The Next Day
Kakashi looked at the mission request submitted by Hayama Shiragumo and, without hesitation, pressed his seal of approval for them to leave the village.
Over the past few years, due to the Land of Fire's massive construction of steel warships, the Ancor Vantian, and various land-based armaments, it had become necessary to clear out the bandits, highwaymen, and rogue ninja within the country's borders.
After five years, the public security within the Land of Fire had leaped forward at a rapid pace, making it the safest nation in the shinobi world.
The rogue ninja who had originally resided in the Land of Fire had fled one after another, running rampant in the surrounding smaller nations. This forced those countries to send mission requests to Konohagakure to deal with the dark forces terrorizing their lands.
Hayama Shiragumo had taken Team 7 to handle just such a mission.
The location was… the Land of Waves.
The petitioner was an old man named Tazuna.
Kakashi took only a single glance before losing interest. He was already familiar with this plotline; it was nothing more than Zabuza Momochi plus an Ice Style Kekkei Genkai.
If Hayama Shiragumo was willing, he could bring the two of them back to Konoha. If he didn't want to go through the trouble, he could just kill them.
Kakashi wouldn't say a word either way.
Rather than wasting his mental energy on such trivial matters, it was better to focus on his own affairs.
Currently, Shizune was in charge of the Chunin Exams, so Kakashi felt relatively at ease. Within the village, there was also the Police Force led by Itachi Uchiha, so there was no need to worry about security during the exam period.
Kakashi simply tossed his pen aside, and his entire being vanished from the spot.
When he reappeared, he had arrived at the training ground behind the Hokage Rock.
In these five years, the changes in Konoha had been occurring daily, already reaching the level of the Konoha seen in the Boruto era. However, this place alone remained unchanged.
Kakashi liked to stay here by himself whenever he was idle or practicing.
Today, however, there was an extra figure here.
"What are you doing here?"
Kakashi looked at Jiraiya, who was sitting by the lake fishing, with a hint of surprise.
"This place was originally built by me for Minato, wasn't it? Why shouldn't I be here?"
Jiraiya held his fishing rod and glanced sideways at Kakashi.
"Did you eat gunpowder today or something?"
Kakashi found it somewhat baffling. At that moment, Jiraiya's float bobbed. He gave the rod a sudden, sharp tug.
Empty.
"I'm telling you, it's been five years."
"Do you know how I've lived these past five years!"
Jiraiya irritably tossed his fishing rod aside and walked forward quickly, glaring at Kakashi with suppressed rage.
"In these five years, every time I wanted to leave the village, you hauled me right back!"
Seeing Jiraiya's attitude, Kakashi roughly understood what was bothering him. It ultimately came down to the prophecy from back then.
Jiraiya had never given up his resolve to find Nagato.
"Three years. In three years, you can go wherever you like."
Kakashi gave Jiraiya his word.
Three years. By then, the "yellow flowers would be withered" [meaning it would be too late for the original plot to matter]. Jiraiya could go wherever he pleased.
"Three years?"
Jiraiya furrowed his brows as he looked at Kakashi. Three years wasn't a long time, but it wasn't short either.
"What if you stand me up again?"
Jiraiya didn't quite believe Kakashi would be so kind. Previously, the man had been absolutely adamant about not letting him leave; now, he was suddenly taking a step back.
"If I stand you up, I'll act as a matchmaker for you and Tsunade."
Kakashi's words were so unexpected that they made the corner of Jiraiya's mouth twitch.
Matchmaking for him and Tsunade? He'd be a fool to believe that.
"Fine, three years it is."
"By the way, the Kazekage and Raikage are coming soon. What do you plan to do?"
Jiraiya returned to his seat and picked up his fishing rod again.
Kakashi followed suit and sat down beside Jiraiya, watching him cast the hook back into the water.
"You've always known my goal."
Hearing Kakashi's words, the hand Jiraiya used to hold the rod paused slightly.
As expected...
This Chunin Exam was the opportunity for Kakashi to reveal the ambitions in his heart.
"And the Kazekage and Raikage?"
A cold smirk tugged at the corner of Kakashi's mouth.
"If they know what's good for them, then so be it. Unfortunately, from Rasa's current performance, it seems he has made a slight miscalculation regarding the gap between his power and mine."
Jiraiya fell silent.
Which meant...
Konoha would be the Kazekage's burial ground!
Jiraiya fully believed that if the Raikage didn't know his place, Kakashi wouldn't mind sending him along on that journey as well.
But...
If both the Kazekage and Raikage died in Konoha during the Chunin Exams, Sunagakure and Kumogakure would instantly become natural allies.
And that old fox, the Third Tsuchikage Ohnoki, would certainly not let the opportunity slip by. He would immediately raise his troops to respond to the Cloud and the Sand.
Only Kirigakure, separated by the sea, remained an uncertainty.
But if the Stone, Sand, and Cloud villages joined forces to wage war against Konoha, Kirigakure would definitely not miss the chance to kick a man while he was down.
When that time came, it would all depend on whether Kakashi could hold the line.
If he could withstand the combined siege of the four villages, then the grand design would be set. If he couldn't...
Jiraiya couldn't help but recall the prophecy the Great Toad Sage had given Kakashi.
Kakashi would bring a change of unknown direction to the shinobi world. No one would be able to stay out of it—not even Mount Myoboku.
Jiraiya felt a sense of melancholy. If it really comes to that, what role will Mount Myoboku play?
"Are you certain of success?" Jiraiya asked in a heavy voice.
"If I wasn't certain, I wouldn't be doing this."
A cold glint flashed in Kakashi's eyes. It was exactly as Jiraiya thought. Konoha would be the burial ground for the Kazekage.
As for the Raikage?
Kakashi knew those people from the Cloud Village all too well.
They fear power, but they do not respect virtue.
If you treat them well and regard them as comrades, they look down on you instead. But if you have enough power to intimidate them, they become as obedient as a lapdog wagging its tail for scraps.
Look at them now. Because that great war nine years ago hurt them so badly, the Raikage is forced to come here in person specifically to explain the current number of Cloud ninja to me, isn't he?
That was the Cloud Village.
"If you're certain, then that's for the best."
Jiraiya nodded slightly. Since Kakashi was the Hokage, it wasn't his place to say much about his actions. He could only offer his own strength for the sake of Konoha.
Just then, Jiraiya's hook was pulled up again.
It was still empty.
"With skills like that, you'd be better off going to the street and just buying two fish."
"It's painful to watch."
Looking at that empty hook, Kakashi criticized him expressionlessly.
"You brat, I'm still your grand-master! Can't you show me some respect?"
Jiraiya felt like he was losing face and tried to use his status to his advantage.
"Alright, Lord Grand-master. Do you want me to send someone underwater to hang a fish on your hook for you?"
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