"Those crows are his summoning beasts... so is he watching the entire capital of the Land of Fire?"
Adult Sasuke stopped walking. A scene that ordinary people could not make out even by straining their eyes into the distance was perfectly clear to him.
He could track the crows' movements. Their cleverly planned routes covered the entire area around the capital of the Land of Fire, making it impossible for anyone leaving or approaching to escape their notice.
Sasuke's expression grew complicated, and he could not help recalling what had happened a few days earlier.
In the Hokage Office, a few days ago.
"Uh, the more suitable candidate you mentioned is him?"
Jiraiya, the Fifth Hokage, looked at Adult Sasuke, whom Naruto had brought over, with considerable hesitation.
He really had not considered him.
"Yeah! Think about it, Pervy Sage—
He's a Konoha Ninja, and a trustworthy one at that.
He knows Uchiha Itachi, and no one else will know who he is.
He's powerful, and he knows the truth about Uchiha Itachi..."
Naruto rattled off all the ways Sasuke met the requirements for this mission, then clapped his hands and swept an arm toward Adult Sasuke—
"He's the perfect candidate!"
Listening to Naruto's introduction, Jiraiya stroked his chin and thought for a moment, then struck his palm with his fist. "Hey, you know what? You're right!"
"Do I have the option of refusing?"
As the person in question, Sasuke Uchiha felt rather helpless. No one seemed to care about his opinion.
He would much rather protect his younger "self," who was temporarily holding the tailed beasts, find Urashiki Otsutsuki, and avoid further complications.
Naruto chuckled. "Nope, because I'm a jonin."
"And I'm the Hokage."
Jiraiya also gave him a knowing smile.
"..."
Sasuke, who had continued wandering the shinobi