Chapter 86: The Attacker Brought His Own Coffin
Kakashi Hatake picked out a few of Naruto's minor issues. The Fourth Hokage's little cub was really a bit foolish. The ANBU responsible for taking care of him couldn't be called diligent, yet he still clung to those few people.
But the relationship between the Third Hokage and Danzo Shimura was such that they could argue red-faced over a Ninja Academy student, let alone a strategic weapon like the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Previously, Naruto's existence was unknown to most ninjas in the village because Hiruzen Sarutobi had sealed off information about him. However, once Danzo Shimura determined that his bid for the Jinchuriki was hopeless, he certainly wouldn't let Hiruzen Sarutobi control him either.
Naruto Uzumaki was like a landmine that could be detonated. Sooner or later, he would be detonated by the loser of the struggle between the two sides. At that time, no matter what pretext Hiruzen Sarutobi used, he couldn't deny the fact that he was trying to control the Jinchuriki.
Naruto Uzumaki could only be under the supervision of all of Konoha's higher-ups. Neither ANBU nor Root could imprison and protect the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki for fear of giving others a pretext, and similarly, they couldn't continue to raise him.
After a few sentences of idle chat, Kakashi signaled his junior to rest, leaning against a tree to take the first half of the night watch. When camping in the wild, ANBU personnel all needed to take turns on watch.
Uchiha Itachi looked at the white head of hair under the tree and sighed softly, "Senior Kakashi is actually a very warm person..."
Kitahara didn't know how to comment... It could only fall back and catch up on sleep.
This two-man ANBU squad seemed weak and outnumbered to be supporting Jiraiya. Because after Orochimaru arrived in the Land of Rice Paddies, he was bound to have new lairs and perhaps more subordinates.
But the Kakashi Hatake and Uchiha Itachi sent by Konoha were, on paper, already top-tier ANBU ninjas. If not for Uchiha Shisui needing to carry out another mission, Hiruzen Sarutobi was even tempted to test the waters with ANBU's three most presentable genius ninjas...
And among them was a Great Crow Sage...
It was impossible for Hiruzen Sarutobi to dispatch troops to the border of the Land of Rice Paddies. If he continuously tried to manipulate two small countries within a year, it would give other ninja villages a bad impression of Konoha...
Especially the Land of Rice Paddies, which had always been a contested territory among the Hidden Cloud Village, Hidden Stone Village, and Konoha, with even the Hidden Rain Village occasionally joining in. The situation was more complex compared to the Land of Grass.
To some extent, the Hidden Cloud Village, which had preserved considerable strength during the Third Shinobi World War, had become increasingly assertive in recent years after news of a perfect Jinchuriki spread.
And the Tsuchikage of the Hidden Stone Village, Onoki, had little friction with the Daimyo of the Land of Earth. He could almost completely mobilize the entire power of the Land of Earth and had never stopped stirring up trouble.
The place Orochimaru chose was simply a case of "pulling one hair moves the whole body." As one of the Sannin who had rendered meritorious service in two Shinobi World Wars, few could match him in terms of strategic perspective.
The next morning, the Black Snow squad arrived at the border outpost and saw a wretched-looking Jiraiya. He was indeed quite wretched; the old man was lying in bed writing something.
Jiraiya looked at the two appearing ANBU in surprise, "...How did you guys get here?"
"..."
Uchiha Itachi and Kakashi Hatake exchanged a look. Their ANBU disguises really seemed useless...
Jiraiya was too familiar with these two people; the bonds between them were too deep.
The white-haired ANBU who first entered the outpost could be recognized as Kakashi Hatake at a glance; the other was so small in stature, and the scary crow was still standing on his shoulder. It couldn't be anyone else but his newly accepted genius disciple.
"Lord Hokage received intelligence about Orochimaru and sent our squad to investigate." Kakashi Hatake coughed lightly. He certainly couldn't say they came because they heard he was badly beaten and needed support.
Uchiha Itachi curiously watched the old man continue to focus on writing and drawing on a stack of manuscript paper, "Teacher Jiraiya, are you writing something?"
"It's the inspiration I've gathered during this period of gathering material. I'm taking this time to organize it." After Jiraiya had almost finished writing, he casually placed it beside him, "Alright, you're just in time. Help me with something!"
He took a summoning scroll from his ninja tool pouch and handed it to Kakashi Hatake, "Help me deliver this back to the village!"
"..."
Kakashi Hatake, hearing this request out of the blue, helplessly rolled his eyes, "Lord Jiraiya, we just arrived! Don't treat ANBU like messenger ninjas!"
"The nature is about the same! Inside is all the intelligence on Orochimaru. Then you won't have a mission anymore, will you?" Jiraiya smiled foolishly, looking as if he were being quite considerate of the two.
Uchiha Itachi shook his head, "Teacher Jiraiya, did something happen that's inconvenient for us to know?"
"That's right! Truly my disciple!"
The old man gave a thumbs-up, looking as if the child was teachable...
The two ANBU of the Black Snow squad felt like hitting someone!
"Teacher, don't joke..." Uchiha Itachi pulled his arm down and said with concern, "No matter what, it's impossible to leave you here by yourself."
Jiraiya pouted, "Itachi, you're not cute at all anymore!"
You sure change your tune fast!
Seeing the two were very determined, Jiraiya could only explain, "Orochimaru won't find this place... Besides, I can defeat him!"
"..."
Uchiha Itachi looked at the gauze wrapped around Jiraiya's chest... He says that, but Teacher, you were beaten pretty badly!
Kitahara's perception suddenly felt a bizarre chakra approaching and couldn't help but call out, "Caw!"
The newcomer's speed was very fast!
The ground suddenly shook violently. It sounded like something heavy had fallen outside.
A stationed ninja rushed in, "Lord Jiraiya... Orochimaru has already found this place. Please transfer quickly!"
The White-Haired Sage's face instantly froze, "..."
"Teacher Jiraiya, let's go out and take a look first!" Uchiha Itachi shook his head and walked out first. The natural energy around him continuously gathered as he walked.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Seeing the few people who appeared in the outpost, Orochimaru's movements suddenly became fierce. Dozens of snake gods extended from his hands, instantly repelling several Konoha ninjas who had gathered around.
He turned his head to look at Uchiha Itachi, licked his lips, and chuckled, "It seems my friend has prepared a grand gift for me!"
"I didn't expect to see the owner of the Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan here..." Orochimaru's face became even more fanatical, "Uchiha Itachi, join me!"
"What Mangekyo?"
Jiraiya belatedly looked at his disciple. He hadn't yet received the feedback from the village and didn't know that news of Itachi awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan had already spread like wildfire.
"Jiraiya, I knew you wouldn't be captured without a fight!" Orochimaru licked his lips and suddenly formed hand seals, "Ninja Art: Summoning Jutsu!"
Those who thought Manda would descend looked on nervously... However, only a coffin emerged from the ground.
"Is this... preparing a burial place for himself before attacking someone?" The one eye Kakashi revealed looked at this scene in astonishment. He had never expected such a move.
Uchiha Itachi shook his head, "No! There's a very strong chakra inside!"
Orochimaru completely ignored the two who appeared, his eyes still fixed on Jiraiya.
"Last time I used the Hidden Sand Village's One-Tail Jinchuriki to defeat you. I didn't expect you to gather a Mangekyo Sharingan user who can control Tailed Beasts this time..."
Orochimaru tapped the coffin beside him, "Coincidentally, I also want to know if a reanimated person can be controlled by the Mangekyo!"
The lid of the coffin opened, revealing a shattered, bald old man!
(End of this chapter)
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