Biwa Jūzū absentmindedly ran his fingers along the cold metal back of the interrogation chair, eyes flicking from Jiraiya… to Uchiha Chizumi… then to that weird ninja cat on the floor.
Damn…
Why did it feel like Chizumi was the real Akatsuki member here—while he was just some extra nobody?
His jaw tightened.
He was technically part of Akatsuki, yet this guy knew more than he did. And that bitter feeling of inferiority started creeping in.
What was worse? He couldn't even leverage any of the basic intel he did know to get something out of Chizumi. Before he realized it, he'd already overheard way too much—stuff that could get him killed if he walked out of this room.
And then—
Chizumi looked directly at him.
The Lava Release monster spoke again, but didn't ask for anything in return. No exchange, no bargain.
He skipped straight past Konan and Nagato like they didn't matter, cutting to the heart of the matter in his usual cold, no-nonsense voice:
"The 'Uchiha Madara' inside Akatsuki? He's not the real one. The real Madara died a long time ago."
Just like he had no obligation to protect Konan or Nagato's secrets, Chizumi had zero intention of covering for Uchiha Obito.
He said it flat-out, like it was casual gossip:
"The one calling himself Madara is actually Uchiha Obito. A criminal of the worst kind—someone who needs to be wiped off the face of the world in the name of justice."
"He's just hiding behind Madara's name to work with Nagato and Konan. Or more accurately, he's manipulating them to use Akatsuki as a tool for his own goals."
The ninja cat, Jujirō, added helpfully:
"Meow, that cowardly rat Obito has some weird Mangekyō Sharingan technique that lets him phase through stuff—nobody can touch him."
"Chizumi-sama called it totally busted. Meow, what was it called again…?"
"Kamui phasing?!"
Jūzō froze.
So that "Madara" Konan mentioned... was a complete fake?
She'd been played by Obito too?
Wait—no. She probably had suspicions, just didn't have proof. That's why she sent him to Konoha to squeeze the truth out of Chizumi.
Everything clicked.
And with that realization came something even worse: he'd now heard way too many secrets.
If word of this got out, not only would Konan drop him in a heartbeat, Obito would 100% try to silence him.
Chizumi kept going, like it was no big deal:
"Yeah, it's an annoying power, but not invincible. The phasing only lasts five minutes. After that, there's a cooldown. How long the cooldown is? Still unknown."
Jūzō sucked in a breath, eyes narrowing.
"You're just… giving this all away? No trade? Nothing?"
Was this guy being generous?
Or trying to get him killed?
"To me," Chizumi said flatly, "this isn't some secret intel. It's just basic information on a criminal who needs to be executed. When the police issue a wanted poster, do they leave out the criminal's details?"
"If anything," he added, "they want those details shouted from the rooftops so everyone knows what they're up against."
Jūzō opened his mouth, then shut it.
His thoughts didn't run on the same frequency as Chizumi's. The guy was operating on an entirely different level.
Jūzō was still thinking like a shinobi.
Chizumi? He was something else entirely.
"Uchiha Obito…" Jiraiya mumbled. The name tugged at his memory, and then—boom—recognition hit.
"That was one of Minato's students! Same class as Kakashi!"
Chizumi glanced at him, expression unreadable.
"Jiraiya. Your first 'Child of Prophecy' is now hellbent on making the world feel pain."
"Your second one? His student—Obito—is now one of the most dangerous men alive. Right up there with Orochimaru and Danzo."
"And now you're looking for a third? Makes me wonder if you're just creating villains."
"Honestly, maybe you're the real curse here. Maybe that cat was right to call you out."
Jiraiya: "…"
He didn't even have a comeback. For the first time in a while, he was completely lost.
…
Elsewhere, in Konoha
"A Rain envoy? The rogue Mist swordsman Biwa Jūzū?"
Fugaku blinked when Anbu delivered the Hokage's order.
The Anbu clarified:
"He's likely joined Amegakure and works for them now. But because he holds envoy status, the Hokage wants him released immediately."
Fugaku nodded, finally understanding.
"Got it."
He stood slowly, keeping his face neutral—but inside, he felt relief.
If the Hokage still relied on the Uchiha Police Force, it meant they were still seen as useful. And as long as they were useful, the village council wouldn't push them toward extinction.
That kind of delicate balance was exactly what Fugaku had been fighting for all along.
He raced down to the underground interrogation room, fearing he'd arrive just in time to find Jūzō's corpse.
But when he arrived—no one was there.
"Chizumi already let him go?"
Fugaku was genuinely surprised.
…
Outside, not far from the HQ
Jūzō slung his massive blade over his shoulder, still reeling.
