You're not allowed to go anywhere!

Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived quickly, moving at a brisk pace, the wooden floorboards echoing with the rapid tap-tap-tap of his footsteps.

Jiraiya, following behind him, appeared far more languid, yawning as he walked while his right hand remained sneakily tucked behind his back, concealing a dog-eared novel.

"Old man, it's been ages since I participated in any Konoha decision-making. Why are you dragging me into this?"

Jiraiya rubbed the back of his head, complaining with a look of indignation as he walked.

"I was just getting to the best part! The bookstore owner even told me to read a couple more chapters!"

"It wasn't me who called for you this time; it was your student who specifically requested your presence."

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't look back, his tone stiff and curt.

"Just now in front of the bookstore, that owner was trying to sell you adult novels. Jiraiya, can you at least try to act like one of the Sannin?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi gritted his teeth inwardly, his words filled with frustration over Jiraiya's lack of discipline.

Of his three students, Orochimaru had defected, Tsunade had run off to find peace and quiet, and the one left behind spent his days wallowing in hedonism and writing smut.

He couldn't help but wonder if his old bones would ever live to see a day of true tranquility.

"Oh? Minato called for me?"

Jiraiya paused for a moment, then immediately dropped his playful demeanor, lengthening his stride as the scroll behind his back swayed with his movement.

"Then something must have actually gone wrong."

The two arrived at the door of the Hokage Office.

Jiraiya reached out to push the door open with his usual carelessness, but his hand hovered on the knob for a second before he stepped aside to let Hiruzen Sarutobi enter first. He followed, closing the door firmly behind him with a sharp click of the lock.

"Yo, Minato!"

Jiraiya stepped into the room, his relaxed persona instantly returning.

"What's the matter? Finally realized you need the teachings of this Sage?"

Minato Namikaze stood behind his desk, the sunlight cutting in diagonally from the window behind him, illuminating the scroll laid out on the table.

The dark red bloodstains looked particularly jarring in the light, like an indelible, filthy smear.

"Master Jiraiya, Third Hokage."

Minato's voice was heavy as he tapped his fingers twice against the edge of the desk.

"No time for pleasantries. Let's look at this together."

Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed the scroll, his eyes narrowing as the wrinkles on his face tightened. He grabbed Jiraiya by the shoulder and pulled him toward Minato's desk.

Jiraiya leaned in, his smile freezing instantly on his face as he pulled his hand out from behind his back.

Then, Hiruzen Sarutobi fished a pipe from his robes, pinched a bit of tobacco into the bowl, and struck a match with a hiss to light it.

He took a deep drag, the embers in the pipe glowing and fading, and only after exhaling a cloud of gray-white smoke did he speak.

"This scroll... how did it come into your possession?"

"Kakashi just delivered it."

Minato picked up the scroll, his thumb brushing over the dried blood on the edge.

"An Anbu patrol intercepted them on the northeastern border of Konoha. A group of Rock Village ninja disguised as merchants were heading toward the Land of Lightning. Their chakra fluctuations gave them away. After the Anbu engaged them, two were left behind, and the survivor brought this scroll back."

"The northeastern border?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but widen his eyes.

"That's near the Land of Lightning... What on earth is that old man Ōnoki thinking?"

"Hey, hey, this isn't a good sign."

Jiraiya's brows knit into a tight knot, his hands pressing down on the desk, his shadow casting half of Minato's face into darkness.

"How long has it been since the Third Great Ninja War ended? Are they already itching to start a fourth? Do they think human lives are just firewood to be burned?!"

"I doubt it."

Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a moment before speaking in a low voice, standing by the desk with his arms crossed, exhaling a dull plume of white smoke.

"This is likely a conspiracy specifically tailored for us. The Rock Village and Cloud Village might not truly dare to strike, but they definitely want to force us to reveal a weakness so they can take a bite out of us."

He turned to look at Minato, his tone brooking no argument.

"Open it. Let's see together what this is really about."

"Understood, Third Hokage."

Minato took a deep breath, gripped the scroll with both hands, and channeled a light pulse of chakra through his fingertips to undo the sealing formula.

The scroll slowly unfurled with a faint, dry rustle.

The three of them leaned in simultaneously, six eyes locked firmly onto the yellowed paper.

[Ai, I have received your message.]

[Although what you speak of sounds like the ramblings of a madman, I know you would not gamble with your own life.]

[A meeting is possible, and an alliance is also possible, but the Rock Village can only prioritize the protection of its own interests, so you had best weigh your sincerity first.]

