IDKjust
patreon
Chapter 157n
🕑 Added 2025-09-12 20:34:03 +0000 UTCChapter 157n
2-in-1-chapter
-----------------
Jiraiya quickly found his target. Several children had been placed at the front of the formation, and once Rēn’s figure was passed, it was easy to spot those little ones.
“…Naruto!”
Through the monocular, his gaze locked firmly on the blond-haired boy.
To speak honestly, Naruto had not inherited Minato’s handsomeness perfectly. The whisker-like marks on his cheeks, born from the Nine-Tail’s chakra, made it difficult for most to associate him with the Fourth Hokage.
But that was only the perspective of ordinary people.
From the first moment Jiraiya laid eyes on Naruto, he understood clearly: this was the child of Minato and Kushina. Those vivid blue eyes carried the same lively brilliance as Minato’s, and that smile radiated the same bold energy as Kushina’s—though the boy’s frame was still thin and frail.
Seeing Naruto, shorter even than the little girl standing beside him, Jiraiya’s chest filled with unspoken remorse and self-reproach.
He had trained many disciples in his lifetime, but the one who had brought him the greatest pride was Minato. That disciple had been like a son to him. He had poured everything he had into Minato, even the secret techniques of Mount Myōboku, including Sage Arts.
Even Nagato, who was once considered the Child of Prophecy, had never been treated with such generosity.
Minato’s child was like his own grandson.
“...Naruto.” Jiraiya whispered the name, the very name he had once written into his novel The Tale of the Gutsy Ninja. His heart churned with regret for not protecting the boy properly, blaming his own carelessness for leaving Naruto to endure such hardship.
In these past days, he had roamed the streets of the village, learning nearly everything about Naruto’s life.
Naruto had endured—yes, endured—all those years.
What tormented Jiraiya most was that much of Naruto’s suffering had come directly from his own teacher, the Third Hokage.
Now that the Fifth Acting Hokage did not obstruct him, Jiraiya had been able to access confidential documents. In them he discovered truths he had never known, and the more he learned, the more his pain deepened.
“Teacher Sarutobi… perhaps it is just as well you are already gone, for I truly do not know how I would face you now.”
His whispered words were carried away by the cold winds of autumn.
...................
...........
.
The return of Rēn and his companions had greatly boosted the morale of the village. The arrival of two thousand Mist shinobi as reinforcements further reassured the people of Konoha that this time they would not be fighting alone as in the past. Uneasy hearts were steadied, and at least outwardly, order had been restored. The streets no longer carried the same oppressive heaviness as before.
At the Hokage Building, the public displays of reassurance came to an end.
The Mist reinforcements had their own arrangements to be seen to, and Rēn did not need to trouble himself with the details. Entering the Hokage’s office, he found that the furnishings were the same as they had been months ago. He sat down on the guest sofa, removing the great fan from his back and resting it against the armrest.
“The Uchiha Fan… I never thought I would see it with my own eyes again in this lifetime.”
Akimichi Torifu turned his gaze toward it, his voice full of genuine admiration.
“Hokage-sama, you have seen the Uchiha Fan before?”
“When I was still a child, Uchiha Madara had not yet left the village. I was fortunate enough to see it several times. But after he departed, your clan lost the fan, and it was never seen again. Nearly fifty years have passed since then.”
“Uchiha Commander, please enjoy some tea.”
Torifu’s secretary set down the tray and withdrew, closing the door behind her, leaving only the two men in the room.
“Rēn, how did you find the journey to the Land of Water?”
Torifu shifted the topic.
Although Rēn had reported everything about the events in Kirigakure in detail through letters, and Torifu likely had other sources of information as well, it did no harm to raise the matter in person, using it to set the tone of their conversation.
“Kirigakure is in poor shape, but its foundation is intact. With that elder still present, the village can hold steady. Otherwise, they could never have spared two thousand shinobi to support us.” Rēn lifted his cup, gently blowing aside the floating tea leaves. “As long as the Fifth Mizukage is not completely incompetent, given ten years or so, the village can regain its strength.”
“And the Mist shinobi who came with you—can they be of use?”
What might happen in ten years mattered little to Torifu. He doubted he would live long enough to see it. His concern was the present.
“They can be used.”
