After a full night's rest, Senju Haruto began the next stage of his plan.
The new sign-in mission had a strict three-day time limit, which meant he didn't have much time to waste.
Even if he knew the exact route to Mount Myōboku, three days probably wouldn't be enough to reach it.
And the sign-in system's location requirements could be tricky. For all he knew, the designated point could be deep within the mountain's core territory.
So, from every angle, finding Jiraiya first seemed the safest move.
And finding Jiraiya… well, that could be either easy or difficult, depending on your luck.
Everyone knew Jiraiya rarely stayed in the village. He spent most of his time wandering across the nations—gathering material for his writing on one hand, and on the other, tracking information about Orochimaru.
It was precisely because of this that, when Orochimaru was preparing to invade Konoha, Jiraiya just happened to appear in the village.
In other words, even if he wasn't physically in Konoha, his heart was still tied to it—just like Tsunade.
Based on that, Haruto figured he could wait for the rabbit at the tree stump, so to speak.
If news of Naruto's recent rampage were leaked by Root operatives, it would catch Jiraiya's attention and draw him back to the village.
Then…
Most importantly, Haruto would wait in the most strategic location in Konoha.
"Of course, there's always a chance he won't show up in time," Haruto murmured to himself.
Just as he arrived at one of Konoha's famous landmarks—the women's hot springs—
He saw him.
The legendary Sannin, known for the saying: 'Like a wandering dragon returning to the sea—the sea may not welcome me, but Jiraiya returns regardless.'
Even Haruto found himself inhaling sharply at the sight, pressing a hand to his forehead.
"…Forget it. What matters is that Jiraiya's here."
With a resigned sigh, Haruto walked forward. "Hey."
Hearing someone call out, Jiraiya turned his head with a complicated expression.
Before he could explain that he wasn't peeping—that he was merely gathering reference material for his art—the stranger spoke first.
"Jiraiya."
"You know me?" Jiraiya asked, eyeing Haruto up and down. He noticed the Konoha forehead protector on the boy's arm, and guessed he was maybe twelve or thirteen.
Sure, Jiraiya was famous, but for a genin to recognize him instantly was unusual.
"Of course. My name is Senju Haruto. I have something to discuss with you." Haruto fixed his gaze on Jiraiya, who sat perched on the back of a large toad.
Jiraiya didn't know what Haruto wanted, but he had no intention of entertaining him. He signaled to Gamachu to act—just enough to knock the boy unconscious without harm.
In Jiraiya's mind, there was no way a mere genin could avoid the toad's lightning-fast tongue.
But to his surprise, the moment Gamachu's tongue shot forward, the boy in front of him simply vanished.
"…Hm?!"
Jiraiya's brow furrowed. He hadn't even been fully focused on Haruto, yet the boy still managed to disappear from right in front of him. That meant his skill was far beyond genin level.
Without hesitation, Jiraiya extended his sensory perception—only to realize Haruto was already standing on the wall behind him, looking down from above.
"Attacking someone with your toad's tongue the moment you meet them—don't you think that's a little rude?" Haruto quipped.
But he quickly shifted to the main point. "Never mind. I'll pretend that didn't happen. Jiraiya, I came to talk to you about Naruto."
"...Naruto?"
Now Jiraiya was truly taken aback.
Not only did this boy know who he was, he also knew about Naruto—
Especially at a time like this.
According to the intelligence he had, Naruto, as the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, had gone on a rampage just last night.
"Who exactly are you?" Jiraiya finally dropped his casual demeanor, his expression turning serious.
"I told you—Senju Haruto. A shinobi of Konoha."
Haruto paused for emphasis, then spoke each word clearly.
"I need you to take me and Naruto to Mount Myōboku."
"…?!"
Jiraiya blinked. The boy not only knew about him and Naruto, but also about Mount Myōboku?
If he'd been surprised before, now he was genuinely shocked.
He quickly scanned the surroundings. The street was empty—no pedestrians nearby.
What had seemed like chance before now felt suspiciously like a setup.
"I want Naruto to gain control over the Nine-Tails' power—to become a perfect jinchūriki. Only then will he no longer be at risk of losing control."
Haruto's voice was steady, resolute.
But Jiraiya's suspicion only deepened.
Something this important wouldn't be handled by sending a lone ninja to speak with him.
If this was truly the Third Hokage's intention, Haruto wouldn't be the messenger.
More likely, Jiraiya thought, this boy had slipped into the village during last night's chaos.
After all, over the years, Jiraiya's travels hadn't been only about gathering material for his books.
In an instant, Jiraiya's eyes sharpened. Beneath him, Gamachu prepared to move.
Jiraiya kicked off the toad's back, leaping high, one hand reaching toward Haruto.
If he could drag the boy before the Hokage, his disguise—if it was a disguise—would fall apart.
Haruto only sighed.
He had practically laid out his plan in full, showing plenty of good faith.
Yet Jiraiya still chose to attack.
Seeing the man-and-toad combo rushing at him, Haruto was left with no choice but to respond.
"Wood Release: Tree Wall Barrier!"
He bore no ill will toward Jiraiya, and since they were in a bustling district, he had no intention of using the terrain-reshaping Deep Forest Emergence.
Still, the strength of his Wood Release was nothing to scoff at.
Rumble—!
Square pillars of wood erupted from the ground, rising at visible speed to form a sturdy wall that blocked the toad and Jiraiya's assault with ease.
Mid-air, Jiraiya's eyes widened in shock.
He knew perfectly well—this wasn't a jutsu you could master through effort alone.
Even Tsunade, the most likely heir to that legacy, had never obtained it.
Which meant this wasn't just a display of strength—it was a mark of identity.
With a loud crack, the wooden wall shattered. Jiraiya, still airborne, sailed over it—
And thanks to the noise, the young women bathing inside had fled outside in panic, just in time to see him charging forward.
"KYAAAAA!"
Screams echoed across the sky above Konoha.