A Chance Encounter with Jiraiya

At the entrance to Konoha Village.

Upon hearing that Uchiha Yato was leaving, everyone who knew the news came to Konoha Village's entrance.

One could imagine just how highly Uchiha Yato was regarded among these prominent ninja clans.

Naturally, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood at the very front. Danzo Shimura did not show himself, instead watching from the shadows.

Uchiha Kei was the first to speak. As the head of the Uchiha Clan and the elder who had interacted with Uchiha Yato the most, he naturally had the right to speak first.

"Yato, although the Third Hokage's mission for you this time is to bring Tsunade back..."

"You must protect yourself out there. Don't eat things carelessly."

His words were filled with concern. No matter how mischievous Uchiha Yato was, he was still one of the Uchiha Clan.

Hiruzen Sarutobi then added, "Yato, you don't need to listen to Elder Danzo regarding the matter of finding Tsunade."

"There's no great urgency. Although it concerns Konoha Village's honor, finding her within three months will be enough. If necessary, we can explain things to the Sand Shinobi Village."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts were simple: it would be best if Uchiha Yato stayed outside for a little longer. After all, this fellow had caused plenty of trouble in the village.

It brought no benefits whatsoever to the Hokage's upper ranks.

If this matter could keep Uchiha Yato away for a year or so, it would be a rare blessing for the Hokage's upper ranks.

Danzo Shimura naturally agreed wholeheartedly with Hiruzen Sarutobi. The longer Uchiha Yato stayed outside, the more chances he would have to make his move.

Afterward, quite a few people came forward to offer reluctant farewells and blessings. Even Uchiha Obito and Ryoma Aburame, whom Uchiha Yato had messed with so many times, came to see him off.

Knowing that this plague god was leaving, even the Sand Shinobi had come to bid him farewell.

Seeing such a grand scene, Uchiha Yato instantly began to tear up as he said.

"You're all making it really hard for me to bear parting with everyone."

Then he abruptly changed the subject and said to Hiruzen Sarutobi, "How about finding someone else instead?"

"Lord Hokage, I can't bear to leave everyone either. How about I just don't go?"

The moment they heard this, everyone's expressions changed—especially Hiruzen Sarutobi and those whom Uchiha Yato had "carefully looked after."

Just as Uchiha Yato was about to continue, he saw that the crowd from moments before had vanished without a trace.

Only Uchiha Kei, who was too slow to run, and the other members of the Uchiha Clan remained.

Uchiha Yato said nothing more. In the end, he merely gave the clan head a few careful instructions.

There was no need to offend the Sand Shinobi. If necessary, avoiding them was also an option.

The Hokage's upper ranks, especially Danzo Shimura, might make trouble for the Uchiha Clan.

There was no need to worry too much about the other minor details. After all, Uchiha Kei possessed a summoning scroll that could call Uchiha Yato back.

After making all the arrangements, Uchiha Yato set off from Konoha Village in the Land of Fire.

According to the intelligence Hiruzen Sarutobi had given him, Tsunade should currently be within the Land of Rain.

Uchiha Yato headed straight toward the Land of Rain.

As he passed the border of the Land of Rain, he spotted three strange figures.

Why describe them as figures?

Because the three of them wore green frog-skin bodysuits and were rather small in stature. They should have been young children.

Considering the current time, their behavior, and the location, Uchiha Yato guessed that these three should be the future leaders of Akatsuki: Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato.

Seeing them sparked Uchiha Yato's interest. If they were nearby, then Jiraiya should also be somewhere in the area.

Uchiha Yato directly called out, "You three kids up ahead, stop."

"This is a robbery!"

Hearing Uchiha Yato's words, the three children immediately began to panic.

Yahiko was the first to calm down. He steadied himself and said to Konan and Nagato.

"Don't panic, don't panic!"

He said it twice not only for Konan's sake, but also for Nagato, who was currently overwhelmed by fear.

