Chapter 95: Chapter 93: Jiraiya's Changing Mindset
Chapter 93: Jiraiya's Changing Mindset
As Uchiha Yi's convoy approached the New Leaf Village, he deliberately slowed down the vehicles and increased the volume of the booming music. His aim was clear: to ensure that everyone could hear his arrival from as far as possible.
What could have taken minutes instead stretched out into a deliberately ostentatious ten-minute approach, exuding an air of grandeur reminiscent of the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
With a loud screech of brakes, the convoy finally arrived at the gates of New Leaf Village.
"So many people here… are you all gathered to welcome me?"
As the convoy came to a halt, Uchiha Yi rolled down the window and stepped out of his vehicle with a light chuckle, his confident demeanor radiating across the crowd.
However, no one responded to his quip.
All eyes were glued to what happened next: the sleek cars began transforming. Panels shifted, parts rotated, and mechanisms reconfigured, dazzling the crowd with a mechanical symphony of movements.
Within seconds, the vehicles had transformed into towering steel giants, each over three meters tall.
For the crowd, most of whom barely stood at 1.8 meters, these mechanical titans were nothing short of awe-inspiring.
The shock and admiration were palpable. The men marveled at the strength and craftsmanship, their eyes sparkling with excitement, secretly wishing for their own steel guardian. Meanwhile, the women's gazes shifted to Uchiha Yi himself.
Unlike the typical gaudy aesthetics of shinobi, Uchiha Yi's short, clean-cut hair complemented his flawless, chiseled face. His perfect proportions and aura of confidence seemed to defy reality, presenting him as an unattainable paragon of masculinity.
Each movement, every glance, seemed to pierce straight into their hearts, embodying their fantasies of the ideal partner.
"Welcome to New Leaf Village, future leader of Amegakure!"
Tsunade's tone was forcedly polite as she stepped forward to greet Uchiha Yi. Despite the formalities, her mind couldn't help but flash back to their last encounter.
The memory of being humiliated during her visit to Amegakure years ago still burned in her chest. Uchiha Yi had mocked her outright, nicknaming her "big milk cow," and left her boiling with indignation.
But Tsunade knew better than to let her anger get the best of her now. She kept her composure and greeted him with a strained smile, maintaining her dignity as the Fifth Hokage.
"Ah, so it's the Big—"
Uchiha Yi turned to face Tsunade and almost slipped up, but she lunged forward, covering his mouth before he could finish the sentence.
Tsunade, not caring about the bewildered looks from those around them, hurriedly dragged Uchiha Yi away from the scene.
"Um... our captain's gone. What should we do now?"
Watching the sudden turn of events, Karin glared in frustration at Tsunade for stealing her "husband."
Feeling shy in the crowded space, Hinata moved closer to Karin and hesitantly asked, "Should we… follow them?"
"Of course! Let's go!" Karin decided without hesitation, quickly chasing after them.
Hinata followed, reluctant to stay alone in the crowd, while Haku trailed behind with his usual calm demeanor.
Meanwhile, the attendants accompanying them stayed behind to coordinate with the New Leaf officials.
---
"Hey, Sasuke! Look at those robots! They're so cool!"
In the crowd, Naruto excitedly tugged at Sasuke, pointing at the towering steel giants.
"I see them. Stop yelling," Sasuke replied curtly.
Despite his calm façade, Sasuke was equally awestruck by the mechanical behemoths. However, he had learned to mask his emotions after years of suppressing his feelings.
Back during Sarutobi Hiruzen's tenure, when Uchiha Yi revealed the truth about the Uchiha massacre, Sasuke found himself under constant scrutiny.
The pressure from the Leaf's ANBU, coupled with the interrogations, taught him to hide his emotions, lest he say the wrong thing and jeopardize his survival.
"Hey, Sasuke," Naruto began again, his tone curious. "I heard someone say that guy's name is Uchiha Yi. Is he one of your clansmen?"
"I've heard the name before… let me think," Sasuke replied.
He vaguely remembered Uchiha Yi from his clan. Once known as part of the "Twin Pillars of Uchiha" alongside Itachi, Yi had a reputation that wasn't entirely positive.
After a brief moment of thought, Sasuke recalled more details.
But one question lingered: how did Uchiha Yi escape the massacre?
The thought dragged Sasuke back to that fateful, blood-soaked night—the night that shaped his life's mission of revenge.
"The man who killed my clan… I'll kill him!" Sasuke muttered, his voice trembling with repressed rage.
"Sasuke? Are you okay?"
Naruto, perceptive as ever, noticed the shift in Sasuke's mood and grew concerned.
"I'm fine," Sasuke replied curtly, shutting down the conversation and walking away.
"Wait for me, Sasuke!" Naruto called out, quickly chasing after him.
Left behind, Sakura felt disheartened. In their team dynamic, she always felt like the weakest link.
---
"Cheer up, Sakura," came a familiar voice.
Turning, Sakura saw Jiraiya approaching.
"You have your strengths too. Don't be too hard on yourself," he said with a reassuring smile.
The destruction of the old Leaf Village and Sarutobi Hiruzen's death had changed Jiraiya profoundly.
Uchiha Yi's scathing criticisms during their encounter also forced him to reflect on his failures.
After much internal struggle, Jiraiya decided to put aside his search for the Child of Prophecy and focus on rebuilding Leaf. He took Naruto under his wing, hoping to rectify his past mistakes and guide the village's next generation.
Now, Jiraiya often lamented the choices that had led them here.
"All this chaos," he sighed to himself, "all because of the Third's decisions. What a mess."
At first, Jiraiya had been consumed by anger and hatred, vowing to avenge Sarutobi Hiruzen's death.
But after discovering that Uchiha Yi was the one responsible, Jiraiya secretly began spreading rumors about Amegakure possessing the Six Paths Sage's treasure, hoping to incite unrest.
However, Tsunade caught wind of his actions and confronted him. She warned him of the dangers, especially if Uchiha Yi learned the truth.
Jiraiya ultimately realized his folly. His actions not only endangered Tsunade but also went against his own beliefs.
The incident forced Jiraiya to reassess his perspective.
Over time, he let go of his hatred and began to reflect objectively on the events that had transpired.
Now, as he watched the consequences of Sarutobi Hiruzen's actions unfold, Jiraiya couldn't help but feel a deep sadness.
If only things had been different. If only the Uchiha hadn't been destroyed, perhaps Leaf wouldn't have fallen to such ruin.
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