Naruto: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 274: Long Time No See, Jiraiya

"Is what you said true, Hokage?"

Unable to dwell on the matters of the Four-Tails and Five-Tails jinchūriki any longer, Ōnoki's pupils contracted sharply as he leaned forward, eyes fixed intently on Tsunade.

"This is the dying message of the Great Toad Sage," Tsunade said seriously. "I also wish it were false. But based on the current information, everything is heading towards the worst-case scenario."

"The Great Toad Sage's dying message..."

Ōnoki slowly sat back down with a heavy expression.

Young people might not have much impression of the Great Toad Sage, but he, having lived for seventy or eighty years, was well aware of the strength of Myōboku Mountain, one of the three great sacred places. Especially its leader, the Great Toad Sage, who had lived for a thousand years and witnessed the development of the ninja world, was rumored to have eyes that could see the future, akin to a living "Sage of Six Paths."

He naturally chose to believe such an existence's dying message.

But could Hagoromo Gengetsu really kill the Great Toad Sage?

Even knowing Hagoromo Gengetsu's strength during the Warring States Period, Ōnoki still found it unbelievable.

At this moment, A also loudly agreed, "The One-Tail, Two-Tails, and Eight-Tails were captured on the same day. Akatsuki members were present at the scene, as well as Hagoromo Gengetsu's subordinate Uchiha Sasuke. Additionally, Hagoromo Gengetsu himself attempted to capture the Nine-Tails but failed. There's no need for further analysis; Hagoromo Gengetsu is behind all of this."

Chiyo, who temporarily replaced the captured Fifth Kazekage, Gaara, had a dimming light in her eyes upon hearing this.

Gaara...

If the enemy was the Akatsuki, there might still be a chance to rescue the Kazekage.

But now it seemed that Hagoromo Gengetsu had already taken control of Akatsuki.

With the true mastermind being the one who single-handedly destroyed Myōboku Mountain, Chiyo knew that Gaara's chances of survival were virtually nil.

This was also why Tsunade did not continue to send Team Three and Team Seven for support.

On the other side, as Mei Terumī gradually accepted the reality through Tsunade's explanation and answers, she suddenly asked:

"What exactly is the Ten-Tails? And who is the progenitor of chakra? Is it the Sage of Six Paths?"

Apart from Tsunade, who had learned earlier, everyone else present had never heard of the Ten-Tails, let alone the progenitor of chakra.

Tsunade explained, "According to the Great Toad Sage's dying message, the Ten-Tails is the true form of the nine tailed beasts when combined. It is an entity capable of destroying the world. As for the progenitor of chakra, the Great Toad Sage did not elaborate, only describing it with one sentence: 'The day it descends upon the ninja world will be the day of the ninja world's destruction.'"

Mei Terumī's face turned grave upon hearing this.

Not just her; everyone else was also filled with heaviness and anxiety.

Hagoromo Gengetsu, Akatsuki, Uchiha, Hagoromo, Ten-Tails, progenitor of chakra...

Just thinking about facing so many terrifying enemies ahead gave them a headache.

Can we really win?

Tsunade saw this and decisively proposed the plan for Reanimation.

As she had anticipated, many people immediately rejected it.

"Disturbing the rest of our predecessors and making the dead fight for us is a disgrace to all current ninjas!" A slammed his right hand on the desk, vehemently rejecting it.

"Reanimation is an evil technique that should never have existed," Mei Terumī also frowned.

"What if Orochimaru, that traitor, turns against us?" Ōnoki thought further.

Having lived long enough, Ōnoki did not have much of a problem with reviving his predecessors, most of whom were his juniors. He just found it difficult to trust someone like Orochimaru.

Chiyo was quite interested in Tsunade's proposal.

The abduction of the Fifth Kazekage under the watchful eyes of countless villagers had plunged Sunagakure's reputation and strength to its lowest point. They couldn't afford too much turmoil.

Having the resurrected dead bear some of the burden of combat was indeed a good option for Sunagakure.

As for public opinion pressure...

She wasn't the Kazekage, just an old woman ready to meet her end. What did it matter if people scolded her or tarnished her reputation?

Thus, Chiyo joined Tsunade's side.

Facing the others' refusals, Tsunade did not give up.

She believed that under unprecedented and even desperate pressure, everyone would know what choice to make.

After all, ninjas are not samurai; they don't have so many rules and moral restrictions.

A fierce debate among the Four Kage and Chiyo ensued.

The daimyōs of the Five Great Nations watched as bystanders.

Whether the combatants were alive or dead didn't matter to them, as long as they could defeat the enemy.

All they could do was provide funding and logistical support.

As for the war...

They left that to the professionals.

While the Five Kage Summit was in heated discussion about Orochimaru, Konoha had already begun the process of reviving him.

In a sealed chamber covered in sealing jutsu, the daimyo's son, Kohito, stood at the center, surrounded by several squads of silent ANBU ninjas.

Although Orochimaru had instructed Kohito to come to Konoha's headquarters, choosing this location for his resurrection to some extent showed his intentions, and Konoha also had thoughts of cooperation, the precaution remained.

Especially against Orochimaru, known for his cunning and treachery.

No one knew what he truly intended.

Soon, Jiraiya arrived with a heinous death row inmate and placed him beside Kohito.

After a series of preparations, following the method dictated by Orochimaru through Kohito, Jiraiya quickly formed hand seals.

Finally, as he pressed his right hand onto the curse mark on Kohito's neck, the black curse mark heated up and turned red.

The three compact tomoe suddenly scattered.

Seeing this, Jiraiya pulled his right hand back.

Under the watchful eyes of all the ANBU, a white-scaled snake began to emerge bit by bit from the curse mark.

When the entire snake body had left Kohito's neck, it reared its head, its cold, unfeeling golden slit-pupil eyes first glancing at Jiraiya nearby, then scanning the surrounding ANBU.

Finally, its gaze turned to Kohito, understanding dawning in those slit-pupil eyes. Without further delay, it quickly moved to the death row inmate's side and forcibly entered his mouth.

Soon, the death row inmate stood up.

Visibly, his body, appearance, and even clothes underwent drastic changes.

Moments later.

Under the instinctive combat postures of the ANBU.

The transformation completed, revealing a pale-skinned, black-haired Orochimaru with golden slit-pupil eyes, a blue-green tomoe-shaped earring, and a shimenawa tied around his waist. He looked at the nearby Jiraiya, licked his lips with his long tongue, and spoke in his characteristic raspy voice:

"Long time no see, Jiraiya."