Jiraiya, Long Awaited, Summons Mount Myōboku

"Go to hell with your Evil God!" Naruto jumped away, while Hidan was already unable to move, and Kakuzu was at his last gasp.

He had a vague feeling that he could now use the Tailed Beast Ball, and initially considered firing Hidan to kill Tailed Beast Ball. However, looking at the current situation, he decided it wasn't necessary to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

The Immortal Duo aren't particularly strong, just troublesome.

With a clap of his hands, the ground within a meter of Hidan suddenly collapsed, molten lava pouring out. Before Hidan could even let out a scream, he was completely dissolved.

This terrifying sight caught Kakuzu's attention; he was currently entangled with Asuma and Chiriku. Seeing this, he quickly unleashed a wide-range Fire Release technique, instantly spewing out a sea of fire covering tens of meters. The remaining giant trees around them instantly turned to ashes, and the ground cracked and shrank.

But after doing all this, Kakuzu's condition was already extremely bad. With four consecutive Earth Grudge Fear shattered, he now only had one life left.

Using Fire Release that couldn't kill someone when his body was already at its limit was a miscalculation. After Naruto overcame his mental hurdle, his fighting became increasingly fluid.

A kunai streaked through the air, its gleaming blade reflecting a dazzling light in the sea of fire. Flying Thunder God switched positions using Flying Thunder God Technique, unleashing Kakuzu Rasengan his side. Asuma and Chiriku arrived simultaneously, each severing one of his arms.

With three against one, the outcome was without suspense. Kakuzu's heart was pierced by Chiriku's punch, and he died completely.

He stood on Kakuzu's corpse, staring into his bright, green eyes. Expressionless, he drew his sword and brought it down heavily; finishing off an enemy was a ninja's most basic skill.

Kakuzu dead. Chiriku looks back at the Fire Temple and stands there without saying a word. Everywhere is in ruins, and there are very few monks left. To rebuild it, they will have to seek the help of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

[Ding, the reward for the Evil God's Hymn has been successfully distributed (removes all Dōjutsu effects once).]

Naruto walked over to Shikamaru, Choji leaned against the wall, and Ino had just finished a simple treatment.

"Are you alright?" He walked over and asked Choji.

"It hurts a little," Choji said, his chubby face contorted in pain.

Upon hearing this, Naruto, Shikamaru, Ino all laughed. If he can still complain of pain, then he's probably alright.

In the Hokage's Office, Tsunade held the mission report and looked at it over and over for a long time.

"That's enough, I'm taking him away." Jiraiya said, standing there. "Given the current situation, the Akatsuki Organization's counterattack will come soon, so we might as well prepare early."

With a clatter, Tsunade put down the mission report, leaned back in her chair, looked at Jiraiya, and said two words.

"ASAP."

Jiraiya paused for a moment, then asked.

"What happened?"

Tsunade was silent for a moment, then unconsciously tapped the table with her index finger and spoke.

"There's nothing to worry about for now. The situation with Akatsuki Organization is still unclear, and Orochimaru has also made some moves. These unknown factors are always a potential threat, especially since two Akatsuki Organization members died at the hands of Konohagakure."

"Orochimaru?" Jiraiya realized something and pressed, "Is it that Sasuke Uchiha?"

"Yes," Tsunade nodded.

"Moreover, Naruto's strength has unknowingly grown to an astonishing level, and the village's future actions will likely depend on his efforts."

Jiraiya frowned slightly. "Is there no way to leave?"

"It's not that bad. You're rarely in the village anyway, so the higher-ups didn't expect you to be of much help," Tsunade said. "It's just that Naruto is currently carrying the weight of a high-ranking position, and if he leaves now..."

"So, everything should be done as soon as possible, preferably today, with him." Tsunade looked up at Jiraiya. "Leaving for Mount Myōboku a day earlier will help avoid some unexpected events."

"I understand." Jiraiya nodded and smiled. "I will take him away today."

The door closed, Tsunade stood up, walked to the window, and frowned.

Lacking intelligence, Konoha knew nothing about the Akatsuki organization. Under these circumstances, two Akatsuki members were killed, but Konoha couldn't spare any more manpower to investigate.

Damn it, if only I could disband Root and use it for myself! She thought to herself, then sighed softly. Letting Naruto Jiraiya this moment was an extremely risky decision.

At noon, the scorching sun is high.

Naruto sat on a secluded, shady set of steps, squinting at the blazing sun two meters away. Behind him stretched long, green steps, with old trees their roots in a neat, orderly fashion.

When the wind blows, the canopies of the green trees surrounding the old house sway and rustle.

