Konoha.
Hokage Office.
"I didn't expect so much to happen in just three years; guess I missed out on a lot Haha!!"
Said the short white haired man while laughing as his eyes that had red lines extending under them focused on the man who sat on the hokage seat, immense emotion in them.
Jiraiya after staying at land of rain for three years finally returned to the village today and upon arriving he learned about everything that happened within the last few years, the biggest news his sensei stepping down and kazuki aoyama succeeding him.
"I'm pretty sure you went through enough adventures outside to make up for that, Jiraiya-San. I mean not every shinobi has enough idle time to write a book."
Said Kazuki in response while taking out a book from under the table with an interesting look on his face, jiraiya's eyes widening seeing the book.
"You… you read my book… I mean it didn't really sell well and not even one person showed up at the book signing event… Haha… I'm truly surprised"
Stuttered Jiraiya while speaking, obvious joy on his face after seeing the book he wrote in Kazuki's hands.
"The Tale of an Utterly Gutsy Shinobi" a book published by Jiraiya which represented his inner wishes for the ninja world but the book full of ideals didn't really sell well in this realistic world of ninjas.
"It's a great book but I can see why it didn't get popular; the hearts that yearn for power won't sit well with something that shows sacrifice and understanding each other"
Said Kazuki with a deep look in his eyes, Jiraiya clearly shaking a little as not expecting such words from him.
There was a momentary silence in the office as it took some time for Jiraiya to digest Kazuki's words, eventually bringing a serious look on his face and speaking out.
"What about you? Does it sit well with you?" Asked Jiraiya while raising his head to look straight at Kazuki, hope in his eyes that gazed at the latter.
Jiraiya's question seem to have caught kazuki by surprise a little, after a momentary silence curving his lips for a smile and responding.
"Of course! A world with no conflict and where everyone understands each other; I wish it was truly possible to create that"
Answered Kazuki with a bright smile on his face and his eyes closed, a look of joy flashing at Jiraiya's face at his answer.
"Don't be that pessimistic; I believe one day someone will surely be able to create a world like that. The child of prophecy will surely find an answer to all this conflict."
Jiraiya from his little talk with kazuki seems to find the latter a lot like himself, idealistic and yearning for peace so he couldn't help but open up to him a little and talk more on this topic.
Chuckle
"I hope so"
Seeing Jiraiya so open to him suddenly Kazuki chuckled and responded while shaking his head.
The mention of the child of prophecy seem to remind Jiraiya of something important as well as the joyful look on his face vanished quickly, replaced by a dead serious one.
"Because I was busy in war and after that stayed back to take care of some war orphans; I wasn't able to give this matter much time but now it's time I do so"
"I need the help of the village to look for someone who might turn out to be the doom of the world; It can be truly disastrous if we failed to look for him"
Told Jiraiya with some fear and dread easy to spot in his tone; four years ago the great toad sage went into a coma while peering through the future and haven't woken up ever since.
But that effort to look into the future didn't turn out to be a complete failure as the great toad sage revealed some important information, about killing a deadly enemy who would be a danger to whole world.
"Who?"
Kazuki's eyes narrowed a little at his words as he inquired in a slightly tense tone, Jiraiya at his question, narrating everything that occurred four years ago.
"All we know about him is that he has a mark on his forehead; please assign a separate squad to look for him."
Finished Jiraiya his explanation with a request to look for that man again though Kazuki sat silent on the spot, his mind seem to be working at a speed of light.
"Crimson Eclipse Binds: A Lone Wanderer Unites the Fractured World"
Muttered Kazuki as slowly a look of realization began to appear in his eyes.
Between Love and power, what will the world choose?
"Ha…Ha…
Eventually these words rang in his head as finally Kazuki seem to understand everything, disappointment deep in his eyes as a small laugh couldn't help but escape his mouth.
"Don't worry, Jiraiya-San; I'll immediately assign a squad to search for him everywhere."
Jiraiya showed a confused look at Kazuki suddenly laughing, though the latter quickly returned to a calm state and assured him with a smile.
Read chapters ahead on p@treon.com/Gojo6666.