Helpless Jiraiya and Furious A

The Hokage Building is one of the few remaining buildings in Konoha that still stands, but its exterior walls are covered with cracks, like wrinkles on an old man's face. Jiraiya stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of his office, looking down at the scene below—or rather, looking down at the ruins that were once Konoha.

Yamato was busy in the center of the plaza. His hands were pressed to the ground, and his face showed obvious fatigue, but his Chakra was still flowing out continuously. "Wood Release: Consecutive Pillar Houses Technique!"

The ground trembled, and timber burst forth from the earth, growing, splicing, and taking shape at a visible speed. Simple yet sturdy wooden houses rose from the ground, spreading like mushrooms after rain among the ruins. This was the seventh batch today. Yamato's Chakra was already depleted, and he was only kept going by the stimulant Tsunade had injected him with before he fell unconscious.

"Lord Jiraiya," an Anbu appeared in the doorway, his voice hoarse, "The temporary hospital in the East District is complete and ready to receive the wounded. However, medical supplies are severely lacking. Lady Shizune asked if we could urgently procure them from other villages..."

"Approved." Jiraiya said without turning his head. "Use my personal account. If there's not enough money, I'll mortgage the copyright of <Make-Out Paradise>."

The Anbu hesitated for a moment. "This... isn't quite appropriate?"

"What's inappropriate about it?" Jiraiya turned around, his face unusually serious. "He's about to die, what does it matter if it's appropriate or not? Go now!"

"Yes!"

The Anbu vanished in Body Flicker Technique. Jiraiya sighed and walked to his desk, where he sat down. The desk was piled high with documents—casualty statistics, supply lists, reconstruction plans, diplomatic correspondence... Each one required the Hokage's approval, but he was currently only acting as the "acting" Hokage.

Tsunade is still in a deep coma.

The medical team's diagnosis was: Chakra completely depleted, Yin Seal collapsed, and cell activity dropped to a dangerous threshold. It was a miracle that he survived; when he would wake up, or even if he would wake up at all, were unknown.

And Danzo... that old bastard, is already stirring in the shadows.

Jiraiya rubbed his temples. He was never cut out to be Hokage. He loved freedom, loved traveling, loved writing erotic novels, and loved peeping into women's bathhouses. But now, Konoha needed someone to step forward, someone to shoulder the burden of this ruin, someone to hold onto the crumbling banner of fire in this turbulent time.

He had no choice but to step forward.

Even if he was unwilling, even if he knew he couldn't do it well at all.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, Hyuga Hiashi walked in. The head of the Hyuga Main House wore an immaculate white robe, his steps were steady, and his expression was calm, a stark contrast to the surrounding ruins and chaos.

"Lord Jiraiya," Hiashi bowed slightly, "Where is Lady Tsunade? How is she?"

"Chakra exhausted, deep coma," Jiraiya replied Jiraiya, his gaze scrutinizing Hiashi. "What brings the Hyuga Clan leader here so suddenly? Konoha currently swamped with post-war affairs; I'm afraid I don't have much time."

There was a hint of impatience in his tone. Not at Hiashi, but at the damn situation, at having to sit here dealing with things he knew absolutely nothing about.

Hiashi seemed unconcerned. He stepped forward and lowered his voice, "There's important information that needs to be reported to Lord Jiraiya privately."

Jiraiya's pupils contracted slightly.

A separate report? Important intelligence?

He recalled how, a few days earlier, Neji had used the Flying Thunder God to suddenly appear in the Hokage Office before Pain's invasion, delivering the top-secret information about Pain and "Madara Uchiha." He also remembered that Neji had moved the entire Hyuga Main House clan—including Hiashi himself—before the operation began.

Now the Hiashi has suddenly come to visit, claiming to have "important intelligence"...

"Everyone out," Jiraiya said to the others in the office. "No one is allowed to come in without my permission."

The several civilian ninjas exchanged glances, but none dared to disobey. They quickly left the room and closed the door behind them.

