Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata stood together in the Hokage's office, their expressions bright with excitement. Each of them had taken a major step forward, and though the future was uncertain, it was filled with promise.
Tsunade crossed her arms and looked at the three of them. Her lips curled into a faint smile, but there was a dangerous edge behind it.
"I'm happy for all of you," she said in a calm voice. "But seeing you become the students of someone else still makes me feel a little lonely…"
Her gaze shifted sharply toward Kakashi.
"Kakashi, perhaps the missions I've been assigning you haven't been enough to keep you busy."
Kakashi immediately stiffened.
"..."
Even with his mask on, everyone could tell he had nothing to say in response.
Might Guy burst into laughter and slapped Kakashi heavily on the shoulder.
"What nonsense are you talking about, Kakashi!" Guy declared proudly. "Once a teacher, always a teacher!"
He pointed dramatically at Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata.
"Even if they study under two legendary Sannin, they will always remain your students!"
Naruto grinned brightly.
"Bushy-Brow Sensei is right! Kakashi-sensei, you'll always be our teacher!"
Hinata blushed slightly but nodded with sincerity.
"That's right, Kakashi-sensei. No matter what happens, you'll always be important to us."
Sasuke gave a small nod as well.
Kakashi's visible eye curved gently.
"Thank you."
For a brief moment, the usually laid-back jonin seemed genuinely touched.
Naruto suddenly turned toward Jiraiya with excitement blazing in his eyes.
"Old Pervy Sage! Since we're officially your students now, you're going to start training us immediately, right?"
Jiraiya frowned.
"Naruto, you're still as impatient as ever."
"Of course I am!" Naruto said proudly. "Time waits for no one!"
He then looked toward Sasuke.
"Right, Sasuke?"
Sasuke hesitated.
"I…"
Jiraiya sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"Fine, fine. Both of you, come with me."
Naruto threw both fists into the air.
"Yes!"
As Naruto eagerly followed Jiraiya out of the office, Sasuke glanced back once before silently trailing after them.
A faint smile touched his lips.
Tsunade's eye twitched.
She clenched her fists and turned sharply toward Hinata.
"Hinata! You're coming with me. Right now."
Hinata straightened instantly.
"Y-Yes, Lady Hokage!"
Shizune watched the fierce competition between the two legendary Sannin and shivered.
"So scary…"
Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others simply laughed.
Root Headquarters
Deep beneath the village, hidden in darkness, the Root headquarters remained cold and silent.
Aburame Ryoma knelt before Danzo Shimura, delivering his report.
As he spoke, Danzo's expression grew darker and darker.
"So that fool Orochimaru failed again," Danzo said coldly.
"And now those three from Team Seven have become disciples of Jiraiya and Tsunade."
Ryoma frowned.
"It makes sense for Jiraiya to take Naruto and Sasuke. But why would Tsunade choose Hyuga Hinata?"
Danzo's eye narrowed.
"She intends to use Hinata as a bridge."
"A bridge?"
"To gain the support of the Hyuga Clan," Danzo said. "And through Team Seven, to strengthen ties with Kakashi Hatake as well."
He tapped his cane lightly against the floor.
"Tsunade has only recently become Hokage. She lacks a personal power base within the village. Naturally, she must secure allies."
Ryoma hesitated.
"Would someone with Lady Tsunade's personality truly think so far ahead?"
Danzo sneered.
"Even if she didn't before, she must now that she sits in the Hokage's chair."
He looked upward, as if staring through layers of stone toward the village above.
"Becoming Hokage is not easy."
Ryoma lowered his head.
"If this continues, she has Hiruzen's support above her, Jiraiya's support beside her, and if she wins over the clans and elite jonin…"
He paused.
"It will become increasingly difficult for you to replace her, Lord Danzo."
Danzo remained silent for several moments.
Then he asked quietly,
"What has Hiruzen been doing lately?"
Ryoma answered at once.
"Although he still carries the title of advisor, he seems to have handed most authority to Tsunade. He only offers counsel when she asks for it."
"In truth, Koharu and Homura have been more active than he has."
"I've also heard he spends much of his time with his grandson, Konohamaru."
Danzo let out a mocking laugh.
"Hiruzen is the same as always. Pretending to be harmless."
Ryoma hesitated before asking,
"Then where do we begin?"
Danzo's voice turned low and chilling.
"There will always be opportunities."
"Konoha may appear peaceful on the surface, but beneath it lies instability. When a great crisis erupts—when life and death hang in the balance—that will be our greatest chance."
Ryoma's heart trembled.
Danzo was hoping for disaster to strike the village… all for the sake of becoming Hokage.
If a man desired power at such a cost, what meaning would the title of Hokage even have?
But Ryoma did not dare ask.
