fair condition. His clothes from before had been swapped out for a traditional hospital patient's gown, with his previous attire draped over one of the nearby chairs. Occupying one of the other chairs in the room was Neji, whose foot was tapping in agitation that quickly morphed into irritation when he laid eyes on Jiraiya.

"I was wondering if you'd come by here tonight at all," said the young Hyūga by way of greeting, "You two sure weren't in any hurry."

Shikaku shrugged in apology. "I was confident that the medics would be able to take care of things with their customary efficiency. Besides, I had a few things I needed to discuss with our guest before I could take him deeper into the village. You know how such affairs need to be handled, Neji."

Neji let out a sigh, and his demeanor eased somewhat. "Yes, I do. Forgive me. I was stuck being a spectator here while the medics did their work. I don't like playing the role of helpless bystander."

Asuma smiled. "Ease up on yourself, Neji. You helped make sure that I got here in time to be treated before things got worse. That's more than enough."

Stepping forward, Jiraiya fished a hand into one of his pockets and pulled out the token Itachi had given him before passing it to Neji. "I believe this is yours."

Neji's eyes widened slightly as he accepted the token. "I've been looking all over for this… where did you find it?"

"I didn't, actually," Jiraiya confessed, "A mutual friend stumbled across it and gave it to me. Figured it was only right that I make sure it found its way back to you."

Asuma's brow furrowed. "A mutual friend… not the way I'd ever expect to hear someone like you refer to Itachi Uchiha, Lord Jiraiya."

Jiraiya knew he had to tread carefully here. "Yeah, well, turns out things aren't quite as simple as we all once thought they were. It's a long story, but the short version… let's just say that there's a reason why Itachi's up here rather than down there, if you know what I mean."

Neji scowled in disdain. "What possible reason could there be for him to not be rotting in the deepest pits of hell? Were kin slaying and treason not vile enough crimes for whatever strange power decides whether our souls go here or below when our time comes?"

Jiraiya folded his arms. "Like I said, it's a long story. It's part of why Shikaku and I couldn't get here before now."

Shikaku nodded. "He's right. I know you've both got questions, and I can't blame you for that, but drop them for now. When I deem the time to be right, you'll get your answers."

Asuma and Neji traded somewhat confused looks, but they ultimately relented. The son of the Third Hokage propped himself up in his bed and leaned forward, studying Jiraiya intently.

"I didn't see you on the battlefield," he said, "Were you deployed in a different theater of the war?"

It took Jiraiya a moment for him to realize what he was talking about. "Ah, that. Actually, I got taken out a little after your first death. Never got revived, either, so I completely missed the Fourth Shinobi World War. I don't know if I should feel relieved or insulted about that."

"Relieved," Asuma replied with a grim look, "War is hell, and when you're brought back against your will to fight against old friends and your former students, it becomes a special kind of hell."

Jiraiya closed his eyes as he tried to imagine it. The mental image of him facing off with Naruto on the battlefield against his own will was conjured in his mind's eye, and he didn't like it one bit. Then again, he'd already faced something similar without resurrection involved.

Fighting Nagato was bad enough, he thought, and that was when both of us were willing combatants, although I certainly wasn't happy about it. I don't think he was, either. If that confrontation had been forced by a resurrection jutsu, it would've been even worse.

Jiraiya let out a heavy sigh as he opened his eyes. "Yeah, I suppose it would be."

Neji shook his head in disgust. "Edo Tensei… I don't know if there's ever been a more despicable jutsu invented."

Shikaku nodded. "It's definitely up there with the worst of forbidden jutsu. I'd love to know what the Second Hokage was thinking when he invented it. Yet another reason to find him, if he's even in the Soul Society."

Jiraiya recalled what he'd heard of the Third Hokage's final battle with Orochimaru. "If he is, he could be in a state similar to Asuma. Orochimaru revived both him and the First Hokage during his attack on the Leaf Village, meaning they both would've suffered soul fractures."

"But then where are their souls?" asked Shikaku, "The Third Hokage sealed both using the Reaper Death Seal. That might explain why we've yet to find the souls of the First or the Second Hokage."

Jiraiya scratched his chin in thought. "Maybe the Third as well, since the Shinigami of the Reaper Death Seal consumed his soul. Minato, too, if he really did use the technique when the Nine Tails attacked the village. Perhaps souls consumed or sealed by the Shinigami don't go to the Soul Society, or maybe some part of it that we've yet to discover. There's still so much we don't understand about how the afterlife really functions, especially in relation to our particular Realm of the Living and the various jutsus involving death and resurrection."

Neji shrugged. "Without more information, it's all just speculation at this point."

Asuma stretched his arms. "Well, I'd like to know more about it, if only to understand if there's a way to better treat my condition. Nothing against our medical Shinobi, but all they're really doing is addressing symptoms."

"It's all they can do," Shikaku pointed out, "It's the same with Dan and Chen. These episodes are just a fact of life you'll have to deal… or, fact of afterlife, I suppose."

Jiraiya's eyes narrowed. "That might not necessarily be true."

"What do you mean?" asked Neji.

Jiraiya turned to Asuma. "Itachi was also revived by Edo Tensei and suffered a soul fracture. Unlike you, he was in the middle of the Seireitei when it happened, and he got rushed to the Squad Four barracks. The healers there were able to keep his soul stable while they waited for the reanimation jutsu to be undone. Itachi's suffered none of the seizures that you have."

Shikaku folded his arms. "Yeah, but as you said, he got immediate treatment. Asuma, Dan, Chen; they weren't so lucky."

Asuma shrugged. "Depends on how you define luck. I was staying with a family in North 18 when I first arrived here, and they looked after the part of my soul that remained here while I was under the reanimation jutsu. Sure, they weren't healers like the people who watched over Itachi, but they made sure what remained of my soul was safe, so I can't ask for more than that."

Neji's brow furrowed. "I don't understand. After the reanimation, the fragments of your soul did reunite. You wouldn't have regained consciousness and found your way here otherwise. The same goes for Dan Katō and Old Master Chen. Yet you three continue to suffer after-effects while Itachi apparently does not. Is it really the treatment that made the difference?"

"It must have," Asuma replied, "I can't think of anything else."

The wheels in Jiraiya's head were turning, but he needed more information before he could determine if his potential solution was viable. "Asuma, how exactly have you felt ever sense the reanimation was undone?"

Asuma paused for a moment as he carefully considered his answer. "Well, it was good to be conscious again, but… even after the part of my soul that was called back to the Shinobi World by the jutsu returned, I always felt like something was missing or off inside me. Like there's this small empty space within that's throwing the rest of me out of balance. Whenever I have one of my seizures, I can always sense something emanating from that space the second before it happens. It's… it's hard to put into words. Like sudden onrushes of both extreme cold and heat together, then my nerves feel like they're on fire… and that empty space grows just a little bit bigger each time."

Jiraiya looked at Shikaku. "Back at the gate, that woman, Ryo Inuzuka… she said she thought that it was supposed to be longer before Asuma's next episode. The growing frequency in the seizures might be related to that ever-increasing empty space inside his soul."

Shikaku nodded. "It's plausible. I'm no medical Shinobi or expert on soul fractures, though, so I can't really prove or disprove that theory."

Neji eyed Asuma with concern. "Is there anything more that can be done? I know the medics have had years to refine their methods of treating this condition, but we're clearly seeing an escalation here. The seizures are happening more often, and if this empty space in Asuma's soul continues to grow, even if it's at an incremental pace, the long-term damage could be severe… possibly fatal."

Asuma tried to give him a reassuring smile, but it struck Jiraiya as half-hearted; try as he might to put on a front, he was clearly worried. "The medics are doing more than just treating my symptoms. They've got an entire research team scouring that underground library looking for information on my condition. They'll find something, Neji. In the meantime, our medical Shinobi here are doing a fine job of keeping me going."

Neji was unconvinced. "So you're content to maintain this status quo? I cannot accept that."

"We don't exactly have much choice in the matter," Shikaku muttered in resignation.

The image of a certain lovely yet deadly healer flashed through Jiraiya's mind. "Not necessarily. Shikaku, mind if we have a quick word in private?"

Shikaku arched an eyebrow in curiosity. "You have something?"

"Possibly," said Jiraiya as he nodded towards the door, "Let's step outside."

They did so, with Asuma and Neji giving them puzzled looks but saying nothing. Closing the door behind him, Jiraiya led Shikaku down the hall a little way until they found an empty break room. The Legendary Sannin leaned against the wall next to a window where rays of moonlight were filtering in, while Shikaku sat on the edge of a nearby table.

"Well, out with it," said Shikaku, "What have you got, and why the need for secrecy?"

"Not a what, but a who," Jiraiya replied, "I know someone who has experience with soul fractures, and she's a phenomenal healer… best in all the Soul Society, I'd wager."

Shikaku's eyes widened as realization hit him. "No… not Squad Four's Captain…"

Jiraiya smiled. "You know of her, then?"

Shikaku nodded. "Of course. Her name gets around. We all know her reputation as a skilled healer, but she's a Soul Reaper, Jiraiya. I can tell you right now how village leadership will react to bringing one into our midst."

Jiraiya gestured to his black robes and Zanpakutō. "What's that make me, then?"

Shikaku rolled his eyes. "This is different, and you know it. I can justify bringing you in here because of your past life as a famous Leaf Village Shinobi. I can't do that with another Soul Reaper, let alone a Captain. The Council, Chief Councilor, the General; they'll all firmly veto it. It's just too much of a security risk in their eyes."

Jiraiya took a deep breath. "I understand their desire for caution, but what about Asuma? What about Dan, Chen, and anyone else who's suffering from the aftereffects of a soul fracture? Continued isolation is going to condemn them to a worsening of their condition, and for all we know it could ultimately be fatal. Maybe not today, but years down the line. You're just going to leave him to his fate in the name of security?"

Shikaku sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Don't get me wrong; I sympathize with Asuma's situation, and I want to help find a way for him to fully recover from it, or at least keep it from becoming fatal. What you're suggesting though is a bridge too far."

Jiraiya gave him a sly smirk. "What I'm suggesting? You actually haven't heard my complete proposal, Shikaku. Care to let me actually lay it out in full before you try shooting it down?"

"Fine, then," said Shikaku warily, "Let's hear it."

"You and the village want to keep this place hidden from the Soul Society," Jiraiya began, "I completely get that. There's still a way to get Asuma the help he needs without jeopardizing security. He's going to be confined here for a bit, but he'll eventually be released, right?"

Shikaku nodded cautiously. "Go on."

"After his release, how long until he'll be back in the field?" asked Jiraiya.

