Chapter 83: The Changing Prophecy
While Uchiha Douguang and Kakashi were leading a squad to eliminate Kirigakure rogue ninja along the border, the seven-day detention of Jiraiya came to an end.
Escorted politely out of the newly built detention center by two Uchiha clan members, Jiraiya wasted no time and went straight to the Hokage's office.
When he arrived, Hiruzen Sarutobi was buried in paperwork. Seeing Jiraiya's cheeky grin upon entering, Hiruzen immediately lost his composure.
"Do you even realize what you've done? One of the Legendary Sannin, arrested for peeping!"
"Heh, you think I wanted to be caught, old man? If you'd just let me borrow your crystal ball, this never would've happened," Jiraiya replied, totally unrepentant.
"That jutsu is not for peeping!" Hiruzen fumed.
"Oh, come on! Don't act like you've never used it that way!" Jiraiya grinned.
Hiruzen exhaled deeply and massaged his temples. This brat had a knack for riling him up in just three sentences, a talent that hadn't dulled with age.
"Fine," Jiraiya said more seriously. "Tell me—what's so urgent that you called me back?"
"You want to learn the Telescope Technique? I can teach you," Hiruzen offered.
Immediately, Jiraiya's expression turned gleeful. "Finally! I knew it! I'm your true successor after all!"
Ignoring him, Hiruzen explained, "That technique was developed by the Second Hokage for monitoring village threats. It's a jutsu exclusive to the Hokage. As long as you—"
"Yeah, I'm out," Jiraiya said, already turning to leave.
"Get back here!" Hiruzen slammed the desk.
Jiraiya paused with a sigh and turned around. "You know I'm not suited to be Hokage."
"I'm too old, Jiraiya. I won't be able to protect the village much longer," Hiruzen said.
"Sensei, I really can't. The Fourth was my student—how can the teacher become the Fifth?"
Seeing that Hiruzen wasn't joking, Jiraiya grew more solemn, though he didn't accept the offer.
Lighting a pipe, Hiruzen sighed again.
"You really ought to quit smoking if you know you're getting old," Jiraiya remarked. "Want me to go find Tsunade instead?"
"Now's not the time to pass the buck. The village needs you," Hiruzen said seriously. "Do you know why I called you back in such a hurry?"
Jiraiya shook his head.
"You've met the new Uchiha clan head, haven't you?"
"Of course," Jiraiya nodded. "Clan Leader Douguang is quite a character."
Even after being detained for a week, the Police Force had treated him well, and he had shared drinks with Douguang during their banquet. He had a good impression of the man.
"Actually," Jiraiya continued, slapping his forehead, "I think Douguang would make a great Fifth Hokage. Young, powerful, accomplished in the Third Shinobi War—he has all the qualifications."
"If only things were that simple," Hiruzen said grimly. "That man possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan—eyes like Madara's."
That made Jiraiya freeze.
Hiruzen then detailed everything Douguang had done recently—from taking Shisui's eyes to the political upheaval he had caused.
Jiraiya was visibly shaken. He never imagined that the warm, charming man he'd chatted with over drinks could wield such influence and ruthlessness behind the scenes.
"Both Shisui and Itachi have told me he harbors great ambition," Hiruzen added. "I can't entrust the village to someone like that. But the truth is… he now commands an enormous amount of power. Even Kakashi has sided with him."
"Old man, you only have yourself to blame when it comes to Kakashi," Jiraiya said, mocking him a little.
"I know," Hiruzen admitted. "That's why I'll be stepping down. But before I do, I need you to stand up and counterbalance Douguang's ambition."
Hiruzen's voice grew soft, almost pleading.
Seeing his mentor in such a vulnerable state, Jiraiya couldn't bring himself to say no.
"…Let me think about it," he sighed. "Oh right, give me a photo of Douguang."
Hiruzen handed over a profile shot of Uchiha Douguang. Taking the photo, Jiraiya turned to leave. Just then, Hiruzen spoke again.
"You're planning to consult Mount Myōboku before deciding, aren't you?"
Jiraiya froze for a moment but didn't respond. He simply picked up his pace and left the Hokage's office.
As the door slowly closed behind him, Hiruzen's eyes flickered with uncertainty. Is this truly the right choice?
—
Later that day, Jiraiya rented a room in a village inn and summoned a messenger toad.
"Tell Fukasaku I wish to see the Great Toad Sage."