Jiraiya's First Lesson
Elsewhere, Jiraiya led Naruto and Sasuke to a secluded training ground.
He stopped and turned toward Sasuke.
"Let's begin with you."
His voice became serious.
"Sasuke, the person you most want to kill is Itachi Uchiha, correct?"
Sasuke's body stiffened.
"Yes."
"Then the first thing you need to do," Jiraiya said, "is understand your enemy."
He crossed his arms.
"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you need not fear a hundred battles."
Since deciding to accept Sasuke as a student, Jiraiya had gathered every bit of information he could.
"The most terrifying thing about Itachi is his pair of Mangekyo Sharingan."
Naruto blinked.
"Mangekyo… what?"
"The evolved form of the Sharingan," Jiraiya explained. "A far more dangerous eye with unique and terrifying powers."
He looked directly at Sasuke.
"You may possess the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, but compared to the Mangekyo, the gap is enormous."
"You would have almost no chance of resisting it."
Sasuke unconsciously clenched his fists.
He remembered the nightmare of Tsukuyomi—the endless torture, repeated again and again.
"Then is there no way to fight it?" he asked through gritted teeth.
Jiraiya laughed loudly.
"In this world, there is no ninja who cannot be defeated, and no jutsu that cannot be overcome."
Naruto's eyes lit up.
"Then what do we do? Even Kakashi-sensei got crushed by that bastard!"
Jiraiya raised one finger.
"The first and most direct method…"
He pointed at Sasuke.
"You awaken your own Mangekyo Sharingan."
Naruto and Sasuke both froze.
"What?!"
Sasuke's face darkened.
"Itachi once told me how to obtain it…"
He glanced at Naruto.
"By killing your best friend."
Jiraiya snorted.
"A lie."
Sasuke stared.
"What?"
"Using Hokage authority, Tsunade gave me access to records," Jiraiya said. "The Mangekyo Sharingan does not require murdering a friend."
"It awakens through overwhelming emotional stimulation."
He continued.
"Legends say Madara Uchiha and Izuna Uchiha awakened theirs after losing comrades. But that is not the only path."
"According to the Second Hokage's research, the Uchiha Clan are a people of deep love. When that love is shattered, their emotions distort violently, and chakra affects the optic nerves, giving birth to the Sharingan."
"The stronger the emotion, the stronger the eye."
Sasuke fell silent.
As he thought back, he realized it was true.
His Sharingan had evolved during moments of pain, rage, desperation, and obsession.
The massacre of his clan.
His need to surpass Naruto.
His hatred when facing Itachi again.
Everything had pushed his eyes further.
"So emotional trauma…" Sasuke murmured.
Jiraiya nodded.
"Exactly."
"But while that explains the awakening, it is not something we can force."
"Even if we created such circumstances, there is no guarantee it would work."
He looked firmly at Sasuke.
"So while we acknowledge the possibility, it will not be our priority."
Sasuke slowly nodded.
"I understand."
Jiraiya inwardly relaxed.
He had worried Sasuke might recklessly chase power at any cost.
But now, after being brought back by Naruto, Sasuke seemed calmer… more grounded.
Countering the Mangekyo
Jiraiya raised a second finger.
"The second method is simpler."
"We find ways to counter the Mangekyo Sharingan."
Naruto leaned forward eagerly.
"That sounds way better!"
Jiraiya smirked.
"Itachi is dangerous because he has very few weaknesses."
"He is intelligent, fast, skilled in taijutsu, ninjutsu, and genjutsu."
"But the most terrifying aspect of all…"
His expression hardened.
"Is his genjutsu."
"There may not be anyone in the shinobi world better than him."
He looked at Sasuke.
"And the technique that nearly destroyed Kakashi…"
"Tsukuyomi."
Sasuke's body trembled slightly.
Even remembering it was enough to make his skin crawl.
Naruto noticed immediately.
"Sasuke…"
He could not imagine the suffering his friend had endured.
Jiraiya smiled reassuringly.
"Don't look so defeated."
"I told you already. There is no jutsu that cannot be broken."
He reached into his robe and pulled out a thick parchment scroll.
Naruto's jaw dropped.
"That's huge…"
Jiraiya opened it dramatically.
Inside were pages of notes—records about Itachi, the Mangekyo Sharingan, Tsukuyomi, and possible counters Jiraiya had developed through research.
Sasuke stared in shock.
He had expected guidance.
He had not expected this much effort.
Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin, had personally investigated Itachi's abilities for his sake.
Naruto had fought to bring him back.
And now Jiraiya was preparing to train him seriously.
Something unfamiliar stirred in Sasuke's chest.
Warmth.
Trust.
Gratitude.
He lowered his head slightly.
"Thank you."
The words came slowly, but they were sincere.
Not only for Jiraiya.
But for Naruto as well.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)