"Official Hokage Manga Series Volume Three Hundred and Two - 'Manga Update, Prophecy Leaks' featuring the Third!"
Some ninja only returned to Konoha the next day. Motonami Uchiha entered with a stack of reports, ready to discuss the Military Police's achievements from yesterday and promote the outpost system.
As soon as he walked in, he saw the Third sitting in his chair, casually reading manga.
Compared with his anxious demeanor yesterday, he seemed like a completely different person today.
The Third was so engrossed he barely noticed Motonami until he made a noise, then pointed at the seat and said, "Motonami, sit down. What's up?"
"Lord Third, these are the field reports regarding the Military Police communications from yesterday. Please take a look."
Motonami Uchiha cast a curious glance.
He'd just gotten back and hadn't heard about the manga update yet. But judging from the cover page and previous volume's storyline, this volume should focus on "Jiraiya's" story arc.
Well, this was supposed to be his final arc.
Motonami felt curious deep inside, but unfortunately he had urgent matters to attend to and couldn't immediately go to the store to buy a copy.
"Cough cough, I'll read yours first."
The Third somewhat awkwardly closed his manga and took the report.
After all, while people were risking their lives outside, getting caught reading manga in his office right in front of someone felt somewhat inappropriate. Motonami Uchiha sat down and waited for the Third to finish reviewing the report.
After reading through thoroughly, the Third put down the report and pondered for a moment before saying, "From this perspective, Akaba's approach is very beneficial for maintaining peace and order in the Land of Fire. However, large-scale implementation might..."
"Probably require coordination with the Daimyo. Since our Military Police expanding its presence might even affect the Daimyo's rule, they will most likely send representatives to work together with us."
Motonami Uchiha continued.
"Hmm."
The Third nodded without hiding anything. Such matters couldn't be concealed from the Uchiha Clan Leader anyway, nor was there any reason to hide them.
Without hesitation, Motonami Uchiha said, "The Uchiha has no problem with this arrangement."
"I appreciate your cooperation, though you're not exactly gaining advantages here. Still, since you initiated this proposal yourself, both the Daimyo and the village won't forget the Uchiha contribution."
The Third took a puff of his pipe, not playing games.
Political maneuvering was reserved for dealing with enemies. At present, Motonami Uchiha was definitely one of "their own people."
Since Konoha needed Uchiha information to deal with Madara, the Third maintained a very friendly attitude.
"The Uchiha clan being firmly established in Konoha and receiving widespread recognition is already a tremendous favor. The recognition is secondary."
Motonami Uchiha responded.
"You've probably had a long day," the Third added. "Danzo and the Anbu have taken over subsequent jinchuriki matters, so why don't you go back and rest? I'll rotate the team who went out last night as well—time for them to rest."
The Third hurried him along, eager to continue reading his manga. Now that Motonami had finished discussing business, he had no time for idle conversation.
"Yes sir."
Motonami Uchiha also wanted to grab a copy of the new manga before returning to oversee operations at Military Police HQ. He too was pressed for time, so upon hearing the dismissal, he promptly stood up and left.
The Third opened his book again.
Previously, he had already seen all six of Pain's Deva Paths appear together and witnessed Jiraiya losing his arm. What came next was death.
Yes.
How could one person possibly fight against the Rinnegan?
Even though Jiraiya had mastered Sage Mode and been aided by two great sages from Mount Myoboku, he was still gravely wounded and unable to escape from the unbeatable Rinnegan.
The root of all this lay in a lack of intelligence.
Because there was no information available, a powerful warrior had been sent alone to investigate. Any weaker infiltrator wouldn't have required the Six Paths—such intruders would've died immediately.
An unsolvable dilemma.
He flipped through page after page.
When finally Jiraiya sank beneath the ocean waves, the Third couldn't help but shed tears.
This scene felt overly sentimental to him.
Undoubtedly, the one he loved most and recognized as the true inheritor of his will was Orochimaru. The one he wished most to pass on his legacy to was still Orochimaru.
As for Jiraiya—
That's how the Third saw him: a wandering soul with no fixed path.
Yet at the end of the manga, it was Jiraiya who inherited the Will of Fire. He had devoted his entire life toward fulfilling an abstract prophecy, along with its protective and redemptive mission.
Currently, Jiraiya had successfully completed the first half of that task.
He did his best…com
"Jiraiya... ah."
The Third let out a long sigh. His emotions were mixed; after all, it was just a manga, yet reading it felt unnervingly like witnessing events about to unfold tomorrow.
It felt like everything had really happened.
Of course, that was utterly impossible.
No one could truly foresee the future—even the Great Toad Sage could only glimpse uncertain futures through dreams. In the Third's opinion, such prophecies were less about foretelling the future and more about guidance.
Still, it was undeniable.
Without Mount Myoboku, whether in the story or in life, Jiraiya could never have become what he was.
Besides the Third, many others also experienced mixed feelings upon reading it.
For instance, Tsunade.
In the manga, after Jiraiya's departure, she became the so-called "cursed woman," with none of her peers left alive while a few older troublemakers stubbornly persisted.
That wasn't all either.
The running gag that whenever Tsunade won at gambling, something disastrous would follow had spread all over Konoha. Although she held high status, some close friends and elders still teased her lightheartedly about it.
Especially today.
With the new chapter just released, everyone they met asked whether these events were actually happening, which angered Tsunade so much she nearly destroyed a hospital—after that, no one dared ask again.