The messenger toad dispelled itself and returned to Mount Myōboku. Jiraiya waited patiently.
Soon, he felt the reverse summoning jutsu activate. He accepted the call and vanished from the inn in a soft whoosh.
At Mount Myōboku, Fukasaku and Shima welcomed him.
"You seem troubled, Jiraiya-boy. What's going on?" Fukasaku asked.
"I need to consult the Great Toad Sage," Jiraiya said seriously.
"He may still be asleep… but come with us," Fukasaku said, leading him deep into the sacred area.
Arriving at the cave entrance of the Great Toad Sage, Fukasaku went in alone to check. A short while later, he returned.
"He's awake. He'll see you now."
Inside, Jiraiya kneeled before the ancient sage, but the usual ritual began again.
"Who are you?" the old toad asked.
Normally, Jiraiya would play along. But today, he wasn't in the mood.
Shima, noticing this, snapped, "Old geezer! Jiraiya's got serious business. Cut the games!"
"Oh, Jiraiya? I remember now," the Great Toad Sage said. "I was just about to summon you myself."
"The prophecy… it's changed, hasn't it?" Jiraiya asked immediately.
"Yes," the old sage nodded. "The future I once saw so clearly has become murky. The previous prophecy is now veering into the unknown. This… has never happened before."
"The unknown?" Jiraiya was stunned. "Why? What about the Child of Prophecy?"
"I don't know. I can't see through the chaos," the sage replied.
The gravity of those words weighed heavily on Jiraiya. The timing of this disturbance coincided almost perfectly with Uchiha Douguang's rise in the village.
"Great Toad Sage… can this person become Hokage?" Jiraiya handed over Douguang's photo.
"I can't say," the sage answered without even looking. "That's a matter for Konoha to decide."
"I see…" Jiraiya retrieved the photo. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "If the original prophecy holds true, the Child of Prophecy will bring peace to the ninja world, correct?"
"In the best-case scenario," the sage said. "But if that child is not guided properly, they could bring destruction instead."
"I understand." Jiraiya nodded, mind made up.
If Douguang is the reason the prophecy has changed… then I must stop him and restore the original future, Jiraiya thought.
In the face of a blurry, uncertain future, Jiraiya instinctively clung to the once-clear path. Though he had never feared death or battle, he feared the unknown. That was why he'd always put his faith in prophecy—and had spent his life searching for the one foretold.
After Jiraiya left, Shima returned to the Great Toad Sage.
"Old geezer."
The sage remained silent, as though he were asleep.
"You were hiding something from him," Shima said bluntly. "Don't think I didn't notice. Don't end up leading Jiraiya into a trap. He's done a lot for this place."
Without waiting for a response, Shima hopped away.
Only after she left did the Great Toad Sage slowly open his eyes. "Was it that obvious?" he muttered.
Indeed, Shima was right—he had withheld the truth.
His dream had turned chaotic, yes. But it wasn't the first time.
Back when he first gained the ability to foresee the future, he had also encountered this phenomenon—just before the arrival of two celestial beings from beyond this world.
"I wonder what this new chaos means this time…" he sighed.
—
That evening, Jiraiya returned to Hiruzen's office with a resolute expression.
"Old man, I'll help—but only for a while. Once a suitable Sixth Hokage is found, I'm stepping down."
"Understood." Hiruzen nodded, pleased to see Jiraiya's frivolous attitude finally vanish.
"For now, you'll serve as Hokage advisor," Hiruzen continued. "Once you're familiar with village affairs, I'll formally recommend you as the Fifth Hokage to the daimyo."
"I got it," Jiraiya replied.
"If you have any questions, consult Shikaku. Also, now that you've made your decision… maybe tone down your habits a bit," Hiruzen said meaningfully.
"Enough nagging!" Jiraiya waved him off. "Advisor, got it. I'll report for duty tomorrow."
After Jiraiya left, Hiruzen summoned Nara Shikaku.
"You called, Lord Hokage?" Shikaku asked, bowing.
"Sit," Hiruzen gestured to the seat across from him.
Once seated, Hiruzen paused before saying, "Shikaku, I've appointed Jiraiya to serve as Hokage Advisor."
Shikaku's eyes flashed with a glimmer of surprise, but he quickly masked it.
"Has Jiraiya-sama returned to the village?"
"Yes," Hiruzen said. "He's wandered long enough. It's time he started helping this old man manage things."
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