Malphegor
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GSiN: Ch. 132
🕑 Added 2025-07-06 22:16:06 +0000 UTC---Third POV---
Seeing how determined Son Gokū was, Ryouma naturally went along with his wishes.
"Kokuō, what about you? Do you have a place in mind?"
"As long as I can run freely whenever I want, that's enough for me."
Kokuō lifted a hoof, indicating that Ryouma didn't need to worry about him.
"Alright, then take these necklaces."
As Ryouma spoke, he reached out and took out two collars marked with the Flying Thunder God mark, showing them to the two tailed beasts.
Kokuō lowered its head to make it easier for Ryouma to put the collar on it and asked curiously, "Is there something special about this?"
While helping Son Gokū fasten the collar, Ryouma explained, "These have my space-time coordinates stored in them. If you run into any trouble, use the chakra in your bodies to contact me. I can be there in less than a second."
Although most of the chakra from the two tailed beasts was now with him, the threats in the shinobi world weren't limited to just Madara's group, there were also many missing-nin and small-country organizations that frequently caused trouble.
Since he had accepted their chakra, it was essentially a long-term contract, naturally, he had to do his best to protect them.
"Okay~ Then I'm heading back to Konoha. Take care."
After a simple farewell, he used the Flying Thunder God Technique with Shukaku and instantly returned home.
---
"Isobu, where are the others?"
Ryouma found it quite convenient to have this homebody turtle hanging around, it was like having a 24/7 intelligent surveillance system.
Isobu lazily lifted its tail and replied, "They went to find a craftsman. They want to fix up the pond in the courtyard."
"Oh? That eager?"
Their unusual enthusiasm made Ryouma a little suspicious, but since they were willing to help, it did save him a lot of trouble.
Looking up at the rising sun, he patted Shukaku on the head and asked, "I'm heading to Konoha Hospital. Are you coming with me or staying home?"
"Hospital? Nah, I'll pass."
Shukaku was still recovering from the thrill of Kokuō's express ride and just wanted to lie down quietly for a while.
After placing it on a floor cushion in the courtyard, Ryouma didn't use the Flying Thunder God Technique this time and instead walked to Konoha Hospital.
On the way, he picked up a bag of ordinary apples, completely lacking in visual appeal.
Inside Konoha Hospital, he walked in like he owned the place and went straight to the front desk to grab the patient records.
"Jiraiya, Room 316 on the third floor."
---
"Jiraiya-sama, you still can't be discharged yet."
Shizune sat operating a medical instrument and didn't forget to remind the unruly white-haired man on the hospital bed next to her.
"Aww, Shizune. This little injury is nothing at all. You've heard of the Sannin, right? It's a really impressive title—"
Smack!
Shizune slapped away the hand Jiraiya was using to try and pull out his IV needle.
"Even a Sannin is still human. When you arrived at the hospital yesterday, you'd already lost so much blood it was life-threatening. And look at this."
As she spoke, she picked up a thermometer from the table and pointed at the reading to show him.
"Your body temperature is almost 40 degrees! Please don't make things more difficult for me, alright?"
"Ah, uh..." Jiraiya stammered, "That must be because the Will of Fire burning inside me is just too hot... Alright, I'll behave."
Lying back down properly on the hospital bed, he gazed at the clear blue sky outside the window.
"I wonder how Nagato is doing."
When he regained consciousness last night, Minato happened to be there. According to him, it was just a coincidence that he'd come to visit, but he suspected Minato had actually been waiting by his bedside the whole time.
Honestly, it had moved him quite a bit. Of course, if the person waiting for him had been Tsunade, that would've been even better.
Knock knock knock~
At the sound of knocking, he suddenly sat up straight. In novels, when the male protagonist thinks about the heroine, there's often a knock on the door right after.
"No way... Is it Tsunade?"
The door opened a second later.
A tuft of white hair peeked in.
"Too bad, it's me, Ryouma."
Ryouma's hearing was sharp, so of course he'd heard Jiraiya muttering to himself.
"And with her personality, would she even knock? Really, Jiraiya-senpai."
