Jiraiya brought the sake cup to his lips, watching Jin-Woo from the corner of his eye. The calm between them was a silent dance between hunter and beast. But he didn't feel fear — he felt something rare: cautious respect.
"This guy... is an anomaly.""Defeated the Six Paths like he was already used to fighting monsters.""But he didn't kill civilians. Didn't destroy Amegakure. He could've... but didn't.""Those eyes... as empty as mine after losing my friends..."
Jiraiya wasn't a fool.For two full weeks, he had observed him from afar.Discreet. Analyzing patterns.And with each day, he confirmed the same:
"He's not thirsty for war. He's looking for something.""He's not an enemy of the world. Not yet."
The problem...Is that he didn't know he was being watched too.
From atop the broken bell tower of the village, between ancient gears and rust, a shadow remained still.
Igris.
Jin-Woo's first Shadow Knight.Loyal to his king until the end of time.
Since Jin-Woo's second day in that world, Igris had been ordered to track any approaching ninja presence — and Jiraiya was among the first.
"Full report, master," the shadow had murmured, in silent thought."This man, Jiraiya, kept his distance. Observed, but did not attack.""Threat profile: moderate. Possesses senjutsu. Animal summoning technique. Loyal to a hidden village's command center.""Attack intent: 0%. Scientific observation: 87%."
Jin-Woo always knew.From the first day.
And now, looking at Jiraiya, sitting across from him, he didn't see an enemy.
"Came to test me, old man?"
Jiraiya laughed. A sincere laugh, full of experience.
— "Not at all. I know when a monster can swallow a village... and when he's just looking for a way home."
Silence.The rain resumed, lightly.
Jin-Woo lowered his eyes to his bowl, finally taking a sip.
— "And if that monster realizes that path doesn't exist?"— "Maybe he'll dig his own."
Jiraiya crossed his arms. Brought the cup to his lips, thoughtful.
— "Then I hope I'm around. To convince him to dig in the right direction."
Akatsuki CaveStatus: Fourth Tailed Beast seal in progress
The air was thick. Charged with the pressure of thousands of sealing lines.At the center of the cave, a colossal statue — the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path — exuded silent rage as it spewed chains of dark chakra.
Trapped in its claws, the body of the Four-Tails, Son Gokū, was slowly dissolving.
The creature's raw chakra was absorbed like smoke sucked into an abyss.
All members of Akatsuki were gathered — except Pain.
Even in his absence, the environment was silent.Respectful.Deadly.
Konan, her cloak fluttering in the cave's invisible wind, watched the seal expressionless.
Obito (Tobi), still hidden behind the clown persona, observed everything from behind the orange mask. But his thoughts were far heavier than he let on.
"That man... became a problem outside the plan.""Turned Nagato's bodies into servants... even without chakra.""How is that possible?""This isn't technique. This is power beyond shinobi logic. But we'll counter it at the right level!"
Across the room, Deidara gritted his teeth:
— "Tch... why isn't the boss here? This is taking too long."
Kisame crossed his arms, grinning with his serrated teeth:
— "What matters is another bijū down. And the next is in the Sand Village. Heh... the Kazekage is Shukaku's jinchūriki, right?"
— "Yes," said Zetsu, emerging from the ground like a dark fungus.
The white side continued:
— "Gaara, son of the Fourth Kazekage. The youngest among the kages. Strong, but unstable."— "The Sand Village has already suffered losses... won't have much left to defend itself if we move fast."
Sasori, silent until now, spoke:
— "That place is my home. I will go."
Deidara sneered:
— "Heh. Then it's my turn too. It'll be art."
Obito analyzed the two.He controlled the game but let them believe they had freedom.
— "Very well. You two will go."
Konan glanced at him sideways:
— "You won't report this to Pain?"
Obito replied as Tobi:
— "Hehehe... he's been busy. Meditating... on losses."
Pain's shadow, now absent, still loomed over all.But no one dared question.
The hunt had begun.And the next target... was the Kazekage.
The rain no longer fell as steadily. The gray sky began to open small slits of light between the thick clouds. Jin-Woo walked beside the man who had been following him for days. The steps were slow but firm. A loaded silence between the two.
Jiraiya pulled the gray cloak's hood over his face.
