I couldn't upload any new chapters last week because I was out of station on a family vacation. To compensate for that, this week I will be uploading 2 chaps/day for my every fan-fic.
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On the streets of Konoha, Jiraiya and Minato were walking side by side, chatting about matters both old and new.
Since there was still some time before Jiraiya planned to leave again, Minato took the opportunity to share something that had weighed on his mind for nearly two years. When it came to trust, Minato placed far more confidence in Jiraiya than in the Third Hokage.
After recounting the entire incident in detail, Minato finally voiced his lingering doubt.
"That so-called Information Exchange… Up until now, it seems that Uzumaki Sora has not only obtained my combat strategies and space-time formulas, but also a portion of the First Hokage's power."
"Information Exchange… a different space?" Jiraiya repeated, frowning deeply.
His expression turned grim. Although he had been the personal student of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, he wasn't intimately familiar with the true power of Senju Hashirama. But his own student, the Fourth Hokage—Minato Namikaze—was an exception. Minato had not only mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, including its advanced second stage, but also possessed reflexes that made him nearly untouchable in combat. His innate talent for space-time ninjutsu was something no other shinobi in the village could replicate.
To hear that Sora had not only acquired Minato's powers but also a part of the First Hokage's abilities was unsettling.
Jiraiya leaned slightly toward Minato. "What about Sage Mode? Has he touched it?"
Minato paused, then slowly shook his head. "It doesn't appear that he has. I'm not sure what he chose to exchange for in the end, but I'm confident that he hasn't mastered Senjutsu. Not yet, at least."
That, at least, was a relief.
But both of them were now struck by the same troubling thought: if this "Information Exchange" could even reach the Pure Land—connecting to souls like Hashirama's—then why had the First Hokage agreed to give anything at all?
Minato caught Jiraiya's pensive look and lowered his voice. "At the time... I was too desperate. Kushina was in danger. The Nine-Tails... everything was spiraling out of control. That was the only option I saw."
"You don't have to explain." Jiraiya said gently. "Losing the Nine-Tails—or worse, you dying—would have been catastrophic for Konoha. If the Nine-Tails had broken loose… it would've been a disaster beyond anything the village could contain."
He let out a long sigh and continued, "As for Uzumaki Sora... from what I've read in your reports, he doesn't seem to harbor any grand ambitions. His attitude toward the village is complicated, but he's clearly not hostile to Konoha as a whole. His resentment seems directed more at the elders—Danzo, the advisors…"
"Even the Third Hokage." Minato added.
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "The Third Hokage? Old man?"
Minato gave a small nod. "Kushina and I were never clear about the exact history between the Uzumaki clan and Konoha. But Sora… he knows something. Sensei, you were closer to that era—what happened?"
Jiraiya looked up at the sky for a moment. "The Second Hokage died suddenly during a mission. After that, the Third Hokage stepped in. But there was a period of chaos before he officially became Hokage. I was just a kid then. I don't know the full picture, but…"
He paused, expression hardening.
"…When the Land of Whirlpools fell, Konoha didn't act. They didn't uphold the alliance. The Uzumaki clan was left to fend for themselves."
Minato frowned. "So it's true."
"Kushina came here right after the fall." Jiraiya continued. "She was sensitive, mistrustful. She felt like an outsider for a long time. Sora probably inherited more than just her blood. He inherited that bitterness too."
They came to a stop outside Jiraiya's modest home. The old Sannin chuckled. "We've been out talking too long. Kushina's probably thinking I dragged you off to collect material for my novels again."
Minato grinned. "No worries. I left a Flying Thunder God marker in our hallway. I can jump back instantly."
"How long are you staying in the village?" Minato asked.
Jiraiya scratched his chin. "A few more days. I plan to visit Mount Myōboku. Maybe the Great Toad Sage will have something to say about this Sora business."
"Looking for another prophecy?"
"Not exactly." Jiraiya said. "You can't ask for a prophecy—it comes when it comes. But maybe the old sage will mention something that sheds light on Sora."
He glanced at Minato. "Do you have a picture of him? If I'm traveling, I might be able to dig up some intel while I'm out. Frankly, this kid is half the reason I came back."
Minato's brow furrowed. "How so?"
Jiraiya smirked. "In the last two years, the name 'Red Flash' has started spreading through the black market. The way he moves—it's unmistakably your Flying Thunder God technique. All five great villages are taking notice."
Minato sighed. "I noticed. Kumo even backed off a few operations recently. Seems they think I might be secretly acting again."
"Or worse," Jiraiya muttered. "Kumogakure has become obsessed with bloodlines and forbidden techniques ever since the war ended."
"Agreed." Minato replied, and handed over a sealed notebook. "Here's everything we know about Uzumaki Sora—including details about the information exchange."
Jiraiya took the file and nodded. "Alright. Go home before Kushina storms the Hokage Tower."
With a grin, Minato disappeared in a flicker of yellow flash.
Jiraiya entered his home, dusted from disuse, and made his way to the study.
…
After washing up, he sat down and flipped open the dossier on Sora.
And then he froze.
"Ya... hiko?"
The name spilled from his lips instinctively.
His eyes were locked on the photograph.
But when his eyes fell on the red hair, Jiraiya finally noticed the differences.
It wasn't just the red hair—though that already narrowed it down. It was the shape of the eyes, the structure of the face. Even the slight curve in the lips…
There was a resemblance.
To someone he hadn't seen in years.
To Yahiko.
"But Yahiko didn't have red hair… and he wasn't from the Uzumaki clan…" Jiraiya muttered.
His thoughts turned to the Land of Rain.
To his three disciples.
Were they really dead? Or perhaps was it a misinformation?
How were they now?
Had Nagato mastered the Rinnegan?
Had Konan finally confessed her love to Yahiko?
Had Yahiko stayed true to the dream?
'Maybe it was time to go to the Land of Rain again. If Uzumaki Sora's existence was linked to any of them, I need to find out.'
…
Meanwhile, in the Uchiha clan compound, Yun sat in his room, staring quietly at the moon through the window.
'Kaguya Ōtsutsuki… sealed away in the Six Paths Planetary Devastation… If he could find a way to connect with that woman… it might be enough to realize his dream in a single leap.'
It was an overambitious thought, and Yun cast it aside.
His focus returned to the present.
His clone, Sora, could head to Amegakure.
Two months of immersion in the Land of Rain, hidden in the mist and shadow. By then, his earth and water chakra nature transformations would be near complete.
With the added boost of yang release from his enhanced body, it would be time.
Time to attempt that technique.
Two months.
When the information exchange opened for the third time, he would be ready.
Would it be the Rinnegan?
Or Kamui?
Only one thing was certain—power was waiting.
And he would certainly reach it.
*****
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