Shikaku chuckled. "Not long at all. The man likes to keep busy, although I think part of it's because of Neji. The boy's restless; always has been since coming here. When Asuma goes out to patrol, he usually takes Neji with him. Says it helps him focus his energy, and I think he likes having a young Shinobi to play mentor to. I'm sure the medics would prefer that Asuma remain in the village even after being discharged from the hospital, but they won't take concrete action to keep him here."

Jiraiya smiled. "Good, because that means we can make this work. While I'd certainly like to bring Unohana to this village, I can compromise with your security needs. We just need to find a nice little spot in this particular slice of the Rukon District that can serve as both a meeting place and somewhere that an examination and treatment can be performed. Out of sight, of course."

Jiraiya could practically see the sparks flying within Shikaku's mind. "We maintain a series of safehouses, both in this part of the Rukon District and others. One of them could serve that purpose easily enough. We're not exactly supposed to invite Soul Reaper Captains to them… but the Council doesn't need to know about it until after the fact. It'll be much easier to justify that than trying to get permission to bring one into the village itself."

Jiraiya smirked. "Now you're getting with the program. Exposing a single safehouse to a Soul Reaper isn't so big of a deal, is it? You guys can always scope out another to replace it. The Rukon District has no shortage of haunts you can use for such a purpose."

Shikaku nodded, though he still didn't seem completely sold. "Wouldn't exactly be hard, but… Jiraiya, this Captain… how much do you trust her? Even if she doesn't know where the village itself is, depending on what she reports to the Central Forty-Six, this could still cause us quite a bit of trouble."

Jiraiya smiled. "What makes you think she'll report anything to the Central Forty-Six to begin with? I might not be one of her direct subordinates, but I've actually been working on a special project with her for several years now… one that we've been deliberately keeping out of sight of the Central Forty-Six. She's discreet, Shikaku, and she's trustworthy. I give you my word on that."

Shikaku was quiet for a long moment. "I'd be taking a big risk here, Jiraiya. I know you were devoted to the Leaf Village when you were alive, and I'd like to believe that same devotion remains, but you're a Soul Reaper now. You have divided loyalties, whether you want to admit it or not."

Jiraiya shook his head. "I can balance both, and I think you know that. Otherwise, you wouldn't be entertaining this little scheme of mine."

Shikaku folded his arms. "Even so… what makes you think that someone as renowned as Captain Unohana would come all the way out to North 67 just to heal someone who's not even a Soul Reaper? Forget the questions that would be raised should she come out here. Would she even be willing to consider this in the first place?"

"She would, actually," Jiraiya replied confidently, "and for a very simple reason; curiosity. Captain Unohana is always eager to further expand on her knowledge in the medical field, something she's been keen to emphasize with me over the course of our private project. She's had firsthand exposure to the immediate effects of a soul fracture, and I think she'd be quite interested in observing the condition of Asuma. Getting her to play along here won't actually be as difficult as you seem to think it might be."

He could tell that Shikaku was wavering, but the man wasn't completely willing to relinquish his skepticism just yet. "If she agrees, would she really be able to help here? You just said that she's dealt with soul fractures when they occur, but this is one that happened years ago and didn't properly heal. This is a very different sort of problem than what she treated Itachi for. Can she do this?"

"I won't make promises," Jiraiya replied, "She's the greatest healer in the Soul Society for a reason, but there's only so much that she can do. There's the very real possibility that, because of just how long Asuma and the others have suffered from this condition, she might only be able to improve on the current treatment regimen. Maybe help keep him stable over the long term. I can't guarantee that she'd be able to address the root issue here. That being said, I still believe that giving her a chance to examine Asuma is the right thing to do. If there exists the possibility of permanently treating his condition, I think the best odds of it rest with Captain Unohana."

Shikaku stroked his goatee as he weighed his options. "The Council would see this as too much of a gamble, and so would the Chief Councilor and the General… but I don't have to report to them on every decision I make. At the very least, I can act on my own initiative and bring them the news after all's said and done. Being an experienced field commander has its perks. Besides, it's always easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission. What's the worst they can do? Demote me? That'd probably give me more free-time… they'd be doing me a damn favor."

Jiraiya grinned. "You're game, then?"

Shikaku let out a long breath, but he eventually smiled. "Yeah, I suppose I am. We'll trial run this with just Asuma. If things go well, we can see about making a similar arrangement for Dan and Chen. I've got a particular safehouse in mind that should have everything we need for this. I'll get you a map with its location before you head out tonight. We'll compartmentalize this as much as possible; aside from you and your Captain, the only ones in the know will be me, Asuma and Neji."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "I'm not worried about Asuma, but will Neji play ball on this?"

Shikaku nodded. "He will. He's more worried about Asuma than he is about village regulations. If this is the best shot to address his condition in the long-term, then he'll do everything he can to help. Your involvement will probably make it easier to get him on board."

Jiraiya was intrigued. "How so?"

"Your last apprentice left something of an impression on him," Shikaku explained, "Naruto taught Neji that our fates aren't necessarily written in stone, and I think he'll see this as a way to change Asuma's fate. Knowing that you were the one who taught Naruto, both in the runup to the final stage of the Chūnin Exams and for those years you two spent away from the village… I think he might be intrigued by you, in his own way."

Shikaku's earlier words regarding Neji echoed in Jiraiya's mind. "You said that he's been restless since coming to the village, right? Any idea what's driving that?"

"Hard to say," Shikaku replied, "Neji was a loyal and talented Leaf Village Shinobi in his first life. One of our prized geniuses, as you may recall. He's been diligent in both his training and duties ever since finding his way here, and I believe he has great potential ahead of him. In fact, I'd say he recognizes that as well, and that might be where the problem resides. The Council, Chief Councilor and General have all striven to keep this new Hidden Leaf Village of ours off the map, as it were. That's all well and good for those of us who can appreciate the value of a quiet life away from the prying eyes of the Seireitei, but I suspect Neji's not among them. He's almost always out in the field, more often than not in the company of Asuma. If I had to guess… I'd say he's feeling caged here."

"Would he be allowed to leave?" asked Jiraiya, "I know he has official duties here, but surely there are provisions for time off. Even us Soul Reapers get vacations, you know? Maybe he needs to get out an explore a bit. A little holiday might be in order for him. He does strike me as the type that works too hard and doesn't know how to really relax and unwind."

Shikaku shook his head. "We're allowed to go on leave, but I don't think that would really solve this issue. I agree that he could probably do with a little vacation, but at this point that would probably make things worse for him. The real problem here, Jiraiya, is that his duties here are limited in scope. Patrolling the region, helping fend off Hollows; there's not much room for him to really stretch out and push himself. Unlike the Leaf Village back in our Realm of the Living, the one here is rather isolationist. A natural consequence of our particular situation, perhaps, but for younger Shinobi who want to see just what they can really do, those who were struck down before they could truly reach their peak in life… our seclusion out here can be quite confining, even stifling."

Jiraiya scratched his chin. "Has Neji complained about it at all?"

"Not directly," Shikaku answered, "but it hasn't been all that difficult to read between the lines. He always carries out his responsibilities without fuss, yet he's clearly not satisfied with them. His gravitation towards assignments that consistently take him away from the village itself clearly indicates a desire to spread his wings. I think he feels some kind of an obligation to keep an eye on Asuma, perhaps out of respect for his old friends. Should Captain Unohana be able to provide a long-term solution to Asuma's particular ailment, then that obligation will be resolved. From there, I suspect he might become more openly agitated should his afterlife continue on its current trajectory. He hasn't said as much, but I believe he needs a broader horizon… one that you might be able to provide."

It took a moment for Jiraiya to grasp the full implication. "You want me to approach him about becoming a Soul Reaper? I thought the last thing Leaf Shinobi in the afterlife wanted to do was join our organization."

"Most would rather steer clear," Shikaku clarified, "There are always exceptions to the rule. You and Itachi certainly qualify, as do Shisui and Mikoto Uchiha. Given Neji's current abilities and his untapped potential, I think he'd be open to the prospect of recruitment."

"And the village higher-ups would just let that happen?" asked Jiraiya, now taking Shikaku's role as the skeptical one, "A gifted Hyūga like Neji isn't an asset that the Hidden Leaf Village of our world would have let slip through their fingers easily. I can't imagine things are different here."

Shikaku gave a brief laugh. "Don't you remember where we are, Jiraiya? This is the afterlife, and while Neji is a genius, he's not the only one that the Hyūga Clan's ever produced. Souls have far greater longevity than living humans, and this village has more than its fair share of gifted Hyūga inhabiting and protecting it. I think we could survive letting one fly free from the nest. The village leaders certainly have high hopes for Neji's career as a Shinobi in the afterlife, but they should not be the sole arbiters of his fate."

Something about this didn't sit right with Jiraiya. "You were awfully wary of me earlier because of the fact that I became a Soul Reaper, but now you're turning around and saying you want Neji to join the Thirteen Court Guard Squads? This is about more than whatever dissatisfaction he's feeling with his current situation, isn't it? What game are you playing here, Shikaku?"

Shikaku shrugged. "I see no problem with being honest about it, at least with you. Truth be told, while I enjoy my share of field work, my real role in this village is of a more shadowy nature. Rather fitting, given the powers of the Nara Clan. Danzō's Root organization might be destroyed, but we still recognize that certain missions are best accomplished in the dark."

"Get to the point already," said Jiraiya, his tone sharpening.

"It's simple, really," Shikaku replied, "For quite some time now, we've been thinking about trying to get one of our own within the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. Monitoring the Seireitei and Soul Reapers from a safe distance only accomplishes so much. Having a source of information on the inside is so much more effective. His skills combined with the power of the Byakugan make Neji an ideal spy. With his prowess, making it through the Academy would be no problem at all, and I'm sure he'd be seen as a valuable recruit by every unit in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. If taking on such a role helps Neji deal with his unrest and find a new purpose, so much the better."

Jiraiya shook his head. "Forget all of that for a moment. The power of the Byakugan is a double-edge sword here. It serves Neji well, yes, but as soon as word gets out to the Central Forty-Six, it's going to make him a target. We spoke earlier of how conservative they were, remember? They don't react well to powers that are outside their conventional understanding. Itachi, Shisui and Mikoto have been keeping the Sharingan under wraps because they don't want to draw the wrong kind of attention. They have the advantage of being able to conceal their Kekkei Genkai. Neji can't do that; no Hyūga can. As soon as they realize that his white eyes don't mean that he's blind, and in fact quite the opposite, they're going to detain him for some very thorough questioning, if you take my meaning."

