Early the next morning, shocking news spread through Konoha—
Nawaki, grandson of the First Hokage, heir of the Senju clan, and a Special Jōnin of the village, had gone missing.
Inside the conference room, plans for the capture of the Surgeon were already underway.
"Based on current intelligence,"
"the target may be connected to Jiraiya's former students."
"Should we cooperate directly with Amegakure for the arrest?"
As the Third Hokage finished speaking, Tsunade turned her gaze toward Jiraiya, who lowered his head in shame.
Fresh from the laboratory, Orochimaru sighed internally upon hearing of his disciple's disappearance.
More frustrating was the fact that no hair, blood, or biological traces belonging to the Surgeon had been found at the scene.
"The Uchiha clan will commit fully," Uchiha Mikoto stated.
"The Hyūga clan as well," said Hiashi, now a jōnin in his early twenties.
"The Uzuhara branch clans as well," added a far more mature-looking Uzumaki Makoto.
"The Shimura clan too," said a middle-aged Shimura jōnin.
One clan after another declared their stance.
In the end, an S-rank missing-nin bounty was officially issued for the Surgeon.
"No matter how powerful the enemy is,"
"Konoha will not allow anyone to harm our comrades without consequence!"
"From this moment on, a long-term intelligence mission is issued. Any sighting of the Surgeon is to be reported immediately."
"Shikaji, notify the Mission Office."
"Yes!" Nara Shikaji replied and left the room.
The Third Hokage then turned to Orochimaru and Jiraiya.
"Orochimaru. You three will handle the Rain Country investigation."
Orochimaru frowned slightly.
The Nawaki he liked was the eternally innocent boy from before—not the man he had become.
"I understand, Sensei."
The Third Hokage noticed Orochimaru's reluctance, recalling recent reports of his closeness with Danzō.
He could tell—Orochimaru had already changed.
"As for you, Jiraiya," the Hokage continued.
"Yes, Sensei," Jiraiya answered firmly.
He needed answers—from Nagato, from the others.
If they truly stood against Konoha…
"Then this meeting is adjourned."
"We'll first inform Amegakure officially, then proceed."
After all, this was peacetime.
Sending three jōnin into another country required proper notice.
Meanwhile, after abducting Nawaki under cover of night, Kaito avoided all Konoha patrols and returned to the Rain Country in just over a day.
In less than two days, Nawaki had gone from respected Konoha Special Jōnin to a captive.
Bound with rope and sealed, he was tossed into a room.
Kaito had tested sealing techniques on him the entire way back.
Now, Nawaki's stamina and chakra could be suppressed for extended periods.
"Director? Why did you bring a man back in the middle of the night?!"
"…?"
"A man?? Director has a man?!"
"???"
"Director really brought a man home—Honglian, look at your teacher!!"
"???"
Kaito's face darkened.
Nawaki was awake—just powerless.
Hearing the children's voices, his eyes trembled, tears silently streaming down his face.
It's over…
So he likes men…
That's why he kidnapped me instead of my sister…
Outside, thunder roared as rain poured down.
Kaito stood at the doorway, terrifyingly calm.
"Please… don't like me!!!"
Nawaki nearly wet himself in fear.
"Idiot," Kaito said flatly.
Honglian poked her head out from Konan's bed.
"Idiot. Teacher doesn't like men. Teacher likes me the most."
"..."
Konan glanced at Honglian's small frame.
That's somehow worse.
Kaito tossed Nawaki a blanket and left him in the corner.
The next morning, while brushing his teeth, Yahiko heard a weak voice.
"Hey… little brother… loosen the rope… I need to pee."
Yahiko spat foam.
"Don't ask me. I don't have the authority."
"If I pee here, won't your room stink?" Nawaki threatened.
"How old are you?" Yahiko rolled his eyes.
"Go ahead. We're moving soon anyway."
Seeing that tactic fail, Nawaki cried for help toward Nagato and Konan.
Ignored.
Kaito opened his eyes from the wall.
"Stop yelling."
Slash.
A slime kunai cut the rope.
Starved, chakra-sealed, and exhausted, Nawaki behaved.
After relieving himself, he returned quietly and sat down.
