As the battle between Hanzo and the three Konoha shinobi raged on, Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan arrived at the scene, cautiously observing from a distance. The sheer force of the previous clash had drastically altered the terrain, and the trio had barely managed to withstand the aftermath. Though shaken, they were fortunate to escape serious harm.
If Uchiha Kiyo were present, he would undoubtedly call this phenomenon unscientific.
Witnessing such a high-level confrontation from so close, where even the battle's residual force could obliterate the surroundings, the fact that the three of them survived was nothing short of miraculous.
Hanzo, standing atop his massive salamander, had long since noticed the presence of the three young bystanders. However, he had chosen to ignore them. Orochimaru, on the other hand, had no intention of doing the same.
"The three of you over there, do you really think we wouldn't notice you?"
Orochimaru's chilling voice echoed across the battlefield.
Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan froze. With no other choice, they hesitantly stepped forward, walking toward Jiraiya. Even without exchanging words, they instinctively felt a sense of security around him, though they couldn't quite explain why.
As they drew closer, their eyes fell upon the forehead protectors adorning the three Konoha shinobi.
"Are you Konoha ninjas?" Yahiko asked, his voice steady despite the fear creeping into his heart.
"Huh? That's right," Jiraiya responded, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't expect three random kids to recognize our forehead protectors. But…" His gaze landed on Nagato. "That red hair of yours—it looks familiar."
Before Jiraiya could say more, Orochimaru's voice cut in with cold indifference.
"These three… just kill them."
Nagato and his friends shuddered. The sheer lack of emotion in Orochimaru's tone, combined with his sinister presence, sent a wave of fear through them.
Even Tsunade remained impassive. She had seen too many war orphans—lost, starving, and ultimately perishing. In her mind, death might be a mercy compared to what awaited them if left alone in this war-torn land.
Yahiko gritted his teeth and took a step forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Nagato and Konan.
"Wait! You Konoha ninjas claim to fight for peace, right? Then how can you kill innocent people like us so easily?"
Jiraiya hesitated.
There was something about Yahiko's words that resonated with him. The determination in his eyes, the conviction in his voice—it struck a chord.
But what truly caught Jiraiya's attention was something else.
Yellow hair.
Nagato's vibrant red hair was certainly notable, but Yahiko's yellow hair drew Jiraiya's focus.
The prophecy of the Great Toad Sage had always lingered in his mind, and one detail stood out: the Child of Destiny.
A child who would seek peace. A child he would guide.
Could this be him?
Jiraiya's mind raced with possibilities. Perhaps this was the moment he had been waiting for. Perhaps this was his chance to shape the future.
"Forget it," Jiraiya finally spoke, his voice firm. "I think these three are just pitiful war orphans."
Orochimaru shot him a sidelong glance but didn't argue. He had no interest in dealing with weaklings.
Tsunade, meanwhile, seemed more interested in Nagato's red hair. The color was unmistakable—a characteristic of the Uzumaki clan.
"I have no objections," she said, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity. "That red-haired kid—you're from the Uzumaki clan, aren't you? The Land of Whirlpools was once Konoha's ally. If you return with us, we'll take care of you. If you have talent, we can even train you as a shinobi."
Nagato tensed. The thought of going to Konoha repulsed him. His parents had been killed by Konoha shinobi—how could he ever trust them?
"No," he replied firmly. "I don't want to go to Konoha."
Tsunade frowned but didn't press the issue.
Yahiko, however, seemed to be lost in thought. Then, with newfound resolve, he looked up at Jiraiya.
"Can you teach us to be shinobi?" he asked. "I mean, real shinobi—like you."
Jiraiya arched an eyebrow. "You want to be shinobi?"
Yahiko nodded. "I want to become strong enough to change this cruel world. I want to create peace."
Orochimaru let out a short, amused laugh.
"Peace?" he scoffed. "Even the First Hokage couldn't achieve true peace, and you—a mere child—think you can?"
Tsunade was momentarily lost in thought at Orochimaru's words. Her grandfather, Hashirama Senju, had been the strongest shinobi of his time, yet even he had failed to bring lasting peace to the ninja world. The very idea of peace was… foolish.
But Jiraiya saw something else.
Yellow hair. A boy who dreamed of peace. A child he was destined to guide.
It all aligned with the prophecy.
The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became. If he truly was meant to train the Child of Destiny, then this was his chance.
Jiraiya turned to Orochimaru and Tsunade, his mind made up.
"Orochimaru, Tsunade—I want to stay and train these kids," he declared.
Tsunade stared at him, incredulous. "Are you serious, Jiraiya? We're still at war. Konoha needs every strong shinobi it has, and you want to stay behind for three random kids?"
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, studying Jiraiya carefully. Then, after a moment, he smirked.
"Let me guess—you think one of them is the Child of Destiny, don't you?"
Tsunade's expression shifted. Now it made sense.
Everyone in Konoha's upper ranks knew about Jiraiya's obsession with the prophecy. But to think that he'd believe the Child of Destiny was here, among three war orphans in the Land of Rain… it was difficult to accept.
Jiraiya, however, stood his ground.
"That's right. I believe Yahiko is the one from the prophecy. He has yellow hair, he dreams of peace, and I feel a connection to him. If the Great Toad Sage was right, then my role is to guide him."
Tsunade and Orochimaru exchanged glances.
Jiraiya was always stubborn when it came to these things.
Tsunade sighed. "Fine. If that's what you believe, I won't argue. But don't expect me to agree so easily."
Orochimaru simply shrugged. "Do whatever you want."
With that, the two Sannin turned and left, leaving Jiraiya behind with the three orphans.
Jiraiya approached Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan, placing a reassuring hand on Yahiko's shoulder.
"From now on," he said, "I'll be your teacher. I'll teach you what it means to be a shinobi."
Yahiko's face lit up. This was more than he had dared hope for.
He turned to Nagato and Konan, excitement gleaming in his eyes.
"Did you hear that? We're going to become strong shinobi!"
Nagato and Konan nodded, their expressions filled with determination.
Their journey as Jiraiya's students had begun.
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