"No." Seisui shook his head. Though he was tempted to recruit the three, he wasn't the type to lie about such things—and besides, he believed Yahiko would choose to follow him on his own.
"The future is something no one can predict."
"But that's precisely what makes it beautiful—because within uncertainty lies infinite possibility. That's what gave birth to this world."
"A fixed, unchanging future isn't the future at all—it's a form of torment."
"As long as faith endures, peace will continue to exist!"
Hearing those words, Yahiko fell silent for a moment before bowing his head deeply. "Master… I want to go with you!"
"I want to see for myself whether the peace you believe in can truly succeed!"
He dropped to his knees and bowed heavily before Seisui.
"We'll go too!" Nagato and Konan said together, kneeling beside him.
For the two of them, as long as they were together, nothing else mattered.
To them, this was what family meant.
If Yahiko was chasing peace, then the three of them would chase it together. Yahiko's dream was their dream.
Looking at the three kneeling before him, Seisui couldn't help but laugh loudly. "Hahahahaha!"
"Welcome to Konoha!"
"Hey, hey, hey! The old man hasn't agreed yet!" Jiraiya interjected, exasperated, though he kept Seisui's words buried deep in his heart.
If such declarations spread, Seisui would become a target for every ruler and noble in the world.
To destroy all nations and aristocracies—if the feudal lords ever heard that, there would be no place left for him to live.
So Jiraiya decided to keep those words to himself, even as a part of him wondered—was Seisui truly the Child of Prophecy destined to bring peace to the world?
At first, he had believed Seisui was that child… then doubted himself.
When he met Nagato, he thought he was the one.
But after hearing Seisui's vision today, Jiraiya was almost certain—the Great Toad Sage's "child of destiny" was standing right in front of him.
"Fate really does enjoy mocking me," Jiraiya thought with a bitter smile.
"The Third Hokage will definitely approve of this." Seisui grinned confidently.
The Uzumaki clan, and even someone with the Rinnegan—plus Yahiko and Konan, both gifted in their own right.
He wasn't sure of Yahiko's exact potential, but Konan was fated to reach Kage level in the future—and even a weaker Kage still required extraordinary talent.
To bring back three highly talented individuals—especially Jiraiya's disciples of three years, all from the Amegakure but otherwise untainted by politics—there was no reason for the Third to refuse.
Jiraiya sighed and rubbed his forehead. "You really leave me no choice."
He took out a scroll and brush, quickly writing a letter before summoning a messenger toad. "Take this to the old man."
"Got it," the toad croaked before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
Jiraiya's face grew serious as he turned back to everyone.
"Everything that was said just now—don't repeat it to anyone."
"If it gets out, it'll bring disaster beyond imagination."
"Understood!" everyone answered at once.
Minato and Uchiha Haru naturally understood the danger, while Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan—though less politically aware—still knew that anyone attempting to unify the world would instantly become an enemy of all nations.
Outside the building, a White Zetsu overheard their conversation, scratching his head in confusion.
"What are they even talking about?" he muttered. "I just wonder if those three newcomers will need to… use the bathroom later."
He shrugged and sank back into the ground, continuing to spy from below.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen stretched with a tired sigh.
"It's getting late. I should be heading home—"
Knock, knock, knock!
Just as he stood, a knock came at the door.
"Come in," he called.
A chunin entered, holding a sealed letter. "Lord Third, a toad from Mount Myoboku delivered this message."
"Oh?" Hiruzen's expression softened into a smile.
"So, Seisui and the others have arrived."
He opened the letter—but as his eyes moved down the page, his smile faded into a grave expression.
After waving the chunin away, he continued reading in silence.
Minutes later, Hiruzen leaned back in his chair with a deep sigh.
"Haah… Jiraiya's talent for finding students might be even better than mine."
"The Rinnegan… the Uzumaki clan…"
"It seems the Uzumaki will finally take ROOT in Konoha."
His tone carried both relief and pride.
If the Uzumaki flourished under Konoha's protection, that would be a major achievement—and having someone with the Six Paths Sage's eyes was beyond incredible.
"This really is good news."
"Indeed."
A cold voice came from behind him.
Hiruzen froze. "Danzo?!"
"How did you get in here?"
"Hmph!" Danzo snorted. "Your office door's broken again, Hiruzen. For a Hokage, that's disgraceful!"
Hiruzen blinked. "???"
Wasn't it you who broke it last time?!
Danzo folded his arms. "Hand over that Uzumaki Nagato to the ROOT division. I'll make him a pillar of Konoha!"
"Forget it, Danzo," Hiruzen said flatly, lighting his pipe. "He's my student's disciple—my grand-disciple. He won't be joining the ROOT."
"Then give me Yahiko and Konan!"
"They're my grand-disciples too."
"Hiruzen!" Danzo snapped, voice rising. "You refuse this, you refuse that—what did I even establish ROOT for? With your approval, I might add!"
Hiruzen sighed and thought for a moment. "You can't have Jiraiya's disciples. But you can recruit from the Yamanaka and Aburame clans. Pick two people."
Danzo instantly calmed down. "Fine. Then I'll take my leave."
He turned toward the door but stopped midway, glancing back. "But mark my words, Hiruzen—if you don't hand over those kids, you'll regret it."
"I'm the Hokage, Danzo," Hiruzen replied without looking up.
This exchange had become almost a ritual between them. Neither could seem to leave without one last jab.
Danzo walked to the doorway, eyed the cracked doorframe, and snorted again before slamming the door shut.
The frame splintered further and the entire door fell off its hinges with a thud.
Hiruzen stared at the fallen door in silence.
Moments later, a carpenter hurried in.
"Hokage-sama, need me to fix it again? You're my best customer—I'll give you a discount."
He'd opened a small woodworking shop beside the Hokage building—and having a regular client like this was great for business.
Hiruzen's face darkened. "No discount!"
Then he called out irritably, "Deduct the repair cost from Danzo's funding!"
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