Konoha and The Hidden Sand Village are ultimately two separate villages.
Even if they are allies, they can't trust each other completely.
What's more, there's something off about that little guy Akihara Kagura's mind. He might actually dare to do something as drastic as proposing to incapacitate the Jinchuriki of The Hidden Sand Village right in front of him.
"Jiraiya-sensei."
Akihara Kagura glanced at Rasa's back and shared his insight: "The Fourth Kazekage seemed to dislike us just now. It seems that ninjas can never understand each other, even if someone is telling the truth. Others will still hate him."
"..."
Jiraiya felt that this example was a bit off.
Because no matter which ninja from The Hidden Sand Village heard the blunt truths Akihara Kagura was speaking, they probably couldn't accept such a notion of destroying trust in the Jinchuriki and the Tailed Beasts, right?
"We might have to leave."
Jiraiya reached out to pat Akihara Kagura's head: "But your experiment was quite successful. At least the Jinchuriki and the Tailed Beasts have a common enemy they hate together. They will become united in standing against the enemy, gradually deepening their bond in the process..."
This is indeed the right approach.
Whether it's cultivating the relationship between the Tailed Beasts and their Jinchuriki or among ninjas, this method can be applied to foster relationships.
The only problem is…
Where should a common enemy come from?
Jiraiya's mind began to wander a bit, pondering that if the Five Great Ninja Villages had a common enemy so strong that they had to join forces to fight against it, perhaps it could bring these villages closer together…
But…
How could that be possible?
Jiraiya could only suppress this naive thought. How could such an enemy appear in the Ninja World that would require the cooperation of all Five Great Ninja Villages to contend with?
Today's events clearly displease Rasa.
Fourth Kazekage Rasa decided to use Shukaku's unwillingness to show up as an excuse to refuse any more contact between Akihara Kagura and Gaara, to avoid any issues with their Jinchuriki.
By chance.
Shukaku indeed didn't want to come out.
Akihara Kagura immediately lost interest in staying in The Hidden Sand Village any longer.
Jiraiya wanted to stay in The Hidden Sand Village to wait for Orochimaru, but Fourth Kazekage Rasa clearly showed signs of wanting them to leave. Helpless, Jiraiya had to inform him that the assassin was highly likely an S-Class Traitorous Ninja from Konoha, Orochimaru.
However…
This Fourth Kazekage clearly didn't care.
Conveniently, Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, upon hearing that Jiraiya and Akihara Kagura were in The Hidden Sand Village, sent an envoy to visit, commanding Akihara Kagura to return to Konoha.
Jiraiya could only follow his teacher's orders, bringing Akihara Kagura back to Konoha, ending this two-year training journey.
Before leaving.
Akihara Kagura happened to be noticed by Orochimaru.
Akihara Kagura happened to have a chance to settle a task.
[System Tip]: [Task: Have Jiraiya investigate the Akatsuki Organization's intel, to prevent Orochimaru's lab from being burned by Jiraiya again, task completed, reward Five Elements Seal!]
[Five Elements Seal (A type of Fuinjutsu, gathers Chakra at the fingertips, using metal, wood, water, fire, earth to seal demons, capable of sealing Tailed Beast Chakra leakage!)]
However.
Things took an unexpected turn.
When Orochimaru saw Akihara Kagura, his smile grew more sinister: "Returning to Konoha? Kagura, I'm about to proceed with the Immortal Rebirth..."
Yes.
The three years' period was up.
Orochimaru could proceed with the next Immortal Rebirth.
This was an unavoidable topic between Akihara Kagura and Orochimaru, as Orochimaru had always coveted Akihara Kagura's body.
As Akihara Kagura grew stronger, Orochimaru's desire for Akihara Kagura's body increased, waiting eagerly!
A body that contained several Kekkeigenkai and had mastered strong techniques like the Flying Thunder God Jutsu, was something even a genius like Orochimaru couldn't easily obtain!
"When will it begin?"
Akihara Kagura frowned slightly, speaking softly: "I want to go back and arrange some things first, at least to meet others..."
"I thought you would refuse!"
