At Konoha Frontline Camp, in the commander's tent.
Jiraiya was studying the map on the table, his brows tightly furrowed.
He had just received word from another reconnaissance squad. After further investigation, the traces of Kitsuchi they had discovered earlier were very likely a deliberate diversion laid by Iwagakure to confuse Konoha and draw its forces away.
"Tch, I knew it wouldn't be that simple."
Jiraiya rubbed his brow. "Kitsuchi wouldn't expose his whereabouts so easily. Looks like it was a wasted trip."
He felt some regret, but he also thought it made sense.
On the battlefield, truth and deception were simply the norm.
At the same time, the young figure wearing the Azure Dragon Mask involuntarily surfaced in his mind.
Azure Dragon, Lin Ze...
Jiraiya silently repeated the name. This was the second time he had met the boy.
The first had been years ago at the Ninja Academy. Back then, he had only considered him a child with a decent talent for Taijutsu and had paid him little attention.
Who could have imagined that in just a few years, that kid would grow to such an astonishing level!
He had fought the Third Raikage head-on and earned the name "Konoha Azure Dragon." His strength already stood at the pinnacle of the Shinobi World.
This rate of growth is simply unheard of...
The Child of Prophecy the Great Toad Sage spoke of, who would guide the transformation of the Shinobi World... could it be him?
The thought startled even Jiraiya himself the moment it arose.
The Child of Prophecy should have been his student, Nagato, who possessed the Rinnegan.
But Nagato and the others now...
And this Lin Ze before him was mysterious and powerful, seemingly having risen out of nowhere, shrouded in layers of mist.
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