Shikaku nodded. "Oh, I very much do. There's a simple workaround, though; we have Neji fake blindness. Give him something to cover his eyes, and he can pretend that he's covering up some nasty scars out of a sense of modesty and shame. In the Soul Society's long history, I can't imagine that he'd be their first 'blind' Soul Reaper."

"Probably not," Jiraiya conceded, "However, would he even consent to being used as a spy? Remember who his Jōnin leader and mentor was. Might Guy was known for favoring the most direct approach to matters, and his team focused on physical combat. You'll be asking Neji to take on a role that flies in the face of how he was trained."

"I won't be asking him to sneak into private meetings or anything like that," Shikaku argued, "He'll be able to employ his talents in fighting Hollows, something that I think he'd actually welcome if his behavior in field operations is any indication. All he'd really be doing for us is just keeping an eye and ear open for news and monitoring the current strategic trends of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. Soul Reapers can leave the Seireitei at will, so once he graduates from the Academy it would be a simple matter for us to arrange rendezvous points out in the Rukon District so he could meet with Leaf Village Shinobi and deliver reports."

Jiraiya closes his eyes, unable to suppress his unease. "I don't like this. I get your reasoning, but still… something about this scheme doesn't sit right."

When he opened his eyes, he saw Shikaku looking at him with both sympathy and resolve. "Like I said before, whether you want to admit it or not, you have divided loyalties here. You told me that you can balance them; now's your chance to prove it. I give you my word that I have no intention of ordering Neji to act in a manner that would sabotage the operations of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. Misgivings about the organization's brutal history aside, the work of Soul Reapers is vital and I don't want to disrupt it. That being said, I can still recognize the potential for them to be a threat and act accordingly. If all goes well, the village will continue to remain concealed from their prying eyes, and this will simply be an indefinite observation mission."

"One that Neji will be stuck with for the rest of his afterlife," Jiraiya pointed out, "You've studied the Thirteen Court Guards from a distance, but you know enough to be aware of our policy on 'retirement'. Shinobi should be no strangers to long-term missions, but this one would be permanent. Such an assignment should be volunteer-only, and there needs to be full-disclosure about what it would entail."

Shikaku smiled. "That was my plan from the start. If Neji does not consent, then I'll scrap the entire thing without fuss. I simply saw him as the ideal candidate, especially since you could serve as an intermediary and a means to ease him into the Seireitei. Potential recruits may be free to enter the Seireitei on the day of the recruitment exams at will, but having a Soul Reaper serve as a sponsor of sorts would certainly raise Neji's profile and make him a more attractive recruitment target for the Captains. Don't tell me you hadn't already considered that."

Jiraiya chuckled. "Oh, I definitely had. Although… a recommendation from me might be something of a mixed blessing."

Shikaku smirked. "Still getting yourself into trouble with the ladies? Given that your books have found their way out here, that wouldn't surprise me in the least."

Jiraiya laughed. "My reputation really does precede me these days! Well, no such thing as bad publicity, I suppose."

"Sordid literary pursuits and research habits aside, I think we both know that your reputation as a whole is one to be respected," said Shikaku, "You were first and foremost a powerful Shinobi back in our Realm of the Living, and I have no doubt that you've become a powerful Soul Reaper here. The ease with which you helped us finish off those Hollows earlier today is proof enough of that. I know that your obligations mean that you cannot serve our new Hidden Leaf Village in an official capacity now, but I believe you'd still make a valuable ally. Shinobi and Soul Reapers don't have to be at cross purposes. You and the three Uchiha who've joined the ranks of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads are ample evidence of that."

Jiraiya looked out the window at the gleaming moon as he considered the matter. "An unofficial alliance between Shinobi and Soul Reapers, playing out in the shadows… it's actually quite fitting, really. My allegiance isn't to the stifling old fools of the Central Forty-Six; it's to the souls that need our protection. If Soul Reapers and Shinobi could eventually work together, covering each other's blind spots and sharing information, learning from and growing to understand each other… we could do so much good, both in the afterlife and across the Realms of the Living. Perhaps someday, we could do all of that openly rather than having to be sneaky about it."

Shikaku sighed. "I don't know about that last bit. Can't see the Central Forty-Six changing their ways anytime soon. Your Head Captain, too; if his reputation's to be believed, he's as unflinchingly devoted to enforcing that council's decrees as he is extraordinarily powerful."

Jiraiya shrugged. "I'm not saying either will change anytime soon. This would be a long and drawn-out process. Still, over time, I think things could change. Besides, no one's truly immortal, even in the afterlife. The Head Captain, the wisemen and judges of the committee… they won't be around forever. They've ruled for so long that their authority is simply accepted as a matter of fact, an eternal constant, and no one ever contemplates a future without them. I think we should, though."

Shikaku's eyes narrowed. "Something you're trying to say here? You were never known to possess serious ambitions or aspirations towards power back when you were alive… but if I'm reading between the lines correctly, it sounds like that might no longer be the case."

Jiraiya grinned. "And if it is? If I decided to pursue positions of greater authority and influence, what would be your response?"

"To welcome it," Shikaku replied, "One of the two Legendary Sannin that remained loyal to the Hidden Leaf Village ascending the Soul Society's military and political food-chain? I would very much be interested in seeing how that plays out, and in offering support if possible. Your refusal to take the position of Hokage back when you were alive was perhaps one of the Leaf Village's greatest missed opportunities. If you're telling me that a rise to official power inside the Soul Society is on your agenda, then I think it'd be in the Leaf Village's best interests to back you from the shadows."

Jiraiya gave him a guileless smile that said both nothing and everything. "Well, it's just some idle musings on my part for now. Should my efforts become serious, I might reach out to you. That's all for the future, though. We have much more immediate concerns to attend to, wouldn't you agree?"

Shikaku nodded. "I would. Let's go run this sneaky healer plan of yours by Asuma and Neji first. If this pans out, then I'll see if Neji's up for Academy enrollment under your wing. Don't worry, I won't pressure him into it. I'll lay things out, hold nothing back, and let him make up his own mind."

Jiraiya smirked, his mind already racing back to the Seireitei. "The next few days are going to be very interesting!"

….

Very early the next morning…

With a deceptively gentle smile, Retsu Unohana pulled her blade back from her visitor's neck and sheathed it. "Awfully bold of you to try sneaking into my room in the dead of night, Jiraiya. I cut down men for far less in the distant past."

Jiraiya smirked, though Unohana could not help but notice how he nervously rubbed the spot on his neck where her steel had kissed his skin. "What can I say? I like to live dangerously!"

"I've noticed," Unohana casually replied as she slid the door shut behind him, "I trust you are here for something very important, Jiraiya. If this is a mere social call, then you shall find me less than hospitable, to put it mildly."

Jiraiya quickly raised his hands. "It's completely serious, I promise!"

Unohana let out a sigh as she smoothed over the covers of her futon before sitting atop it while motioning for Jiraiya to take the cushion she saved for any evening guests she had to entertain, more often than not Isane after she'd had one of her weird dreams. "Well, let's dispense with the pleasantries. Unless I miss my guess, I daresay we only have a few hours before dawn. Seems you've had yourself quite the eventful night if you're rushing here before the sun can rise."

Jiraiya nodded. "That's one way to put it. Sorry for dropping in like this, but… well, it's very important. I found someone who I think could use your help. In fact, you're probably the only person in the entire Soul Society that can help him."

Unohana leaned forward slightly. "If you're coming specifically to me, would I be right in assuming that the aid required is medical in nature?"

"Hit the nail on the head," Jiraiya confirmed, "but it's… well, a bit more complicated than that."

"Given that it compelled you to sneak into the Squad Four barracks for a private audience with me, that should go without saying," Unohana remarked, "Make your case, Jiraiya, and you will have my verdict."

He did just that as Unohana patiently sat back and listened. She couldn't help but be intrigued as he laid out the events of the past several hours, and while she suspected that he was leaving some details out, there was enough for her to work with. By the time he was done, her mind was racing. Still, she couldn't appear to be too eager to play ball; she didn't want Jiraiya to conclude from this that she was easily swayed.

"A most peculiar case," she said at last, "It would certainly pose a challenge, though I would need to assess the patient in person to properly assess if this is within my capabilities to treat. Why go through all this trouble, though? While most denizens of the Rukon District are denied entry to the Seireitei unless they come on sanctioned business, Soul Reapers have considerable latitude for bringing in visitors."

Jiraiya sighed. "Shinobi are wary by nature. Given the reputation of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, I'm sure you can understand their desire for such precautions."

"I do," Unohana conceded, "but by that same token, I might also be wary of Shinobi. Do not get me wrong; you and the Uchiha in Squad Two have certainly made a positive impression, and I am inclined to give others of a similar background the benefit of the doubt. That being said for someone of my position to accede to such a request would invite both undue attention and no small degree of risk."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "You and I both know that you're more than capable of defending yourself should the worst come to pass. You're not seriously afraid, are you?"

"I never said anything about fear," Unohana calmly countered, "I'm simply mindful of the delicate nature of this situation. A Captain wandering into the midst of Shinobi who are distrustful of Soul Reapers? That is a recipe for conflict if matters aren't handled appropriately. There is also the matter of the Central Forty-Six to consider. Theoretically, all Captains have a great degree of freedom in their off hours, but I am monitored and restricted to a considerable degree. My knowledge and skills are considered to be highly prized assets for the Soul Society, and those who govern our affairs are reluctant to see them put at risk. If word of my partaking in the excursion that you desire gets out, I will likely find myself under greater observation and constraints. That is something I very much wish to avoid, for reasons that I imagine you can understand quite well."

Jiraiya nodded. "I suppose I can. Perhaps I'm out of line in asking you to go out on a limb like this, but you're the only one I can turn to here. Asuma… he's been dealing with this for years now, and it's clearly getting worse. The medical aid he has access to simply isn't cutting it. You're the game-changer here."

Unohana took a deep breath. "I can appreciate the confidence you have in my abilities, Jiraiya, but it is important to be realistic about the situation here. Even my powers have their limits, and a case like that of this Shinobi… suffice to say that the body of medical knowledge available on such peculiar circumstances is very limited."

Jiraiya sighed. "I know that what I'm asking of you might not be possible. The lack of immediate stabilizing treatment when he first suffered the soul fracture alone makes his case markedly different from that of Itachi's. Combine that with the years of gradual deterioration, and I'm well aware that a full restoration could be out of our reach. Even so, if anyone has so much as the slightest chance of proving otherwise, it's you. I have no doubt of that."

Unohana allowed a slight smirk to appear on her face. "Well, your flattery aside, I confess that this does strike me as quite the intriguing challenge. So far outside of what I usually see in my patients… if nothing else, it's worth investigating simply for what I could glean from it and add to my body of knowledge."