Then there was Mount Myoboku's side of things.
Ever since Mount Myoboku opened a Bug Cuisine Restaurant in Konoha, their unusual insect dishes initially received zero interest. Even passersby avoided walking nearby.
However, later the toads adapted locally, learning various cooking techniques from Akaba's gourmet manga—using deep frying, stir-frying, and other methods combined with aromatic seasonings, specially cultivated ingredients and vegetables from Mount Myoboku—to gradually draw in a growing number of culinary thrill-seekers eager for exotic dishes.
Due to booming business, the relationship between the toads and Konoha grew stronger. Usually, one or two appropriate toads were stationed at the restaurant on a daily basis.
Having read the latest chapters themselves,
One of these toads immediately returned to present the manga to Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima for review, since today's content involved far too much important material.
Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima each held a volume. After reading them thoroughly, they stared at each other, unsure what to do next.
The story was drawn beautifully—extremely emotional.
If they had fought alongside Jiraiya and watched him die helplessly, they might have felt torn too.
But now more importantly, there were some key elements in the manga that needed attention—Sage Mode, Sage Arts, the Mount Myoboku legacy, and especially…
"Prophecy."
This was the Great Toad Sage's most mysterious ability—to see into the future. To the toads of Mount Myoboku, this power represented a secret destined to save the world.
Yet with just one comic book, all these secrets and predictions had been completely exposed.
The old couple stared at each other for a long while before Sage Shima, full of anger, slammed her fist down and shouted, "I'm going after that brat!"
"Cut it out, old woman. If we could handle him, the Great Toad Sage would've let us do it already last time."
Sage Fukasaku sighed deeply.
One who disrupts Dream might also disturb the future.
Didn't the Great Toad Sage himself once consider taking Akaba's life during their meeting? Yet in the end, he'd backed off.
Because they were scared.
Sage Shima fell silent temporarily, not knowing how to respond.
Though the Great Toad Sage possessed great supernatural powers, his body had grown old and frail. Expecting such an elderly sage to confront Akaba was unreasonable. As for the rest of the toads at Mount Myoboku, none were likely capable of defeating that young boy.
After all, considering that fellow's mastery of genjutsu...
At this thought, Sage Shima felt slightly uneasy.
After thinking for a while, she hesitantly suggested, "What about using genjutsu?"
"No good," Sage Fukasaku replied. "He's a master of illusions himself. Plus, judging from certain ninjutsu methods he's used previously, this kid has started researching sound-based ninjutsu. Our genjutsu might be deciphered easily, particularly combined with [Flying Thunder God Technique]."
Again, Sage Fukasaku sighed heavily.
That won't do it.
"Just now, Gamata suddenly blurted out: 'Jiraiya said Madara Uchiha is still alive. Earlier, he even got into a battle with Sakuma Akaba and Mito Uzumaki and was driven away to the Land of Wind.'"
Sage Fukasaku was slightly taken aback upon hearing news of Madara Uchiha. However, he quickly added:
"You little brat! Since when did we invite you to listen in?!"
"That old fool! Now is not the time for this argument. Gamata, tell us exactly what happened with Madara Uchiha."
Sage Shima spoke with unusual seriousness.
In the Great Toad Sage's later Dream, Madara Uchiha indeed appeared.
Previously both she and Fukasaku hadn't understood its meaning, but if Madara was truly still alive, then those visions made complete sense. Then again, wouldn't that mean Madara may have gained possession of [Rinnegan]?
"We don't know much either. Jiraiya's adrift at sea right now."
Gamata calmly puffed on his pipe until he realized Fukasaku and Shima were furious enough to tear him apart. He hastily put aside the pipe and continued nervously, "Still, he can confirm two things: Akaba has become extremely strong, and supposedly, Madara already possesses the Rinnegan."
"Why didn't you tell us earlier?"
Sage Fukasaku's expression turned grim.
They'd only learned such vital information so late—how could they not feel cheated?
If they had known this beforehand, why bother discussing anything else?
If Sakuma Akaba could stand against someone like Madara wielding the Rinnegan, then revealing minor details mattered little anyway—letting things slip wouldn't matter.
"You never asked!"
Gamata huffed.
At that time, both he and Jiraiya had been out drinking, completely wasted. How could anyone remember clearly? Besides, if he hadn't been drunk, would Jiraiya have even told him these things?
That kid Jiraiya may seem clueless, but he's actually pretty sharp.
Sage Fukasaku thought for a moment—since there had been no actual conflict with Sakuma Akaba, the matter wasn't that serious.
Furthermore,
A spark lit his eyes as he cheerfully said, "Maybe Sakuma Akaba is actually the Child of the Prophecy mentioned by Great Toad Sage. Through young Jiraiya, we discovered Akaba's potential, while Jiraiya himself influenced and guided Akaba personally, leading him down the path to fight against Madara."
Gamata rolled his eyes. You're really stretching it. Don't you feel a bit embarrassed saying that out loud?
"Does this make sense?"
Sage Shima's face flushed slightly. This indeed seemed overly forced.
"No worries, I'll discuss it with Great Toad Sage."
Once he figured it out, Sage Fukasaku leaned back in his chair and started rocking—until Sage Shima gave him a swift kick, jolting him upright so he could go find Great Toad Sage.
Great Toad Sage was currently sleeping, though Sage Fukasaku sensed he would soon awaken.
That was the wisdom earned through centuries of loyal companionship and service.
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