Jiraiya stood up and Hand Seals. A Soundproof Barrier was erected in the office; although crude, it was enough to prevent eavesdropping.

"Now you can speak." He sat down again, staring at Hiashi.

Hiashi stood in front of the desk, his hands hanging at his sides, and repeated, word by word, the words that Neji had his clone convey to him:

"Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Killer B, has been captured by the Akatsuki. Sasuke Uchiha, having learned the full truth about Itachi Uchiha's massacre of his clan, has awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan and is determined to take revenge on Konoha. It is recommended that Danzo handle Sasuke."

Three sentences.

Each word was like a heavy hammer blow to Jiraiya's heart.

The office fell into a deathly silence.

Jiraiya sat stiffly in the chair, his expression shifting from confusion to shock, then to heaviness, and finally to a kind of almost bewildered exhaustion.

The Eight-Tails... has been captured?

Killer B, the Perfect Jinchuriki, the "Killer Bee" who could coordinate with the Raikage, has been captured?

Within the Akatsuki, besides the deceased Nagato, who else could have accomplished this? Six Paths of Pain have been wiped out, Konan has betrayed them, and of the remaining members, Kisame, while strong, probably couldn't defeat Perfect Jinchuriki; Kakuzu and Hidan are long dead, Sasori is dead, Deidara was killed by Sasuke...

Only one person remained.

The Masked Man who calls himself "Madara Uchiha" is Tobi.

However, the information Neji sent earlier stated that, based on Itachi's deduction, Tobi might be Obito Uchiha. Obito... that kid who died in the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, whose body was never found?

If it really is Obito, if he's still alive, if he really does possess the Sharingan or even the Mangekyo Sharingan...

Then Konoha will face an enemy that is more terrifying and incomprehensible than Pain.

And Sasuke...

Jiraiya closed his eyes. He remembered the black-haired boy, Sasuke's resolute departure from Konoha, and Konoha's promise to Itachi—to take care of Sasuke.

But now Sasuke knows the truth. He knows that the massacre of his clan was a conspiracy by the Konoha High Command, that Itachi bore everything to protect him, and that his brother paved the way for him with his life.

He has now awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan —the power of those eyes, Jiraiya witnessed on Itachi. Susanoo, that Dōjutsu capable of changing the course of a battle.

Sasuke, however, seeks revenge against Konoha.

He wanted to destroy the village that had driven the weasel to its death and wiped out its entire clan.

"It is recommended that Danzo handle Sasuke..."

Jiraiya murmured the same phrase repeatedly, then suddenly opened his eyes.

Neji's intention... was for Sasuke to kill Danzo?

Yes. Danzo was one of the direct planners of the massacre of his clan, and the mastermind behind Itachi's death. If Sasuke seeks revenge, Danzo will undoubtedly be his primary target. And if Danzo dies...

Will Konoha accept this?

An Uchiha Clan orphan killed Konoha High Command officials, the former leader of Root, and... a "Kage" who, though despicable, had indeed done many dirty deeds for Konoha.

More importantly: After killing Danzo, will Sasuke stop?

Can the blood feud of the Uchiha Clan be Danzo? The Third Hokage is dead, but there were others in the decision-making process back then; the entire Konoha High Command bears responsibility. If Sasuke becomes bloodthirsty, if he wants to settle scores with everyone, even destroy the entire Konoha...

What should Konoha do?

Sasuke as an enemy and completely eradicate the last remaining bloodline of the Uchiha Clan?

Or... should we give him another chance?

"Tsunade..." Jiraiya chuckled bitterly, "You should wake up soon... I really can't handle this..."

He sat in the chair, his expression shifting repeatedly, his fists clenching and unclenching. Countless possibilities and solutions flashed through his mind, but each one came with risks and sacrifices.

Finally, he took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

Thinking about these things now is useless. Tsunade is unconscious, Danzo watching with predatory eyes, Konoha is in ruins, and we don't know what the reaction from Cloud Village is yet. As for Sasuke... we can only put that aside for now.

"Lord Jiraiya?" Hiashi's voice pulled him back to reality.

