"How could it be him?" Mizuki muttered.
In the original storyline, Hayate Gekko had been the one tracking and surveilling Kabuto Yakushi, only to be killed instantly by Suna's Baki. Though not particularly close with Hayate Gekko, as fellow ninja who once risked their lives together, Mizuki still hoped that Hayate might survive if possible.
"Got a problem with that?" Kakashi asked. "Hayate Gekko is a Tokubetsu Jonin skilled in tracking and stealth, excellent at Kenjutsu, and quite formidable in battle. Isn't he perfectly suited for investigating Kabuto Yakushi?"
Mizuki nodded silently. Without concrete intelligence, sending a stronger ninja didn't seem feasible—after all, he couldn't just accuse Suna outright without proof of betrayal. Although there were indeed signs that this ally, who had long resented Konoha, was acting suspiciously lately, accusing Suna of conspiring with Orochimaru to attack the Hidden Leaf Village was still too shocking for now.
[I really can't help you here, Hayate Gekko. You'll just have to hope for the best.]
Sakura Haruno suddenly interrupted as Mizuki and Kakashi spoke, asking, "Teacher Kakashi, are you talking about Hayate Gekko—the examiner during our Chunin Exam—and Kabuto Yakushi, who took the exam with us?"
"That's right," Kakashi replied.
"But why would a fellow Konoha ninja like Senpai Kabuto attack Sasuke, and why would an elite special jonin from the village investigate him?"
After hearing Sakura's question, Mizuki looked at Kakashi and said, "Do you tell your subordinates absolutely nothing?"
Kakashi answered awkwardly, "I just forgot, okay? Besides, nobody ever asked me. I assumed everyone already knew. Sakura, the 'Senpai Kabuto' you're referring to is actually a subordinate and spy for Orochimaru. His intentions weren't exactly pure."
"There's no way!" For Sakura, who'd rarely encountered the dark side of ninja life before, she'd already been shaken by Orochimaru's attack previously—but now learning that someone she knew and trusted had ill intentions shattered her view of the world.
"This is simply how things are in the world of shinobi, Sakura. Betrayal, injury, even death—you need to be ready for any of them," Mizuki said gently.
"Is that really so, Teacher? Have you also experienced such things?" Sakura asked.
"Sigh… Sakura, some things are still too much for a genin to handle, but maybe it's time you understood what's really been going on around you," Kakashi thought he should fulfill his duty as a teacher. "Remember the mission to the Land of Waves? Zabuza and Haku's ambush? The one where Naruto and Sasuke nearly died? What lay behind that incident went far beyond what you imagined. And remember when you returned to the village, Teacher Mizuki was seriously injured? Actually, he, along with your Chunin Exam instructor Hayate Gekko and Ibiki Morino, participated in that mission to the Land of Waves. Secretly, ninja from other villages attacked us, but Konoha ninja intercepted them, which is why you only faced two enemies."
Kakashi sighed again after finishing, "Sometimes open battles aren't everything. Behind-the-scenes struggles and conflicts are also extremely important. The Ninja Academy taught you surveillance systems and counterintelligence techniques—not just to pass exams, but to protect yourselves in real combat scenarios."
"All right, Kakashi, now isn't the time for lectures. Don't you have something else to attend to?"
"Things are getting a bit off-topic," Mizuki interjected, turning to Kakashi.
"Well then, I'll take my leave first."
As Kakashi walked away, Mizuki turned to Sakura Haruno and said, "There are some things Genin shouldn't get too involved with. It might kill your motivation."
"Yes, Teacher Mizuki."
Watching Sakura train earnestly, Mizuki sincerely hoped this smart girl wouldn't dwell too much on things—just stick to her training and keep moving forward.
On a rooftop in Konoha village with an elevated view, Jiraiya leaned against the railing, watching the amusing scene below with great interest. The elite instructor Ebisu was teaching Naruto Uzumaki how to control his chakra, but the restless Naruto kept failing, often scalded by the hot spring water and completely soaked, arguing with Ebisu all the while. Ever since yesterday, Jiraiya had been watching those two class clowns closely. Despite his easygoing nature, even Jiraiya occasionally burst into laughter from Naruto's antics.
Just then, an unexpected visitor slowly approached from behind Jiraiya.
"Tch, so I was found out after all?"
"You didn't even bother to hide properly. Getting caught was only natural, Jiraiya," came the reply. The visitor was none other than Jiraiya's teacher, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi. "You've been away from the village for years. Why have you returned this time?"
"Just gathering material, gathering material. What else could there be? I am quite a famous and popular author, after all," Jiraiya replied.
"Fine, do as you please." The Third sighed helplessly, long accustomed to Jiraiya's evasive personality. "But since you're back this time, you've seen the village's current situation for several days now, so surely you understand it already."
"Several days? Does someone suspect me and report to you?"
"Don't talk about irrelevant matters. You've also heard the news that Orochimaru has returned. This time, I will correct the mistakes I made during that time." The Third continued, "Besides, I'm already old. No matter what happens, I hope you will take over as Hokage."
"Old man, don't joke around. I have no interest in staying here to take up this tiring and thankless Hokage position. Please find someone else; plenty of people would love to take it."
Hearing Jiraiya's words, the Third sadly replied, "I know you were unhappy with my decisions back then. Otherwise, you and Tsunade wouldn't have roamed abroad for so many years without returning. But as the leader of the village, weighing pros and cons is inevitable. One cannot indulge the needs of a few individuals."
Having served as Hokage for so many years, Hiruzen Sarutobi understood the state of the village better than anyone. When circumstances became unfavorable, sacrificing the interests of a few to maintain the village's authority was something he'd done countless times throughout the years—some decisions ordered directly by him, others carried out by Danzo Shimura with his silent approval. The death of Hizashi Hyuga, Neji's father, and the destruction of the entire Uchiha clan were just two of the more well-known examples.
"That's exactly why I'm not cut out for this kind of work. Leave it to someone more suited."
Sighing again, the Third asked, "Then tell me, what brings you back this time? Did you hear some troubling rumors?"
"In a way, yes. But this time, I've met someone rather interesting," Jiraiya nonchalantly replied, glancing down at the mischievous Naruto Uzumaki below.
"Oh? Another one of your 'Destined Child' predictions?"
"Who knows? That must be the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki. The Fourth's son has grown up healthily too!"
"Yeah, he's already become an outstanding ninja of Konoha. He's quite like you, you know, back in your day."
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