"Ah, yeah, that's true. Haha~" Jiraiya awkwardly slapped his forehead and laughed.
At that moment, Shizune finished her routine checks for the room. She stood up and stepped aside from the bed, greeted Ryouma, and left to continue checking other rooms.
Ryouma placed the apples on the bedside table, sat in a chair, and pulled out a kunai from behind his back. With a few swift flicks of the blade, he peeled an apple until it was perfectly clean.
"You're too kind. I haven't even thanked you yet for saving me."
As Jiraiya reached out to take the apple, Ryouma took a bite himself and said, "No need to thank me. If anything, I should be thanking you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have had the chance to completely eliminate Madara."
Jiraiya let the hand he'd extended naturally turn into a head scratch and awkwardly withdrew it.
"Ryouma... You know about Nagato, right? The red-haired kid with the Rinnegan..."
"I know."
Seeing how much effort Jiraiya was putting into his description, Ryouma quickly reassured him.
"You do? That's great. Yesterday, Minato filled me in on your mission. Do you know why Nagato ended up siding with Madara?"
Jiraiya finally asked the question that had been weighing on him the most.
"He was probably being controlled," Ryouma replied as he finished off his apple and grabbed another, swiftly peeling it before handing it to Jiraiya.
"Controlled?"
"Yeah. The one you fought in the Land of Grass was just a puppet created using the Rinnegan's abilities. The real Nagato is being possessed and controlled by a special being named Black Zetsu, who's one of Madara's subordinates."
"Then... is Nagato still alive?"
"Of course he's alive."
Ryouma could immediately tell what Jiraiya was thinking and added a warning. "But I'd advise you not to act recklessly again. The enemy may have failed this time, but if you run into them again, they'll likely go for the kill."
Jiraiya chomped down the entire apple in just three bites and said with feigned lightness, "Haha, was I that obvious?"
Seeing his reaction, Ryouma figured his advice wouldn't change much. So, he pulled a scroll from the ninja tool pouch on his back.
"Here, take this."
Jiraiya accepted the scroll, looking puzzled.
"What is it?"
"It's a self-activating warning scroll. If you tear it open, the technique inside will be triggered and destroyed, which will instantly send a signal to me."
Ryouma had given an older version of this to Mei before.
Jiraiya solemnly accepted the scroll that could be called the number one protective charm in the shinobi world and carefully put it away.
He was determined to save Nagato.
Based on the intel Minato gave him yesterday, Iwa no longer had any intentions of continuing the war. As long as Konoha remained safe both internally and externally, there wouldn't be much problem if he left the village for a while.
What's more, Konoha now had an absolute stabilizing force holding it down.
The meaning behind Ryouma giving him this scroll was obvious, he wanted to lend Jiraiya a helping hand.
"Thank you."
"No need to thank me."
Ryouma looked down and fiddled with a Flying Thunder God kunai, his expression calm as he spoke.
"Compared to some unnecessary intel, your life affects many people's emotions. I just hope you won't take too many reckless risks."
After saying that, he didn't stay any longer. He got up, bid farewell, and jumped straight out of the window.
Watching his retreating back, Jiraiya shifted on the hospital bed and muttered to himself, "What an unexpressive little brat… Just don't learn that part from Tsunade."
---
Walking along the main street of Konoha, Ryouma was on his way to do something very important.
At a steady pace, he arrived at the Uchiha clan grounds. As he passed by Fugaku's residence, he heard a familiar voice.
"Still not ready yet, Itachi? I can't wait any longer, I'm going ahead to wait outside!"
As the voice fell, a grey-haired kid rushed out from Fugaku's front gate and slammed straight into Ryouma.
"So hard…" Rubbing his slightly aching head, Hidan squinted up and looked.
Ryouma patted his head and habitually asked, "You haven't been bothering your classmates at the ninja academy recently, right?"
"Of course… not. Mhm."
Hidan's answer lacked confidence, but Ryouma didn't press further. It was clear Hidan came to play with a friend today, not the time to lecture kids.