Jiraiya looked up and saw Hiashi still standing there, his expression calm, as if what he had just said was just a routine report.

"I've received Neji's information..." Jiraiya's voice was a little hoarse. "That kid... is good. You can go back now."

He waved his hand and removed the barrier.

Hiashi bowed respectfully, asked no further questions, and turned to leave the office.

After the door closed, Jiraiya slumped in his chair, staring at the ceiling.

"Sasuke ..." he murmured, "If you really intend to destroy Konoha ... then I will have no choice but to... treat you as an enemy."

These words were spoken softly, but in the empty office, they were exceptionally clear and heavy.

Kumogakure, the Raikage's Office under reconstruction.

The Fourth Raikage A, stood by the window, his only right hand clenched into a fist, cracking loudly. Outside, the ninjas of Cloud Village were clearing ruins and repairing buildings, but their progress was far slower than that of Konoha —they didn't have Wood Release ninjas like Yamato, and could only rely on the most primitive human labor.

What angered Ai the most was not the destruction of the village, but the loss of people.

Killer B has been arrested.

Right under his nose, he was taken away by the Masked Man a bizarre Space-Time Ninjutsu. He lost his left hand, but still couldn't save Killer B.

"What's the situation in Konoha?" Ai turned his head, his voice echoing like thunder in the room. "The intelligence that came back earlier said that Konoha evacuated the villagers ahead of schedule? What are they up to?"

Secretary Mabui, standing beside the desk—a bespectacled, shrewd-looking female ninja—adjusted her glasses. "We are indeed too far from Konoha. The reconnaissance team's intelligence is delivered using the fastest Hayabusa. Judging by the timing, the latest intelligence should be... arriving soon."

She glanced at the clock on the wall.

Before he could finish speaking, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" Ai roared.

The door opened, and a travel-worn messenger rushed in, kneeling on one knee and presenting a scroll with both hands. "Lord Raikage! Top-secret intelligence from Konoha has just arrived!"

"Put it on the table," Ai said.

The messenger ninja placed the scroll on the desk, bowed, and withdrew.

Mabui looked at Ai, awaiting instructions. Ai was currently unable to use one hand, so she usually opened and read the documents in such situations.

"Open it and take a look," Ai said in a deep voice.

Mabui nodded, picked up the scroll, broke the seal, and quickly unfurled it.

Then her expression changed.

His eyes widened, his mouth slightly agape, and his hand holding the scroll trembled slightly. The shock, the disbelief, was as if he had witnessed something completely beyond comprehension.

Ai frowned. "What's wrong? What does it say?"

Mabui didn't answer, or rather, she didn't know how to answer. She handed the scroll to Ai, her voice dry. "Lord Raikage... you... you should see for yourself."

Ai took the scroll with his right hand—the movement was a little clumsy, but he could still hold it. He looked down, his gaze sweeping over the words on the scroll.

First line: Six Paths of Pain invade Konoha, Konoha evacuates civilians in advance, and all ninjas fight back.

Second line: Jiraiya and Kakashi Hatake died in battle and were later resurrected.

Third line: Naruto Nine-Tails Jinchuriki Uzumaki Naruto, defeats Pain Deva Path).

Fourth line: Naruto said that Nagato, the one controlling Pain, used the Reincarnation Heavenly Life Technique to revive all the dead in Konoha, but died himself.

Fifth line: Konan takes Nagato and Yahiko's bodies and leaves Konoha.

Sixth line: Konoha losses: Over 80% of buildings destroyed, zero fatalities.

Ai's mind stopped working.

It's not lag, it's not stuttering, it's completely stopped. Like an overloaded computer, the CPU has burned out, the fan is still spinning, but the screen is completely black.

He stood there, still holding the scroll in his left hand, his eyes still fixed on the words on it, but his mind had already drifted away.

Dead, then alive again?

Pain? Nagato?

He resurrected everyone with his own life, but died in the process?

The building was 80% destroyed, but not a single person died?

What the hell is this fantasy story?

"Lord Raikage?" Mabui called out tentatively.

