"Report! Lady Chiyo, the Third Kazekage has lost an arm. The Konoha Sannin are leading thousands of men this way. Should we retreat?" A Sunagakure Ninja, covered in blood, struggled to make his way to Chiyo.
Though rage had consumed Chiyo, she still had to consider Sunagakure's future. With regret, she had no choice but to abandon her attempt to kill Hatake Sakumo.
"Just you wait, White Fang of the Leaf! Someday, I'll kill you! I'll avenge my children's spirits in the afterlife!!!!" Chiyo gritted her teeth, recalled the puppets of the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets, and then withdrew her forces.
"I'll be waiting," Hatake Sakumo said calmly as he sheathed the White Fang.
The next day, after learning that the Third Kazekage had lost an arm, Lord Third Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately ordered Konoha's forces to launch an all-out assault on Sunagakure. With their will to fight broken, the village's forces were driven back at every turn. Three months later, the Second Shinobi World War finally came to an end.
The first week after the end of the Second Shinobi World War
Inside the Konoha forces' command room, Hatake Sakumo smiled as he received intelligence from Konoha.
"The Lord Third has already signed a peace treaty with the Kazekage. We can start getting ready to return to Konoha tomorrow." Hatake Sakumo let out a long breath. He'd made a name for himself in the Second Shinobi World War, after all.
That night
Inside the Sannin's tent
"Master Jiraiya, I'd like to ask you for a favor," Uchiha Chiba said solemnly.
"What's wrong, Chiba? Just tell me. There's no need to be so formal between us. We've known each other for so long, and Tsunade and I think of you as a little brother," Jiraiya said with a smile.
After Dan Katō's death, Tsunade had given her Lucky Necklace to Uchiha Chiba. At first, Chiba had refused. After all, whoever had the necklace ended up dead. But then he remembered that he was the protagonist of this story, and accepted it.
"I'd like you to go to the Land of Rain and teach three people. One of them has the Rinnegan—the eyes of the legendary Sage of Six Paths. I imagine that has something to do with your mission, too. But, sensei, please don't tell them I'm still alive. I don't know whether Danzo has another move prepared, and I can't risk exposing my weakness." Uchiha Chiba bowed.
Amegakure was shrouded in a fine veil of rain year-round, gloomy and mysterious. After hearing from Chiba about three exceptionally talented orphans there—Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan—Jiraiya's love of nurturing talent and his search for the Child of Prophecy drove him to travel there alone.
"Those kids and Chiba must have some kind of connection..." Jiraiya lowered his hat.
At that time, Amegakure lay in ruins beneath the shadow of war, sorrow and despair permeating every street and alley. Jiraiya moved through the rain, his senses fully extended as he searched for the three children. At last, he found them in a corner of a ruined building. They hadn't been doing well since Chiba left.
Nagato was thin, but his gaze was resolute. Yahiko was cheerful and full of energy, while Konan was quiet and reserved, with a hint of stubbornness in her eyes. Looking at the three children, Jiraiya felt a pang of pity and hope. He walked up to them with a kind smile, even as the rain kept soaking his face.
"What are your names?" Jiraiya asked softly.
Nagato looked up at Jiraiya warily but said nothing. Yahiko stepped forward and called out, "I'm Yahiko. This is Nagato, and the one beside him is Konan. Who are you? What are you doing here? Big Brother Chiba is dead. You've come to the wrong place..."
Jiraiya crouched down to meet their eyes and said slowly, "My name is Jiraiya. I'm a shinobi. I heard about you while traveling and think you have great potential. I'd like to take you as my students and teach you ninjutsu, so you can change your own fates—and maybe even change the world."
The three children exchanged glances. A flicker of interest crossed Nagato's eyes, but suspicion quickly replaced it. They had survived in this cruel world for a long time and naturally distrusted the kindness of strangers.
Just then
Konan suddenly spoke, her face cold and her eyes devoid of the energy a child her age should have had. Her sweet voice rang out: "If I learn ninjutsu, can I bring Big Brother Chiba back to life?"
