Jiraiya Appears

Besides Konoha's people, the teachers and students from other villages who had come to take part in the Chunin Exams also saw the completed Susanoo!

Inside the Konoha guesthouse.

Every room erupted with scattered, noisy chatter!

"Is this the foundation of the strongest nation? Are they giving us a show of force before the exams have even begun?"

"It's fake, right? Is this a genjutsu?"

"Is it too late for us to go home? Konoha feels way too terrifying!"

"Could that be the mighty figure who defeated the Third Hokage?"

Gaara of Sunagakure stood on a rooftop, letting the night wind wash over him.

The completed Susanoo from earlier had jolted him to his feet.

He stared ahead!

Grrr~

Gaara heard the sudden sound coming from Shukaku, the One-Tail, within him.

He immediately said coldly, "Do you want to take control of my body again?"

"Kehehehe~ You'd better not fall asleep, Gaara!"

"Hah! I've heard that line more than a hundred thousand times. Are you scared? Scared of that power from earlier!"

"What a joke. Me, scared? If you've got the guts, let me out and watch how I deal with that thing!"

"Stop bragging. Do you think I don't know what you're capable of? In front of that person, all you can do is tuck your tail between your legs!"

In a forest somewhere within Konoha, two people were meeting in secret.

One of them wore white clothes and had pale skin. Tall and thin, with hair hanging over his eyes, his sharp, pale yellow pupils gleamed with a strange smile.

His snake-like tongue stretched and contracted, slick with saliva as it licked at the corner of his mouth.

This man was Orochimaru—Snake Uncle, or perhaps Snake Auntie?

Beside him stood a white-haired young man wearing glasses: Kabuto Yakushi!

Orochimaru raised his head and looked toward the distant sky. "Susanoo? How incredible. Though it vanished in an instant, the all-encompassing force radiating from it was simply captivating. I want that power!"

"Lord Orochimaru, should we alter our plan?" Kabuto Yakushi pushed up his glasses and asked mildly.

"The plan remains unchanged. Proceed as planned! Stay hidden! Do not expose yourselves!"

At the Senju Compound, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō, who had already left, appeared once more.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Naruto and Sasuke Uchiha lying on the ground.

Naruto was still covered in blood! Yet he was snoring, clearly asleep.

He also saw Kakashi being restrained.

He immediately asked Shao Nan, "I hope you can give me an explanation!"

Danzo also asked as usual, "Little brother, what happened?"

"Don't be so tense. I'm uncovering Konoha's potential. Only when they grow stronger can the village grow stronger!"

Danzo's heart suddenly began pounding, and he grew nervous.

If Sasuke Uchiha became powerful, wouldn't that be disastrous? Once he learned the truth, wouldn't he kill me?

But there had been no other choice. The Uchiha rebellion had been inevitable.

Without forceful measures, Konoha might have been destroyed in a single day!

Shao Nan could see Danzo's predicament as well.

After all, Danzo could not be absolved! Nor could the fact of the Uchiha rebellion.

The only point that could be defended was the innocent Uchiha clansmen who had not participated in the uprising.

What had happened could not be changed.

But now that he was here, the story had changed!

Besides, he felt as though he could do many things now!

Yet it also seemed like he could do nothing at all.

Shao Nan lowered his voice beside Danzo. "Big brother, don't be nervous! Just make up for the mistakes you made, little by little!"

What a joke—Kabuto Yakushi and Orochimaru could both be redeemed!

Danzo might have a chance to be redeemed too, right? (Impossible.)

Shao Nan released Kakashi, then said,

"Take Sasuke to Konoha Hospital. Do not leave his side under any circumstances!"

"And old man Hiruzen, Brother Danzo! Send some people to protect Sasuke as well."

"I'm worried someone may covet Sasuke's power. After all, the power he displayed earlier was simply too dazzling."

Hiruzen Sarutobi shot Shao Nan an angry glare. "Do you think I need you to tell me that? I've already summoned the Fourth's personal Flying Thunder God squad."

With a sweep of Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand, three similarly dressed ninjas wearing jonin vests instantly appeared.

"You three, along with Kakashi, will protect Sasuke at all times until he wakes up. If danger arises, use the Flying Thunder God to escape immediately and send a signal."

Danzo also struck his cane against the ground. "Since you've spoken, little brother, how could your big brother refuse?"

Two figures swiftly appeared before Danzo and dropped to one knee.

They were Danzo's right- and left-hand men, Yamanaka Fū and Torune Aburame!

"Lord Danzo, your orders!"

"You two will protect Sasuke Uchiha from the shadows. Remember: should any threat arise, the two of you may die, but Sasuke Uchiha absolutely cannot die! Go!"

"Yes, Lord Danzo."

Kakashi glanced at Shao Nan, then picked Sasuke up.

"Go, Kakashi!"

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

Kakashi vanished with Sasuke in his arms, using the Body Flicker Technique. The Flying Thunder God squad and Danzo's two right-hand men followed close behind.

Shao Nan glanced at Hiruzen Sarutobi, then said, "I've already awakened Sasuke's potential. Now, only Naruto remains!"

"What are you trying to do? Do you know what Naruto represents? Do you think I would agree?"

Danzo also remained silent!

Naruto was the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki. He was of vital importance to Konoha; this concerned the balance of the Ninja World!

Shao Nan raised his head with great interest and shouted, "Come out! I know you've been following Naruto the whole time!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo were both stunned!

They looked at each other!

"My people couldn't possibly have been discovered by him."

"Neither could mine!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō waved their arms at the same time.

Immediately, more than a dozen figures leaped out from concealed locations nearby.

"What do you want with them?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Shao Nan curiously.

Shao Nan cursed inwardly, Damn it, are these two old men really not afraid Naruto will notice?

Did they send people to follow Naruto every single day?

No wonder Hiruzen Sarutobi never seemed worried that anything would happen to Naruto, sitting in the Hokage Building every day.

"Not them. There's someone else!" Shao Nan's words left the two of them confused!

"All of mine are here."

"So are mine."

Shao Nan rolled his eyes at them, then shouted again, "Jiraiya, if you don't come out now, I'm using Wood Release!"

When Shao Nan had grabbed Naruto and Sasuke on the tree, he had already noticed Jiraiya!

Why else would there be a toad croaking for no reason? Jiraiya could only have returned!

"Little Toad Jiraiya?" Hiruzen Sarutobi exclaimed in surprise!

"Good question! A sage is merely a title used to conceal oneself from the world. I accomplish anything with ease, have traveled throughout east, west, south, and north, and have no equal. I am one of the legendary Sannin—the white-haired child of Mount Myoboku, the Toad Sage, Jiraiya!"

As those opening words rang out, a white-haired middle-aged man slowly descended from the sky.

Just before he landed, white smoke swept past, and a large orange toad appeared to catch him.

Jiraiya sat atop the toad and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Old man, it's been so long. How come you're not dead yet?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi snapped angrily, "Every one of you wants this old man to die early, don't you? What good would it do you if I died?!"

Danzo silently cursed, Only if you die will I have a chance to take the Hokage's seat!

"Uh, I was joking, old man! Is everything in the village all right?"

"Not especially good, but not especially bad either! Why did you come back without looking for me, Jiraiya?"

Just then, Shao Nan interrupted them. "Stop catching up. Jiraiya, I need something from you!"