Konoha's True F4

Watching the crowds disperse around him, Nagato found the deep disgust and wariness in their eyes difficult to understand.

One had to know that in the Empire, when civilians learned that you were a shinobi, the envy in their eyes was impossible to conceal.

Even when he went on missions several times, those civilians had always tried to give him things and gifts, hoping to establish a connection with him.

He had thought the Empire was deeply corrupt. Even a minor shinobi like himself had people giving him gifts just to build a relationship with him.

But he had never imagined that shinobi would be so unwelcome in this world.

The disgust and fear in their eyes were almost tangible.

He found it difficult to understand. Even a Genin had productivity a hundred or even a thousand times greater than that of an ordinary person.

How could someone capable of benefiting such a large region be hated?

"Heh, their reaction is perfectly normal, actually. The Land of Rivers has no shinobi village, and the shinobi who belong to them have basically all been recruited by their Daimyo to control them. That's why they're so sensitive and disgusted by the word 'shinobi.'"

"In our Land of Fire, such a situation could never exist. The people respect and fear shinobi."

Jiraiya saw Nagato frown slightly and smiled as he explained.

"As for me... as you can see, I'm just an ordinary minor shinobi from the Land of Fire."

Nagato was somewhat disappointed.

This world's 'master' is actually this weak? Especially after sensing the weak Chakra that had inadvertently spilled from the other party when he lost control of it just now, he shook his head.

One had to know that in the Empire, Master Jiraiya had been crowned by the Emperor as one of the Legendary Sannin. His Sage Power was already close to the Six Paths realm. Perhaps only by relying on his newly awakened Rinnegan could he contend with him.

Yet this master from another world could not even perform the most basic task of keeping his Chakra from leaking out...

Seeing Nagato standing there in a daze, Jiraiya raised his head proudly, and an uncontrollable smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Heh heh, I must have scared him, right? But that makes sense. My strength is even greater than that of certain Kage. I deliberately released a trace of Chakra for him to sense, and now he looks like this. He was probably stunned after realizing that even a minor shinobi here has this level of strength."

"I hope this will dispel their thoughts of invading us..."

Jiraiya was very pleased with his actions just now. After traveling around for so long, he had long understood that resolving conflicts without bloodshed was the best approach.

For example, his calculated action had intimidated the other side!

"How should I address you?"

Jiraiya saw that the other party was still in a daze and spoke up to ask.

"Me? You can call me Nagato."

"Nagato?"

Jiraiya furrowed his brows deeply, but he immediately relaxed.

That's right. They said they came from a Parallel World, so there's nothing strange about having a disciple with the same name and appearance as mine.

However, Jiraiya was curious about one thing. Their names were the same, their appearances were the same, and even their ages were similar.

What was the difference between that Parallel World and his own?

"Nagato, our Land of Fire is extremely warm and hospitable. Where would you like to start learning about our Land of Fire?"

Facing this master from another world, who appeared to be showing goodwill but was actually probing him, Nagato did not feel any resentment.

Having someone guide him was certainly better than making blind guesses without any direction.

Besides, after sensing the aura he had released moments ago, the man had stepped forward without the slightest fear.

Didn't that prove that his spirit of self-sacrifice and patriotism was remarkable?

A Land of Fire where even its lowest-ranking minor shinobi possessed such a spirit of sacrifice should be a wonderful place, surely.

He had indeed been impulsive just now. He was someone who intended to save the world, so how could he judge the whole by a single glimpse?

With that thought, Nagato said, "I'd like to visit the capital of the Land of Fire first, and then take a look at Konoha Village."

Jiraiya's heart tightened.

As expected, he still hasn't abandoned the idea of invading us?

Jiraiya had traveled throughout the world for many years, and he immediately made a decision.

He decided to communicate with this Nagato more along the way, then see if he could persuade him while extracting more information from him.

If his intentions remained unchanged in the end, then he would set up an ambush and capture him. He absolutely could not let him bring war and disaster to the Hidden Leaf Village!

Konoha Village, Hokage Tower.

The former Second Hokage's Guard Unit, now known as Konoha's F4, had gathered together.

Apart from Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura, the two deputy Kage who held real power, there were also Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, two old fools who were both short-sighted and treated themselves like culinary gods.

They were discussing in solemn tones the information they had just obtained from Jiraiya through the summoned Toad from Mount Myōboku.

"Hiruzen, are you sure this isn't just material for one of Jiraiya's novels that was sent to the wrong place?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on a long tobacco pipe, enveloping himself in smoke as his gaze remained cloudy.

"Danzo, do you really think Parallel Worlds exist?"

Danzo narrowed his eyes but said nothing.

To be honest, even people in their positions had never heard any reports concerning Parallel Worlds.

But based on the experiences they had gained throughout their long lives, with the existence of the three great sacred lands and countless immortals and deities, the theory of parallel universes might well be real!

"Based on Lord Jiraiya's condition at the time, this matter should be true. His expression was extremely serious, and since he was in the Valley of the End, I could indeed sense three extraordinarily powerful sources of Chakra."

The Toad added at that moment.

Because of Jiraiya, Mount Myōboku had always maintained a good relationship with the Hidden Leaf Village.

"All right. Regardless of the reason, since we already know what happened in advance, we naturally won't suffer any major consequences. After all, they're only three shinobi with supposedly Kage-level strength."

Koharu Utatane spoke indifferently.

Konoha could not even produce a single complete Kage-level fighter at present, yet her words showed that she did not take even three Kage-level fighters seriously.

"Danzo, you'll continue investigating this matter. If you can capture and interrogate them at minimal cost, all the better. If not, spread the news. We cannot allow our Konoha Village to bear the threat of this so-called parallel universe alone."

Homura Mitokado did not take the matter very seriously either.

The Shinobi World was already seething with turmoil. How strong could these shinobi from a Parallel World really be? Besides, could the price of traveling between worlds truly be so easy to bear?

The situation in the Shinobi World was tense. Perhaps the appearance of a new world could even redirect their conflicts outward and ease the internal disputes among them...

"Leave this matter to me. Root will give everyone a satisfactory answer."

"Since we're all here, though, I have a question for the Hokage."

As Danzo spoke, his gloomy gaze turned toward the Third Hokage.

"As far as I know, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has left the village. Lord Hokage, don't you owe us an explanation?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and said indifferently, "People need to grow, after all. Don't worry. With Kakashi watching him, nothing will go wrong."

Thinking of Kakashi's eye and his strength, Danzo snorted coldly.

"It had better be so. The Jinchuriki is the village's greatest means of restraining the other villages. I don't want anything to happen to him. If you lack the ability to educate him, hand him over to Root. I'll turn him into a qualified weapon of war!"

After saying this, the Pot Kage rose to his feet, and his figure slowly disappeared from the spot.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed and murmured to himself.

"After all, he's the son of a hero..."