"So the big question now... is it even smart to give this intel to her?"
"This mission? Total setup. She definitely sent me out here knowing I'd get on Obito's bad side."
And yeah—Obito was going to be pissed.
Lost in thought, Jūzō didn't notice the grotesque White Zetsu clone hidden up in the branches, suppressing its presence to practically nothing.
Zetsu watched as Jūzō walked out of the Police HQ.
"He's alive. That must mean he and Chizumi exchanged intel… probably stuff he was never meant to know."
It transmitted the data—
—but then heard the faint sound of shifting leaves.
It turned—just in time for a hand to crush its throat and twist its head a full 360 degrees.
That hand morphed into molten lava.
The clone was vaporized in a blink.
"Too many rats lately."
Chizumi dropped from the branch, deadpan.
Jujirō landed beside him.
"Another one of those weird white creatures, meow. Last time I saw one was near the cemetery—probably linked to Obito too."
"Chizumi-sama, you think Obito's hiding somewhere in Konoha again? Maybe even inside the village?"
"That thing was tailing Jūzō," Chizumi replied. "Most likely, Obito's got his eyes on him now."
"If Konan tried getting intel out of me, Obito probably figured it out before she even made the move."
Jujirō frowned.
"He's trying to keep his secrets from the rest of Akatsuki. Meow, is he planning to kill Jūzō?"
"Exactly," Chizumi said, voice like ice. "Letting him go? That was bait."
…
Meanwhile, elsewhere
"Obito. New intel," said Zetsu, trailing behind. "Jūzō was arrested by the Uchiha Police. Chizumi showed up. They almost certainly talked."
"Half an hour later, Jūzō walked out unharmed. He probably got intel—on you… and on me."
Zetsu hesitated.
"If Chizumi knows that much about you… could he know about me too?"
No way. Not even Madara figured that out. There's no chance some younger Uchiha could.
"Tch." Obito growled.
"If he knows what he shouldn't… then he doesn't leave alive."
Zetsu chimed in:
"Even if you kill him, he might've already passed the info to Konan. Through his ring, or some summon."
Obito narrowed his eyes.
"Shut up."
"You're just Madara's leftover will. He told you to help me, not to backseat everything I do."
Zetsu smirked but held his tongue.
If Madara had lived longer, we wouldn't need you…
But he didn't say it.
…
Mount Myōboku
A puff of smoke. Boom.
Jiraiya appeared in the heart of Mount Myōboku, summoned again by the toads.
He marched straight toward the ancient stone temple, burden written all over his face.
Inside, candlelight flickered. The massive Great Toad Sage sat motionless, eyes half-lidded, like he was just waking from a heavy nap.
"Who goes there?"
Jiraiya twitched.
"It's me…"
"Ah, Jiraiya…" the toad's voice came like it was underwater. "Still chasing answers? This time… it's about that Chizumi kid again, isn't it?"
Jiraiya clenched his fists, voice tight.
"Great Sage. I've learned… Nagato is still alive."
"The child I once believed in—he founded Akatsuki. He's leading with the slogan 'Make The World Feel Pain.'"
"He wants to rule through fear."
Jiraiya spilled everything he had learned from Chizumi. Fukasaku and Shima landed beside him silently.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then, for the first time in his life, Jiraiya asked:
"Great Sage… is the Child of Prophecy really the answer to peace? Everything I've done—it hasn't helped. Maybe I ruined Nagato."
"Am I even qualified to teach the real child?"
The Sage's ancient eyes finally moved.
"Jiraiya. As I've said… the Child of Prophecy will bring either great peace—or great destruction. The outcome depends on the child's choice."
Jiraiya froze.
"So… Nagato chose destruction?"
"Seems so," the Sage replied. "But Chizumi said the real child is by his side. That means Nagato was never the one."
"You planted the wrong seed. And when the storm hit… it bent in the wrong direction."
"He wasn't the real one. But fate gave him a test meant for the real child, and he failed. That's not your fault."
"What you need to do now isn't dwell in guilt. You need to find the real one. Show them the right path—and let Nagato see that his path wasn't the only future."
The Sage coughed, throat dry.
Jiraiya exhaled, the weight lifting from his shoulders.
"I'll find him. If he's in Konoha—if he's near Chizumi—I'll find him soon."
He turned to leave.
"Wait."
The Sage's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Fukasaku. Shima. Go with him. Meet this Chizumi child. Look into his eyes. See if they truly see further than my dreams."
"And help Jiraiya find the one—who can save the shinobi world."
The elder toads nodded.
"Yes, Elder."
~~~
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