"He's alone. Teacher taught us that as long as the three of us work together, we don't need to fear him."

Hearing Yahiko's words, Konan immediately came to her senses as well.

After being ravaged by war, innocent children had long since been devoured by the world.

If Nagato had not been special, chosen by Madara Uchiha as a pawn, his personality would never have allowed him to survive until now.

Konan immediately used her unique ninjutsu to interfere with Uchiha Yato's vision.

Yahiko coordinated with Konan, using Water Release-style ninjutsu, while Nagato, having calmed down, also used Water Release ninjutsu.

Everything he did now followed Yahiko's lead. It was precisely because of this personality that Madara Uchiha had chosen him as a pawn.

Seeing their cooperation, Uchiha Yato was instantly seized by the urge to play.

Then they heard him say, "Fire Release: Seven-Doneness Technique."

This was the fire technique Uchiha Yato used for grilling meat.

Its firepower was not great, but it could cook a steak directly to seven-doneness, so Uchiha Yato had simply named it the Seven-Doneness Technique.

However, due to Uchiha Yato's trait of having chakratons, he possessed an enormous amount of chakra.

Although Nagato also had a great deal of chakra, he could not compare to the current Uchiha Yato.

Konan was instantly unable to withstand the flames, and the situation immediately became one-sided.

Yahiko truly was a ninja who had undergone long training. His reaction speed was first-rate.

When he realized Water Release techniques could not effectively strike the enemy, he immediately switched to Earth Release without the slightest hesitation, his movements smooth and without any delay.

At the same time, the tacit coordination between Konan, Nagato, and Yahiko was astonishing.

It was as though their hearts were linked. Every movement and every attack connected flawlessly, bringing the power of teamwork to its absolute limit.

Even so, facing the powerful and unfathomable Uchiha Yato, they did not dare relax in the slightest, using every means at their disposal to resist him stubbornly.

Yet the gap in strength between both sides was ultimately impossible to overcome.

Finally, with Uchiha Yato deliberately going easy on them, Yahiko and the other two barely held on for a full three minutes.

But by then, they were at the end of their rope, utterly exhausted and completely driven into a corner.

At that critical moment, Uchiha Yato formed hand seals with both hands and muttered an incantation. Immediately afterward, a roaring blaze swept toward the three like an enraged dragon.

The scorching flames dyed half the sky red, while waves of heat rushed toward them, suffocating them.

Faced with certain death, the three closed their eyes in despair, slowly lowered their weapons, gave up their final resistance, and quietly awaited death's arrival.

Then, a loud roar suddenly rang out.

"Ninja Art: Wild Lion's Mane Technique!"

A huge mass of white, needle-like hair shot toward Uchiha Yato, forcibly interrupting his Fire Release.

The newcomer then revealed himself and said.

"Who dares bully the disciples of the Toad Sage, Jiraiya?"

The moment they saw him, hope ignited once more in Yahiko and the other two.

Uchiha Yato also put aside his playful attitude and said to Jiraiya, "Long time no see, Jiraiya."

"Weren't you chasing Tsunade? Why are you raising children now?"

Hearing those irreverent words and that equally irreverent greeting.

Jiraiya naturally knew who had come, and he said furiously, "You bastard, Uchiha Yato, it's you again."

Uchiha Yato teased, "These aren't your illegitimate children outside Konoha, are they? No wonder you stopped pursuing Tsunade."

"But you hid it well. These kids are already this big."

Hearing Uchiha Yato say something so infuriating every single time.

Jiraiya did not let Uchiha Yato drag him into his rhythm again. He then said.

"Enough, quit messing with me."

"These three became orphans during our earlier battle in the Hidden Rain Village."

"I took them as my disciples and have been teaching them here. But putting that aside, why did you leave the village?"

Uchiha Yato dropped his joking manner and said to Jiraiya.

"Tsunade ran away from her wedding!"