What Does "Tattoo Era" Mean?!

"Jiraiya-sama, long time no see."

In a small town izakaya in the Land of Fields, Kakashi respectfully bowed slightly to Jiraiya.

However, the corner of his mouth couldn't help twitching, because Jiraiya was currently embracing two waitresses and laughing uproariously...

With that lecherous expression and the character "oil" on his forehead protector, no matter how one looked at him, he seemed like an utterly unreliable, greasy middle-aged man!

Still, Kakashi also knew how powerful he was, and this was his teacher's master, too...

"Long time no see, Kakashi."

When Jiraiya saw Kakashi arrive, he immediately let the waitresses leave. Only then did he reveal a smile.

"Not bad. That little brat from back then has become a powerful ninja capable of standing on his own."

"You flatter me, Jiraiya-sama."

Kakashi chuckled lightly, but Jiraiya's expression suddenly turned strange.

He moved closer to Kakashi and asked curiously in a lowered voice.

"Your teammates—one Hyuga and one Uchiha?"

"Yes, they both..."

"I've only been away from Konoha for how long, and the old man has already settled things with both clans?"

"..."

"Has the old man come back to life on his deathbed?"

"..."

Kakashi suddenly found himself unable to laugh. He had no idea how to respond to this topic.

While the two of them were talking, Tenzo also spoke up quietly from behind, his face full of bewilderment.

"Is that Jiraiya-sama? Why does he feel..."

"Compared to Orochimaru, he's far worse?"

Hyuga Makoto blinked, Uchiha Itachi's gaze shifted slightly, and Tenzo nodded inconspicuously.

"Indeed, just a little..."

"Because this guy is a super greasy, lecherous middle-aged man!"

"Yikes, don't say things like that carelessly..."

"You didn't see what happened just now?"

"Uh..."

"Besides, I saw him peeping into the hot spring baths in Konoha!"

"..."

Tenzo didn't dare say anything more, but both he and Uchiha Itachi had curious gleams in their eyes.

Up ahead, Kakashi and Jiraiya had also heard their conversation.

Kakashi looked embarrassed, while a vein throbbed on Jiraiya's forehead.

He glanced at Hyuga Makoto, who seemed eager to continue talking, and finally couldn't hold himself back.

"Hey, brat, that's incredibly rude! I was gathering material, gathering material, understand?"

"Oh, I understand, Jiraiya-sama."

Hyuga Makoto deliberately opened his Byakugan wide, then nodded with an expression of "understanding."

"It was only gathering material, just gathering material."

"..."

Looking at those huge white eyes, Jiraiya felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't say what.

He could only purse his lips and immediately change the subject.

"Let's talk about something more important. Where is that bastard Orochimaru?"

Jiraiya knew that Orochimaru was in the Land of Fields, but he really didn't know exactly where.

As his teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi understood his personality far too well.

Once he learned all the details, he would most likely rush over himself. Why would he wait for the Anbu?

Although he was unhappy about it, he could only accept it honestly.

"I heard there will be even more trouble this time, such as the teammates from that mysterious organization he's part of?"

"Yes, he was with Sasori of the Red Sands before."

Kakashi nodded and took out a map, while his gaze swept extremely subtly over Uchiha Itachi.

"But I'm sure there are other people as well, and they're all extremely dangerous. His current location should be in this area."

"This place?"

Jiraiya glanced at the map and couldn't help raising his brows.

"If I remember correctly, this is a forest. There's a small town nearby, but it's a long distance away. To obtain intelligence like this, it must have been that One-Eyed Old Man, right?"

"..."

Kakashi had no way to answer that question. After all, he didn't know the specifics either.

Fortunately, Jiraiya didn't care. He glanced at Hyuga Makoto before speaking.

"Then we'll prepare to set out. The forest is rather large, brat. Can your Byakugan handle it?"

"Don't worry, Jiraiya-sama. I'll definitely be fine."

Hyuga Makoto shrugged. Finding someone in an area like this was no problem for him.

In fact, he felt that he probably wouldn't even need to search seriously. Orochimaru and the others would come looking for them on their own!

Uchiha Obito has been secretly observing Uchiha Itachi recently. Most likely, he's trying to confirm his eyes...

Hyuga Makoto actually didn't know when Uchiha Itachi had let everyone learn that he possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Perhaps he had never said anything at all. It was simply his performance that made people realize he had obtained that power!

But that lunatic of a father knows...

After all, the father and son had examined the Uchiha stone tablet together, and that old lunatic also possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan!

In his memories, Uchiha Fugaku was a talented man as well.

As Patriarch, he was indecisive and hesitant when decisive action was needed. He wanted peace, yet before the clan's dissatisfaction spiraled out of control, he failed to suppress those grievances.

Then, when he was forced onto the path of a coup, he failed to strike decisively and launch a thunderous attack when it mattered.

In the end, he dragged the lives of the entire clan, young and old alike, into the grave and wiped them all out in one stroke!

To make every mistake one shouldn't make, then encounter a son like that... He really didn't die unjustly...

Still, whether Uchiha Fugaku lived or died was of no concern to Hyuga Makoto. What interested him most was the old man's eyes!

The Yin Release of the Mangekyo would be an enormous supplement for my eyes.

What Hyuga Makoto wanted most now was to upgrade his eyes. If he could obtain the abilities of the "Sealing Technique: Absorption Seal" or even "Sacrificial Alchemy"...

Then perhaps I could extract what I want from these things!

At this thought, he decided that he absolutely had to put on a good performance this time...

It was time to let people know what the "Tattoo Era" meant!

They moved quickly, entering the forest in less than half a day.

"Stop!"

However, just after entering, Hyuga Makoto raised his hand to signal them.

Uchiha Itachi and Tenzo immediately split up to keep watch, while Kakashi and Jiraiya came to his side.

"What is it, brat? Did you discover something?"

"I think we can prepare for battle."

Hyuga Makoto opened his Byakugan and scanned left and right as he spoke in a low voice.

"The moment we entered, I noticed a lot of snakes around us. There are traces of Chakra on all of them."

"Orochimaru's handiwork."

Jiraiya immediately understood, but Hyuga Makoto continued.

"But isn't this too much of a coincidence? How did they know we came in from this direction?"

"Hm?"

Jiraiya's brows furrowed at once. He immediately realized that there might be more twists and turns involved.

Kakashi also frowned and asked in a low voice.

"You mean that guy..."

"Yes. I'm afraid Hokage-sama's judgment was correct."

Hyuga Makoto nodded, his answer extremely honest!

"That guy has begun to act."

Kakashi quickly began thinking after hearing this. He had already learned on the way that the man had disappeared.

He had originally been wondering what that man would do.

Now, it seemed that everything had become clear!

"Orochimaru is so arrogant. After suffering a loss at our hands, he won't let the matter go. Besides..."

As he thought, the corner of his eye once again swept over Uchiha Itachi.

"They can't leave either. Realizing that we're being watched could just be caution, but leaving would mean there's an insider. So we have to put on a complete act?"

At this thought, Kakashi seemed to have arrived at a "relatively clear" answer!

"Hey, what are you two talking about?"

Jiraiya listened to their whispers. Although he had already formed a guess, he still couldn't help feeling curious.

However, before he could finish speaking, Hyuga Makoto suddenly shouted.

"Prepare for battle! They're coming!"

As soon as he spoke, several figures landed on the large trees around them, looking down at Hyuga Makoto and the others.

One of them spoke in a hoarse voice filled with disgust.

"I was wondering why I felt so awful. So some disgusting things really did come here..."