"I'm ready."
Itachi lifted the curtain at the entrance and stepped out. He looked surprised to see Ryouma.
"Ryouma-senpai? Are you here to see my father?"
"No, just wandering." Ryouma glanced sideways at the small ninja gear pouch behind Itachi and smiled lightly. "Are you two heading off for some ninja training?"
"Of course not!"
Hidan denied loudly, then, ignoring Itachi's wide-eyed glare, revealed their real plan.
"We made plans to fight with Haoto and the others. We're going to teach them a lesson this time! So what if one of them has a genin brother, it's not a big deal."
"Oh? Is that so, Itachi?"
"N-no, it's not like that," Itachi quickly tugged on Hidan's clothes and explained, "It's because they were bullying a newly transferred classmate, so Hidan and I—"
"Interesting," Ryouma interrupted, waving a hand. "Let me come along and see what's going on. Lead the way."
"Got it! This way!" Hidan shrieked with excitement and ran ahead to lead.
Watching the two run off, Itachi sighed with a troubled face.
"What am I even doing…"
---
The three of them arrived at Konoha Park. From a distance, Ryouma spotted a small kid who looked vaguely familiar.
"Is that the new transfer student in your class?"
"Let me take a look."
Hidan squinted, holding his hands above his brows like a visor to peer into the distance.
In the park, the scrawny figure of Kabuto was being pushed to the ground by a group of kids.
A stocky boy wearing a forehead protector stood with his arms crossed.
Another child with brown hair snatched the glasses off Kabuto's head.
"Can't even see straight and you want to be a ninja? What a joke. Go crawl back to your orphanage, this isn't a place for you. Haha!"
Kabuto struggled to his feet and lunged at the brown-haired boy.
"Give me back my glasses! They're really important!"
"Haha! If you want them, go fetch them yourself!"
The brown-haired kid dodged and flung the glasses high into the air.
Kabuto turned and watched as the glasses flew, at that height, if they fell, they would definitely shatter.
Just then, a black blur flashed through the air. Itachi jumped up and caught the glasses with both hands mid-air, then landed smoothly with a flip.
"You're seriously the worst."
Hidan looked at the brown-haired boy with a face full of contempt.
"It's not like I started it," Haoto clicked his tongue. "That guy came over and started talking nonsense for no reason. I wouldn't have bothered with him otherwise."
Kabuto took the glasses Itachi handed back and said awkwardly, "Sorry… I was trying to deal with it before you all arrived…"
"It's fine," Itachi said, patting Kabuto on the shoulder to reassure him. Then he stepped forward, facing the group of troublemakers, and declared loudly. "We came as promised. Promise never to bully him again."
"Always acting cool."
Seeing that smug look on Itachi's face made Haoto boil with anger. After waiting a moment without getting a response, he turned around in confusion, only to find the others standing frozen in place, completely motionless like he was in a trance.
He calmly walked over to them and tapped one on the back. He immediately flinched in surprise.
"Why is your back all wet?"
That tap seemed to flip a switch in Yuto. The next second, he sprinted forward and leapt, landing with a smooth, low bow right in front of Ryouma.
"I deeply, deeply apologize, Ryouma-sama!"
"…Huh?" Haoto was completely confused about what was happening.
"You're apologizing to the wrong person, aren't you?" Ryouma said casually.
He hadn't expected things to unfold like this. He honestly had just come to observe, mostly to make sure that Hidan didn't stir up too much trouble.
Hearing Ryouma's words, Yuto immediately stood up, grabbed Haoto by the collar, and dragged him in front of Kabuto to bow together in apology.
"I'm so sorry."
"S-sorry, Kabuto!" Haoto stammered.
The other lackeys, sensing the mood, quickly followed suit, bowing and apologizing with all the desperation of kids trying to save their hides.
Kabuto, having never encountered this kind of scene before, stood there completely stunned and unsure how to react.
Hidan, hands behind his back, strutted smugly back and forth in front of them and said with a big grin, "From now on, you guys do understand who's cleaning the classroom for the three of us, right?"
