Orochimaru gazed up at the cool moonlight and asked, "What has Naraku been doing lately?"
"Lord Naraku has been busy healing Rock Lee these days!" Kabuto replied.
Glancing at Yakushi Kabuto, Orochimaru wasn't surprised by his respect for Shihouin Naraku. "That's good news."
Orochimaru recalled their brief encounter at the Exam Tower and felt uneasy. He hadn't expected Shihouin Naraku's strength to improve so rapidly. It was truly unexpected.
Even though their eyes had met for just a moment, Orochimaru could clearly sense that Shihouin Naraku's power was now formidable.
Of course, Orochimaru remained confident in his own abilities. Combined with his hidden trump cards, who could possibly stop his plan to destroy Konoha?
No one!
Orochimaru certainly knew that Konoha Village would be on guard, but he was too familiar with this place—so familiar that he had easily found its vulnerabilities!
Orochimaru couldn't help but feel excited when he imagined the currently peaceful and bustling Konoha Village reduced to ruins because of his plan.
He subconsciously licked his lips with his unnaturally long tongue, then looked at Yakushi Kabuto. "Before the plan begins, the Sunagakure shinobi must not suspect anything.
As for after we implement the plan, you don't need to worry about them anymore.
Kimimaro will watch them with you.
If anyone notices something wrong, kill them immediately!"
"Understood!"
Yakushi Kabuto's figure slowly disappeared into the shadows...
...
The end of the preliminary matches marked the approach of the third official round.
Of course, it wouldn't happen immediately—but one month wasn't very long to wait.
Daimyō and nobles from various countries had already begun their journeys to Konohagakure.
This month served not only as time to await the arrival of spectators but also as an opportunity for the competing candidates to make final improvements to their training.
Even a small increase in strength during this period might lead to a better performance in the official competition!
"Hmph! Kakashi-sensei is clearly favoring Sasuke!"
Uzumaki Naruto walked sullenly through the streets of Konoha Village, complaining constantly.
Hatake Kakashi had gone to train Uchiha Sasuke personally, but had handed Naruto over to Special Jōnin Ebisu, claiming he wanted to establish a good foundation for Naruto's skills.
Naruto was naturally dissatisfied. He had used the most powerful Transformation Technique in the ninja world—the Sexy Jutsu—and easily defeated the perverted teacher Ebisu. Now he wandered the streets alone.
Before he realized it, Uzumaki Naruto had arrived at Konoha Village's most popular hot springs district.
With just one glance, Naruto spotted a suspicious tall figure lying on the side of the street, peeping through a telescope.
"Ah~~~ There's a pervert!!!"
"What's someone shouting about outside?"
"Sounds like there's a pervert?"
"A pervert?!"
"Catch the pervert!!!"
"Bang#￥&￥d&**(*&$..."
"..."
...
"Ah~~~"
Shihouin Naraku yawned and put down the medical case in his hand.
"It all depends on Rock Lee's ability to recover now. It shouldn't be a problem."
After several surgeries, Rock Lee's recovery prospects were looking very positive. As long as there were no unexpected complications during his rehabilitation, there would be no issues.
In fact, except for the most critical operation, the rest of the treatment process was handled by other medical ninja, so Shihouin Naraku wasn't particularly exhausted.
"By the way, Master Jiraiya should be back in the village by now."
After considering this, Shihouin Naraku packed up his things and headed straight to Uzumaki Naruto's residence.
Based on the current timing, if Jiraiya was either watching over Naruto or spying on him, it would be easy to locate him.
Sure enough, before Shihouin Naraku reached Naruto's home, his Observation Haki 'detected' Jiraiya's presence.
"Tap tap tap..."
Shihouin Naraku leaned against the rooftop wall, bent his fingers and tapped on a pipe, creating a crisp sound.
"Hmm?"
Jiraiya, who had been watching Uzumaki Naruto sleep, was startled and turned around immediately, instantly spotting the smiling Shihouin Naraku.
"Naraku? When did you get here?"
"Has your strength changed so much? I didn't even notice your approach."
Jiraiya looked at Naraku with surprise as he walked over. After so many years away, everyone had changed significantly.
"Because you've been so focused on Naruto, Master Jiraiya," Shihouin Naraku replied, placing his hands on the fence and glancing at the soundly sleeping Uzumaki Naruto. "Besides, if there were no progress after such a long time, wouldn't it have been a waste of your teachings?"
"Ha~ You're still so good with words."
Jiraiya looked Shihouin Naraku up and down, sighing: "I thought you had great talent initially, but I never expected you'd reach this level."
"It's been a long time. How about going for a drink?"
"Sure! Your treat!"
"Shouldn't the teacher treat his student to drinks? Besides, Master Jiraiya is quite wealthy."
"Who said that? Who said that?"
"..."
Shihouin Naraku couldn't help but laugh when he saw Jiraiya's feigned indignation.
This was exactly how Jiraiya had been when teaching him. Although he was a competent instructor and Shihouin Naraku had learned a great deal of knowledge from him, he had also been tricked by Jiraiya more than once.
All he could say was that Jiraiya was a good teacher who never seemed to have any real responsibilities!
...
At the pub, Shihouin Naraku and Jiraiya sat opposite each other.
"Konoha Village has changed so much. I almost couldn't find my way when I first returned."
Jiraiya sighed as he observed the patrons coming and going in the tavern. Because of the Chūnin Exam, the flow of people into Konoha Village had increased significantly.
Shihouin Naraku put down his glass and asked meaningfully, "After so many years away from home, have you found the child of destiny?"
"..."
Jiraiya fell suddenly silent. Because of the prophecy about the child of destiny, he had traveled across almost the entire ninja world, but had found nothing conclusive in all these years.
After so long, though, Jiraiya had grown accustomed to his search.
Rather than truly believing in the prophecy of the child of destiny, it might be more accurate to say that Jiraiya sincerely hoped the prophecy was real—otherwise all his years of searching would have been wasted.
"Ahem..." Shihouin Naraku changed the subject at the right moment. "Is Master Jiraiya planning to accept Uzumaki Naruto as a student?"
Jiraiya snorted proudly, "It's not that easy to become a student of the Toad Sage. I don't want to waste my time teaching a fool."
"I would rather have no students than have someone less worthy as a student of Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin."
This was indeed true—Jiraiya's students had made waves throughout the ninja world.
In Shihouin Naraku's opinion, Jiraiya had already found several children of destiny!
Namikaze Minato, Nagato, Yahiko, Uzumaki Naruto, and even Shihouin Naraku himself—weren't all these people 'children of destiny' in their own way?
If Namikaze Minato hadn't died suddenly and had continued as the Fourth Hokage, he would definitely have changed the outcome of the Uchiha clan's destruction. The ninja world might even have developed in completely different ways as a result.
It was just that various accidents had prevented these "children of destiny" from truly changing the world.
Perhaps the one who eventually succeeds will truly become the child of destiny promised by prophecy!
----------------
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