"Orochimaru's ideas are extremely dangerous. If we let him go just like this, once he masters power on that level, not only Konoha but perhaps the entire shinobi world could be destroyed!"
"You may not understand just how powerful the First Hokage was."
"Back then, even the Nine-Tails was nothing more than a pet in front of the First Hokage."
Jiraiya's expression was grave as he looked at Ye Fan and spoke earnestly.
"Don't worry, Jiraiya. I've considered every possibility. I only want to bring my parents back to life."
"As for everything else, you don't need to worry at all. I'm confident that even at the height of his power, the First Hokage would be no match for me!"
Ye Fan answered Jiraiya just as earnestly, and with confidence.
"Haah!" Jiraiya let out a long sigh. "Ye Fan, even if you really can control how things unfold completely, have you ever considered that the dead are gone for good? Even if Orochimaru can reincarnate someone who's almost exactly as they were in life, they still won't be the same!"
Hearing this, Ye Fan smiled with confidence. "Impure World Reincarnation is only the first step. My goal is to bring them back to life in the truest sense."
Jiraiya's expression turned a little peculiar, and he looked somewhat curious.
"Does such power really exist in this world? The power to bring the dead back to life!"
"Forget it, let's not talk about that. As for letting Orochimaru leave, have you really made up your mind?" Jiraiya asked seriously once more.
"Yeah!" Ye Fan nodded and replied earnestly. "I've made my decision. If my mistake really leads to any consequences, I'll take full responsibility!"
Jiraiya laughed heartily and gave Ye Fan's shoulder a firm pat. "If that's the case, then let him go."
"You little rascal, I believe in you!"
"Besides, even if something really does go wrong, you've still got this old man. I'll shoulder the burden for you!"
Looking at Ye Fan's face—young, yet somehow weathered beyond his years—Jiraiya felt a rush of emotion. He had no idea how strong his power had become.
Without realizing it, Ye Fan had already surpassed him!
Jiraiya's words moved Ye Fan.
He knew he would never fail, but Jiraiya didn't.
To Jiraiya, this was a gamble—a wager that Ye Fan would win, with Konoha's future, perhaps even the future of the entire shinobi world, at stake!
Feeling the warmth of Jiraiya's hand, Ye Fan silently made a decision. It was time to find the Akatsuki Organization!
He would clear every obstacle from Jiraiya's path. He wouldn't let Jiraiya die at the hands of Nagato Uzumaki!
Nagato Uzumaki was someone Ye Fan could never forgive.
Ye Fan didn't have Naruto's capacity for forgiveness. His rule had always been simple: repay kindness with kindness, and vengeance with vengeance!
As for anything else, spare him the nonsense.
Whatever the reason, whatever their loyalties, anyone who hurt the people close to him would pay the price!
Jiraiya's death in his previous life had been a regret Ye Fan would carry forever.
In this life, he would never allow it to happen!
Suddenly, footsteps interrupted Ye Fan's thoughts. The Third Hokage and Nara Shikaku walked in with the others.
The moment they saw Ye Fan, the three of them understood that Danzo was dead.
They looked him over, their expressions complicated.
To think that a boy of thirteen or fourteen could possess such immense power left them in awe.
Nara Shikaku and the Fire Country's representative felt that they had wasted most of their lives, as if all their training had gone to the dogs.
There was no point comparing people—some were simply in a league of their own!
They gazed at Ye Fan, envying his extraordinary talent. They wished they had even a tenth of it.
They believed that if they had a tenth of Ye Fan's talent, their strength would far surpass what it was now!
In their eyes, Ye Fan was like a rising star, unmatched by anyone before him and unlikely to be surpassed by anyone after!
They suddenly felt that even the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, the man who founded the village, had probably never been as monstrous as Ye Fan in his youth!
Ye Fan's strength had far exceeded their understanding.
Before this, they had never seen anyone like him!
Looking at Ye Fan, they felt that every person hailed as a genius would seem dim and insignificant beside him!
As long as he was around, it seemed no one else could be called a genius.
"I must have been blind. I never noticed Ye Fan had such heaven-defying talent. I even foolishly thought he was just a useless nobody without a Kekkei Genkai."
"Now that I think about it, maybe I'm the useless one!"
Nara Shikaku swallowed, his gaze blank.
The Fire Country's representative looked just as shocked.
"Have we lost our minds? We used to call Ye Fan useless? If he counts as useless, then we're dozens of leagues worse than useless!"
"If he works for Konoha, the village will become the strongest in the shinobi world. The Fire Country's standing will rise dramatically too!"
"Maybe... maybe Konoha can once again reach the glory it knew under the First Hokage!"
The Third Hokage's expression was conflicted. He silently said a few words in prayer for Danzo.
Though Danzo had once been his comrade, the Third Hokage had never been able to make up his mind about him. He had considered getting rid of Danzo for a long time, but had never acted on it.
Nara Shikaku and the Fire Country's representative soon recovered from their shock.
In its place came elation!
Danzo had always been a thorn in their side, a threat they had been powerless to deal with.
Now Ye Fan had removed the blade hanging over Konoha, leaving them overjoyed.
Just then, several voices, speaking at great speed, interrupted their thoughts.
"Third Hokage, Ye Fan is a rogue ninja! He let Orochimaru escape! Send someone to capture him at once!"
"Third Hokage, Ye Fan is extremely dangerous. What he's done could threaten Konoha's safety. He absolutely cannot be allowed to stay!"
"And the same goes for Jiraiya! He may have become a rogue ninja too!"
"He knew perfectly well that Orochimaru was a wanted criminal, yet he still allowed Ye Fan to let him go. There's definitely something wrong with him too!"
"Those two, master and student, may have returned to Konoha with some ulterior motive. We can't just leave them alone!"
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu suddenly opened their eyes and spoke without pause.
Every word dripped with hostility. They wanted to seize Jiraiya and Ye Fan immediately.
Everyone drew in a sharp breath and stared at the two of them in alarm, their expressions deeply troubled.
"Have those two old fools lost their minds?"
"What did they just say? Capture Ye Fan and Jiraiya?"
Nara Shikaku and the Fire Country's representative looked at Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu as if they were idiots.
The Third Hokage's expression darkened in an instant.
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