"You…"
Jiraiya's mouth hung open, trying to argue, to push back against Kai's brazen declaration that he could choose the Child of Prophecy at will. It went against everything Jiraiya believed in—the teachings of the Great Toad Sage, the traditions of Mount Myōboku, the reverence passed down since the time of the Six Paths.
But as he looked into Kai's eyes—the swirling, majestic Rinnegan, pulsing with a calm, unshakable power—he hesitated.
This wasn't some foolish zealot. This was a man who had walked paths none of them could imagine. Maybe he wasn't just a sage, but something beyond that. Something the toads and sages of old hadn't anticipated.
And that terrified him.
Kai wasn't asking for obedience. He was declaring reality.
Jiraiya took a deep breath, the fire of rebuttal flickering inside him—but it died out in his throat. He lowered his gaze, jaw tight.
Because for all his pride, he couldn't deny it.
Without Kai, he wouldn't even know Nagato was alive. Without Kai, Konohagakure might already have been caught completely unprepared for what was coming.
And besides that… deep down, Jiraiya feared he had no right to question the man who had done more to protect the future than anyone.
"Sir," Minato spoke up, stepping forward awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck, "I… I'm not sure I deserve this."
Kai turned his gaze to the Fourth Hokage.
"I'm grateful," Minato continued. "But I've failed before. I couldn't save Obito. I couldn't save Rin. And I nearly lost Kushina…"
His voice trailed off, filled with quiet remorse. "How can I be the one who changes the world when I couldn't even protect the people closest to me?"
Kai studied him for a long moment, then offered a rare, reassuring smile.
"Don't worry," he said. "When the time comes… you'll know."
Minato didn't argue further.
Kai didn't need to convince him with grand speeches. He understood Minato's nature well—quiet, strategic, and patient, but unyielding when those he loved were threatened.
Convincing Minato to unify the ninja world through rhetoric? Impossible.
But corner him, push the Leaf to the brink, threaten his home and family?
He would do what no one else could. Fast. Precise. Absolute.
He didn't need to chase power. He only needed enemies.
And that was Kai's specialty.
So how do you start a fire that burns through five nations at once?
Easy.
Step one: Insult the pain of Nagato.
Step two: Disrespect Konan's dead friend and then burn a few of her paper bombs in front of her.
Step three: Yank off Obito's mask mid-monologue and call him "discount Kakashi."
Step four: Steal Kakuzu's treasury records. Or worse—file taxes on them.
Step five: Exhume Sasori's parents' bodies and repurpose their puppets into coat racks.
Step six: Introduce Hidan to peaceful theology and offer him pamphlets from every religion except Jashinism.
Step seven: Beat Killer Bee in a rap battle and then kidnap his favorite enka album.
Step eight: Slip a forged love letter into Kurotsuchi's bag from a certain blonde Hokage.
Step nine: Remind Gaara that the Fifth Mizukage keeps rejecting his DMs.
Step ten: Laugh at Mei's age. Publicly.
So many ways to ignite conflict.
And Kai was a natural philanthropist.
If not for the damage Konoha had just suffered during the Nine-Tails Rebellion, he would've already tossed a match into the powder keg and let the Fourth Great Ninja War blaze across the continent.
But it wasn't time yet.
First, Minato needed to consolidate his side.
"Sir," Minato said, breaking the silence. "If what you say is true… then Nagato and Obito are being manipulated by Madara?"
Kai nodded. "Obito was manipulated. Nagato was misled."
"Obito… impersonated Madara?"
"Exactly," Kai confirmed. "He used Madara's identity to control Nagato and form Akatsuki as we know it."
Minato exhaled slowly, his expression growing more grim by the second.
"And they're based in the Hidden Rain Village now?"
"Yes," Kai replied. "Hanzo is dead. Nagato executed him after seizing full control."
Jiraiya's brows drew together sharply. "Hanzo… the Salamander? Dead? Just like that?"
"He's not the demigod you remember," Kai said, shrugging. "Time erodes even legends."
Minato stood in silence, the implications sinking in.
They'd underestimated Nagato. Everyone had.
"But…" Jiraiya's voice wavered. "Is there any chance… any chance at all that we can still make peace with the Hidden Rain Village?"
Kai didn't hesitate.
"Almost none. Nagato believes Konoha conspired with Hanzo to kill his friend Yahiko."
"That wasn't Konoha—it was Danzo!" Jiraiya protested, face flushed.
Kai tilted his head slightly. "Danzo wore the Leaf's headband. Commanded its Anbu. Used its resources. You think Nagato draws that line?"
Jiraiya faltered.
The truth stung too hard to deny.
To Nagato, Danzo was Konoha.
The scar left by Yahiko's death had festered into hatred—and no explanation, no apology, would undo that.
"If Nagato was waiting," Kai added, "it was only to buy time. Once he's ready, Konoha will be his next target."
Jiraiya poured himself a full cup of sake and downed it in one go, barely flinching at the burn.
"This is a damn mess," he muttered.
"War always is," Kai said. "But it can also be opportunity."
Minato nodded slowly, sensing where Kai was going with this.
"So you think," he asked, "that Amegakure may side with our enemies in the coming war?"
"Highly likely," Kai confirmed. "If Kumogakure fails in its initial assault, Akatsuki will double down. And if they join the war…"
"We'll be surrounded," Minato finished, grim.
Jiraiya growled, knuckles cracking. "Danzo caused this."
"He did," Kai said without flinching. "But the time for blame is over. We need to prepare."
Jiraiya set his cup down and looked up. "So what now?"
Kai turned to him. "You go find Tsunade."
Jiraiya blinked. "Her?"
"She may not be on active duty," Kai said, "but she's still the best medical ninja alive. She's needed—whether on the front lines or behind them."
"But she has hemophobia," Jiraiya reminded him. "She can't even look at blood without passing out."
Kai smirked. "I'm aware. That's why, in a few days, I'll bring her grandfather and great-uncle here."
Jiraiya nearly fell over. "Wait—you're serious?! The First and Second Hokage?!"
"They're alive—in another time. I'll bring them here to talk to her. If anyone can fix her fear, it's them."
Jiraiya stared, mouth agape. "That's… actually brilliant."
Kai didn't bother responding.
He turned to Minato. "You have your own tasks."
Minato stood straighter. "I'm ready."
"First, finish documenting your Flying Thunder God modifications," Kai said. "Tobirama wants to study your version."
"Of course!" Minato smiled. "It'd be an honor to have him review it."
His version of the technique not only consumed less chakra but also allowed integration with space-time barriers, making it more versatile and efficient than the original.
"If the Second Hokage learns it," Kai continued, "he won't get tricked into another bait-and-die scenario."
Minato winced slightly at the reminder.
"Next," Kai said, voice serious, "find Orochimaru."
Minato frowned. "Why him?"
"We need him."
"Orochimaru's working with Danzo now," Minato replied. "They're researching Wood Release and Hashirama cells. He won't leave willingly."
Kai nodded. "Then persuade him."
"And if that fails?"
"Take Fugaku with you. Bring him to hell if needed."
Minato blinked. "You want me to use the Uchiha?"
"You're Hokage. Use what you have."
"But Orochimaru—he won't come for free."
Kai smiled darkly.
"Then offer him what he wants."
"You mean…"
"Sharingan. Offer him some of the eyes we've recovered from the battlefield. Just enough to bait him."
Minato hesitated.
"That's… dangerous."
Kai nodded. "Yes. But worth it."
Minato exhaled. "Understood."
And that was that.
The plan was taking shape.
Kai had laid the board.
The pieces were moving.
And war was coming.
He'd never been more at home.