Seeing everyone fall silent, Jiraiya felt a wave of confusion.
Had the "Child of Prophecy" he once believed in really grown to this point?
"Then what's my role?" he asked.
Kaoru glanced at Kyusei, who sat calmly beside her, then replied, "Since Akatsuki isn't limited to the Land of Rain, I'd like you, sensei, to personally lead a team stationed at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass."
"To guard against the Land of Earth."
"Additionally, I'll have Katō Dan lead Ino-Shika-Chō to the Fire–Frost border to monitor the Land of Lightning."
Her tone was composed, clearly indicating everything had already been arranged.
Jiraiya opened his mouth, but in the end, said nothing.
His student didn't want him involved in this operation.
"So when do we move?" Orochimaru asked.
To him, no one in this world was perfect.
If Nagato possessed such overwhelming power, then he must also have weaknesses.
Like any technique, there was no such thing as perfection.
But the only way to find those flaws… was to face him directly.
After several rounds of discussion, the plan was finalized.
In the current situation, only overwhelming strength could determine victory.
So they would invade the Land of Wind with absolute force.
Ti: the night after tomorrow, at ten.
As everyone left with solemn expressions, Jiraiya remained behind for a mont.
He still believed in peace born from mutual understanding.
But reality seed to mock that belief.
Both sides preferred brute force.
The enemy sched and killed Hatake Sakumo.
Konoha responded by targeting the Dragon Vein—and aiming to wipe out Akatsuki entirely.
Why…
Why was there so much war between people?
Great Toad Sage… where is the Child of Prophecy you spoke of?
At this point, Jiraiya no longer believed Kaoru or Nagato were that person.
Neither of them walked the path of peace.
Nagato manipulated events from the shadows, allowing Sakumo's death to escalate tensions.
Kaoru, as the future Hokage, trusted Kyusei completely and responded to Akatsuki with blood for blood.
Neither resembled soone devoted to peace.
Kyusei. Nagato.
Both Uzumaki.
Jiraiya let out a long sigh and walked alone toward a bar.
This is too hard…
Child of Prophecy… where are you?
—
After everyone left, Kaoru finally exhaled.
This was her first ti leading such an important eting.
Jiraiya's reaction had unsettled her, though she understood it.
She could respect and understand—
But not agree.
Peace was forged on the edge of a blade.
She could be tolerant, but only if the other side posed no threat.
Otherwise, strength was the only answer.
Her mindset had clearly been shaped by Hiruzen during the Third War.
His strategy and leadership had elevated Konoha to new heights.
She admired that deeply.
And now, she wanted to match—or surpass him.
This operation was her chance.
If successful, her position as Fourth Hokage would be unquestionable.
She knew her current status wasn't entirely solid.
It began with Kakashi's arrival from the future.
Then the war.
Then Kyusei.
In strategy, she wasn't as brilliant as Hiruzen.
In strength, she couldn't compare to Kyusei.
Even now, Orochimaru remained a powerful contender.
Without a decisive achievent, she couldn't silence the doubts.
"What's wrong?" Kyusei asked.
"Nothing."
She stood, stretching slightly, as if releasing all the pressure in her chest.
"Don't worry. I'm here."
Kyusei's tone was gentle.
"…Mm."
"I've always trusted you."
She looked at him.
No longer a boy.
Soon, he would be eighteen.
And she…
She was older than him.
Technically, he could even call her "big sister."
Her thoughts drifted.
—
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
At the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Rivers, six figures stood under the night sky.
Kaoru, Orochimaru, Sasuke, nma, Nao, and Kyusei.
They had crossed the Land of Rivers undetected.
Jiraiya had already departed for the Fire–Grass border.
Katō Dan had taken his team to the Fire–Frost border.
Ahead lay an endless desert.
Kaoru handed Kyusei a Flying Thunder God kunai.
He looked at it thoughtfully.
He knew he had a marker on him sowhere…
But he had never found it.
Pulling Kaoru aside, he asked in a low voice.
"Where exactly is it?"
Kaoru blinked—then her cheeks flushed.
Even in the dark, the redness was obvious.
Kyusei felt a bad premonition.
"It's… um…"
She leaned close and whispered.
Warm breath brushed his ear.
Then—
His expression cracked.
"…You've got to be kidding ."
"Since when did you put it there?!"
A vein popped on his forehead.
He already knew the answer.
Those tis they had been… intimate.
But still—
Of all places?!
Won really were terrifying when they got bold.
"Hehe…"
Kaoru stuck out her tongue, then suddenly straightened up.
"If you didn't make worry, I wouldn't have put it there!"
"This is your fault!"
Kyusei's eye twitched.
His sweet, innocent Kaoru…
Was gone.
Completely gone.
"Are you two done yet?!" nma snapped impatiently.
"This is the first step in conquering multiple worlds, and you're flirting?!"
Sasuke sat on a rock, chewing on a blade of grass.
"Before battle, who knows what will happen? Monts like this are precious."
"Too bad Karin isn't here… sigh…"
Kyusei ignored them, pinched Kaoru's cheek, and vanished into the night.
Kaoru returned casually to Nao's side.
She had no intention of removing that marker.
None.
Nao noticed the red mark on her cheek.
"What happened?"
Kyusei treasured Kaoru—he would never hurt her like that.
"Ehehe~"
Kaoru leaned in and whispered.
Nao froze.
Her worldview shattered.
"…You put the Flying Thunder God marker… there?"
She stared at Kaoru.
What kind of person does that?!
Kaoru just smiled shalessly.
Nao fell silent.
—
anwhile, Kyusei raced through the desert.
He pushed aside the earlier embarrassnt.
Right now, the Dragon Vein mission was all that mattered.
His Kagura Mind's Eye expanded instantly, covering dozens of kiloters.
Combined with Nine-Tails' malice sensing, he was a living radar.
As he sped forward, his eyes narrowed.
A golden spear ford in his hand.
He hurled it.
It pierced deep into the ground—
And killed a hidden White Zetsu instantly.
White Zetsu weren't strong.
But their concealnt and mimicry were dangerous.
Unfortunately for them, against Kyusei's sensing abilities, they were as obvious as soone dancing naked in broad daylight.
This wasn't the first ti he'd noticed them.
The first ti was shortly after mastering Nine-Tails Mode.
The second was during his assault on Kirigakure.
Back then, he didn't have ti to deal with it.
Now, it all made sense.
The timing aligned perfectly with Uchiha Hikaru's ergence.
Madara must have been behind it.
Kyusei's expression darkened as he accelerated toward the Dragon Vein.
—
Rain poured endlessly over the Land of Rain.
Like the world itself was weeping.
Footsteps echoed atop a steel tower.
"Konan. What is it?" Nagato asked without turning.
"Sothing happened at the Dragon Vein."
"A White Zetsu was killed during infiltration."
Her tone carried concern.
"…I see."
Nagato frowned slightly.
"Where's Hikaru?"
He knew White Zetsu's concealnt abilities well.
To kill one mid-stealth required not just power—but exceptional sensing.
At this point, there was only one person he could think of.
Kyusei.
As for how Hikaru knew—
She had marked every White Zetsu with Tsukuyomi imprints.
Through them, she could draw chakra when needed.
Now that one had died, her Eight Thousand Spears ability had lost a node.
"Nagato…"
"Could it be Konoha?" Konan asked quietly.
She wasn't foolish.
The mont she heard the news—
She had already suspected it.
To Read 60 ahead advanced Chapters, head over to P@treon
patreon/DarkVerse146
User Comments
0 comments from readers