A New Lead, Jiraiya Sets Out

"You're really good to him."

Naruto had just left when a familiar voice sounded from outside the door.

Uchiha Arashi turned his head and saw Kakashi.

"I'm good to all my customers."

Uchiha Arashi said with a smile.

"But you were especially good to him. Do you know him?"

Kakashi asked.

"I only learned his name today. The kid likes reading, but his clothes are pretty old, so I thought I'd show him a little kindness and give him a few books. What, is there something special about him?"

Uchiha Arashi asked.

"..."

Kakashi fell silent.

He suddenly didn't know how to answer the question.

He couldn't very well say that Naruto was actually the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, could he?

"Boss, I saw your new book. I'll take a copy."

Kakashi changed the subject.

"Sure thing."

Uchiha Arashi didn't press him. He promptly wrapped up a copy of the new book for Kakashi.

"What kind of book is it?"

After paying, Kakashi asked.

"You bought it without even asking what kind of book it is? I'm honored that you like my books so much... This one's also a fantasy novel set in an imagined world, but unlike Teyvat Travelogue, its world is smaller, and it doesn't have as many countries. I've specially designed the combat scenes, though, so if you enjoy the fighting, I highly recommend it."

Uchiha Arashi said.

Teyvat Travelogue mainly focused on the journey. The protagonist was a witness who got involved in events across various nations, but even without the protagonist, those nations could solve their own problems. It would just take more effort and cost them more.

Bleach, on the other hand, was about battles between multiple factions, and the protagonist played a more important role.

"Fighting, huh..."

Kakashi nodded.

He actually hated fighting, even though he was a ninja. But he didn't mind reading about battles in a novel. In fact, he found them rather interesting.

"Also, we'll be getting some merchandise in the shop soon. Feel free to come by and see if there's anything you like."

Uchiha Arashi added.

"Merchandise?"

Kakashi looked puzzled.

"Replicas of items from the novels, like weapons or tools. They don't have the same abilities as the things in the books; they're just little trinkets to collect and play with."

The Ninja World certainly had the concept of merchandise; it just went by a different name.

Kakashi understood at once.

"Like the Eye of God at your waist, shopkeeper?"

"Exactly. This is a prototype. What do you think? Looks nice, doesn't it? Would you like one? I'll have them on sale in a few days."

The ones sold to the public would be mere imitations. Only the genuine ones created through his Power of Recognition could be activated.

Selling merchandise served two purposes: making money and concealing the genuine items.

If people all over the world were wearing Eye of God replicas, then wearing a genuine one wouldn't stand out. Otherwise, the Eye of God would be so conspicuous during a fight that an enemy would immediately realize something was amiss, exposing his identity on the spot.

Uchiha Arashi wasn't that foolish. Of course he had already thought about how to hide himself.

"No thanks. I'm not interested in that sort of thing."

Kakashi picked up the book and turned to leave.

As a ninja—and an Anbu Ninja, at that—he wasn't about to wear such an eye-catching ornament.

Uchiha Arashi said nothing more, simply watching Kakashi leave.

At the same time, inside the Hokage Building.

The floors that had been destroyed had been restored, and the interior had been redecorated. But the losses they had suffered could never be undone.

For example, the staff members who hadn't managed to escape, and the Scroll of Sealing kept in the Hokage's office.

It had only been a copy, not the original Scroll of Sealing. And even if the original had been lost, the Third could have written a new one from memory.

But the Scroll of Sealing represented something far more important.

Konoha had suffered a loss of this magnitude, something that rarely happened. It spurred Hiruzen Sarutobi to make sure they found the attacker.

"Still no reliable information?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe as he looked at the Anbu before him, his expression grim.

"Sorry, Third. We had to guard against a possible ambush, so..."

The Anbu lowered his head.

"Enough, Hiruzen. That man is dangerous. Searching too aggressively would be risky. You were the one who ordered everyone to be careful, so don't be too hard on them."

Mitokado Homura adjusted his glasses and tried to reason with him.

"I know. I'm not blaming anyone. All right, you can go. Keep investigating, but stay safe. Don't take unnecessary risks."

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and spoke to the Anbu.

"Yes, sir!"

The Anbu Ninja left.

Silence settled over the office.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open from outside, and Danzo strode in.

"We have new information."

"What?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others were delighted and immediately turned to Danzo.

"My men found signs of his presence in the Land of Grass. There were also more signs of people living there."

"More signs of people living there? You mean..."

"That's right. It was probably the Uchiha he rescued."

Danzo spoke in a grave voice.

"That's good news, Hiruzen."

Utatane Koharu looked pleased and immediately turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"I didn't expect it to be the Land of Grass this time. Are they looking for a new place to hide?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't issue an order right away. Instead, he pondered the situation.

"Could they be planning to go to the Land of Earth? Ōnoki is an ambitious man. If the Uchiha wanted to join him, he'd very likely offer them protection."

Mitokado Homura adjusted his glasses and said with a frown.

"Wouldn't he worry about offending Konoha? Those people have already been declared wanted."

Utatane Koharu couldn't understand it.

"If we're talking about Ōnoki, he wouldn't be worried about that."

Hiruzen Sarutobi thought of the Akatsuki.

Ōnoki would even hire mercenaries to eliminate his political rivals. Protecting one or two Uchiha would be nothing to him. He might well do it.

"Then we need to move faster. We absolutely can't let Uchiha blood join Iwagakure."

Mitokado Homura spoke up immediately.

"Agreed. It's time to send Jiraiya."

Hiruzen Sarutobi made up his mind without hesitation.

Danzo watched it all from the side without saying a word. According to his plan with the Masked Man, Jiraiya's failure was a necessary part of it.

Only then could they gradually undermine Hiruzen Sarutobi's authority and create an opportunity for Danzo to take power.