Rēn nodded.
“The elder in Kirigakure is shrewd and pragmatic. As long as we do not falter, until the day their strength fully recovers and they regain the confidence to challenge us, the Mist will remain our most reliable allies. Hokage-sama, you may employ them without hesitation.”
“Their number is truly two thousand?”
“Two thousand, composed of Chūnin and Jōnin. Their overall strength is solid. The younger leaders among them are especially talented—by Kirigakure’s standards, they are first-rate prodigies.”
A look of satisfaction spread across Torifu’s face. This was news to lift the spirits.
“With the matter of Kirigakure settled, the next issue is the north… Rēn, when can you depart for the northern front?”
As he spoke, Torifu’s weathered face flushed with unease. Rēn had only just returned to the village and had not even gone home, yet here he was pressing him with such a request. It was an awkward thing to ask.
But it was a question that could not be avoided.
The northern front was in a tight spot. The shortage was not only in troops but, more critically, in commanders.
Konoha did not lack Jōnin, but those capable of standing against the Fourth Raikage or Kumogakure’s jinchūriki were few. With the deaths of the Third Hokage and Danzō, the village’s remaining pillars were reduced to two of the Legendary Sannin and Uchiha Rēn.
Tsunade was still nowhere to be found, so she need not even be mentioned.
Jiraiya had returned, but he had been idling in the village, making no move to take responsibility.
When it came down to it, the only one young, vigorous, and willing to shoulder the burden without complaint was Uchiha Rēn.
“The northern front will need reinforcement sooner or later, but there’s no rush. With Shisui and the others there, we don’t need to worry about Kumogakure gaining much ground in the short term,” Rēn said, glancing at the Fifth Hokage Provisional, whose doubts had not yet faded. “Shisui, like me, has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. With him holding back Kumogakure’s jinchūriki, it won’t be a problem. As for the Fourth Raikage and Kumogakure’s other elites, Hiashi and the others together can certainly face them in battle.”
The fact of Shisui’s Mangekyō Sharingan no longer needed to be kept secret. Once he was on the battlefield, it would inevitably be revealed. As long as the ability Kotoamatsukami remained hidden, it was better to explain in advance than to let word arrive from the front and have to justify it afterward.
“Uchiha Shisui has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan as well?”
Akimichi Torifu was taken aback.
He could hardly help it. Uchiha Rēn alone was already terrifyingly powerful, and now another pair of Mangekyō had appeared. How was anyone else supposed to compete? He thought bitterly to himself that it might be best for him, as acting Hokage, to give up the seat sooner rather than later.
He had no desire, and no strength to try and restrain the Uchiha clan.
“In that case, Rēn, take a few days to rest at home. Once you’ve recovered your energy we can discuss support for the northern border.” Torifu’s tone was mild and conciliatory. Partly this was his temperament—members of the Ino–Shika–Chō trio had never been ones to make enemies—and partly his age. At his stage of life, he had no wish to provoke trouble for his clan over a moment’s pride.
So even though he bore the title of Hokage, when he spoke to Rēn, it was in the tone of consultation.
“There will be plenty of time to rest.”
Rēn set his teacup down, his dark eyes deep as an abyss. “Hokage-sama, I believe the choice of Fifth Hokage can’t be delayed any longer. Jiraiya-senpai has taken so long without replying that it is almost certain he won’t accept. To stabilize morale in the village, instead of waiting endlessly, why not simply drop the idea of Jiraiya?”
“...What?”
Torifu froze, suspicion clouding his gaze.
“Rēn, are you joking with me?”
“Joking?” Rēn smiled faintly. “I’m afraid not, Hokage-sama. I don’t have the talent for comic performance. I’m telling you the truth. You’ve already said the village is unsettled. In times like this, it would be better for you to take the seat officially. If the Hokage is changed too often in quick succession, that will only make the unrest worse.”
“Jiraiya is more suitable than I am.”
Torifu shook his head.
“The problem is that, given his nature, Jiraiya-senpai almost certainly won’t accept the title. If he had that resolve, then after the Fourth Hokage’s death, it would not have been Hiruzen who held power again. Since he won’t accept, and Tsunade-senpai cannot be found, Hokage-sama, there is no third option. No one else can take your place.”