Jiraiya smiled hopefully. "You'll do it, then?"

Unohana inclined her head. "I will, yes."

Jiraiya bowed deeply. "Thank you, Captain Unohana. I'm in your debt."

Unohana held up a hand. "No need for such formalities, Jiraiya. I might be a Captain, but I am first and foremost a healer. You've brought to me news of a patient who might only be able to find salvation by my hands, and one that you clearly have a strong emotional stake in seeing saved. How could I say now to such a heartfelt request?"

"Even so, I owe you one," Jiraiya replied, "If you ever need a favor, simply name it."

Unohana brought her hand to her lips and let out a small laugh. "Oh, my goodness! How interesting… whatever shall I ask of you? I'm not accustomed to being granted such largesse."

A familiar playful smirk graced Jiraiya's visage. "As long as it doesn't involve anything too painful, I'm game for anything!"

"Of that, I have no doubt," said Unohana, her mind already abuzz with ideas, "In any case, it's something I can ponder later. For the moment, your friend's condition is the more pressing matter, as is the journey I must undertake to reach him. Sneaking out of the Seireitei for such a trek… I must say, I'm quite looking forward to this!"

….

A few days later…

Looking over his shoulder as he and his companion leapt between rooftops, Jiraiya smiled. "Enjoying the chance to stretch your legs?"

Behind him, wrapped in a dark cloak, Unohana's blue eyes gleamed in the moonlight. "Quite so. It's been years since I was last out this way. I'd forgotten how pleasant the scenery can be in some of the outer districts."

Jiraiya chuckled. "Well, if you were so desperate for a stroll, you should've said something sooner! I'm always up for taking a lovely woman on a scenic walk."

Beneath the shadow of the cloak, Unohana smiled. "Perhaps I'll take you up on that sometime."

Things were going better than Jiraiya had hoped. Before he had returned to the Seireitei from the afterlife's Hidden Leaf Village, he had gotten both a map for the safehouse that their meeting would take place in along with a date for the rendezvous. The delay of a few days had proven a blessing, as it had given Jiraiya and Unohana time to plan their little excursion so as to minimize the risk of drawing the suspicious eyes of their fellow Soul Reapers. They'd departed the Seireitei as the sun was setting, and while Jiraiya was travelling openly as a Soul Reaper, Unohana had garbed herself in a fine violet robe and black cloak that an onlooker would more readily associate with an aristocrat rather than Squad Four's Captain. As far as any passersby or sentries had been concerned, Jiraiya was simply taking a lady friend out for a night on the town.

My reputation has its perks, he mused, although I'm sure Captain Kyōraku will have some questions once word gets around that I was spotted in the company of a presumed noblewoman…

Pausing atop one of the squat dwellings that predominated North Rukon 67, he pulled out the map Shikaku had given him and checked their position. Scanning his surroundings, his gaze focused on a humble and slightly dilapidated shack a short distance from their current location. It was situated along the shore of a creek, with a few slender trees drooping overhead.

Following his eyes, it didn't take Unohana long to come to the right conclusion. "That's the safehouse, then?"

Jiraiya nodded. "It is. I was told that it looks better on the inside."

"We shall find out if that's true soon enough," said Unohana.

A single Flash Step carried the two of them to their destination, and Jiraiya tapped the door. After a few seconds passed with no response, he cautiously slid the door open. Stepping inside, he found himself in a modest single room home, with a futon laid out against the far wall, a few cushions spread around a firepit with a cooking pot mounted between two iron stakes, and a window that looked out upon the creek behind the dwelling. A few lanterns hung from the ceiling, unlit and gently swaying back and forth as a light breeze passed through the open window.

"It's been cleaned recently," Unohana noted as she knelt beside the firepit and lowered the hood of her cloak, "There's even fresh wood for a fire here."

"Food stores, too," Jiraiya added as he examined a few sacks tucked away in a corner and found them to be stuffed with rations before turning his attention to the lanterns, "There's oil in here as well. They must have had someone prep this place within the last day or so."

Unohana looked around the dwelling. "A ramshackle outward appearance likely convinces thieves and scavengers that there's nothing of value to be found here, and it's far enough out of the way that it lacks an appeal to squatters. Most souls prefer to reside in the larger residential areas, if for no other reason than to increase one's odds for survival should Hollows appear. After all, with so many other souls around, one has a chance to slip away in the confusion of such an attack if they're clever and quick enough. Your former Shinobi friends have chosen their safehouse quite well."

"Well, what did you expect?" asked Jiraiya as he glanced out the back window, "We are good at this sort of thing."

"True enough, given the nature of your old profession," Unohana conceded, "How much longer until they arrive?"

Using the moon's current position to judge the time, Jiraiya made an educated guess. "Likely no more than an hour at the most."

"Then let us get comfy," said Unohana as she sat on one of the cushions situated around the fire, "Do you mind starting a fire, Jiraiya? I'd like some light to review my notes by in preparation for whatever treatment your friend requires."

It didn't take Jiraiya long to kindle a modest blaze in the firepit and light the lanterns dangling overhead, and as he stepped back to admire his handiwork, he saw Unohana pull a small journal out of her robes. With her focused on making sure that her mind would be sharp when the time came to perform her work, Jiraiya took it upon himself to act as their sentry. His gaze flickered back and forth between the cracked door and the rear window, and he stretched out with his senses to check for signs of Shikaku, Asuma or Neji's spirit energy. Glancing at Unohana, he saw the handle of her sword poking out from beneath her cloak, and despite her seemingly relaxed demeanor he knew that she could draw it at the drop of a pin if needed.

Hopefully, we can avoid that, he thought, I can't see Shikaku or the others doing anything to provoke her, but even so… this is going to be a rather tense first encounter.

How he wished that the Third Hokage had been residing in the village Shikaku had taken him to. Although the old man had failed to reach a diplomatic solution in time to resolve the conflict between the Hidden Leaf Village and the Uchiha Clan, Jiraiya believed that Hiruzen Sarutobi would've served as an ideal mediator for this current situation. His thoughtful and deliberate approach to delicate matters such as negotiation would've gone a long way towards easing any potential friction between Soul Reapers and Shinobi. Thankfully, Jiraiya knew that Unohana could be trusted to keep a cool head. She was gentle and patient; it would take much to provoke her. Even so, he couldn't help but worry.

As if reading his thoughts, Unohana posed a question. "Just how well do you know the patient and the Shinobi who will be escorting him? Do you trust them?"

Jiraiya nodded. "I wasn't particularly close to them when I was alive, but I do trust them. The patient in particular; he's the son of my old mentor. As for the other two, one's a wily veteran commander who's always been dedicated to the Hidden Leaf Village and its Shinobi, while the others a young man who was a friend of my last student. I won't say that any of us are the best of friends, but they're all good people. They're just going to be on edge here, and not without reason."

Unohana understood what he was getting at. "Yes, I imagine a life of combat and espionage would make one wary, especially of an organization like the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. Given the efforts you have gone through to keep from divulging the location where they're residing, it is clear that you take their concerns quite seriously. You're attempting to walk a very fine line here, Jiraiya."

"I am," Jiraiya conceded, "Shikaku said something similar. He told me my loyalties are divided, and he's not wrong. Still, I think they can be reconciled. At the very least, I don't believe that Soul Reapers and Shinobi should be enemies. There's a lot that we can accomplish by working together."

Unohana smiled. "I would concur with that assessment. You and Itachi alone have proven to be tremendous assets to our forces, as have Shisui and Mikoto. Even if more Shinobi don't join the ranks of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, having an allied force out in the Rukon District would still be a tremendous boon for us. Of course, first we must build bridges and establish a working partnership, actions that will be far from easy to accomplish."

"That's part of why I came to you for this," Jiraiya told her, "Yes, your healing abilities are crucial here, but you also have an open mind that many of the higher-ups lack. Any kind of outreach between us and Shinobi in the Soul Society is going to be a delicate affair, and it'll have to kept out of the eyes of the Head Captain and the Central Forty-Six. It'd be all too easy for them to kill any form of collaboration and diplomacy before it even has a chance to live."

Squad Four's Captain inclined her head. "Well spoken. Fortunately, you and I are no strangers to keeping secrets from our superiors. Our efforts to turn you into Squad Eight's unofficial healer are proof enough of that. Speaking of which, there's something I've been meaning to discuss with you for some time now regarding this little program of ours."

Jiraiya arched an eyebrow in curiosity. "Oh? What would that be?"

"Your skills have advanced to the point that not only do I believe you're now more than capable of improving them on your own, but that you've essentially proven that the aims of this program are viable," Unohana replied, "Captain Kyōraku has been keeping me apprised of your progress over the years, and Squad Eight now considers you to be just as valuable as a healer as you are a combatant. As proof of concept, you've been an overwhelming success. I feel that it's now time to take things to the next phase."

Jiraiya smiled. "Well, I like what I'm hearing so far. What did you have in mind for the next step?"

"I wish to take on a student from another unit," Unohana answered, "I have a few candidates in mind, but I wanted to know if you know of anyone who might also serve our aims here. Also, I believe your talents in the healing arts are now at the level where you might be able to serve as an instructor in this covert project of ours as well. While I tutor another student, would you perhaps be willing to pass your skills on to others?"

Jiraiya whistled. "Well, I appreciate your faith in my abilities, but taking on students of my own? Hadn't really thought of that. Don't think I'd be able to match up to you as a Kaidō teacher."

Unohana shook her head. "Don't sell yourself short, Jiraiya. You are more than proficient enough now to pass along the basics, along with some more advanced knowledge. I think you know this just as well as I do."

Jiraiya considered it for a moment. "Well, when you put it that way… I guess it couldn't hurt to try. Balancing that with the rest of my schedule might be a bit tricky, but I think I can find a way to make it work. I do have someone in mind within Squad Eight, although with her natural talents for Kidō, she'll more than likely surpass me in short order."

Unohana's eyes gleamed in comprehension. "You speak of the young girl that Captain Kyōraku's taken under his wing. Nanao Ise was her name, correct?"

Jiraiya nodded. "Yeah, she's the one. She and I get along pretty well, so I doubt she'd object to lessons from me. Knowing her, she'll probably find it fun. She does have an appetite for learning, after all."

Unohana smiled. "I'm sure she'll make a fine student for you. As for who you'd recommend from another unit that I take on, does anyone readily come to mind?"

Jiraiya took a few seconds to ponder the matter. "Actually… I might have someone who'd be interested in it. Her Captain would readily go along with it, too; there'd be no risk whatsoever in apprising her of our goals. In fact, she might be able to recommend other candidates, both in her unit and others."

