The Fourth Shinobi World War Is About to Begin

"The investigation has yielded results!"

Hashirama shook the scroll in his hand, his expression grave. "After the intelligence from Kirigakure was sent back, Little Tsunade quickly sent word that during the Second Shinobi World War, she had indeed encountered a boy in the Rain Country with purple ripple-patterned eyes."

At this, everyone's hearts sank.

The moment the Masked Man vanished, they had sent the intelligence relayed by Kirigakure's spy back to their respective villages for their think tanks to analyze its authenticity.

Yet they had not expected news to arrive from Konoha so soon after it was sent.

"The child who possessed the 'Sage's Eye' was once taken in as Jiraiya's disciple. Years later, Elder Danzo personally encountered that young man with the Sage's Eye."

After reading the message sent by the village, a trace of doubt arose in Hashirama's heart.

He had learned about Jiraiya's character before. Though the man was usually a little unserious, he was exceptionally dependable when it truly mattered. But why did the disciple he had raised have tendencies toward destroying the world?

"So the intelligence about the Sage's Eye has been confirmed!!" General Mifune leaned back in his chair, staring hopelessly at the ceiling. Bitterly, he said, "Could there really be three pairs of the Six Paths Sage's eyes?"

"It's highly unlikely that there are three pairs!" Hashirama set down the intelligence scroll and shook his head slightly, his eyes thoughtful.

Though he did not know how the Sage's Eye came to be, throughout the Ninja World's thousand-year history, he had never heard of anyone awakening those mysterious eyes.

That also showed just how difficult it was to awaken the Sage's Eye.

Then, folding his arms across his chest, he said contemplatively, "We don't know the abilities of the Sage's Eye. One pair should