A Village on Edge

Naruto's words hit like a ton of bricks, sending a chill down Morino Ibiki's spine and putting a frosty edge in Jiraiya's gaze. The tension between them crackled, thickening the air with unease.

Jiraiya's arrival was supposed to defuse the situation, but if anything, it only made things more precarious.

But then, just when it seemed like things might spiral out of control, Naruto relented. Deep down, he was genuinely concerned that these guys couldn't see the forest for the trees. Sure, they might be willing to go down swinging, but did they really want to go to war with him? Did they really think he'd destroy Konoha Village?

Naruto made it clear: Konoha wasn't going down on his watch. His folks, his parents in this world, had fought tooth and nail to protect this place.

"Hey, I've heard about your deal with the toad clan up on Mount Myōboku. I could use some summoning beasts myself," Naruto offered, laying out his terms. If Jiraiya agreed to help him secure a contract with Mount Myōboku, he'd play ball.

It wasn't about destroying Konoha. It was about seizing an opportunity, about unlocking the potential locked away inside Kurama.

"If you're not on board, well, then brace yourselves for a showdown. I'll give you a taste of Nine Tails power like you've never seen," Naruto warned, a crimson aura beginning to envelop him, a tangible manifestation of Kurama's chakra.

Due to the seal, even if Kurama wanted to fully empower Naruto, it was out of the question. Only a trickle of power could seep through the seal.

In reality, Naruto's personal chakra had long surpassed Kurama's prime. His chakra was refined through a blend of physical and spiritual energies, aided by his current physical prowess and the extensive experience gained from tens of thousands of Shadow Clone practices, day and night. His chakra now far surpassed Kurama's.

As for why Kurama was released, it boiled down to a past agreement. Naruto wasn't one to make promises lightly, but he held firm to commitments made by others. It was a matter of principle.

Moreover, despite the Tailed Beast's chakra not being overly useful, Naruto couldn't afford to relinquish Kurama's potent resilience. The more formidable his opponent, the more crucial Kurama's chakra became.

Without Kurama's chakra, Ashura's chakra, and the Six Paths, Naruto's recovery time after exhausting himself would stretch to three to five days, if not longer. But now, he was practically limitless in strength.

When Naruto hinted at unleashing Kurama's chakra as a threat, Jiraiya was once again taken aback. Could Naruto wield the power of the Nine Tails at will?

And considering Naruto's appearance, if Jiraiya recalled correctly, he should be only twelve years old, yet he resembled a man in his twenties. What kind of prodigy had the Fourth Generation produced?

"What's your answer?" Naruto prodded impatiently. If there was nothing else to discuss, he'd simply take the contract scroll. Leaving Konoha Village again wouldn't be a big deal; he just wouldn't be able to participate in the Chunin exams. No big loss, really.

"I'll keep my word," Jiraiya suddenly spoke up, agreeing to Naruto's terms. Perhaps he wasn't fully aware of the implications?

No, he knew.

But why agree so readily?

Naruto began to doubt once more.

At that moment, Morino Ibiki stepped forward and addressed Naruto, "Then come with us."

"Hmph," Naruto grunted.

But before departing, Naruto turned to Jiraiya and issued a warning, "Don't forget to prepare what I asked for, or Konoha Village won't know peace."

He knows Jiraiya's weakness well; even after so many years away, Jiraiya still cares deeply about Konoha Village. Threatening Jiraiya is futile; he's not afraid of death, but rather regards it as a familiar embrace. But what about Konoha Village?

Jiraiya's expression shifted uncomfortably, but he remained silent, reaching behind him to touch a large scroll.

Zao Kong emitted a cold snort, but eventually relented, choosing to go with them obediently.

It turned out the scroll Jiraiya carried was a contract scroll signed with Mount Myōboku?

Naruto's gaze flickered, but ultimately he chose to depart with Morinoi Biki and his entourage.

The bodies of those from the Root organization would be dealt with accordingly, and after a moment's pause, Jiraiya too departed.

He made his way back to the village, heading straight for the Hokage office within the Hokage building.

Entering through the window, Jiraiya found the Third Hokage seated at his desk.

"Hey, Mrs. Sarutobi, still buried in work, I see," Jiraiya greeted.

The Third Hokage looked up, his eyes brightening momentarily at the sight of Jiraiya, then dimming again as he casually replied, "You're back, I see, and it seems you've heard the news."

"About that Orochimaru fellow?" Jiraiya's expression darkened, mirroring his mood when Naruto had threatened to destroy the village.

The Third Hokage sighed, "I shouldn't have been so lenient back then."

Jiraiya had returned to Konoha Village upon hearing news related to Orochimaru, a matter the Third Hokage seemed aware of as well. Orochimaru had joined and subsequently left a mysterious organization before embarking on a plan detrimental to Konoha Village.

Indeed, Orochimaru had departed from Akatsuki following Uchiha Itachi's failure to capture the Three Tails Jinchūriki and Itachi's subsequent killing of said Jinchūriki. Orochimaru had his sights set on Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan but found himself outmatched. After attempting to overpower Itachi, he withdrew from Akatsuki, retaining the organization's ring, much to Naruto's surprise.

"One more thing, what happened with Naruto? Wasn't he the Fourth Hokage's child? Why did he suddenly defect?" Jiraiya brought up another pressing concern.

The Third Hokage's expression stiffened before he looked at Jiraiya with a strange mix of emotions. "You're aware of the situation."

Jiraiya nodded, recounting his recent encounter with the ANBU team led by Ibizi. "I happened upon them when I returned. What's the story?"

The Third Hokage sighed heavily. "I blame myself for negligence. In my efforts to protect him, I concealed his true identity. Somehow, rumors spread throughout the village, painting him as the reincarnation of the Nine-Tailed Fox. I thought nothing of it initially, but the toll on the child's fragile psyche became evident. He's been remarkably resilient since birth."

"He had been planning his defection from the start, and it came to fruition four years ago. Jiraiya, do you think there's a chance to bring him back to Konoha? He doesn't harbor resentment toward the village, at least not to the extent he portrays. With proper guidance, he could potentially surpass even the First Hokage, becoming the strongest Hokage ever."

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