"I presume this Soul Reaper and her Captain both have names, do they not?" Unohana pressed.

"The one I've got in mind is Mikoto Uchiha," Jiraiya replied.

Unohana's eyes widened slightly. "Itachi's mother… she is now Squad Two's Fifteenth Seat, if I recall correctly. Her actions during the clash with the fourth wraith last year won her some renown, I believe. You think she has talents that would lend herself to the role of a backup healer should the need arise?"

"She does," Jiraiya confirmed, "From what Itachi's told me, she's coming along quite well as a Soul Reaper. Sure, her duties as a member of Squad Two are geared more towards eliminating Hollows and scouting, but she can do more than that. Her spirit energy's grown considerably ever since she awakened her Shikai, and I think that power can just as easily be applied to healing as it can to combat. More importantly, though, is the fact that she has the will for such a task."

Unohana leaned forward in keen interest. "Go on."

Jiraiya smiled. "Whenever I see her, it's almost always in Itachi's company. She's devoted to her son, which gives her an added incentive to learn new skills that other Soul Reapers would lack. I think she'd be eager to learn the healing arts. After all, those skills would be invaluable should Itachi get himself injured and no one from Squad Four is around to help."

Unohana nodded. "A mother's love can be a powerful motivating force. I hadn't considered Mikoto when I was drawing up a list of candidates, but now… she may be ideal. Would you be willing to approach her regarding this matter?"

"Sure," Jiraiya replied, "She'll want to run it by Itachi and Captain Shihōin, but I can't see either of them objecting."

"Neither can I," Unohana concurred, "In fact, I imagine Captain Shihōin will be quite interested in having one of her subordinates join this little project of ours. For as long as I've known her, she's always had an eye for recognizing talent and encouraging those serving her to continue developing their skills. More importantly, she understands better than most that some matters are best kept off the record, as it were."

Jiraiya grinned. "Well, what did you expect? She is the head of both Squad Two and the Stealth Force, after all. Working in the shadows is something she's quite accustomed to."

"Indeed," said Unohana as she turned her attention back to her journal, "If you would be willing to apprise her of our intentions at some point in the near future, I would greatly appreciate it."

"I'll pay her and Itachi a visit at the earliest opportunity," Jiraiya promised.

"Thank you," the Captain replied.

The rest of the hour passed in silence as Unohana studied her notes while Jiraiya maintained his vigil. Jiraiya was beginning to wonder if Shikaku and his party had run into trouble along the way when he saw some of the shadows along the wall created by the flickering fire and lanterns begin to shift unnaturally. After a moment of writhing, they formed a single word; 'here'.

Unohana's eyes narrowed as she watched the shadows. "Well, now… that's a neat trick. Shadow manipulation through spirit energy… your friends have some interesting skills."

Jiraiya chuckled as he moved to the door. "You have no idea."

Sliding the door open and stepping outside, he was greeted by the sight of Shikaku, Asuma and Neji emerging from the shadows provided by a cluster of nearby trees. They were dressed in the same manner as they'd been during his initial encounter with them, but Neji had an interesting addition to his ensemble; a black head-band covering his eyes.

Nice little precaution against Unohana learning of the Byakugan, he mused, and it's not like it's really an impediment to his vision given the powers of his clan's eyes.

"You could've just knocked, you know," the Legendary Sannin said by way of greeting.

Shikaku shook his head, releasing his hand sign and the manipulated shadows with it. "Wanted to put out a feeler before exposing ourselves."

Jiraiya gestured broadly at the isolated land surrounding them. "I don't think you have to worry about ambushes or outside observers out here."

"Is she here?" asked Neji, cutting straight to the point, "This healer you spoke of back in the village, I mean."

Jiraiya jerked a thumb over his shoulder at the hut behind him. "Right inside."

Asuma nodded. "Good. I'm looking forward to meeting her."

"As am I," said Shikaku as he cast a look through the doorway behind Jiraiya, "Well, let's get this started."

The three men followed Jiraiya inside. Unohana rose as they entered and bowed in polite greeting.

"You must be the Shinobi Jiraiya told me about," she said as she studied the three of them, her smile a guarded one, "I am Retsu Unohana, Captain of Squad Four."

"Shikaku Nara," Shikaku responded before nodding at his companions, "This is Asuma Sarutobi and Neji Hyūga. It's an honor to meet you in person, Captain. Your reputation precedes you even in the outer reaches of the Rukon District."

Unohana smirked, though her amusement had a shadow to it. "That's truer than you might be aware of, Mister Nara."

Shikaku glanced at Jiraiya, who simply shrugged. "Hey, I warned you; she's more than just a pretty face and a pair of healing hands."

"We're not going to have a problem here, are we?" asked Neji, who despite the black cloth covering his eyes was looking straight at Unohana.

For her part, Unohana shook her head. "I am not here for conflict. Jiraiya is a colleague and a friend; I'm here as a favor to him. He spoke well of the three of you, so I am willing to help you."

Her gaze then turned to Asuma. "You are the one who suffered the soul fracture. Please, sit on the futon. A single night is hardly enough time in my view for the work that likely lies ahead, so the sooner we get started, the better."

Asuma gave Jiraiya a wary look, and the Legendary Sannin responded with what he hoped was an encouraging smile. "Don't worry. As long as you don't make her mad, she's completely harmless."

Asuma took a deep breath before following Unohana's instructions. "Well, seeing as she might be the only person in the Soul Society that can help me, I've got no choice but to trust your judgement."

Unohana smiled again, but this time it carried the gentleness and warmth that made her so beloved by her subordinates. "I understand your apprehension, but rest assured that anyone I see as a patient has my complete devotion while they're under my care. The rest of you should make yourselves comfortable. I suspect this is going to be a very long night."

….

Several hours later…

While Unohana knew she should've been mindful of the passage of time, the truth of the matter was that she had far more interesting things to focus on than how much of the night had passed thus far. Her hands were over the now-bare chest of her patient, sea-green energy flowing into him as she worked tirelessly to reverse the damage that had accumulated over the years since Asuma Sarutobi had suffered the initial soul fracture. She found herself wishing she'd asked her Lieutenant or another officer of Squad Four to come along, if only for the purpose of observing her and taking notes during the procedure.

Few patients have been as fascinating as this one, she mused, Itachi comes the closest, if only by virtue of Yoruichi bringing him to me so quickly upon the onset of his soul fracture. In him, I had one part of the picture. In Sarutobi, I now have another.

Lying shirtless in front of her, the Shinobi had proven to be a most cooperative patient. His initial unease had subsided as Unohana interviewed him regarding his symptoms and how he'd been treated in the past, with the man clearly growing more comfortable as he came to understand just how deeply the Captain's medical knowledge went. It was a time-tested and proven technique for Unohana; establish trust with the patient by demonstrating one's understanding of what they were suffering, and one would find the patient becoming much more receptive to care and more willing to divulge information that would prove vital to providing said care.

In this case, such knowledge was essential. The gradual decay and slowly growing void within himself that Asuma had described to her had given Unohana the key areas in which to focus her efforts. Strangely enough, the process she'd ultimately initiated bore some similarity to how she'd treated Itachi, despite him being at the opposite end of the spectrum for this particular malady. She hadn't required any binding spells or barriers, but the principle of stabilization before real treatment began held firm. Here, though, said stabilization was much tricker to achieve. Whatever medics had treated Asuma before had been on the right track; Unohana could sense the lingering energy of prior healers and where they'd focused their efforts, and it had helped considerably in narrowing down her approach. However, despite what had surely been countless hours of dedicated treatment over the years, those prior healers had ultimately achieved little beyond slowing the decay and allowing the patient to continue carrying out his day-to-day life. The root ailment remained, malignant and tenacious in its desire to consume the patient.

In a way, the decay struck her as eerily similar to the process by which a soul became a Hollow. However, there was no Chain of Fate here, or any real external sign of that decay beyond the periodic seizures that Asuma suffered. Here, the degradation was completely internal. The morbid part of Unohana's mind couldn't help but wonder what might happen should that degradation be allowed to reach its natural conclusion. The few texts that had been written regarding soul fractures had spoken of a gradual decline into madness as their souls had continued to decay, of beings that might still have been outwardly human but who took on personas more akin to beasts than people. There had even been scattered references to transformations in extreme cases, though what those transformations ultimately led to had been frustratingly vague. Others had spoken of souls so degraded that at one point they simply ceased to hold themselves together, with whatever fragments remaining eventually crumbling into nothingness. Supposedly, a small aspect of the original soul's consciousness remained, nothing more than an invisible shade that would howl in anguish and torture until it too faded into oblivion. The inconsistencies and seeming contradictions in this limited body of medical knowledge was no small irritation to a medic as meticulous as Unohana, and part of her wanted to know what the end result to the decay was simply to have the definitive answer, for good or ill.

The fact that whatever technique used to revive Asuma had been undone and thus the lost part of his soul returned to the portion that remained in the Soul Society was actually something of a mixed blessing. On the one hand, the reunification of Asuma's soul had greatly lessened his immediate danger, and would normally be seen as a successful resolution of a soul fracture. However, because the portion of his soul that had remained in the Soul Society had not been immediately stabilized like Itachi's had been under Unohana's care, that had resulted in the beginning of the decay that continued to effect Asuma even all these years later. When the lost part of his soul had returned, it had been unable to seamlessly fit back into its rightful place. It was akin to having two pieces of the same puzzle, one in pristine condition while the other was deformed and warped, and trying to fit them together; the damage suffered by the latter resulted in it no longer smoothly interlocking with the former as it once had. There was constant friction between them as the pieces tried to lock into their old positions, and in the process, they were only further damaging each other.

That friction was slowly eroding Asuma's soul as a whole, and the seizures he'd been suffering over the years were the most visible symptom of it. Whatever healers the Shinobi had been seeing prior to Unohana had essentially been trying to reduce the friction by smoothing out the rough edges of the soul, so to speak, but that was only a temporary fix. The friction itself remained, and the healers' efforts were ultimately worn down, thus requiring fresh treatment. From what Unohana could discern, the erosion had accumulated considerably over the years despite the work of the previous healers to combat it, and it was that accumulation which was resulting in the increased frequency of Asuma's episodes. Had he continued on with his prior treatment regimen, he likely would've been granted at least several decades worth of life, but eventually the grand total damage would become too much for any healer to address, and he would've entered into a severe and fatal decline.

