116 Chapter 116: Sage Mode, Leaving Konoha

The rooftop of the Hokage building.

When Akihara Kagura arrived, he saw the image of Sarutobi Hiruzen and the white-haired man standing against the wind, looking as if both had something troubling on their minds.

What could be bothering them?

It must be his other superior, Orochimaru...

Actually, Orochimaru has been doing quite well recently, having been hired by a powerful new company. If someone always thinks of disturbing him; he would be annoyed too...

"Kagura, you're here."

When Sarutobi Hiruzen saw Akihara Kagura, he stopped his contemplation and got down to business: "Speaking of which, I've mentioned before that I wanted to find you a Jonin teacher who could guide your training, but I haven't found the right person yet..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned to the white-haired man next to him and introduced him: "This is Jiraiya, the finest Jonin in the village, who will be your future guide. From now on, you will follow him in your training..."

"Hahaha... Kid, have you heard of my name?"

Jiraiya interrupted Sarutobi Hiruzen, took a bold step forward, spread his palms, and struck what he thought was a cool pose: "The Hermit Sage from Mount Myoboku, Toad Sage Jiraiya!"

...

Akihara Kagura was silent for a second.

Akihara Kagura glanced at the welcome package he received from his new teacher, Jiraiya, and silently gave a thumbs up!

[System Prompt]: [You have a new superior (Jiraiya), rewarded with a new employee welcome package, unlocking new features!]

[Sage Mode (Extremely sensitive to natural energy, easily absorbs natural energy to synthesize Sage Chakra, enabling your own Sage Mode. In Sage Mode, natural energy can enhance your sensory abilities, defense, and attack, greatly boosting Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, and Taijutsu into Sage techniques, significantly increasing their power!)]

This feature is truly excellent.

Even Akihara Kagura had to admit, Sage Mode is a trump card that can be used to significantly boost combat effectiveness...

Most importantly...

Even if he had the chance to advance to the level of a Six Paths ninja in the future, Sage Mode would bring great enhancements, because Sage Chakra is a qualitative improvement to Chakra!

Akihara Kagura really liked this feature and sincerely praised Jiraiya's odd pose: "You seem to like striking cool poses, it seems Lord Jiraiya must be very popular with women..."

"Kid, you have a good eye!"

Jiraiya's face became even more smug, but he deliberately assumed a modest demeanor: "Ah, no matter where I go, women mysteriously like me. This has always been a trouble of mine since I was young..."

"Cough, cough, cough, cough..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen started to cough violently.

This disciple's shamelessness is truly boundless; he doesn't fear being exposed in the future at all. He has always pursued Tsunade, with whom he has spent his childhood and most of his life, yet he has never succeeded in winning her over!

"I have heard of Lord Jiraiya's fame."

The legend of the Three Sannin of Konoha is widespread, so it's not surprising that Akihara Kagura has heard of it. He looked towards Sarutobi Hiruzen and said, "The Third Hokage, Lord Jiraiya, has returned to the village. Is the village finally taking the opportunity of Uchiha Shisui's suicide to eliminate the Uchiha clan?"

"Ah?"

Jiraiya's eyes widened involuntarily, and he abruptly turned to his teacher: "Hey, old man, I don't want to be involved in this kind of thing!"

"Ah?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes also widened involuntarily, and he quickly waved his hands, saying, "Young man, don't talk nonsense. The Uchiha clan are ninjas of the village, our comrades. Konoha would never do such a thing!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen understood very well why Akihara Kagura disliked the Uchiha and spoke out to comfort him: "Kagura, don't hate Itachi. The incident at the Tsuchi River Gorge happened because of the wrong orders issued by Danzo…"

"I understand."

Akihara Kagura frowned, then asked, "Is the Third Hokage hesitant to deal with the Uchiha because Itachi has obtained an even more powerful Sharingan?"

"…"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face suddenly changed.

When did Uchiha Itachi obtain a more powerful Sharingan? The child had already had the three-tomoe Sharingan. Did he obtain the Mangekyō Sharingan?

How did he not know about this?

Uchiha Itachi hadn't reported this to him!

However, it's very likely to have happened. Sarutobi Hiruzen knew some secrets of the Uchiha clan; the Uchiha could awaken or upgrade their Sharingan in moments of intense emotion…

Uchiha Shisui was Uchiha Itachi's closest friend. When Uchiha Shisui chose to commit suicide, it was indeed possible that, in a moment of intense emotion, Itachi's three-tomoe Sharingan evolved into the Mangekyō Sharingan!

"How did you know about this?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen asked curiously.

"I was wondering…"

A hint of confusion, followed by a flicker of murderous intent, passed through Akihara Kagura's eyes: "Why wasn't that defeated foe afraid of me this time when he saw me? So, he has obtained a Sharingan as powerful as Uchiha Shisui's, thinking he could defeat me with it? Killing him now would still be as easy as flipping my hand!"

"…"

A drop of cold sweat rolled down Sarutobi Hiruzen's forehead.

