Jiraiya, Buddy, Help Me Pick Some Lice

"Do you have a test tube?"

"Yes. What for?"

"Give me one. Yes, hold it like that. Wait a moment." Keiko took out a handkerchief and squeezed it hard over the test tube. After a while, white fluid filled nearly half the tube.

"What is this?" Tsunade curiously examined the liquid in the test tube and casually injected half a tube of preservative into it.

"A friend's blood!"

"Blood?" Tsunade froze for a moment, then picked up a dropper, took a sample, and placed it under the microscope.

"What exactly is your friend? A plant? I can actually see cells with plant-like characteristics and cells with animal-like characteristics in this blood. And they're all highly active. Where is this friend of yours?" The longer Tsunade looked, the more excited she became.

"You want to see him?"

"I do. What, did you bring him with you?" Tsunade looked thrilled, like a child who had found a new toy. The fighting had temporarily died down lately, and there was nothing else to keep her busy. This was the perfect chance to do some research.

"I didn't bring him, but if I'm right, he should be on me."

"On you? What do you mean? Explain it clearly."

"Ah, I can't explain it to you in a few words. Do you know where Jiraiya is?"

"More or less," Tsunade said.

"Good. Let's go find Jiraiya. Once we find him, you'll understand."

"You're saying the Third Kazekage also got involved in this war?" Madara was clearly somewhat surprised.

"That's right," Black Zetsu answered.

Madara fell into thought.

"Just like his predecessor Reto, he's a cunning... cough cough... fellow. Sigh, it seems that even if we do nothing, events will still develop in the direction they were meant to." After pondering for a long time, Madara said this.

"Hehe, indeed," White Zetsu replied.

"As long as there are people, there will be disputes and conflict... cough cough... It is human nature. It cannot be erased by a little compromise. That... cough cough... idiot Hashirama never understood this. Only the Infinite Tsukuyomi can bring true peace! Cough cough! Cough cough!" The more Madara spoke, the more agitated he became, and the worse his coughing grew.

Zetsu hurried over and patted Madara on the back.

"Do you think I was right to recruit him into our organization?"

Madara coughed for quite some time before gradually settling down.

"Don't think a few grand words can move that man. Every generation of Kazekage has been the sort who won't act without seeing profit first."

"Of course, I didn't expect him to accept our ideals right away, but it is always good to leave an opening. He is a Kage, after all. I believe he will be of use to your cause," Black Zetsu said.

"Yes, yes! I even became sworn brothers with him!" White Zetsu chimed in noisily.

Madara shot White Zetsu an irritated glare, then sighed helplessly.

"You haven't told me the real reason, have you?"

"Hehe, nothing can escape your eyes. Under those circumstances, I truly wasn't confident I could take him down. There was even a good chance he could take me down instead."

After thinking for a moment, Madara said, "You did the right thing. With your strength, you might truly not be his match. I have yet to find someone to act on the surface on my behalf. It is still too early for all our plans. Nothing can happen to you."

"As for the opening you mentioned, leave it for now. It may prove useful someday. Did you plant spores on him?"

"Of course I did!" White Zetsu said proudly.

"Then leave him alone for now. Sunagakure is not a threat at present. We can deal with it when the opportunity arises. How is the war between Hidden Cloud and Hidden Stone Village going?"

"It's been quite lively."

"Oh? Be specific."

"The two sides first entered a stalemate at Grey Crow Crossing. The Third Raikage A displayed tremendous might, slaughtering enemies in all directions with a single One-Finger Nukite. Hidden Stone Village suffered heavy losses. Hakudo, who had been hailed as the Third Tsuchikage's successor, died in battle. Hidden Cloud also lost over a thousand shinobi."

"I remember Hakudo. He was an outstanding young man. It is a pity he still died." Madara could not help sighing.

"Yes, yes. Even someone as strong as Lord Madara cannot escape death," White Zetsu said carelessly. Black Zetsu, however, silently separated from White Zetsu.

"Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!"

The cave filled with White Zetsu's miserable cries.

"All right, you can start eating." Facing the large greedy fish before them, roasted until its skin was crisp and its flesh tender, Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan eagerly reached out with their chopsticks.

"Delicious!" "So good!" The three children exclaimed in praise.

"Hahaha, of course it is. This is my, Jiraiya's, secret specialty. Naturally, it's extraordinary," Jiraiya said proudly.

"Knock, knock, knock. Is anyone there?"

"Hm?" Jiraiya was clearly surprised that anyone would visit this place.

"Eating, huh? Go on, keep eating. Don't worry, we already had dinner before coming." Keiko wore a broad smile.

"Tsunade? Keiko? What are you doing here? It's impressive that you even found this place." Looking at the two people before him, Jiraiya knew they probably meant no harm.

"I didn't want to come disturb you. He insisted on finding you." Tsunade raised a hand and made a helpless expression.

"Oh? What can I do for Lord Kazekage?" Jiraiya looked at Keiko in confusion.

"Jiraiya, buddy, help me pick some lice?"

"Pick lice?" Jiraiya was even more puzzled.

"Does that blue-haired uncle have lice on him? Ew! That's disgusting." Konan disdainfully scooted farther inward at the table.

"Yep. Lots of them." Keiko grinned and made a face at Konan before continuing.

"Actually, I came to ask Jiraiya for a favor. Didn't you sign a contract with Mount Myoboku?"

"Yes. What about it?"

"Then could you trouble yourself to summon Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima?"

"That won't be a problem, but may I ask why?"

"I can't tell you yet, but I'll give you a perfect explanation in a moment." Keiko grasped Jiraiya's hand, his fingers tightening slightly.

"Then... all right. Kids, eat slowly. My friend and I are going out for a bit." Jiraiya immediately understood.

The three of them came to a large abandoned house.

"Summoning Technique!" Before long, the two toad sages appeared before the three of them.

"Hello, little Jiraiya. Why did you summon us so late at night?" Sage Shima asked.

"I'm not the one looking for you. It's this friend of mine."

Keiko hurriedly greeted the two sages.

"Oh, you smell of iron and sand. It seems this friend of yours is from Sunagakure. Hm? Why do you have..." Sage Fukasaku suddenly furrowed his brows.

"How many?" Keiko asked.

"There should be four."

"Good. I'll be relying on you, Sage."

"Mhm. A small matter."

"Each of you make a Shadow Clone. No matter what emerges from my body later, subdue it immediately." Keiko turned to Jiraiya and Tsunade.

Jiraiya and Tsunade immediately nodded and did as he said.

"Let's begin." Keiko nodded at Sage Fukasaku, then sat cross-legged with his back facing the sage.

Sage Fukasaku gently placed one hand on Keiko's back, and a stream of natural energy entered his body.

Before long, Keiko's body was filled with natural energy. His face gradually rounded, and bumps began appearing on it at a visible speed.

Just as Keiko was about to turn into a frog, four ghostly white things rapidly swelled and took shape. Before long, they formed human figures, and the moment they landed, they fled in different directions.

"Now!" Sage Fukasaku shouted.

Sage Shima, standing nearby, grabbed her staff and struck Keiko hard on the back of the head. Keiko immediately returned to normal. At the same time, the four White Zetsu that had been about to escape were restrained by Jiraiya and Tsunade, their arms twisted behind their backs.

"See? That's a pretty big one. You can research it however you like afterward. You can even slice it up." Keiko rubbed the back of his aching head with one hand as he spoke to Tsunade.