Fortunately, it was still relatively early in the process, which meant that Unohana had a chance to reverse the trend. Doing so was no small task, though. Once she'd understood the full scope of what she was dealing with, she'd formulated a treatment plan, but it was completely untested. No record existed of a patient who had gone through these particular circumstances, which meant that Unohana was very much flying by the seat of her pants here. The notes she'd studied before were useful only in a broad sense, giving her at least a start point for her investigation, but as far as she knew, what she was trying to do now had never been attempted before.

The first stage of her efforts, stabilization, came through her essentially coaxing, cajoling and nudging the two sections of Asuma's soul into alignment. In order to achieve this, she had to use her own energy to smooth over some portions while bending others, essentially molding the very fabric of Asuma's being like a sculptor would a clay statue. To her audience, it simply looked as though she was applying the healing energies of Kaidō to Asuma's chest, but the real action wasn't readily apparent to any outside observers. In fact, it couldn't be perceived visually at all; Unohana's work was being done entirely through her highly honed sense for the spirit energy of others. It was as though one had tasked an artist to craft a masterpiece while sitting in the middle of a pitch-black room, with the practitioner relying as much on feel and instinct as they were on deliberate planning. While it had been rough going for the first couple hours and had resulted in no small amount of discomfort on Asuma's part, Unohana's confidence had grown as she'd felt the fractions of her patient's soul gradually begin to cooperate with her efforts.

With stabilization achieved, the next stage was restoration. While a soul could naturally heal over time, after suffering a soul fracture it required a considerable amount of outside energy for the process to truly be effective. After all, it had lost energy over the years, despite Asuma's ongoing treatment. In order for him to truly heal, Unohana needed to essentially push his soul's natural restorative engines into overdrive. That was the task she was working on now, infusing Asuma's soul with her own energy so that it could supplement the patient's own, filling in for what he'd lost over time until his own energies became sufficient enough to carry the rest of the work forward. One required a great deal of energy to accomplish this, so much so that Unohana doubted even her current Lieutenant could do so without straining himself to the point of collapse.

Although she remained pristine and serene on the outside, Unohana's internal struggle was no small matter. She could feel herself stretching further and further as she poured healing energy into her patient. Unohana knew how to pace herself, and this operation was very much a marathon as opposed to a sprint, but this labor was extraordinarily taxing. If she was lucky, she'd have just enough left to carry herself back to the Seireitei, but the moment she reached Squad Four's barracks she'd almost certainly collapse in her room.

I can only hope I'll have that much energy left when this is over, she thought, otherwise, I may have to do the unthinkable and request that Jiraiya carry me back to my quarters. No, we cannot have that. We cannot have that at all.

So, she soldiered on, determined both to complete her task and not give her fellow Soul Reaper the satisfaction of making such a request. While she had no doubt that Jiraiya would oblige if she asked, she also knew that he would never let her hear the end of it. She had grown fond of him over the years, and it would be a real shame to have to kill him just for the sake of preserving her dignity and sanity.

….

Neji found it somewhat amusing to play blind when he was anything but. Truth be told, he didn't even need the power of the Byakugan to see through the cloth covering his eyes. The fabric had been expertly woven to appear opaque from the outside, but upon much closer inspection one would find enough gaps in the strands that the wearer could actually see the world around them quite adequately, albeit in a somewhat darkened manner. It was a much greater challenge to take on the mannerisms of someone who had been blind but learned to adapt, despite the practice he'd undergone with Shikaku and Asuma over the past few days. The whole scheme was somewhat ridiculous to the young man, but Shikaku had been adamant on it, so Neji had gone along with minimal fuss.

He had to wonder if his audience tonight was really fooled, though. From all appearances, Unohana knew nothing of the Byakugan, yet there was something in the way she'd looked at him before that made Neji uneasy. It almost seemed as though she'd already seen through his guise, yet she'd decided to humor him all the same. That alone was troubling, but of infinitely greater concern to him was what he'd observed when he'd dared to use the Byakugan on Unohana while she'd been focused on attending to Asuma.

Neji had sensed Unohana's spirit energy even before their introduction, but it had been muted and suppressed. It had only been upon covertly examining her with the Byakugan that Neji truly began to understand who he and his fellow Shinobi were truly dealing with. She was powerful, and while her energy was right now focused on healing rather than combat, Neji could only imagine what it would be like to face her in battle.

Seems deadly healers aren't just limited to the Shinobi world, he thought as he studied the energy flowing from Unohana to Asuma, I suspect that sword at her hip is good for far more than show.

She was dangerous to be sure, but Neji had sensed no hostile intent from her. So far, she'd been true to her word, focusing her efforts solely on healing Asuma. While Neji had no real training in the healing arts beyond the basic first aid lessons that all Shinobi were expected to memorize, he'd watched the afterlife's Leaf Village healers working with Asuma enough times over the years to at least have a rough understanding of how they worked their magic. Those prior observations were all he needed to know that the medical Shinobi he'd seen attending to Asuma, while certainly skilled, were clearly rank amateurs when compared to the woman working on him now. The way she manipulated the energy running between her and Asuma, crafting and molding it to fit the unique needs of her patient, was nothing less than masterful. The same went for the level of control she had over the energy that coursed through her body and sustained her efforts; it was so finely regulated and paced that Neji could've sworn she had influence over it down to the particulate level. Her power was one thing, but such meticulous precision could only have been achieved through decades of work, perhaps even longer. As she was a veteran Soul Reaper, Neji suspected she'd had centuries at least to refine her craft.

While watching Unohana work was certainly fascinating, doing so for hours on end did start to take the shine out of it after a while. Neji was actually starting to feel stiff and somewhat cramped, and the air in the hut was getting a bit too warm and stuffy for his tastes. Deciding that his observation wasn't critical to the mission, he politely excused himself before heading outside to stretch and enjoy a cool evening breeze.

Only a few minutes had passed before he heard the door slide open again, followed by the sound of the other Soul Reaper who had been in the hut. "Care for some company? Could use a bit of fresh air myself."

Neji politely bowed as the Legendary Sannin approached him. "Of course, Master Jiraiya."

Jiraiya chuckled and waved a hand dismissively. "Hey, cut it out with the formal stuff! I was never your teacher, so you don't owe me a title or anything like that."

Neji knew that Jiraiya had had a reputation for being the most laid-back of the Third Hokage's famous students, but he hadn't interacted with the man once while either of them had been alive, so experiencing it firsthand left him at something of a loss. "Then… what should I call you? I know many Shinobi referred to you as 'Lord', so would that be acceptable?"

Jiraiya sighed in exasperation. "If you insist on it, I guess I can't stop you. I'd really rather just go without a fancy label, though."

Neji inclined his head. "Apologies. Given your renown, referring to you just by your name doesn't feel proper."

Jiraiya gave a resigned shrug. "Well, do whatever makes you feel comfortable."

Neji studied the man for a moment. He'd seen Jiraiya mostly from a distance in the past, so it felt odd to have a chance to converse with him like this. With the way he carried himself, he struck Neji as more of a lazy oaf than a famed Shinobi. Experience had taught him that appearances could be deceiving, though, and the man had to be skilled given his reputation. One didn't become an old Shinobi without being able to handle themselves, and from what Neji could recall, Jiraiya had been in his fifties when he'd met his end at the Akatsuki's hands.

Jiraiya smirked as he met Neji's gaze, the latter's blindfold notwithstanding. "So, you're the genius that went toe-to-toe with my last student in the Chūnin Exams. You know, while we were on the road for those three years, Naruto would sometimes talk about that fight. He had a lot of fun going head-to-head with you!"

Neji couldn't help but give a small smile as images of that contest from long ago flashed through his mind. "I see. Glad he enjoyed himself. I don't know if I'd necessarily call it 'fun' myself, but… it was certainly an enlightening experience. I underestimated him back then, and I paid the appropriate price for it. His victory was well-earned… and looking back, I think it was for the best that I lost that fight. Had I won, I would've become even more set in my prior beliefs… beliefs that were mistaken."

Jiraiya nodded. "Shikaku gave me a bit of background on that. You had this thing about fate, right?"

"I did," Neji confirmed, "Being part of the Hyūga Clan's branch house rather than the main line, I was convinced that my fate as an expendable servant of the core family had already been set in stone. I then took that fatalistic view and applied it to everyone. In hindsight, that was such a narrow and foolish way to see the world. We may not control the circumstances of our birth, but it is folly to allow our lives to be defined by those circumstances. Naruto taught me that… in a way I believe that no one else could have. I have him to thank for my liberation from my past views, as it were… and I suppose that gratitude is owed to you as well."

Jiraiya appeared a bit taken aback by that. "To me? I'm not sure I follow. I mean, it's not like I was the one that fought you and changed your mind about fate."

Neji shook his head. "No, but you had your own influence on how things played out that day. You were the one who trained Naruto during the one-month gap between the preliminaries and the finals of the Chūnin Exam, and the impact of what you taught him was readily apparent. I didn't recognize it immediately, but the Naruto I fought was a very different beast from the one that bested Kiba Inuzuka during the preliminaries. The old him, I would've beaten, but the one you forged in that one-month period defeated me. Were it not for that defeat, I would be but a pale and bitter shadow of what I am now. Fortunately for me, things turned out otherwise, and I indirectly have you to thank for that."

Jiraiya smiled. "Well, if that's how you see things, who am I to argue? I'm just glad things worked out for both of you in the end. If my apprentice could have a positive impact on someone like you, then that's the highest praise a teacher could ask for."

Neji turned his gaze skywards, his mind going back in time as he looked at the moon. "You should be proud of him. The entire Shinobi Allied Forces rallied around him when we faced the Ten Tails and the revived Madara Uchiha. I might not have lived to see the end of the war, but I have no doubt who ultimately prevailed. Your last student had far more than just a positive impact on one lost Shinobi. I gave my life to save his and that of my cousin… and if I was offered the chance to change that, I would not. My end came early, perhaps, but it was a fate that I chose."

Jiraiya nodded, the look on his face a sympathetic one. "Shikaku told me about that. I'm grateful for you protecting Naruto, but still… I'm sorry that you had to pay such a high price for it."

"I appreciate that," Neji replied softly, "but you owe me no apology. In that moment, when I made the choice to protect Hinata and Naruto, knowing what the price would be… I think I finally understood what my father had felt when he gave his own life to save that of my uncle. Whatever lingering bitterness I might have still possessed towards the main branch of the Hyūga Clan was at long last put to rest. Thanks to that, I was able to cross over in peace. Had things been otherwise, I might well have eventually become one of the monsters that you hunt in your current profession."

Jiraiya folded his arms. "That's something I actually wanted to talk to you about. Has Shikaku filled you in on his little scheme yet?"