[Three days from now, at the border of the Land of Iron, bring only those you trust most.]

[Tsuchikage—Onoki of the Both-Sides Scale]

"Wow... that's a conversation without a shred of mercy."

Jiraiya stretched his neck as he finished reading the handwriting on the scroll, clicking his tongue with a dry voice.

"That old geezer Onoki is as difficult to deal with as ever."

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not answer immediately; he took another deep drag, gray smoke slowly exhaling from his nostrils.

"So, they must have caught wind of something."

Hiruzen held his pipe, turned his head to look at Jiraiya, his gaze sharp.

"Jiraiya, do you have any leads?"

Minato Namikaze also looked up, his azure eyes fixed on him as well.

They both remembered that on his way back, Jiraiya had been carrying a Cloud Village captive, who was currently locked away in the Konoha prison.

Pinned by both gazes, he subconsciously shrank his neck, his right hand awkwardly scratching the back of his head as his eyes began to drift toward the ceiling.

"Well..."

He let out two dry laughs, his voice as thin as a drafty paper window.

"I only got this news when I met up with Orochimaru... and Tsunade in Tanzaku Town..."

"What news?"

Hiruzen's eyes suddenly brightened; he had sniffed out the core of the issue.

"Those guys from the Cloud Village... they were trying to drag Tsunade back at the time."

Jiraiya's voice grew quieter as he spoke, his fingers nearly digging into his scalp.

"They deployed Ai and Killer B to oversee it, and then... the three of us joined forces and beat them back."

The office fell silent for a moment.

The next second—

"Jiraiya!!"

Hiruzen's roar shook the lamp wick; he swung his pipe and struck Jiraiya hard on the back of his head!

Thwack!

"Why didn't you report something so important sooner!!"

"Aaaaaah!!"

Jiraiya hugged his head and crouched down, tears nearly flying out of his eyes.

"Stop hitting me, old man! As soon as we got back, Orochimaru went to treat Kushina, there was no time to talk! Besides, when we first got the news, we had that captive ninja, didn't we have Kakashi's team bring him back?"

"Couldn't you have sent the news back via scroll first!"

Hiruzen was so angry his beard was trembling, his pipe raised high once more.

"Hahaha... ouch! Stop hitting me! It hurts!!"

Jiraiya hunched his shoulders, wearing an awkward smile uglier than a cry, scurrying around the office while shielding his head.

"Enough."

Minato suddenly spoke, his voice not heavy, but like a stone dropped into boiling water, instantly silencing the two.

The hem of his Hokage Cloak swayed gently against the desk, the warmth gone from his azure eyes.

"So, the Cloud Village was targeting us from the very beginning."

Minato's voice was deep, his fingers tapping twice on the edge of the desk.

"And now they are joining forces with the Rock Village because they found out about the two Orochimarus..."

"It should be fine."

Hiruzen withdrew his pipe and put it back in his mouth, his brows knitted into a tight knot.

"Judging by this reply, this is currently the only possibility. That old fox Onoki wouldn't agree to the Cloud Village's request for an alliance without a reason."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Jiraiya, his tone brooking no argument.

"Konoha is now highly likely to have to deal with two waves of enemies simultaneously. Jiraiya, remember to tell Tsunade about this in advance and have her prepare."

"I know, I know."

Jiraiya rubbed the bump on the back of his head, nodding sullenly.

"I'll definitely tell Tsunade... it's just..."

He stopped halfway, his voice suddenly stuck, his gaze falling on the streets outside the window currently under reconstruction, where the furrows plowed by the Yamata no Orochi from the previous night still remained.

"Just what?" Hiruzen asked.

"It's just... we're missing someone right now..."

Jiraiya's voice softened, the playful grin from a moment ago vanishing.

"That guy, Orochimaru..."

The office fell silent once more.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand, holding his pipe, froze in mid-air. After several seconds, he slowly placed the pipe back into his mouth and took a deep drag.

"Indeed..."

He murmured, his voice carrying a trace of imperceptible regret, though he quickly hardened his tone.

"But this is no time for nostalgia; we simply need to await the Fourth Hokage's arrangements."

He turned his head, staring intently at Jiraiya.

"During this period, you must remain in the village. You are not to go anywhere, do you understand?"

Jiraiya looked into Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, then glanced at Minato's solemn expression, finally shedding all traces of his joking demeanor.

He straightened his posture and nodded solemnly.

"Understood, old man."