The next day, at the Konohagakure Hospital.
After buying flowers from Ino, Kitagawa Minamoto headed to the hospital with Kakashi and Guy.
He had heard the night before that Jiraiya's injuries had worsened. However, Tsunade had been performing emergency treatment and had not allowed any visitors. Thus, first thing in the morning, he rushed over.
"Pervy Sage, why are you back in the hospital again?"
Pushing open the door to the hospital room, Kitagawa Minamoto called out with a grin. However, he quickly noticed there were others present.
"Lady Tsunade, Lord Hokage."
"Tch, you brat. Can't you say something nice so early in the morning?"
Before Hiruzen Sarutobi or Tsunade could respond, Jiraiya grumbled in annoyance.
"What do you mean 'again'? It was just an accident."
"Uh-huh."
Kitagawa Minamoto chuckled as he placed the flowers in a vase. Then, with a teasing smile, he said,
"But I remember it used to always be Kakashi-sensei ending up here. I didn't expect it to be you this time, Pervy Sage."
"..."
Kakashi, who had been greeting the Third Hokage alongside Guy, froze upon hearing this. Rolling his eyes, he shot a glance at Kitagawa Minamoto.
"Hey, hey, hey, now's not the time to talk about me. Besides, I'm fine these days..."
"You mean I'm taking your place now?"
Jiraiya looked at Kakashi with a hint of resentment. Back in the day, it was always Kakashi who ended up in the hospital.
But things had changed. Now it was either the Third Hokage or himself, making Jiraiya wonder if there was some kind of curse involved.
Or perhaps...
"Is this some kind of test for Konohagakure's medical system?"
Jiraiya rubbed his head, feeling that there were some things better left unsaid.
After all, Konohagakure's education and medical systems always seemed to have their quirks.
"Alright, let's drop this topic."
Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted their conversation. Strictly speaking, he himself was also a victim of this "curse," and he had no desire to continue the discussion.
"Minamoto, Kakashi, Guy, it's good that you're here. There's something I'd like to discuss with you."
"Hey, hey, hey, weren't they here to visit me?"
Jiraiya flopped back onto the bed, looking rather displeased. But Hiruzen Sarutobi merely smiled and shook his head.
"Some things are better discussed when the timing is right. And now is the perfect time, with just the few of us here."
"Uh..."
Guy seemed a bit puzzled, unsure if his presence was appropriate. But Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly addressed his concerns.
"Please summon the two elders as well. Thank you."
"Yes."
The ANBU outside the door responded immediately and disappeared in a flash. Hiruzen Sarutobi then turned his attention back to Jiraiya.
"Jiraiya, did you learn anything during your visit to Mount Myōboku?"
"Well, does my current state count as information?"
Even in his condition, Jiraiya couldn't resist cracking a joke. After a brief chuckle, his expression turned more serious.
"I inquired about information regarding Ōtsutsuki Minamoto, but unfortunately, the Great Toad Sage was reluctant to reveal much. However, he did agree to one thing."
"And what is that?"
"He's aware that Minamoto has already mastered Sage Arts. As such, he's willing to share some insights and techniques related to Sage Arts from Mount Myōboku's archives."
"That sounds promising. Wait, the toads' techniques?"
"Exactly. According to them, Minamoto learned Sage Arts on his own and is considered a 'spirit of nature,' so they believe he'll have no trouble using their methods."
"..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was momentarily speechless. The materials he had prepared for Kitagawa Minamoto were at least from the First Hokage.
And yet, Mount Myōboku was offering techniques designed for toads. While the gesture was sincere, was it really suitable?
"Well, it might be worth referencing."
Jiraiya felt slightly awkward and turned to Kitagawa Minamoto.
"What do you think, Minamoto?"
"I don't mind. It might be worth a try."
Kitagawa Minamoto thought for a moment before responding. Whether or not Mount Myōboku's techniques would be useful was uncertain, but referencing them wouldn't hurt.
Besides, he was curious about something. The Sage Arts of Ryūchi Cave included unique techniques like Inorganic Reincarnation and White Rage.
"Does Mount Myōboku's Sage Arts contain anything similar?"
This question had been on his mind, but his memory was a bit hazy. Perhaps reviewing Mount Myōboku's materials would help.
"We'll see. It might be worthwhile. It's just a shame there's no more information on Ōtsutsuki Minamoto."
Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but rub his temples. Then, as if remembering something, he asked,
"By the way, did you ask Mount Myōboku about Naruto?"
"I did, but the Great Toad Sage didn't give me an answer. It seems he wants me to figure it out on my own."
Jiraiya pursed his lips. Unlocking the two chakras sealed within Naruto was relatively straightforward.
But their goal wasn't just to unlock them, which added layers of complexity to the issue.
"What a pity. It seems we'll have to take it slow."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, though Kitagawa Minamoto raised an eyebrow.
Perhaps he could give it a try?
Having just completed his transformation, his control over chakra had reached an extraordinary level.
And this wasn't limited to his own chakra; he could now exert the same level of control over external chakra as well!
"Let's wait and see. These matters can be addressed later. For now, I don't think it'll be too difficult for me."
Kitagawa Minamoto made a mental note. Just then, there was a commotion outside the door.
"Third Hokage, you summoned us?"
The door opened to reveal two elderly figures entering the room.
Seeing them, Jiraiya couldn't help but purse his lips, while Tsunade crossed her arms and huffed, refusing to acknowledge them.
Kitagawa Minamoto, however, observed them with curiosity.
He knew these two were Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, Hiruzen Sarutobi's old classmates.
"In his memory, these two were products of an outdated ninja mindset."
They were bold enough to take action when necessary—like during the Nine-Tails incident.
But when it came to making decisions, they showed no mercy, such as during the Uchiha Clan's downfall.
"Of course, they also took the blame for Danzo."
Kitagawa Minamoto recalled how, during Pain's assault on the village, Danzo had approached them, claiming the Akatsuki's target was the Nine-Tails.
The two elders had then rushed to Tsunade, insisting Naruto be forbidden from returning, effectively falling into Danzo's trap.
"Though to be fair, they didn't hesitate to throw Danzo under the bus either."
Twice, they portrayed Danzo as a selfless, disabled patriot, yet conveniently omitted his candidacy during the Hokage selection process...
"You're here. Perfect timing to address some matters."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, prompting Jiraiya to groan.
"Hey, hey, hey, this is my hospital room. Is this really necessary?"
"Jiraiya, you've been too careless. Getting yourself injured at such a critical time is unacceptable."
Koharu Utatane glanced at Jiraiya and spoke flatly. Homura Mitokado nodded in agreement.
"That's right. With the Chūnin Exams resuming soon and external pressures mounting, your actions were indeed inappropriate."
"I..."
Jiraiya clenched his fists in frustration. Like Tsunade, he wasn't particularly fond of these two.
Fortunately, Hiruzen Sarutobi intervened.
"Enough. It was an accident. Speaking of external pressures, have you received updates from Sunagakure?"
"Yes, we've seen the reports."
Koharu Utatane nodded, taking a moment to assess Kitagawa Minamoto before continuing.
"Sunagakure has decided to fully surrender. They've promised compensation but have requested the return of the One-Tail and their captured ninja."
"I believe this is acceptable."
Homura Mitokado chimed in.
"While Sunagakure is not particularly strong, it remains a major village. Despite losing their Kazekage, they still retain some combat power."
"Moreover, Sunagakure offers little in terms of resources. Since we're already entangled with Kirigakure over the Land of Waves, it might be better to let that go."
Koharu Utatane continued, while Homura Mitokado added,
"This would allow us to focus on securing the Land of Grass and the Land of Rivers, while concentrating our efforts on Kumogakure, which poses a greater threat."
Their back-and-forth effectively outlined a strategy for dealing with Sunagakure.
In essence, Sunagakure had little to offer.
Rather than completely crushing them, it was more pragmatic to accept their surrender, avoid fighting on multiple fronts, and trade the offshore interests of the Land of Waves for closer, more strategic gains.
"Such a cold, calculated political machine."
Tsunade muttered under her breath, though she couldn't deny the logic. Still, her childhood disdain for them lingered.
Jiraiya nodded in agreement, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi with a headache.
"Settle down, you two. Minamoto, what are your thoughts on this?"
"Huh?"
Kitagawa Minamoto blinked, looking around before pointing to himself.
"Me?"
"Yes, let's hear your opinion."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, while Kakashi and Guy gave him encouraging pats on the shoulder.
"Speak up. You're a Jōnin now, so you'll be part of these discussions in the future."
"That's right. Go for it, Minamoto!"