His stomach growled as the others ate breakfast.
His pride stopped him from asking.
Kaito didn't offer food.
Instead, after eating, he told Nawaki to follow him outside.
Leaning weakly against the wall, Nawaki spoke.
"So. What experiment do you want? You don't have my grandfather's cells."
"No need. It's a senjutsu-related experiment."
"…I don't know senjutsu."
"Exactly."
"So I want you as the test subject. I don't know it either."
"Then summon a regular Ryūchi Cave snake. Not that one from before."
"I have no chakra," Nawaki snapped.
"And Ryūchi Cave doesn't answer just because you call."
"Not now. Just be able to do it later."
"We have other things to do."
"Rain Country isn't safe anymore."
Kaito turned toward the eavesdropping trio.
"The man I caught is a Konoha ninja."
"As Jiraiya's former students, be careful when entering Konoha."
"Especially the snake user. Cold face. Loves human experiments."
Nawaki thought bitterly: Orochimaru-sensei is nothing like you.
"Nagato. You understand me, right?" Kaito asked.
"Yes, Director."
"What if we're discovered?" Nagato asked nervously.
"Find Jiraiya. Say whatever you want about me."
"And if Jiraiya doesn't protect us?" Konan asked—then froze.
"Director… did you go from here to Konoha in one day… and come back in another?"
Yahiko and Nagato: "..."
Nawaki nodded silently.
Kaito crossed his arms.
"Correct. It wasn't far."
"?????"
After explanations that broke all common ninja logic—
"If Jiraiya doesn't protect you," Kaito smiled,
"then good luck."
"Life isn't always smooth."
"Right, Jōnin Nawaki?"
"Hmph."
"We're merchants," Yahiko said confidently.
"Legal ones. And partners of the Konoha Money Exchange."
"They can't touch us."
Three days later, after testing multiple mushroom fields—
Several nearly killed everyone involved.
Including Nawaki, who foamed at the mouth.
"Strong toxin," Kaito observed calmly.
"Hang in there, Jōnin Nawaki. You're a big boy."
"I—glrk—"
Eventually, safe mushroom strains were identified.
Dried and ground, they could be stored for weeks.
Soon after, Kaito prepared to leave—this time toward the Wind Country.
"You three… take care."
"I've taught you power and methods for peace."
"Don't waste them."
After nearly five months, it was time to part.
Nagato waved.
"Director, stay safe."
Konan added,
"Come back to Amegakure!"
Yahiko cupped his hands.
"This house will always be here!"
As they walked away, Honglian looked back.
"Master… not taking them with us?"
"We're just passersby," Kaito replied.
"Giving tragic children power."
"Seeing whether they can change fate."
"Isn't that interesting?"
"Sounds like testing medicine," Nawaki muttered.
"The village won't spare those kids," he said quietly.
"You're harming them."
"Then so be it," Kaito smiled.
"Protection is temporary."
"Even ideals fade."
"Will of Fire won't," Nawaki replied.
"We'll see," Kaito said.
Rain fell endlessly as three figures faded into the road toward the Wind Country.
One week later.
The Three Sannin entered the Rain Country.
Inside the house, Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan were testing mushroom powder recipes.
Crash—
The defense line broke.
Orochimaru appeared inside.
Jiraiya burst through the door.
Tsunade guarded the rear exit.
A kunai flew—
Nagato deflected it.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
BOOM!
Orochimaru was cut—yet smiling.
Perfect Wind chakra nature transformation…
"Stop, Nagato!" Jiraiya shouted.
Nagato obeyed.
A kunai pressed to Jiraiya's back.
"Sensei."
Shadow clone.
"Well done," Jiraiya said grimly—
then struck.
Poof.
Clone.
"You still have much to learn," Jiraiya said.
The Rinnegan flashed beneath Nagato's hair.
Jiraiya exhaled in relief.
"At least… it wasn't taken."
Then—
BOOM!!!
Dust rose from the lake.
"Tsunade!!! STOP!!!"
Jiraiya sprinted forward.
Orochimaru followed silently.
This time—
Nagato hadn't used killing moves.
And because of that—
Jiraiya believed his students could still be saved.
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