"What are you doing hiding here?" Ino, wearing hot pants, lightly stepped up the stairs with her two slender white legs. "It seems like Lord Jiraiya is looking for you."

"I really don't want to go out." Naruto slammed his soda down on the ground. "That Pervy Sage wants to take me to a really troublesome place, and I don't really want to go."

"Where?" Ino stood beside him with her hands behind her back. Nikko filtered through the sparse leaves, dappling the moss-covered stone steps.

The lush greenery and the sweet fragrance of the young girl added a touch of sweetness to the air.

"In short, it's a very troublesome place. I heard it involves learning some kind of Sage Techniques." Naruto looked up at her. "Even if you learn them, you can't really become an immortal. It's not very interesting."

Ino facepalmed. "What kind of immortals are there in this world? The Sage of Six Paths? Lord Jiraiya is very strong. Since he wants to take you there, then go. You can become stronger anyway."

"Who knows?" Naruto said.

He and the old Toad of Mount Myōboku are incompatible, so it's uncertain whether he can even learn Senjutsu. To be honest, he trusts the system more than Senjutsu.

Right now, he's pinning his hopes on the system, and feels a strange aversion to the old Toad and the Sage of Six Paths. He roughly knows that there shouldn't be any strange marks left in his body.

The Nine-Tails has been expelled, and the Six Paths Chakra mark has been erased. He is now a complete person, the independent Naruto Uzumaki. He is no longer the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, nor is he some Child of Prophecy.

In his eyes, the Sage of Six Paths was rubbish, a pretentious Otsutsuki; he was a far more powerful outsider. Compared to the alien natives, shouldn't he just become a god directly?

"Let's hide for now, I'll think about it some more," Naruto said, then asked, "The Chunin Ninja Exams soon, right?"

"Yes." Ino sat down next to him and turned to look at him. "Choji applied, but my father told me that this year's Chunin Ninja Exams will be held jointly with Sunagakure."

"Sunagakure?"

"Yes, the turmoil within Sunagakure has been quelled," Ino said. "This exam was jointly held, making it more prestigious, and the Chunin title is more valuable."

"What's the gold content?" Naruto was somewhat tempted, though he didn't really want to go to Mount Myōboku.

The Immortal Duo is surprisingly weak, and now he has one more chance to use the Evil God's Hymn, which can erase one effect of ocular power. Whether it's the Rinnegan or the Sharingan, it can directly erase one effect of their power.

At least Danzo's Izanagi is no longer a problem for him. Although he hasn't completed the side quest and received the system reward Izanagi yet, he can eliminate Danzo's Izanagi.

The effect is roughly the same as silence, and the skill becomes ineffective once.

From now on, Danzo will just be an old dog, and Naruto will no longer have to fear him.

In this way, as long as he doesn't become Hokage, staying in Konohagakure isn't actually that bad. He's already shed the identity of Jinchuriki and taken on Konoha High Command; from now on, he'll definitely be second only to Hokage.

In the future, he can do whatever he wants, and nobody can control him.

The thought flashed through his mind for a moment, then Naruto dismissed it. If life were really this smooth, what would be the point of having a system?

But right now, there's the Akatsuki Organization in front and the Otsutsuki clan behind. Putting aside Black Zetsu's efforts to save his mother, even if he were to eventually trample Obito and punch Uchiha Madara...

But what about those inexplicable Otsutsuki? One wave after another comes along, and it's really troublesome to clash with Otsutsuki using Otsutsuki power.

What intrigued him was that if Hidan's so-called Evil God Cult could grant him abilities, and the Evil God artifacts provided by the system could suppress the Nine-Tails and even erase its eye power, then...

Forget it, forget it, I'll just go to Mount Myōboku and take a look first.

"Yeah, anyway, you probably don't have time." Ino turned to look at him. "I'm telling you, you can't keep hiding forever, can you?"

"Are you here to persuade me to leave?" he asked curiously.

"Not really," Ino said, hugging her knees and looking down at the ground. "I just ran into Lord Jiraiya looking for you. I guessed you were hiding in a place like this, and he found you easily."

"I didn't deliberately hide it," Naruto muttered. "I'm going to go eventually anyway, I just wanted to be alone for a while."

"Don't you want to go?" she asked.

"I don't really want to," Naruto said. "Getting stronger is great, but there's more than one way to do it. The main thing is, I really don't like Toad."

Ino shrank back and whispered.

"I heard from Lord Jiraiya that your training this time will probably take a long time. If that's the case, then it will definitely be hard to get used to not seeing you for so long."

