When he received Kakashi's message, Uchiha Shisui had been somewhat surprised.
The Kakashi in Konoha—Shisui had seen at a glance that he was fake.
Under the observation of the Sharingan, Shisui could clearly see that the fake Kakashi's chakra differed slightly from the real Kakashi's chakra. The state of his chakra when using ninjutsu was also different.
Shisui had thought Kakashi was in Sunagakure, that Sunagakure had saved him, and that he had therefore joined Sunagakure.
He had not expected Kakashi to suddenly appear near Konoha.
"Senior Kakashi, I don't have much time. You know the Uchiha's current situation. I am being watched in secret at every moment. If I disappear for too long, it will definitely cause trouble."
"Senior Kakashi, whatever you need, please say it directly."
Kakashi nodded.
"In that case, I'll be direct. Shisui, leave Konoha and come help me. This shinobi world has already rotted. Come with us and save it."
Uchiha Shisui's expression froze.
"Ah?"
Kakashi had never expected Shisui to agree the moment he opened his mouth.
But he believed he could persuade him.
After all, the Uchiha clan's situation was terrible as well.
Kakashi continued, "You know very well how the Uchiha clan ended up like this."
"In the past, I was the same as most people. I thought the problem lay with the Uchiha."
"But now, I no longer think so. I believe the greater problem lies with the village."
"Even someone like Uchiha Gen died."
"These shinobi villages have all rotted. In their hearts, there is only profit and authority. There is no right or wrong. There is no justice. They continuously start wars and harm others."
…
Hearing this, Uchiha Shisui understood.
Kakashi had not been saved by Sunagakure.
Rather, he seemed to belong to a third party.
Saving the shinobi world?
Skipping past the village entirely?
No longer obsessing over the conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha?
Uchiha Shisui's eyes lit up.
This gave Shisui a completely new line of thought.
However, Shisui still hesitated.
"Senior Kakashi, how do you intend to save it?"
Kakashi shook his head.
"Before you decide to join us, I cannot tell you the specific details. But what I can say is that I believe we will definitely succeed."
"The era of shinobi villages should end."
"Just like the era of shinobi clans ended in the past."
Uchiha Shisui was tempted.
The current Konoha had already made it difficult for him to see much hope of the Uchiha and Konoha coexisting peacefully.
If the Hokage position were controlled by the Sarutobi clan in the future, what then?
But to truly abandon the village and cast aside the reputation of the Uchiha clan?
Uchiha Shisui could not make that decision immediately.
"Senior Kakashi, may I consider it for a while?"
Shisui's thoughts had always been focused on resolving the conflict between the Uchiha and the village, allowing the Uchiha clan to return properly into the village's fold. The idea Kakashi proposed now was far too great a leap.
A trace of disappointment appeared in Kakashi's eyes, but he understood.
Why had he joined the Akatsuki?
Because of the rumors about his father?
No.
It was because Danzo had moved against him and tried to end his life.
He had nearly died and was saved by the Akatsuki. He could no longer return to Konoha. At the same time, he recognized that the rumors about his father were true.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had not only caused his father's death—he had also sent Danzo to kill him.
At that moment, the goal proposed by the Akatsuki had become exactly what Kakashi hoped for.
But Uchiha Shisui was different.
Uchiha Shisui still held a certain expectation toward Konoha.
"Senior Kakashi, please rest assured. I absolutely will not mention what happened today to anyone—not even to the Uchiha."
Kakashi nodded.
"Shisui, if you decide to join us, head west."
"Understood, Senior Kakashi."
Kakashi watched Uchiha Shisui leave.
Beside him, Zetsu shook his head.
"Even with the Uchiha's current situation, he still holds expectations toward Konoha. I have to say, this Uchiha Shisui truly is naive. He cannot save the Uchiha."
Kakashi's eyes flickered slightly.
"I believe that with Shisui's mind, he will be able to understand these things."
…
…
Konoha Weekly was released.
The joint statement from Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya occupied an extremely conspicuous position, ensuring that everyone would see it the moment they opened the newspaper.
"I knew it. That was definitely just a rumor."
"Hokage-sama is Jiraiya-sama's teacher, and Jiraiya-sama is Hokage-sama's disciple. Their relationship is so close. How could Hokage-sama possibly harm Jiraiya-sama?"
"Besides, the rumor about Minato-sama has no solid evidence at all. Jiraiya-sama wouldn't attack his own teacher over just that."
"Hokage-sama also couldn't possibly attack Jiraiya over such a guess."
"If Hokage-sama were truly that kind of person, wouldn't Danzo-sama have been dealt with long ago?"
Hearing his name, Danzo instinctively frowned.
Then he heard the person continue.
"Danzo-sama hasn't acted on his own just once or twice. He has ignored Hokage-sama's orders many times. And Danzo-sama has shown an extremely persistent pursuit of the Hokage position."
Another person said,
"Didn't everyone discuss before that it was because Danzo-sama's strength and ability were both too weak, so he posed no threat?"
Danzo's face darkened.
"Danzo-sama's strength and ability are indeed weak, but that doesn't mean he poses no threat at all. Poisoning, assassination… there will always be times when Hokage-sama isn't careful enough, right?"
"Rather than guard against him every single day, wouldn't it be better to just kill him directly?"
Those words won the other person's agreement.
"That makes sense."
Medical Department.
Jiraiya held the newspaper in his only remaining arm, opened it, and looked at its contents.
"With a joint statement from me and Teacher Sarutobi, that rumor should stop spreading. The atmosphere of the shinobi world has become far too terrible. They even use methods like this to disgust people."
"Teacher Sarutobi has already been harassed endlessly during this period."
Jiraiya shook his head and put the newspaper down.
"But now that this matter is over, it's fine."
Time passed quickly while lying on a hospital bed.
Soon, night fell.
Jiraiya closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep. He did not notice a mysterious stream of light entering his body at that moment.
Immediately afterward, Jiraiya began to dream.
He had a very long, very realistic dream.
In that dream, Jiraiya saw things from the past.
He also saw things that would happen in the future.
It was so real that Jiraiya felt it did not seem like a dream at all.
It felt like reality.
"Use One-Night Dream Fabrication!"
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