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Chapter 68 - Chapter 70

The Kazekage was coming to Konoha to oversee the Chūnin Exams.

Although Sunagakure and Konoha were allies, the Kazekage's personal presence at the exams served another purpose—it projected their bond as an unshakable alliance to the other shinobi villages.

A quiet warning.

A subtle deterrent.

But the Third Hokage did not believe that was the only reason for the Kazekage's arrival.

There must be another motive… Kazekage…

As Hiruzen pondered, a sudden knock came from the window.

The Third turned, and his eyes widened slightly.

A red toad stood on the sill.

Two Anbu instantly appeared at his side, their sharp eyes narrowing at the creature, silently demanding an explanation.

An uneasy premonition stirred in Hiruzen's chest.

He gestured with his pipe hand, signaling them inside.

The red toad hopped through the window, followed closely by the two masked shinobi.

The moment Hiruzen saw its anxious expression, his heart sank.

This was Kosuke, the messenger toad of Mount Myōboku—the liaison between the Great Toad Elders and Konoha.

He rarely appeared before the Hokage unless the matter was of grave importance.

If he had come in person… something had happened.

"What is it?" Hiruzen asked, his tone heavy.

Kosuke shifted uneasily, his throat trembling.

"Third Hokage… Lord Jiraiya… he… he may be in danger."

"In danger?"

The two Anbu exchanged startled glances, their gazes hardening on the toad. Was this some kind of joke?

That was Jiraiya of the Sannin—a ninja with strength rivaling a Kage. What kind of danger could threaten him?

Even Sarutobi found the claim hard to accept.

Jiraiya was not only his disciple, but one of Konoha's legendary Sannin.

A man whose strength had long since surpassed his own aging body.

Outside of the Kage themselves, who in the shinobi world could possibly endanger Jiraiya?

"Was it the Tsuchikage? Or the Raikage?" Hiruzen pressed.

Kirigakure's Fourth Mizukage had yet to recover from the civil strife; they had neither the stability nor the reach to move against Konoha.

"…No." Kosuke shook his head. "I don't know."

"You don't even know the enemy?" Hiruzen's brows furrowed. "Then where is Jiraiya now?"

"…I don't know that either."

The vague answers only deepened the heaviness in the Hokage's chest. His expression darkened.

Kosuke hesitated, then added, voice breaking:

"Master Fukasaku attempted a reverse summoning… but it failed. That can only mean one of two things—Lord Jiraiya has been sealed with some forbidden technique… or… he's… gone."

The words lodged in his throat.

But Hiruzen understood.

Both possibilities were dire.

For Jiraiya to be trapped… or killed… the only shinobi Hiruzen could imagine capable of it were the Raikage or the Tsuchikage themselves.

Jiraiya only just returned to Konoha. He couldn't have gone far. That means the enemy must be in the Land of Fire. If he's fighting now… then the situation is critical.

A chilling thought crossed his mind.

Could it be… the Kazekage?

He had just received news that the Kazekage would attend the Chūnin Exams.

If his suspicions were true, the man's visit was not to strengthen an alliance or spectate an exam.

Perhaps Jiraiya had uncovered something—and clashed with the Kazekage himself. If that were the case, then he would not have come alone.

Hiruzen's mind raced through every possibility.

"Third Hokage," Kosuke continued urgently, "Lord Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta. But now… Bunta is gravely wounded, barely clinging to life. Fukasaku-sama and Shima-sama are tending to him even now. Once he recovers, we will know more."

Hiruzen's breath caught.

Gamabunta—chief toad of Mount Myōboku. He had seen the great beast before; its power rivaled the mightiest of shinobi. Stronger than most Jōnin by far.

And yet… it had been beaten to the brink of death.

Normally, a summoning beast could release its contract and retreat to Myōboku the moment it was in danger. But if even that had failed… the foe must have been overwhelming.

Kosuke's voice shook:

"Bunta was struck by an unbelievably powerful Fire Release. Fukasaku-sama said the flames carried a force beyond even A-rank ninjutsu. Its destruction was… unnatural."

"Fire Release…?"

Hiruzen inhaled sharply.

To wound Gamabunta with a single jutsu…

The two Anbu stared in disbelief, as if listening to a fable.

A great Summoning Beast brought down by fire alone? Impossible.

But the toad's words left little room for doubt.

That was Jiraiya of the Sannin—the "Toad Sage," one of Konoha's proudest heroes. A shinobi with Kage-level strength and the full support of Mount Myōboku's contract beasts.

For such a man to be cornered, for even his summons to be incapacitated—what kind of enemy could this be?

Kosuke bowed low.

"This is all we know. But it is clear the enemy wields an overwhelming Fire Release. Jiraiya-sama cannot be located by summoning… which means he has likely been captured. Or killed."

The last word lingered like a curse.

Kosuke lifted his head, his gaze grave.

"Third Hokage, please—use all of Konoha's resources to find Lord Jiraiya. We of Mount Myōboku will rouse Bunta and learn everything we can from him. The moment we have word, we will contact you."

"…I understand."

Hiruzen nodded solemnly. "The moment I learn anything, I will send word to Myōboku."

With a puff of smoke, Kosuke vanished.

The office fell into tense silence.

The two Anbu turned to their Hokage.

"Lord Third… do you truly think Jiraiya-sama could be in danger?"

Even they found it impossible to believe.

Jiraiya, one of the Sannin—the man famed as the "Gallant Jiraiya," feared and respected across the shinobi world.

Surely no opponent could defeat him outright. At the very least… he could always escape.

Could there truly exist an enemy so powerful that even Jiraiya of the Sannin had no path to retreat?

The thought alone was terrifying.

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