You two...
Kitagawa Minamoto couldn't help but chuckle. He understood Hiruzen Sarutobi's intentions.
The fact that he had been tasked with hosting Deidara and Mei Terumī already spoke volumes.
Still, he figured there was no rush. Gaara's early ascension was due to Sunagakure's lack of viable candidates.
Konohagakure, on the other hand, was brimming with talent.
"Well, I think the current plan is fine."
Kitagawa Minamoto stroked his chin thoughtfully before adding,
"But I do have some additional ideas."
"Oh? Let's hear them."
"I've been to Sunagakure with Kakashi-sensei and Guy-sensei. Their pool of strong ninja is quite limited. Perhaps we could... manipulate this."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, what if we secretly support a promising ninja there? Provide them with funds and backing, and help them rise to the position of Kazekage?"
"Gasp—"
"Wouldn't that ensure Sunagakure remains aligned with us?"
"..."
Kitagawa Minamoto's suggestion left Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others wide-eyed.
This kid's first contribution to a political discussion, and he's already aiming this high?
"It's not a bad idea, but the budget..."
Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could finish, Koharu Utatane seemed intrigued, and even Homura Mitokado nodded in agreement.
"While extreme, it would benefit Konohagakure. However, the financial cost would be significant unless we forgo reparations."
"How could we forgo reparations? That's meant for compensating our ninja!"
Kitagawa Minamoto immediately shook his head, cutting them off.
"If the Wind Daimyō is too stingy, then they should consider replacing him with someone else."
"???"
"After all, they already dislike their current Daimyō. As long as the bloodline remains pure, does it really matter who holds the title?"
"..."
"I'm sure they'd be quite willing!"
"..."
The room fell into silence.
Kakashi covered his face, unwilling to look. Guy looked around in confusion.
Jiraiya leaned back against the headboard, while Tsunade rolled her eyes.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the two elders exchanged glances, a strange sense of déjà vu washing over them.
He's back.
That familiar feeling is back!
Looking at Kitagawa Minamoto, they couldn't shake the thought:
This kid... really reminds us of our teacher.
"Enough nonsense. This isn't something to take lightly."
Hiruzen Sarutobi finally broke the silence, tapping the wall rhythmically.
Immediately, the ANBU stationed outside withdrew.
"If we take such actions, it will disrupt established norms and the delicate balance of the ninja world. The consequences could be severe."
"Well, it's not like we're the ones doing it. Sunagakure would handle it themselves."
Kitagawa Minamoto shrugged, but seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's twitching eyelid, he decided to change the subject with a smile.
"Alright, let's drop this. I actually have another idea."
"Go on."
Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could respond, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado spoke in unison.
"I was thinking, should we ask Sunagakure to send over the remains of some of their deceased elite ninja?"
Kitagawa Minamoto stroked his chin, his tone uncertain. Yet his suggestion instantly made Hiruzen Sarutobi realize what he was implying.
"Wait, you're not thinking about using the Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation, are you?"
"Huh? Lord Hokage, I recall Orochimaru saying that this technique was developed by your teacher, the Second Hokage. Shouldn't it be—"
"..."
"Besides, I trust the Second Hokage created this technique with the intention of protecting Konohagakure."
"..."
"Just think about it. If their former Kage were to attack their own village, wouldn't that deal a huge blow to their morale?"
"..."
"Low morale, internal discord—it would reduce our casualties, wouldn't it?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi now regretted giving this kid the floor.
Looking at Kakashi, who was rubbing his temples, Jiraiya, who was avoiding eye contact, and Tsunade, who was frowning, he sighed deeply.
Especially when he noticed the two elders exchanging glances and nodding subtly.
He couldn't help but think, if only everyone were as straightforward as Guy...
But before he could speak, Kitagawa Minamoto interrupted again, his demeanor becoming more serious.
"Furthermore, Lord Hokage, Orochimaru already knows this technique. Who's to say he won't use it before we do?"
"!"
"If we don't act preemptively, there's no telling what Orochimaru might do."
"..."
The atmosphere in the room grew heavy, the weight of Kitagawa Minamoto's words sinking in.
What initially seemed unacceptable now felt... less unreasonable.
No one noticed Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exchanging another glance.
This Kitagawa Minamoto...
He truly is the one who most resembles our teacher.
"But perhaps... he's already surpassed him."
(End of Chapter)
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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