Old Things from the Old Era, Don't Cause Trouble for the New Era's World

The old relics of a bygone era should stop causing trouble for the world of the new era. A week passed quietly.

Morning mist hung over the ruins of Amegakure, and the cool air carried the scent of earth and vegetation.

Chiyo stood on an open patch of rubble, calmly watching the three people before him.

In the end, Chiyo did not make a move on those Rinnegan.

Because five days ago, when Chiba had been preparing to act, he sensed something unusual from Nagato.

The fluctuations of that Dōryoku seemed to pose an enormous threat to him.

After weighing it repeatedly, Chiyo still abandoned the idea.

After all, Nagato's eyes belonged to that Dance King.

Who knew whether some technique had been planted inside them, one that would automatically activate the moment they encountered danger?

Just like Nagato in the original story, he always awakened only when facing danger.

Now that he thought about it...

It was probably not Nagato awakening because he was in danger, but the Rinnegan being threatened and draining Nagato's chakra dry to protect themselves.

And that Dance King of Konoha was still alive. He was definitely arranging for those inhuman things to keep watch over Nagato behind the scenes.

Although he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, Chiyo still felt somewhat uneasy about facing that old fellow head-on.

Besides, there was no rush. He had plenty of time.

Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river.

With the system, he would sooner or later stand at the pinnacle of the Shinobi World.

Once he was strong enough, he would dig out those eyes directly, then drag the Dance King and Little Black out of the gutter and crush them with overwhelming force.

The old relics of a bygone era should stop causing trouble for the world of the new era.

In the field.

Yahiko formed hand seals with both hands, fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead as he struggled to gather the chakra within his body.

Konan lightly tapped her fingertips, and a sheet of white paper floated above her palm, slowly folding into the shape of a bird.

Nagato stood quietly to the side. Beneath his red hair, his Rinnegan faintly flickered, as though sensing the flow of chakra.

"Again."

Chiyo's voice was calm and firm.

"Yahiko, make the chakra flow more smoothly. Don't rush."

Yahiko clenched his teeth, nodded, and adjusted his breathing once more.

He pressed his hands together, slowly gathering the chakra in his body into his palms before suddenly thrusting them forward.

"Water Release, Wild Water Wave!"

A thin stream of water burst from his palm. Though its power was far inferior to that of a true ninja, it was a marked improvement from a week ago.

"Very good!"

Chiyo nodded approvingly.

"Much stronger than before."

Yahiko wiped away his sweat and grinned.

"Hehe, it's finally starting to look like something!"

Konan's paper bird flapped its wings and took flight. After circling once in the air, it lightly landed back on her shoulder.

Joy sparkled in her eyes.

"Chiyo-niichan, look! I can make it fly farther now!"

Chiyo smiled faintly.

"Not bad. Your Chakra Control is becoming more and more precise."

Nagato stood to the side in silence.

His Rinnegan slowly turned, as though observing something.

Chiyo walked over to him and asked softly.

"What's wrong?"

Nagato hesitated before speaking in a low voice.

"I... can sense some strange things."

Chiyo's gaze sharpened.

"What?"

"The earth, the trees, the air... they all seem to have 'life.'"

Nagato's voice was soft, as if he were speaking to himself.

Was this Nagato's sensory ability?

Chiyo patted Nagato on the shoulder and spoke in a low voice.

"This kind of sensory ability is very valuable, but you must use it carefully. Don't let it drain too much of your mental energy."

Nagato nodded silently.

Just then, Chiyo's body stiffened.

His Shadow Clone outside had dispersed.

As he received the Shadow Clone's memories, Chiyo's expression turned serious.

"Come over here!"

The three stopped what they were doing and quickly came to Chiyo's side.

"Sunagakure and Amegakure have officially surrendered to Konoha. The ceasefire agreement has already been signed.

"Sunagakure and Amegakure have also begun submitting their peace documents!"

"In other words, the war will be over soon!"

The three wore different expressions upon hearing this.

Yahiko clenched his fists, a complicated light flickering in his eyes.

"It's finally... over?"

Konan's gaze was dazed.

"Then... will Amegakure get better?"

Nagato remained silent, merely lowering his head to look at his palms.

"It will! Once the war ends, everything will get better! But..."

Suddenly, Chiyo sensed an unfamiliar Chakra approaching.

"Someone's coming."

He spoke in a low voice.