Jiraiya could see what was going through Konan's mind.
If the girl found out Chiba was still alive, she'd probably do whatever it took to find him.
"Maybe... That's probably something only a god could do, but..."
Jiraiya stood up and formed Hand Seals, murmuring an incantation. In an instant, the rain gathered around him, forming several lifelike little animals that hopped and played before them. The wondrous sight filled the eyes of the two children besides Konan with amazement. They hadn't seen Chiba use ninjutsu very often, either.
"This is only a small part of what ninjutsu can do. I can teach you many more powerful techniques, so you won't be bullied anymore and can protect the people around you," Jiraiya said, pressing his advantage.
Yahiko was the first to lose patience. He'd already planned to ask Chiba to take him as a student that day, but... Sigh. Excitedly, he asked, "Really? You can really teach us? Then will we be able to become as strong as those powerful shinobi? Can we avenge Big Brother Chiba?"
After a moment's thought, Nagato finally spoke. "Why did you choose us? We're just homeless orphans. Apart from Big Brother Chiba, I don't trust anyone else..."
Looking into Nagato's eyes, Jiraiya said earnestly, "Because I see a special power in you—a power that could change the future. And I don't want to see talents like yours buried in this era of war. I think your Big Brother Chiba would feel the same. He wouldn't want you to lose heart like this."
With Jiraiya's patient persuasion and the allure of his amazing ninjutsu, the three children gradually let down their guard. They followed him to an abandoned hut in a relatively safe area. Jiraiya began teaching them the basics of being a shinobi, from the most fundamental chakra control to simple Taijutsu moves.
Nagato showed an astonishing talent for learning ninjutsu. His ability to sense and control chakra far surpassed that of ordinary people. Yahiko had a strong interest in Taijutsu and a natural knack for it, and he practiced each move diligently. Though Konan remained cold, she had a unique understanding of genjutsu.
As time went by, Jiraiya's bond with the three children grew stronger. Still, the children remained focused above all on avenging Chiba, especially Konan.
Jiraiya taught them more than ninjutsu. He told them fascinating stories about the world beyond their village and taught them about friendship, conviction, and justice. One night, after the rain had stopped, moonlight fell over their makeshift training ground.
Standing in the center, Jiraiya said to the three children, "Remember, a shinobi shouldn't seek power alone. You must also have the heart to protect others. The pain and hardships we endure will become the foundation of our growth, helping us build a better future."
Nagato and Yahiko listened quietly, their hearts stirred by hope for the future and admiration for Jiraiya. But good times never lasted. The situation in Amegakure grew increasingly tense, and the clouds of war gathered once more.
Konan, meanwhile, thought of nothing but how to kill Hanzo the Salamander and bring Chiba back to life. She was sick—so sick that whenever she thought of Chiba, she cried. Yahiko once asked her why she was like this, but she only shook her head in silence.
Her heart
Had perhaps belonged to Chiba for a long time already.
Jiraiya knew he couldn't stay with them forever. He had his own mission and responsibilities. One morning, as he looked at the three children, who had made considerable progress, his heart filled with pride and reluctance to part.
"I have to leave. You've made great progress over these past three years, children. But I believe you've learned enough to face the challenges ahead. Remember, no matter what difficulties you encounter, never give up on your convictions." Jiraiya's voice was hoarse. Three years had passed in the blink of an eye. He wondered how the village was doing.
Nagato's eyes were filled with sadness, but he nodded firmly. "Sensei, we'll work hard. We won't let you down."
Yahiko called out loudly, "Sensei, when we get stronger, we'll come find you!"
Konan silently handed him a folded paper flower she had made with her own ability. Jiraiya took it, tucked it into his robes, and turned to walk into the rain.
The three children watched Jiraiya's retreating figure and silently vowed to carve out a place for themselves in this war-torn world and live up to their teacher's hopes. Carrying his concern for them, his hopes for their future, and his thoughts of Chiba, Jiraiya continued on his own journey. He didn't know what thrilling twists this parting would set in motion for the shinobi world of the future...
Before you continue