The sky had grown overcast, and a cold wind rose, making people pull their clothes tighter around themselves.
When the Shadow Organization arrived, the sky had still been clear, the sun shining brightly, everything ordinary and undisturbed.
Yet after the Jashin Cult appeared and a battle that hardly counted as troublesome, a few faint dark clouds emerged overhead.
A breeze had sprung up unnoticed, growing stronger and wilder until it became a fierce gale that made it difficult to keep one's eyes open, carrying dust and leaves.
The wind rattled the window of Root's archive room, making it creak as though reminding those inside to hurry over and shut it, lest something beyond their control happen.
Unfortunately, it failed.
A sudden gust swept past, loosening the little fitting that propped the window open. The support creaked in the wind, finally gave way, and was swept outside to fall into the dust.
The window gave a helpless sigh, and then, in the next instant-
Bang!
Driven by the wind, the window slammed shut with a deafening, piercing noise.
The sound reverberated, and the glass fitted into it trembled precariously within its wooden frame, as though it might shatter at any moment.
That thunderous crash completely swallowed a flatly spoken "Yes."
Jiraiya stared fixedly at the person before him, the muscles around his mouth taut, his teeth slightly clenched. His entire bearing betrayed an incomprehensible anger and excessive obsession.
Standing with his arms folded, Leaf Dragon froze slightly, a clearly recognizable flicker of astonishment crossing his face.
Then, before he himself could react, his lips moved. His body answered in acceptance of the appointment before his mind could catch up.
He looked at his faintly trembling hands, a trace of bewilderment appearing on his face.
His body tensed. His hands instinctively went