He shielded the three behind him and looked into the distance.

The three behind Chiyo immediately became alert and followed his gaze.

Soon, a tall figure emerged from the woods.

Long white hair, a red outer robe, and a lazy yet profound smile on his face.

"It's Teacher Jiraiya!"

Yahiko recognized the newcomer and cried out in delight.

Jiraiya had his hands tucked into his sleeves. His gaze swept over the four of them, and when he saw Chiyo, his brow rose slightly.

"Oh? I didn't expect to run into you here."

Chiyo nodded faintly.

"Lord Jiraiya."

The two met each other's eyes for a moment, neither saying much.

Jiraiya's gaze soon shifted to the three children, and he grinned.

"Looks like you haven't been idle while I was gone."

Konan ran forward with a smile.

"Teacher Jiraiya, Chiyo-niichan taught us so much!"

Jiraiya nodded and looked at Chiyo, his tone unusually serious.

"Thanks for taking care of them."

"The war is over, and all the troops on the front lines are returning to their villages. What about you? Are you going back to Konoha?"

Chiyo gave a quiet hum.

"The mission is complete. It's time to go back."

"Now that Lord Jiraiya is here, the three of them probably won't be in danger anymore."

Hearing that Chiyo was leaving, the three looked reluctant to part with him.

Yahiko seemed to want to say something, but he still straightened his chest.

"Big Brother Chiyo, thank you for teaching us during this time!"

Konan looked at Chiyo with a faint smile, her eyes growing more resolute.

"Chiyo-niichan, we'll definitely grow stronger, protect Amegakure, and bring peace to Amegakure!"

Nagato was silent for a moment before finally speaking in a low voice.

"...Take care."

Chiyo looked at the three of them, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

"I believe in you."

He turned to Jiraiya. Their gazes met, and no words were needed.

"I'm leaving."

Chiyo waved his hand and turned to step into the woods.

Behind him, the three of them kept watching for a long time, until his figure completely vanished into the morning mist.

Jiraiya crossed his arms and stared in the direction Chiyo had left, murmuring softly.

"Uchiha... now that's a little interesting."

"The black-haired boy in the Great Toad Sage's dream who would overturn the Shinobi World... was that you?"

Yahiko turned to Jiraiya, his eyes filled with determination.

"Teacher Jiraiya, what should we do next?"

Jiraiya snapped back to his senses, laughed heartily, and ruffled his hair.

"Let's fill our stomachs first!"

Konan and Nagato exchanged smiles as sunlight broke through the clouds and fell upon the land of Amegakure.

From afar, a white figure watched the scene.

It slipped underground and disappeared.

Root Base.

Inside the laboratory, Orochimaru held a measuring cup in his hand, silently making notes.

The tap-tap of a cane striking the floor sounded out.

Danzo walked in from outside.

"According to reports from the subordinates we planted in Amegakure, it seems something major has happened there!"

Amegakure?

Orochimaru paused, and a stiff smile appeared on his cold face.

"With that Demi-God holding the fort, what major event could possibly happen?"

Danzo fell silent for a moment before speaking.

"It is precisely Amegakure's Hanzō who may have met with misfortune!"

Orochimaru's brows furrowed slightly.

That man from Amegakure was known throughout the Shinobi World as the Demi-God. The thought of him meeting with misfortune...

Orochimaru looked at Danzo's serious expression.

His heart jolted.

He could not help but believe it a little.

"If something happened to him, who did it? Who could possess such strength?"

Danzo's eyes flickered.

"We are still investigating, but according to the intelligence we have received, Hanzō may have been dead for quite some time..."

Dead for quite some time?

Orochimaru frowned deeply. Chiyo, who had appeared before him completely unharmed and had later completed the mission with him, suddenly came to mind.

Could he have done it?

Seeing the change in Orochimaru's expression, Danzo could not help asking.

"Did you think of someone?"

Orochimaru smiled, shook his head, and continued looking at the measuring cup in his hand.

"No one came to mind."

"..."

Danzo's gaze flickered. He said no more, and soon left the laboratory with the Root members.

Orochimaru was slightly distracted.

"If it really was Chiyo-kun, what did he rely on to kill Hanzō? Could it be..."

Orochimaru thought of the Mangekyō Sharingan he had previously transplanted into Danzo, and his gaze sharpened.

"The Mangekyō Sharingan actually possesses such power?"