Neji nodded. "He has. I won't deny have somewhat mixed feelings regarding the proposition. Perhaps I spent too much time around that knucklehead Lee… espionage and deep-cover operations are part of a Shinobi's responsibilities, but my team's focus tended towards direct combat. Due to that, the idea of joining the Thirteen Court Guard Squads in part to act as a spy is… well, it doesn't entirely sit well with me. Even so… I'm not willing to just dismiss the mission out of hand."

Jiraiya looked concerned. "Shikaku's not pressuring you, is he? You know that this is supposed to be strictly voluntary on your part; you have the right to say no."

Neji gave the Legendary Sannin a reassuring smile. "You needn't worry. Commander Nara was up-front with what this mission would entail, and he made every effort to stress the fact that it would not be a compulsory assignment. He also made no bones about the long-term commitment my accepting the task would involve. For someone known as much for being a lazy oaf as a skilled Shinobi, you joining an order with such an unforgiving nature regarding resignations or retirement is a rather shocking swerve. Even so, the purpose is just… and it might be what I've been looking for since coming here."

Jiraiya arched an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Sounds like this is something you've been mulling over for quite some time."

"That'd be an understatement," Neji remarked, "When I first arrived in the afterlife, I'll wager that my initial reaction wasn't all that different from yours or Commander Nara's. Suffice to say that the Soul Society does not really fit well with what we've been led to believe heaven or hell should be like."

Jiraiya nodded. "Yeah, it was pretty disorienting when I popped up here. Took quite a while to get the lay of the land and figure out how things worked, and that was in between running from Hollows before finally learning how to properly fight them."

"My experience was similar," Neji replied, "It was actually several years before I found the village. I travelled quite a bit during that time. It was an… illuminating journey. I saw the more affluent districts close to the Seireitei, the slums way out on the fringe, and much in between. The Soul Society is a truly vast place, and each part of the Rukon District has its own unique flavor. However, each individual district has something in common, from the poorest to the wealthiest. Do you know what that is, Jiraiya?"

Jiraiya's eyes narrowed. "Fear."

"Precisely," Neji confirmed, "To be more exact, fear that at any moment, the lives of everyone in that district will be upended by a Hollow incursion. Of course, those closer to the Seireitei can count on a much quicker response time from the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, but in those first few moments of attack, they are as frightened as those who find themselves in the ramshackle huts bordering The Wild."

Jiraiya sighed. "It's an unfortunate reality here. We try our best, but there simply aren't enough Soul Reapers to provide adequate protection, especially when we also have to monitor the Realms of the Living as well. Combine that with the inevitable attrition that comes with our profession, and the end result is that we're simply spread far too thin. Maybe if our superiors widened recruitment efforts and made the Academy entrance exams easier, we could increase our manpower, but the Central Forty-Six doesn't seem to be in any rush to make reforms. Nor does the Head Captain, for that matter."

"A pity," said Neji, unable to keep a tinge of bitterness from creeping into his voice, "Far too many innocent souls have paid the price for their complacency. It also illustrates my wider point, though. The souls who have come here… they already met unfortunate ends in their first lives. They deserve the chance to have a peaceful afterlife. As much as I might take issue with how the Thirteen Court Guard Squads is handling that matter, Soul Reapers like you are at least trying to make a difference. I can't say the same for the Shinobi who have taken to hiding away in our secluded village."

"There's nothing wrong with wanting a quiet afterlife, you know," Jiraiya argued, "or wanting one where you get to keep your freedom. Join the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, and you can kiss both goodbye."

Neji shook his head. "My years of journeying across the Rukon District were freedom without purpose, while the following ones in the new village have been too quiet. Don't get me wrong; I understand the appeal of both, especially the latter. I found my father in the village, for starters. Getting the chance to speak with him, to hear his own words on why he ultimately sacrificed himself for his brother and the main branch… I found peace in that, and I understand its value more than you think. However, with all that I learned in my travels through the Soul Society, what is my own peace when there are countless souls losing the chance to find theirs thanks to the depredations of Hollows and the negligence of their rulers? I understand our village's policy of remaining out of sight, and I appreciate the intentions behind it. For those who have found peace and safety there, I wish only for their security to remain assured. For myself, though… well, the village has enough members of the Hyūga Clan protecting it. I daresay it can spare one to help those who live beyond its sheltering embrace."

Jiraiya inclined his head. "That's a noble sentiment. What you'll be losing should you decide to live by it will be no small thing, though. Should you go down this road, it may be a very long time before you see your father or anyone else in the village again. I'm not saying that we're completely prohibited from taking time off and visiting with friends and family, but the life of a Soul Reaper tends to be a busy one. After all, our duty isn't to a single village, or to one world, but all of creation. That's no small obligation."

Neji smiled. "I appreciate your desire to make sure that I know what I'm getting myself into, Jiraiya. Let me ask you this, though; what would your last apprentice do if he was aware of the plight that so many souls suffer here? Would he be content to find peace in some quiet corner of the Soul Society when he had the power to help them?"

The smile of the Legendary Sannin combined with the look in his eyes was all Neji needed to know where the Soul Reaper's mind had gone. "No. He'd make sure his friends and family were safe first… and then he would seek to help the rest. It's who he is. Who he'll always be."

Neji nodded. "My thoughts exactly. You trained him well."

Jiraiya chuckled. "So I've heard… and I suppose that means I have no chance of talking you out of this, then. In most ways, I'd say you and Naruto are night and day, but I think you've both got at least this much in common; when you set your sights on a goal, neither of you will give up."

Neji couldn't suppress a smirk. "I suppose that's truer than I'd like to admit. Good thing I'm here and he's back in our old world. He'd never let me hear the end of it."

Jiraiya laughed. "I guess that's one way to put a silver lining on your death!"

Neji shrugged. "Truth be told, I find myself regularly forgetting that little detail nowadays. I always thought that being dead would be a rather quiet affair, but the afterlife's… well, it's much livelier than I'd anticipated."

"Tell me about it," said Jiraiya, "I'd actually say I'm busier now than I was in my original life. No rest for the wicked, right?"

Neji folded his arms. "No, and certainly not when your wicked deeds include continuing to publish your juvenile literature."

Jiraiya took the jab in stride. "Hey, a man's gotta have a hobby. Mine just so happens to be popular and brings in the money. You try having fun with only a Soul Reaper's stipend; gotta have some real income if you want to enjoy the finer establishments in the Seireitei."

"I'll take your word for it," Neji replied, his eyes narrowing behind the blindfold, "Speaking of hobbies, I believe writing's not the only one you're indulging in nowadays. Since when did one of the two loyal Legendary Sannin start whitewashing the reputation of a murderer and traitor?"

Jiraiya's posture stiffened somewhat. "Is that what Shikaku told you I was doing with regards to Itachi?"

"He didn't tell me much of anything on the matter," Neji shot back, "save that the situation was more 'complicated' than met the eye. Perhaps a more seasoned Shinobi like Commander Nara sees things that I don't, but I have a hard time finding anything 'complicated' about kin slaying and running off to join the world's worst criminal organization. Seems pretty straightforwardly abhorrent and vile, if you ask me."

Jiraiya was quiet for a long moment, and Neji wasn't sure what to make of the look in his eyes. There was a flash of what looked almost like indignation, but it was tempered by something else; calculation. Jiraiya was clearly weighing something of importance in his mind, and Neji could only wait and see what the outcome of that silent deliberation might be.

The result turned out to be disappointing when Jiraiya finally gave his answer. "If that's all Shikaku told you, then it means he feels you're not ready to hear much more. I'll respect his judgement here."

Neji bristled. "So, that's it, then? Whatever secret you're keeping, it doesn't do you any favors. Defending a man who slaughtered his kin and attempted to kidnap your last student for sacrifice… I can't think of any remotely justifiable reason for such an action."

"I won't ask you to understand right now," Jiraiya calmly replied, "Instead, might I offer a suggestion?"

"I'm all ears," said Neji, though not without skepticism.

"Itachi's an officer in Squad Two," Jiraiya explained, "Off all the units in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, their responsibilities are probably the closest to those that we once had as Shinobi. The fact that they work directly with the Stealth Force only further emphasizes that point. Once you complete the Academy entrance exams, I have no doubt that you'll be placed in the advanced track, which means you'll be highly sought after come the recruitment exhibition and graduation. If you want answers to your questions regarding Itachi, consider joining Squad Two. Given the qualities of your eyes, I'd say you'd be a perfect fit for them."

Neji was taken aback. "Join the same unit as a member of the Akatsuki? Have you lost your mind?"

"Hardly," Jiraiya countered, "I'm offering you a way to understand someone that you see, not without justification, as a threat. If you're so worried about this former Akatsuki member, then why not enlist in his unit so you can keep an eye on him? You might be surprised by what you learn."

Something wasn't adding up with all of this, but Neji was struggling to pin it down. "I don't understand… why are you vouching for him like this? What context am I missing here? This 'complicated' situation, as Commander Nara put it… was the Uchiha Clan massacre not what it seemed?"

Jiraiya didn't reply straightaway. Instead, he took a few steps away from the hut and turned his gaze to the south. Although it wasn't visible from here, Neji suspected that the man's thoughts were directed towards the Seireitei… and the criminal who now called it home.

"You experienced the horrors of war," Jiraiya finally said as he turned to face him, "You died on the battlefield of the Fourth Shinobi World War, and you saw plenty of death and suffering before your turn came, right?"

Neji's eyes narrowed behind the black cloth. "I did. What of it?"

"If you could have spared your friends, family and all the others the nightmare of war, would you?" asked Jiraiya.

"Of course, I would!" Neji snapped, "If there was a way to stop that horrific conflict before it began, then I absolutely would have seized it! Anyone would!"

Jiraiya gave him a sad smile. "Anyone would… in theory. Tell me this, though; what if the price for preventing conflict was paid in blood? Not the blood of Shinobi from rival nations or dastardly criminals, but the blood of those closest to you. If stopping a war before it started meant murdering those you hold dearest in your heart, could you do it? Would you be willing to pay such a high price for peace?"

Neji's blood chilled. "Why ask such a question? Where is this coming from?"

"That's not my place to say," Jiraiya replied as he stepped towards the hut, "Get to know the man who did have to pay that price, though, and perhaps you'll find out if you could have done the same."

He paused before the door and looked over his shoulder at Neji. "Take time and give it some thought. Ultimately, the path you follow should be your own. Just keep your eyes open to possibilities that you hadn't considered before, and be prepared to reexamine what you thought you once knew. If Naruto could teach you that fate is not set in stone, then perhaps Itachi can teach you what you might do should you be confronted with an impossible choice. Watch him and learn, Neji. In a way, he's kind of like a mirror… and we don't always like what the mirror can show us."