Orochimaru's smile widened, nodding as he spoke: "No problem, this saves us a lot of trouble. Once I obtain your body, once we become one, I will take good care of Kabuto and Nonou for you..."
This was both a promise and a threat.
If Akihara Kagura didn't agree to the Immortal Rebirth, didn't hand over his body to Orochimaru, Orochimaru wouldn't hesitate to use Yakushi Kabuto and Yakushi Nonou to threaten him.
"I'll be leaving then."
Just as Orochimaru was about to say something more, he glimpsed the silhouette of Red Sand Sasori, knowing that Sasori had been watching him.
Now that Sasori appeared to be tracking him, Orochimaru didn't want to risk revealing anything by continuing his conversation with Akihara Kagura, so he swiftly disappeared from sight.
Once Orochimaru left, the puppet of Red Sand Sasori, Hiruko, slowly crawled to Akihara Kagura's side, asking: "Orochimaru is supposed to be a smart man, right?"
"Even a smart man can be blinded by enormous benefits."
Akihara Kagura shook his head and softly instructed: "Asura Path, find something for him to do, keep him from always thinking about getting my body..."
Red Sand Sasori nodded, agreeing, then reminded: "During this time, Orochimaru has been researching a Kinjutsu that might pose a threat to you."
"Investigate if possible."
Akihara Kagura didn't care much, continuing: "Once he completes his research, he's likely to leave the Akatsuki Organization. Create as much trouble for him as possible... I need to head back to Konoha to settle some matters and prepare a little surprise for him, so he won't always think he's so powerful."
"Understood."
Red Sand Sasori had no objections.
Outside The Hidden Sand Village.
Jiraiya and Akihara Kagura left the area.
Fourth Kazekage Rasa came to see them off proactively to avoid them lingering any longer in The Hidden Sand Village. Akihara Kagura had already helped him, and he didn't need them to further trouble his village.
"Let's go."
Jiraiya helped his student put on a sand protection hat, noticing his disciple had grown taller since leaving Konoha: "Kagura, you've grown quite a bit..."
"Not really."
Akihara Kagura adjusted his hat.
Since leaving Konoha with Jiraiya, Akihara Kagura had been training outside for nearly two years; this year, he turned thirteen.
This age isn't really old.
In peaceful times, at this age, many kids would have just graduated from the Ninja Academy for one year and possibly still wouldn't pass the Chunin exams.
However.
Some geniuses have already attained high positions.
For example, one of Akihara Kagura's peers, a Uchiha clan genius, Uchiha Itachi, who is also thirteen this year, directly receives orders from Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo, tasked with gathering intelligence on the Uchiha clan.
Late at night.
Uchiha Itachi left the Uchiha clan district.
This well-known genius of the Uchiha clan quietly entered the Hokage Tower, kneeling on one knee in front of a group of Konoha high-ranking officials, and lowly reported on the clan's activities: "The Uchiha clan is organizing military supplies, gathering all Uchiha ninjas..."
"They intend to rebel."
Shimura Danzo coldly defined the Uchiha clan's actions.
"It's not the final moment yet."
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head, not wanting to hastily label the Uchiha clan with this crime, proactively stating: "I have already sent someone to bring Jiraiya and that child Kagura back. Once the Uchiha clan hears about Kagura's return, they shouldn't have any other plans..."
"..."
Uchiha Itachi kept his head low in silence.
If he had to speak his thoughts, it was that his father, Uchiha Fugaku, first had suspicions because his son had offended the potential future high-ranking official of Konoha, Akihara Kagura...
Uchiha Fugaku had some political acumen and, upon hearing Akihara Kagura was taken in as a disciple by Jiraiya, immediately understood Kagura's potential future status, gradually becoming more lenient toward those radical factions within the clan...
"..."
The return of Akihara Kagura...
Could further exacerbate the conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha.
Uchiha Itachi knelt silently in front of these high-ranking officials of Konoha, his head lowered, refraining from voicing this opinion lest they become suspicious of him.
After all...
Akihara Kagura and Jiraiya are both significant powerhouses of Konoha.
If the Uchiha clan genuinely intended to rebel, these two would be the essential forces needed to quell the Uchiha uprising.