Ai did not respond.

The office door opened again, and Darui and Xi walked in. Seeing Ai and Mabui's state, they exchanged a glance and both sensed something was wrong.

"What happened?" Darui asked.

Mabui pointed to the scroll in Ai's hand and mouthed, "Information from Konoha."

Darui and Xi leaned closer to look at the contents of the scroll.

Three seconds later.

"Smack!"

Darui slapped himself, the sound crisp and loud. Then he grimaced in pain. "Ouch... This isn't a dream..."

Xi narrowed his eyes and said in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, but loud enough for everyone in the office to hear, "Could this be... a play orchestrated by Konoha itself?"

Ai finally reacted. He raised his head, staring at hope with his one eye. "Go on."

"We've witnessed Pain Deva Path's power firsthand," Xi analyzed calmly. "Three clones were enough to easily capture Yugito Nii. With Six Paths present, even if Konoha was prepared, it's impossible for anyone to escape unscathed. Moreover..."

He paused, then looked at Darui.

Darui chimed in, "What's more, that Akatsuki member who attacked us this morning—that kid with the Sharingan —is Sasuke Uchiha from Konoha. What does Sasuke Uchiha joining Akatsuki mean?"

Mabui blurted out, "This means that the mastermind behind Akatsuki might be Konoha!"

"Yes." Xi nodded, a cold glint in his eyes. "Konoha is collecting Tailed Beast through Akatsuki. They've already captured eight, only the Nine-Tails is missing. By staging this whole thing, sending Pain, the 'leader,' to his death, they've cleared themselves of suspicion and made the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki 'defeat a powerful enemy,' thus establishing a heroic image. It's a win-win situation."

Darui added, "Although there's a huge difference in power between the Tailed Beast, these kids from Konoha haven't even achieved a mental connection with Tailed Beast yet. How could they possibly defeat Pain, who possesses the Rinnegan? This is clearly overacting."

In Ai's single eye, anger began to reignite, but this time it was no longer simple rage, but a mixture of humiliation from being deceived and fooled, and murderous intent.

He thought of Pain's Dual Rinnegan, and the overwhelming power of the Deva Path. How could such a being be defeated by a kid who couldn't even control the Nine-Tails?

Thinking of Sasuke Uchiha, and the hatred and madness in that black-haired boy's eyes... if the Akatsuki was truly being manipulated by Konoha, then Sasuke joining the Akatsuki, attacking Cloud Village, kidnapping Killer B... it all makes sense!

Konoha wants to unify the Shinobi World.

They used the Akatsuki as a front, capturing the Tailed Beast and weakening other villages. Now that they had the Eight-Tails, the Nine-Tails was already theirs, just one last step away. So they killed Pain, their "leader," to clear the Akatsuki, and then Konoha, as the "victim" and "hero," reaped the benefits.

Well thought out.

What a brilliant plan!

"My Cloud Village... is irreconcilably opposed to the Konoha!" A slammed his fist on the desk, shattering the solid wood surface. "Immediately send letters to Ōnoki of the Iwagakure and Mei Terumi of the Kirigakure, saying that Konoha Hidden Leaf Village is collecting Tailed Beast through the Akatsuki with the intention of unifying the Shinobi World, and suggesting that our Three Great Shinobi Villages form an alliance to jointly attack the Konoha!"

"What about Sunagakure?" Mabui asked, "Should we send a message to Sunagakure as well?"

"Sand Village?" A sneered. "Gaara is just a lackey of Konoha! Ignore him! Send a message immediately, using encrypted hawks, as fast as possible!"

"Yes!"

Mabui turned and rushed out of the office to arrange the message.

Darui and Shi stood beside Ai, both with the same anger and determination in their eyes.

If Konoha was truly manipulating everything behind the scenes, and if Killer B's capture was indeed a Konoha conspiracy, then Cloud Village... will definitely not let this go unpunished.

This war is now inevitable.

Outside the window, the Cloud Village in clouds, darkened, and thunder rumbled in the distance.

A storm is coming.