— "You still haven't told me your name."
Jin-Woo didn't answer immediately. He looked ahead, alert. The shadows around him, even weakened, crawled discreetly under the ground. Watching everything.
— "You haven't told me yours either."
Jiraiya gave a dry laugh.
— "Hm... smart. But fair. Jiraiya. Legendary Sannin of the Leaf Village."
Jin-Woo stopped. Turned his face, finally facing him.
— "Sung Jin-Woo. Hunter from another reality. And… this world isn't mine."
Silence returned. But now, filled with understanding.
— "Thought so. The way you fight… it's not ninjutsu. And those 'things' that follow you…"
Jin-Woo raised an eyebrow.
— "Shadows."
— "Yeah. That. Never seen anything like it. Not even Edo Tensei comes close to that."
Jin-Woo kept walking.
— "You've been following me for weeks. What do you want?"
— "The Akatsuki. Same as you."
Jin-Woo stopped again.
— "You're after the masked one too?"
— "He's one of the main pieces behind Akatsuki. And if you want answers… he's our best shot."
They stared at each other. There was no trust, only alignment.
— "I don't work with anyone." — Jin-Woo said, firmly.
— "Neither do I. But if we're smart… we can exchange what we know."
Jiraiya stopped, crossing his arms.
— "You help me bring down Akatsuki… and I help you with files, maps, informants... and allies. If you really are who you seem to be, you'll need all of that."
Jin-Woo thought for a few seconds. Then discreetly opened his status window. Mana-to-chakra conversion was already at 93%. His summons were increasing gradually.
Still limited. Still at a disadvantage. But that could change.
— "Akatsuki is hunting people with large chakra reserves, right?"
— "The jinchūrikis. Bijuu hosts."
— "Then... let's get to them before Akatsuki does."
Jiraiya smiled.
— "Thought you were more silent. But you've got initiative."
— "I'm in a hurry. Every minute here… my world waits on the other side."
The sannin gave a slight nod.
— "We'll take the northern route. Avoid the Rain's patrols, cross the Land of Fire, and then... we reach the Leaf."
— "There… you give me info on every Akatsuki member. Everything."
— "And you tell me... what the hell you really are."
The two shook hands. A silent pact. A temporary truce.
The shadows moved.
The shinobi world was about to change forever.
Location: Hokage's Office, Hidden Leaf VillageTime: Early morning, clear sky
Tsunade had just finished reviewing border reports when she heard the sound of wings. A Leaf communication bird landed on the open balcony. Rare, considering Jiraiya almost always preferred acting without formally reporting anything.
She stood up immediately, grabbed the small message tube tied to the animal's leg, and pulled out the scroll sealed with her personal mark.
It was Jiraiya's handwriting.
She carefully unrolled it and read in silence, eyes narrowing with each line.
"Tsunade,I need you to keep this absolutely secret.I'm bringing someone to Konoha. I don't know who or what he is — but he defeated Amegakure's leadership with a power that isn't chakra. No jutsus, no seals, no clear origin."
"He says he's lost, and I believe him. But what he carries... is something I've never seen. He can turn the dead into soldiers. And no, it's not Edo Tensei. There's no chakra, no spiritual reanimation. They're... shadows."
"Apparently, he's after a masked man from Akatsuki. Said that man might have answers about his origin — or how to go back. I don't know what that means, but I'm following along."
"I don't see hostility in him. At least not for now. But there are no guarantees. I suggest no regular ninja get near him until we know what we're dealing with."
"If possible, prepare an isolated, discreet area. We'll arrive in a few days."
"Oh, and tell Kakashi he'll want to see this with his own eyes."— Jiraiya
Tsunade finished reading, her eyes fixed on the last line.
Shizune entered the office with a tea tray.
— "Another report from the borders—"
Tsunade raised her hand, cutting her off.
— "Send a message to the ANBU. Prepare an isolated area on the village's east side. Surveillance level: maximum, but without hostility. And tell Kakashi to report here immediately."
Shizune frowned.
— "Is something going on?"
Tsunade folded the scroll and tucked it into her tunic.
— "We don't know yet. But Jiraiya is bringing a... visitor."
She turned to the window, eyes serious, distant.
— "And it looks like the world is about to change again."