Neji returned alone to the Hyūga compound.
Shima the Toad Sage hopped down from his shoulder, not following him inside.
"It seems this child isn't the savior little Jiraiya seeks," muttered the small Toad Sage, crouching outside the Hyūga residence.
"His heart harbors malice, harbors hatred. A child like this is probably much the same as the first one little Jiraiya found—Nagato."
"If Jiraiya were to take him as a disciple, he might only raise another Nagato, not a savior who could bring true change to the shinobi world."
"The true Child of Prophecy, at the very least, should resemble Namikaze Minato—possessing a certain bright and warm nature."
Shima shook her head.
"Besides… this child seeks to follow some Absolute Justice. Such justice is far too extreme. It will only lead him from one extreme into another."
Since it was now clear the boy was unlikely to be the Child of Prophecy, Shima gave him no warning.
That was not her duty.
She cared only for the Child of Prophecy.
…
Elsewhere, outside the village.
Jiraiya had already learned the enemy's true identity from Uchiha Keizumi's own mouth.
"Uchiha Obito…"
"Akatsuki…"
At last, he understood why Uchiha Keizumi had said the enemy was his own grand-disciple.
Because Uchiha Obito's jōnin instructor had been Namikaze Minato—and Namikaze Minato was Jiraiya's disciple.
On Jiraiya's shoulder, Fukasaku the Toad Sage never once shifted his gaze away from Uchiha Keizumi.
He could faintly sense within this youth an immense, boundless reservoir of chakra—far beyond what any normal human could ever possess.
The amount of chakra he possessed could probably rival that of some tailed beasts.
But Fukasaku's greater attention was fixed on Uchiha Keizumi's pair of Mangekyō Sharingan.
Just as Keizumi was about to leave, Fukasaku suddenly gave a cough.
"Cough!"
Standing on Jiraiya's shoulder, he addressed Uchiha Keizumi: "Uchiha Keizumi. The Great Elder—our Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku—once said that you possess a pair of special eyes capable of foretelling the future. He even said that the futures you can foresee are more precise than those seen in his own prophetic dreams."
Fukasaku's tone carried a trace of doubt. Truth be told, he found it hard to believe that Uchiha Keizumi's ability to predict the future could truly surpass that of the Great Toad Sage.
After some hesitation, he asked, "Do you really know the true identity of the Child of Prophecy spoken of by the Great Elder?"
"I do."
Keizumi replied with indifference.
Before Fukasaku could continue, Keizumi spoke again: "But there's no need to tell you. If the toads of Mount Myōboku could simply remain in Mount Myōboku, living as carefree sages without meddling in shinobi affairs, then perhaps I would tell you who the Child of Prophecy is."
"But the moment you seek to manipulate the future path of the shinobi world, it means we are not on the same side. Especially since that Great Toad Sage's ideology, revered for a thousand years, stands in fundamental conflict with the principles of Absolute Justice."
Slowly, he turned his body, his gaze settling on Fukasaku.
For reasons unknown even to himself, being stared at by those scarlet eyes left Fukasaku with a chill that crept up his spine.
It made him avert his gaze, avoiding eye contact with Keizumi.
Then Keizumi continued: "Here's some advice for Mount Myōboku: do not stand in the path of Absolute Justice. Because those who obstruct Absolute Justice—even if they have never committed evil—are still its enemies. Heinous villains are, of course, detestable. But hopeless fools are just as loathsome."
With that, Uchiha Keizumi gave Fukasaku not even the slightest chance to respond. He left straightaway.
Fukasaku was left dumbfounded.
Though he considered himself to have lived more than eight hundred years with a heart as calm as still water, Keizumi's words had nonetheless stirred a flare of indignation from deep within.
"What an insolent brat!"
He snorted coldly. "Wasn't that just him openly calling the Great Elder a hopeless fool?"
Jiraiya broke out in a cold sweat.
"Keizumi has always spoken bluntly. His wording may have been… a little harsh. Ahahaha… Sage Fukasaku, there's no need to lower yourself to the level of a boy of only eighteen. Just pretend he never said anything. After all, young people often can't hold their tongues!"
"And besides, he surely doesn't understand Mount Myōboku well. Perhaps he heard some bad rumors about us elsewhere, and so formed some mistaken notions about Mount Myōboku and the Great Toad Sage."
"The ignorant are not guilty, after all!"
In the end, Uchiha Keizumi was still a man of Konoha.
Even if Jiraiya didn't agree with Absolute Justice, because of Keizumi's identity, he couldn't help but side with him.
"I'm not that petty!" Fukasaku the Toad Sage huffed angrily.
—Yet your whiskers are practically bristling with rage.
That thought flashed through Jiraiya's mind.
"Phew…"
Fukasaku forced down his annoyance. Gazing at Uchiha Keizumi's departing figure, he said, "Little Jiraiya, this Uchiha from your village… perhaps he truly does possess foresight even more precise than the Great Lord Elder. That kind of confidence cannot be hidden. Or rather… he never even tried to hide it."