Then the Legendary Sannin slid open the door and stepped into the hut, leaving Neji alone with some very confused thoughts.

….

His arms folded as he leaned back against the wall of the hut, Jiraiya watched with interest as Unohana motioned for Asuma to sit up. The son of the Third Hokage had been lying on his back while the healer worked her magic for several hours now, and he stretched his arms before patting himself over.

Kneeling next to him, Unohana smiled. "How do you feel?"

"Pretty good, actually," Asuma answered with a mix of relief and surprise, "Better than I have in years. I don't know what you did, but I feel… whole again, if that makes any sense. Is it… did you really…?"

"Restore you fully?" Unohana finished for him, her smile growing slightly, "Yes, I have. It was no small task, but the two fragments of your soul have been mended and properly reintegrated again. You have your life back, Asuma Sarutobi… or afterlife, if you prefer."

Shikaku actually looked shocked for a moment. "Wait… you really did it? He's completely better now? He won't have to worry about those seizures anymore?"

Unohana nodded. "That's right. Of course, I would still like him to take it easy for the next few weeks in order to be sure that the instability and decay at the heart of his condition has been dealt with for good."

"Simple enough," said Shikaku, meeting Asuma's gaze, "I know you're not going to be happy about this, but you're benched. No leaving our little abode for those few weeks. You got that?"

Asuma looked for a moment like he wanted to protest, but a glance from Unohana seemed to convince him otherwise. "If it's doctor's orders, then I guess I have no choice."

"Can this process be replicated with other patients?" asked Neji.

Unohana nodded. "Yes, though I must insist that, if you do have any further patients for me to heal of this particular malady, it be one at a time. This procedure is more taxing than it might appear at first glance, both for the patient and the healer involved."

"But you would still be willing to treat them, right?" Shikaku pressed.

Unohana smiled. "I would. Would you like to schedule their appointments now? My schedule is somewhat tricky to manage, but given enough lead time I can fit them in."

Jiraiya looked on in satisfaction as Unohana and Shikaku spent the next few minutes hashing out the details for getting both Chen and Dan sessions with her. The events of tonight had gone better than he'd initially dared to hope, and it spoke well for both the near and distant future. Tonight, though it had been small in scope, Soul Reapers and Shinobi had engaged in a cooperative venture. A humble step forward, but one that was in the right direction. The work of building lasting partnerships began like this, and Jiraiya was eager to nurture the process however he could.

So much can come from this, he thought with a smile, Itachi… we're going to have quite a bit to talk about the next time we hit that teahouse.

Shikaku bowed his head as they wrapped things up. "We're indebted to you, Captain Unohana. Thank you for your aid. We won't forget this."

"Thanks are not needed," Unohana replied, "but you are welcome, just the same. I look forward to meeting the next patient."

"I'm sure the feeling will be mutual," said Shikaku before turning to his companions, "Well, are you two ready to hit the road?"

"I think so," Asuma answered as he donned his tunic and cloak before turning to the young Hyūga, "How about you, Neji?"

Neji was quiet for a moment before answering. "Not just yet. I have a question for Captain Unohana."

Unohana gave him a curious but welcoming look. "Oh? Please, ask away."

"Are you involved in any way with the process for recruiting or training new Soul Reapers?" Neji asked.

Unohana's eyes widened in mild surprise. "In a manner of speaking, yes. I don't proctor the entrance exams, but I do oversee initial medical screening for those who pass the tests."

"I see," Neji replied, "What are the qualifications needed for applicants?"

Unohana smiled. "Simply that you show up to the Academy on time to take part in the exams. While entrance to the Seireitei is normally tightly regulated, the gate guards make exceptions for Soul Reaper candidates on the day of the Academy entrance exams."

"And when do those exams take place?" Neji pressed.

"Once a year," Unohana answered, "In fact, this year's exams are merely a few months away now."

Shikaku looked at the young man. "You've made your decision, then?"

Neji nodded. "I have."

Jiraiya smiled as he glanced at Unohana. "I don't need to tell you where this is going, do I?"

Unohana let loose a soft laugh. "No, I don't think you do! Young man, if it is your wish to join the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, then I look forward to seeing you on the day of the entrance exams. If what I've sensed from you tonight is any indicator, I'll wager that you'll pass with flying colors. Of course, you should still properly prepare for the occasion."

"I fully intend to," said Neji before addressing the Captain's former patient, "Asuma, would you be willing to help me with that?"

Asuma smiled. "Once Shikaku decides I can start exerting myself again, absolutely. Not sure what exactly Soul Reapers might be looking for in their new recruits, but I think we're safe in assuming that fighting skill and physical conditioning are both important criteria. We'll amp up your training routine appropriately."

"I look forward to seeing the fruits of that training," said Unohana, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly as she studied Neji, "Blind recruits are not unheard of, though they are naturally uncommon. Although…"

Her voice trailed off, causing Asuma and Shikaku to trade nervous glances. Jiraiya could hardly blame them. From the way Unohana was looking at Neji, she clearly suspected that Neji wasn't as blind as the black cloth over his eyes suggested.

Perhaps she'd been about to say as much, but whatever suspicions she had, the Captain appeared to change her mind about giving voice to them. "Never mind. In any case, if your trainer is an experienced Shinobi, then I have no doubt that you will be more than ready for the Academy entrance exams when the time comes. It will be interesting to see where your path leads from there."

Shikaku patted Neji on the shoulder. "We've got high hopes for you. No pressure."

Neji simply shrugged. "I'll make sure I don't disappoint."

Jiraiya failed to stifle a yawn. "Oh, man, it's getting late! I'm all for staying up well into the night to chat, but some of us have a long walk back home."

"Yes, I believe it's time to draw our business here to a close," Unohana concurred, "Asuma, you'll have no trouble getting home in your current condition, right?"

Asuma confidently nodded. "No trouble at all."

The five of them filed out of the hut before splitting into two groups. The three Shinobi turned to face Unohana and Jiraiya together before bowing.

"Thank you again," said Shikaku, "I look forward to seeing your healing prowess in action again with the next patient, Captain Unohana."

Unohana smiled. "And I look forward to giving them whatever aid they need. Until next time."

Jiraiya smiled at Neji. "Can't wait to see the look on the proctor's face once you make your debut at the entrance exams, Neji!"

Neji actually smirked at that. "I promise you a performance worthy of your last apprentice."

Jiraiya gave a hearty laugh. "Oh, really? This is going to be fun!"

The three Shinobi quickly departed, leaving Jiraiya and Unohana standing outside the hut. Jiraiya moved to leave, but he saw that Unohana was watching the ninja as they faded into the distance.

"That boy," she said after a moment, "Neji Hyūga… you're close to him?"

Jiraiya shrugged before smiling again. "I wouldn't go that far, but we do have a connection in the form of my final student. The two of them butted heads once, yet they eventually came to an understanding. Looking at him, seeing how my apprentice rubbed off on him… it's got me feeling nostalgic."

Unohana surprised him by putting a hand on his shoulder. "Innocent days long gone?"

Jiraiya's smile became bittersweet. "Something like that."

Unohana nodded. "I understand. Our pasts can be both cruel and kind in equal measure. Still, there is no greater treasure than the memory of simpler and sweeter times, even if the longing we feel to return to them can never truly be fulfilled. The long lifespans we have as souls are a blessing, for even as past days we remember fondly inevitably recede further into the distance, we have time aplenty to create new happy memories."

Jiraiya looked at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Maybe, but look at our line of work. We're Soul Reapers; we've chosen a very dangerous career path. Perhaps we have a long afterlife ahead of us in theory, but in practice? It can be snuffed out at any moment. Makes you want to seize whatever joys you can while you've got the chance!"

Unohana laughed. "Jiraiya, is this your little spin on the classic 'sleep with me tonight, for tomorrow we may die' approach to courtship? Here I had hoped you capable of a bit more subtlety than this!"

Jiraiya grinned. "You can't fault a man for trying, can you?"

Unohana giggled, and the sound was sweeter than melodies from the finest musicians and sirens to Jiraiya's ears. "No, I suppose I cannot! Nevertheless, you will have to put in a much greater effort should you wish to have a chance at courting me."

Jiraiya perked up at that. "So… you're saying there's a chance, then?"

Rather than answer directly, Unohana turned south. "Entertain such dreams on your own time, Jiraiya. We have a long trek back to the Seireitei, and I would like to get at least some measure of rest before dawn's first light."

"That wasn't a 'no'!" Jiraiya called out as Squad Four's Captain vanished in a Flash Step.

You're playing a dangerous game here, Jinsei no Kenja observed as Jiraiya took off after her, I know I told you to pursue your ambitions, but your reach may exceed your grasp with this one.

Since when has that ever stopped me from trying?

Fair enough. Even so, take due caution with this one. Tsunade gave you a fitting beating for your past trespass, but she at least left you alive. This one… I can't say if she might actually kill you, but I suspect she has the capacity to make you wish she would.

Jiraiya didn't doubt that for a moment. Tsunade had been as fiery as the sun, and her wrath appropriately scorching. Unohana, though… she was a very different sort of dangerous, yet no less alluring. She was the ocean, possessed of sublime beauty and a seemingly tranquil surface, yet that grace and serenity masked a deadly predator swimming in the depths and waiting for just the right sort of prey to make its presence known.

Against his better judgement, Jiraiya wanted to discover that predator's true nature. Unohana had already given him some hints, but they weren't nearly enough to satisfy him. He'd gotten to know the lovely healer well over the years, but he wanted to understand her fully, and that meant potentially drawing the gaze of whatever darkness she had within and that the rest of the Soul Society was clearly terrified of. The spirit of his Zanpakutō was right about him playing a dangerous game…

…but he was already in too deep to back out now.

Author's Notes: Well, we got more Naruto characters making their presence known in the Soul Society now. There's more where they came from, but it's going to be a gradual process rather than dropping a ton of them in all in one go. Been looking forward to reaching this point of the story for a while now, so it feels good to finally have this chapter out.

Speaking of chapters, next one's going to take a while, and not just because of my current hectic work situation. I've got something special planned for the next one, you see, and I want to make sure I pull it off according to my particular standards. For those of you who have actually been paying attention, you might have noticed that the story's timeline has been gradually approaching the point where the events of Boruto take place. The next chapter's going to be tying into that, because it's about time for our Shinobi-turned-Soul Reapers to pay a visit to the Realm of the Living that they left behind…and for a little reunion or two that's long overdue.

Hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Feel free to review, stay safe, and see you all next time!