If it's really as Akihara Kagura said, Uchiha Itachi might indeed have activated the Mangekyō Sharingan. Why didn't that child report this to him?

Indeed...

Is it because of distrust?

"Hey, old man!"

As Sarutobi Hiruzen was calmly contemplating, Jiraiya suddenly appeared beside him, bumping his shoulder and whispering, "This kid's personality... isn't it a bit too extreme?"

"It's all Danzō's fault..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen responded quietly, then cleared his throat and said to Akihara Kagura, "Kagura, you don't need to worry about the village's affairs. What you need to do from now on is to let go of the hatred in your heart and train well with Jiraiya."

"But..."

"There are no buts!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen sternly stopped Akihara Kagura's unrealistic thoughts.

"Old man..."

Jiraiya's face looked somewhat defeated as he muttered quietly, "I finally understand why you asked me to teach him. Correcting this kid is going to be troublesome..."

"Jiraiya, only you can do it in Konoha."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at his student seriously for once, persuading, "Teach Kagura well. I believe in his talent, and I'm sure you won't regret it..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen did not want Jiraiya to refuse this matter.

Jiraiya just mumbled a few words, but he didn't really object, because he had learned a bit about Akihara Kagura's talent from Sarutobi Hiruzen...

If it's really as Sarutobi Hiruzen mentioned, Akihara Kagura might truly possess the power to change the ninja world, possibly bringing peace to the ninja world.

This little guy...

Might indeed become the child of prophecy.

As the summoner of Mount Myōboku's contract, Jiraiya knew about a prophecy once mentioned by the Great Toad Sage: there will be a ninja who will change the ninja world.

That ninja...

Will be the disciple taught by Jiraiya.

Over the years, Jiraiya has been traveling around, recently tracking Orochimaru as well as looking for the prophesied child of the legend. He encountered the legendary Sage's eyes and had also taught the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, but ultimately, these students all perished.

This time...

Will fate favor his life?

"Alright."

Jiraiya looked towards Akihara Kagura, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth as he extended his hand, "Perhaps this is a fateful encounter in the future. Let's formally get to know each other. Jiraiya, the Toad Sage from Mount Myoboku!"

"From the Dark Laboratory, the Wood Release ninja, Akihara Kagura."

Akihara Kagura extended his hand and gently touched Jiraiya's, calmly stating his true origin.

"..."

Jiraiya felt a bit strange in his heart.

Because the dark laboratory mentioned by Akihara Kagura was most likely the unauthorized construction by his old friend Orochimaru while still in Konoha. This was a victim of his old friend Orochimaru!

A child who had been in the dark laboratory since childhood, when the psychological shadows of his childhood would heal was unknown, plus spending a long time in the Root under Danzo...

This was a child difficult to cure.

Jiraiya sighed in his heart, planning how he should teach this child, with the first step definitely being to leave the vortex of Konoha.

"Hey, old man."

Jiraiya looked at his teacher and directly said, "Tomorrow, I plan to take this little guy out for some training. You don't have any objections, do you?"

Jiraiya's thought was very simple.

Apart from wanting to take Akihara Kagura out to train and temper his mind, another purpose was to hope Akihara Kagura could avoid the dispute between Konoha and the Uchiha.

Jiraiya didn't want Akihara Kagura to have the chance to be involved in harsh political struggles, lest the already darkened soul be further tainted.

"You're his teacher."

Sarutobi Hiruzen, puffing on his pipe, had no objections.

Sarutobi Hiruzen also wanted Akihara Kagura to leave for a while, to avoid more intense conflicts with Uchiha Itachi and stimulate the already sensitive Uchiha clan.

Uchiha Itachi might have concealed the matter of the Mangekyō Sharingan, but he was still willing to act as a spy for the higher-ups of Konoha, proving that the young man would also consider the bigger picture.

By comparison.

Akihara Kagura was more troublesome.

Because of the Tsuchi River Gorge incident, Akihara Kagura's temperament was already extreme, and it was impossible for him to reconcile with Uchiha Itachi before being taught by Jiraiya to turn his temperament around.

"Then I'll take a walk around the village!"

Jiraiya, taking Akihara Kagura, stepped down from the Hokage Building's platform and instructed, "Before we leave, pack up your things and say goodbye to your friends!"

"There's nothing much to pack."

Akihara Kagura didn't have many important possessions.

Hatake Kakashi's beautiful kunai engraved with his Flying Thunder God seal was already returned to him when he was in the Land of Grass. He never took back that Flying Thunder God kunai, which also helped Kakashi learn the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Besides, gifts from Tendo Shisui and Orochimaru, etc., were all sealed inside a scroll, which is not convenient to reveal easily.

However,

Akihara Kagura has quite a few people to say goodbye to.

"Go and say goodbye to your friends!"

Jiraiya pulled out a pair of binoculars from his pocket and said with a grin, "It's been a long time since I've been back, I want to take a look at the scenery of my hometown!"

"Okay."

Akihara Kagura silently nodded.

Konoha Hospital.