Jiraiya: "!!!"
Fukasaku continued, "But since he has seen the future, yet refuses to follow its destined path, instead seeking to change fate's course through his own shinobi way… it will bring consequences to the shinobi world that no one can foresee."
"Such thinking…"
"…is dangerous."
"…is extreme."
Jiraiya was silent for half a beat, then asked, "His Absolute Justice—for Konoha, is that a blessing, or a curse?"
Fukasaku thought for a moment. "Absolute Justice is far too black-and-white. It will inevitably spark further conflict. It is not aligned with peace.
"If Konoha does not pursue peace, then it may suit Konoha. But if Konoha does seek peace, then it is ill-suited to Konoha."
"Little Jiraiya, this is something you must judge for yourself."
…
Meanwhile—
"What kind of twisted dōjutsu is this?" Inside the Kamui dimension, Obito looked at the still-screaming Black Zetsu, his eyes filled with deep wariness. "It may not be able to take a life, but the torment it inflicts on the mind and will… no human could possibly endure it."
Obito thought, most people subjected to such agony would likely be driven to suicide.
A cold sweat ran down his back. Because the one almost caught in it had been none other than Uchiha Obito himself.
"Pretty terrifying, huh, Obito?"
The swirling-faced White Zetsu was also inside the Kamui dimension. Crossing its arms, it shivered in exaggerated fright. "If he's got a Sharingan dōjutsu like that, he won't be easy to deal with!"
"Are you sure teaming up with that brat from the Uchiha clan—who hasn't even grown all his hair yet—can really take down Uchiha Keizumi?"
For once, Obito fell into silence.
Because he had no answer.
"And there's something else important, Obito." The swirling-faced White Zetsu raised one finger and added, "We didn't manage to kill Biwa Jūzō. There's a real chance he'll pass on what he's learned to Konan and Nagato. Especially now that we've already torn our masks off tonight, I doubt he has any other choice. He can only use that information against you."
At those words, Obito's expression grew even uglier.
If not for Uchiha Keizumi's interference, he absolutely could have killed Biwa Jūzō.
After all, he was merely one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Even the Mizukage of Kirigakure was under his control—how could a small figure like Biwa Jūzō possibly be his match?
"Huff—"
Instinctively, Obito glanced at Black Zetsu. Because in times like this, it was usually Black Zetsu who offered the most "constructive" advice. Even if he didn't always follow it—like tonight—when he chose to ignore it, he ended up suffering for it.
Yet in his current state, Black Zetsu could hardly even manage to speak, let alone offer Uchiha Obito any advice about Uchiha Keizumi.
The swirling-faced White Zetsu scratched his head and asked, "So… are we still going ahead with the very first plan?"
"The first plan…"
Obito recalled something. "Uchiha Izumi?"
His eyes narrowed. "You—go and catch up with Uchiha Itachi. Tell him that if he can take down Uchiha Izumi first, to prove his capability to me… then when the time comes, whether against Uchiha Keizumi or the entire Uchiha clan…"
"…I will lend him my strength. Not only that, I'll also recommend him to Akatsuki and let him become one of us. If Konoha tries to hunt him down, Akatsuki will shield him."
"This…"
"…will be the pledge of loyalty he must offer."
…
"A pledge of loyalty?!"
Before Uchiha Itachi had even returned to Konoha, the swirling-faced White Zetsu had already caught up to him and relayed part of Obito's words.
Itachi frowned deeply and demanded, "I saved that strange creature. Does that not count as a pledge?"
White Zetsu chuckled, spreading his hands. "That only proves you've taken the first step in earning Madara-sama's trust. Since you're going to move against the entire Uchiha clan anyway, striking at Uchiha Izumi first shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"Or is it that you're too close to her, and can't bring yourself to do it? If that's the case, then your resolve isn't nearly enough for Madara-sama to invest in you. You have to show us real sincerity, don't you think?"
Itachi suddenly asked, "And if I do it… but you go back on your word?"
White Zetsu replied, "Then you can choose not to deal with us. You could ally with someone else against Uchiha Keizumi, against the entire Uchiha clan."
"Or you could try it alone if you like. Madara-sama won't mind watching a pitiful loser fall. Surely you don't want your mission to end in failure, do you?"
The moment those words left its mouth, White Zetsu's vision suddenly blurred.
The next instant, a blade was pressed tightly against its throat.
The edge of the sword had already cut a millimeter deep into its "flesh."
"Are you threatening me?" Itachi's eyes narrowed dangerously.
White Zetsu hastily raised both hands in surrender, signaling he meant no harm.
"Hmph!"
Itachi gave a cold snort, sheathed his blade, and turned away, his voice flat as he said, "He wants to test my resolve, does he? Then he'll see it soon enough."
"Remember this—next time we meet, don't speak to me in that tone again. Otherwise, I'll kill you. And I'll kill him as well."
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