Shock from the Konoha Higher-Ups, Jiraiya Returns

Konoha Hokage Office, Sarutobi Hiruzen!

At that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen stood by the window, smoking. When he saw it, his eyes nearly popped out. "A meteorite?"

He found it unbelievable.

A meteorite was falling.

A meteorite from outer space. Thankfully, it had not fallen within Konoha. Otherwise... Konoha would likely have suffered devastating losses.

"Hiruzen, what is it?" Utatane and Mito, who had been discussing matters with Sarutobi Hiruzen, walked over after hearing his stunned cry.

Logically speaking, given everything Sarutobi Hiruzen had experienced, nothing should have shocked him so much.

Then what was it?

As they pondered,

the two walked to the window and followed Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze. Then, they too saw the meteorite plunging downward.

From the center of Konoha, even at such a distance, they could sense the meteorite's terror. If it struck the ground, Konoha itself would probably tremble.

"This can't be real, can it?" Mitokado Homura stared at the plunging meteorite, rubbing his eyes with disbelief written all over his face.

He had lived for so long, yet he had never seen such a massive meteorite fall. If nothing unexpected happened, the village would likely be shaken to its core.

"Yes." Utatane Koharu nodded as well.

As they watched the meteorite fall, they all fell silent.

"Someone," Sarutobi Hiruzen called out. This would certainly cause unrest among the civilians. Next, they had to consider how to reassure them, and Sarutobi Hiruzen was thoroughly familiar with such matters.

Huh?

But just as he was about to issue orders on calming the civilians, he saw... thin black lines appearing beneath the meteorite, and there seemed to be more and more of them.

They began slowing the meteorite's descent.

As time passed, those black lines actually formed an enormous hand, holding the meteorite in its palm.

Only then