Yakushi Kabuto is a medical ninja.

Since Yakushi Kabuto no longer works for the Konoha Intelligence Division, the best place for him is definitely the Konoha Hospital, where he occasionally undertakes missions with two spies sent by Orochimaru.

"Kagura."

Yakushi Kabuto's eyes lit up when he saw Akihara Kagura.

Since returning to Konoha, they didn't meet often because Akihara Kagura didn't have any secret information to pass to Orochimaru.

"I'm going on a long trip."

"I've become a disciple of Master Jiraiya."

Akihara Kagura hesitated for a moment, then continued, "I will be going out to train with him tomorrow. I won't be going to see the Dean, just let her know when you go back to the orphanage, and it's okay not to hide this from her."

"..."

Yakushi Kabuto's gaze sharpened.

The news Akihara Kagura revealed was quite shocking!

Besides Akihara Kagura becoming a disciple of Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha, there was also a hint that this news could be told to Orochimaru!

Indeed...

Such news could never be hidden from Orochimaru's eyes and ears.

"Take good care of yourself."

That was all Yakushi Kabuto could say, he couldn't even offer travel expenses.

To support the children of the orphanage, Yakushi Kabuto's salary from the hospital and the rewards from missions, including the funds allocated by Orochimaru, were mostly given to the orphanage.

Even though Sarutobi Hiruzen compensated them by allocating a significant amount of funds to the Konoha orphanage, the money for raising children was always insufficient.

Konoha Anbu.

Hatake Kakashi had anticipated this long ago.

The superior, who had taken considerable care of Akihara Kagura, did not offer travel expenses. Instead, he made an excessively unreasonable request: "It's been two or three years since 'Intimate Paradise' was released. Can you help me rush the sequel? When the sequel to 'Intimate Paradise' comes out, help me get a new book with an autograph handwritten by Master Jiraiya."

"I am a respectable person."

Akihara Kagura frowned.

Ever since Hatake Kakashi learned of Uchiha Obito's revival, he spent less and less time reading that book and more time on training.

Who would have thought...

This guy was actually looking forward to the sequel! "This is a serious matter."

Hatake Kakashi, with his hand on Akihara Kagura's shoulder, was more serious than ever: "If there's intelligence that's written in a somewhat frivolous manner, but the village urgently needs this intelligence, should we not steal it? Kagura, we are ninjas."

"I'll try my best to rush the draft."

Akihara Kagura felt it was hard to refuse.

Akihara Kagura was not curious about what Jiraiya had written; it was more about feeling that his attitude towards Hatake Kakashi was becoming more and more like that of Tenzō.

Akihara Kagura was too young to buy Jiraiya's "Intimate Paradise" and only managed to buy a book that Jiraiya wrote earlier, which was not selling well, named "The Tale of Strong Will and Perseverance," to boost sales for his new teacher.

Besides that,

Akihara Kagura also bought a pair of glasses cases.

At the summit of Hokage Rock.

Jiraiya sat at the highest point, holding a telescope and surveying the scenery of Konoha, occasionally observing his new disciple.

When Jiraiya saw Akihara Kagura buying "The Tale of Strong Will and Perseverance," he felt a strange sense of satisfaction because few recognized his serious novels.

"Not bad, reading a serious book!"

A smile appeared on Jiraiya's lips, reminiscing about sitting on the Fourth Hokage's face: "Minato, perhaps you have a decent junior brother!"

As Jiraiya once again surveyed the beautiful scenery of Konoha and looked at Akihara Kagura with his telescope, he saw the guy appearing in front of a dilapidated house.

In the home of Karin.

Little Karin and little Naruto were taking supplementary lessons.

The roar of a furious woman was almost earth-shattering.

"What is the hand seal for the Water Bullet Technique! What is it! Have you, little devil, remembered it or not? When the enemy makes their hand seals, won't you know which ninjutsu they are using!"

"If you can't remember it, I will kill you! To dare to rank second to last in the final exam, you should also study hard in school!"

"I…I got it… Anko-senpai…"

Naruto's voice sounded terrified.

When Akihara Kagura opened the door, he saw Naruto and Karin, both trembling in fear of the tempestuous Mitarashi Anko.

"I will leave the village tomorrow."

Akihara Kagura, oblivious to everything before him, casually placed the glasses case in front of Karin and tossed the book to Uzumaki Naruto, intending to leave.

Karin and Naruto, holding the gifts, chased after him, seemingly wanting to ask Akihara Kagura where he planned to go, the children desperately trying to express their unwillingness to part.

Atop the Hokage Rock.

Jiraiya, holding a telescope, saw all this.

"That child…"

When Jiraiya saw Naruto and Karin, he was so startled he almost thought he had traveled through time.

The tall, white-haired man once again revealed a smile, placing his hand on the rock beneath him.

"Minato…"

"That's your child…"

"Today, perhaps, is truly a fateful encounter!"

~~~

Alright! This week chapters are done! Next week will be double update! Or... More? If someone sponsored... Hmm

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