The Hokage's Office.
"Fourth, I think we could go check out the Akatsuki."
Uchiha Jin came to the office and stated his plan.
"All right."
Minato Namikaze agreed without the slightest hesitation.
Ever since learning that his own student was responsible for the Nine-Tails' Rampage, he had wanted to go to the Land of Rain and persuade Obito to change his mind.
That once cheerful, sunny student had become like this.
He must have been deceived by someone with sinister intentions.
As his teacher, he needed to persuade his student to let go of his obsession and turn back before it was too late.
If that really didn't work, he knew a thing or two about fighting, too.
"When do we leave?"
Minato Namikaze asked with some anticipation, already impatient to head to Amegakure.
"The Akatsuki is full of rogue ninja, and its leader even has the Rinnegan. I suggest bringing more people."
Uchiha Jin offered a reminder.
"You have a point."
Minato Namikaze nodded in agreement. He knew nothing about the specifics of the Akatsuki.
Going there rashly would indeed be very dangerous.
He might as well find a few powerful helpers, as Jin had suggested.
His teacher had returned to the village a little while ago and had yet to leave, so he could ask him to come along and check out the Akatsuki.
"I'll bring Shisui Uchiha. See if you can find anyone else."
With that, Uchiha Jin turned and left the office.
"We leave tomorrow."
Orochimaru's home.
"Hehehe, long time no see, Orochimaru!"
Jiraiya grinned at Orochimaru, who was leisurely drinking tea in a casual kimono.
They hadn't seen each other in years, but this fellow really hadn't changed at all.
"What do you need?"
After learning that Jiraiya had returned to the village, Orochimaru