Having said that to Jiraiya, Naruto had his own ideas. Although his current strength had reached the ceiling of the ninja world, he knew it was inevitable that he couldn't do everything alone, which was difficult to achieve solo.
He needed help, and Jiraiya was just the first step!
"We'll discuss the rest later, but for now, there's one thing!" Naruto spoke bluntly, as if giving an order: "You must thoroughly investigate the Shell Organization!"
Despite Naruto's foresight and systematic capabilities, finding the Shell Organization before it emerged would be a pipe dream. However, Jiraiya was different. His intelligence was top-notch, possibly surpassing even Black Zetsu.
"Shell..." Jiraiya pondered briefly before nodding and declaring, "Indeed, it's a top priority. I'll take over this task."
In Naruto's perspective, he could defeat Ōtsutsuki in one move, but that victory was partly due to luck. If the same scenario played out again, the outcome might not be the same. Hence, it's imperative to eliminate them before they can act.
When compared to the Akatsuki Organization, Uchiha Madara, and Infinite Tsukuyomi, these issues paled in significance.
"But this is a long-term mission," Naruto warned, his tone filled with concern, "so don't rush. Your safety is the priority in everything."
Original story: Jiraiya had already suffered a tragic death, and he didn't wish for it to happen again. It was also for his personal reasons.
Jiraiya felt the weight of Naruto's concern and chuckled, saying, "According to the original plot, the Jiraiya Hero Story ended in failure. The only upside was leaving a legacy."
"But this time is different. Since I know the future is so grand, I won't rest in peace if I don't survive to see it."
"So, don't worry, I won't die that easily. I still want to witness the moment you fulfill my dream."
His dream was for peace in the shinobi world, an end to wars everywhere.
Based on what Naruto had previously described, even though the future ninja world appeared peaceful on the surface, undercurrents still lurked beneath. It was similar to the period when the First Hokage was alive; everyone remained dormant because of his overwhelming power.
Technological advancements in the ninja world never ceased, as evidenced by Onoki from the Earth Kingdom, who used the roots of the sacred tree to create numerous artificial humans.
The careerists of the Land of Water attempted a coup to regain power, and even Mizukage almost fell to a few children.
Gaara of the Sand Kingdom was the only one who remained honest, leaving Sunagakure at the bottom of the five great nations.
Under such circumstances, it's easy to envision that once Naruto and his peers stepped down, the ninja world would revert to its original state, possibly becoming even more chaotic.
Of course, this was all contingent on the Ōtsutsuki threat being eradicated; otherwise, it was all just wishful thinking.
Naruto didn't reveal to Jiraiya his plans for eliminating these dangers.
But Jiraiya could sense that Naruto had something in mind. This time, the conclusion was drawn from experience rather than the naive hope of people understanding each other and waiting for miracles to happen.
Naruto smiled slightly and said, "Then, stay in Konoha for a bit, probably around two months."
"What's going on?" Jiraiya was surprised.
Two months later, that would be almost the time when he would have taken Naruto for training in the original timeline.
Naruto elaborated, "There are a few people who may show up in Konoha around then."
After their conversation, night had fallen. The two ate a simple meal outside before parting ways.
[Ding! Complete the hidden mission: Recruit Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, and take him under your wing!]
[Reward: Fire Style Grandmaster!]
On his way home, Naruto suddenly received a system notification. After being momentarily stunned, he was somewhat surprised.
The triggered task had not appeared, yet a hidden task was completed first?
The Fire Style Jutsu Grandmaster allowed him to learn all known Fire Style Ninjutsu instantly, all at Madara's level. Although this ability could be considered merely the icing on the cake and didn't significantly enhance his maximum strength, it was still an unexpected delight.
With the Fire Style techniques, at least cooking would be more efficient.
"But surely, there must be achievements for the second Sannin, the third Sannin, and even collecting all Sannin, right?"
Naruto raised an eyebrow, likely hatching an idea. Having Jiraiya join the Shell Organization was just a contingency plan, a secret planted for the future.
However, in the long period leading up to the Fourth Ninja War, there was no way for Naruto to remain idle.
His first step in the plan was related to the system's first rule.
To ensure that Orochimaru's scheme to destroy Konoha proceeds as expected, the Third Hokage must die!
Naruto had already informed Jiraiya about the plan to collapse Konoha, as it was something that couldn't be kept hidden.
If he didn't reveal it in advance, when it occurred, Jiraiya might question him and hold a grudge.
After Naruto finished speaking, he also presented his plan to Jiraiya. Although Jiraiya did not fully agree with Naruto's approach, which was against his own style and principles, he was silenced by Naruto's persuasion and the consideration of future consequences.
Upon arriving home, Naruto found someone waiting for him. A black-haired boy, showing signs of cultivation all over his body, sat dejectedly in front of his house.
"Second hobo?" Naruto was both surprised and amused. The surprise stemmed from the fact that this was the house arranged for him by the Third Hokage. For Sasuke to find this place, he must have invested significant time in investigating it.
The amusement arose from Sasuke's current state: sitting with a cigarette between his lips, he looked like he was about to become a meme.
"Naruto?" Sasuke looked up, a flicker of happiness in his eyes.
But as he stood, his legs, numb from squatting for too long, almost gave way beneath him. Typically concerned with his image, Sasuke ignored this and glared with a blackened expression.
"What did you just call me?"
"Huh? Did I say anything?" Naruto responded with feigned innocence. "What are you doing squatting here? Did you want to follow the fool?"
Sasuke's face turned beet-red as he held in his embarrassment. He had come to confirm the rumors about the Seventh Hokage's intentions, and after not finding the old house, he had spent quite some time searching before finally locating this one.
Naruto's relocation to a new home reinforced the authenticity of the rumors, making Sasuke eager to confront him. But Naruto's casual remark shattered all of Sasuke's preconceived notions.
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