Upon hearing this, Naruto was slightly taken aback. Ino Jiraiya told Ino everything, but why did he sound like he was informing a family member?

"It shouldn't take too long," he chuckled. "I might not even learn it all, and I might be sent back before I've learned anything."

"The more powerful the Ninjutsu, the more requirements and limitations it has, right? I'm not some kind of genius, you know that. I never wanted to be a genius, if it weren't for..."

"I know," Ino interrupted him. "I know."

Her gaze fell, fixed on the dappled sunlight on the stone steps, as if lost in thought. Then she looked up again, a smile spreading across her face, and said, her eyes crinkling.

"Anyway, by the time you come back next time, I might already be Chunin, and you might still be a Genin."

Naruto's eyelids twitched slightly. He thought Chunin himself, "What's so special about Konoha High Command of Jonin Konohagakure."

"Congratulations in advance," he said with a smile.

"Huh?" Ino met his gaze, her face inexplicably turning red, and she immediately stood up. "I... I just remembered I have something to do."

Ichiraku Ramen Shop.

"Honestly, you little brat are really a worry," Jiraiya complained while eating his noodles.

"It was you who insisted on saying some nonsensical things to Ino. If you really wanted to find me, wouldn't you have found me?" Naruto took a bite of char siu, and the oil immediately overflowed between his lips and teeth.

The thick, white broth dripped and rippled, reflecting Naruto's face.

"You seem more anxious than I am?" he said speechlessly.

"What kind of disrespectful talk is that?" Jiraiya said. "I know all too well the romantic feelings between you young boys and girls. How can we not give you a push when you have such a good opportunity?"

Jiraiya said with a grin, "How was it? Did you feel reluctant to part, snuggling in my arms?"

"No." Naruto rolled his eyes. "You only write things for adults, Pervy Sage."

"What do you know?" Jiraiya said with a sneer. "That's my most perfect masterpiece, it's very good. You're so boring, kid. You'll understand later."

Naruto actually wanted to say that he had already seen it, but he was too embarrassed to urge him to update. Suddenly, he remembered that Sakura and Ino had also seen Icha Icha Paradise, and he was even more speechless.

After all, the lewd author was right next to him, which made him feel bored.

"Anyway, you can't rush those things. I'm not an adult yet, so there's no use in being anxious," Naruto said, taking a sip of soup. "Everyone has their own goals, so we can just take it slow."

"Damn it." Jiraiya clicked his tongue. "You're so young, yet you think about so much. You don't have any youthful vigor at all."

"I do want to be energetic, Pervy Sage." Naruto turned to look at Jiraiya, his eyes gloomy. "How can I be energetic? You have a ton of nonsense to deal with. Try asking Sasuke to let go of his hatred for the massacre of his clan."

"If he can easily let go of his obsession, I can also be full of energy. A life that others despise and hate is hell for even a second longer."

"Even though I'm not Jinchuriki anymore, the higher-ups are still discussing plans to keep it from getting out. So I still have to endure the villagers' malice from time to time, and I still have to protect them. How am I supposed to stay focused?"

"If it weren't for Ino Choji, I would have left the village long ago."

The last sentence left Jiraiya speechless, unsure of what to say for a moment. After a brief silence, he took a deep breath and spoke solemnly.

"After this trip to Mount Myōboku is over, I will persuade the higher-ups to clear your name of being Jinchuriki. You are my disciple, not some Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."

"Yeah, we'll see when the time comes," Naruto replied.

The oppressive atmosphere immediately eased, Jiraiya smiled, patting Naruto on the shoulder and saying...

"Training at Mount Myōboku is extremely arduous, and mastering Senjutsu isn't easy, Naruto. Although this is Tsunade's order, we still need to respect your opinion."

Have you made up your mind?

Naruto, with his deadpan expression, replied, "Yes."

"You brat... you're so boring." Jiraiya curled his lip, finishing the last bite of ramen. "Well then, if that's the case, then..."

He set up his chopsticks and pointed ahead.

"Set off!"

Naruto looked down at the ramen in his bowl, speechless as he drank the soup.

Mount Myōboku, this day has finally come. The mark of the Sage of Six Paths is no longer on me; I wonder if the old Toad will utter the words of the Child of Prophecy this time.

In short, let's go and see for ourselves.

Konoha Forest, Riverbank.

It was afternoon, and the stream was rushing and gurgling. Jiraiya and Naruto stepped carefully on the soft pebbles. When they reached their destination, they saw a wide, damp riverbank.

Jiraiya stopped, took out a scroll, and said.

"Alright, let's sign the psychic agreement."