88 The Changing Tide!

{Hokage's Office, Administrative building, Konohagakure}

{5:21 PM, 6th July 13 Yrs ANB}

{3rd Person POV}

"You took your sweet time returning," Hiruzen spoke when he sensed the familiar chakra signature appearing on his window. Even after all these years Hiruzen could not help but sigh in melancholy at Jiraiya's antics.

"I didn't know you were going to start a war in your old age, sensei." Jiraiya grinned as he hopped into the room. 

The master student pair looked at each other, Jiraiya suppressed the nostalgia when he saw his sensei's wrinkled face. He knew at the back of his mind that his sensei was getting old, but seeing it was different altogether. He really looked too fragile in this moment even though Jiraiya knew that he might be able to kick his ass without the sage mode.

Getting past the emotional things and bulldozing through awkwardness was a special charm that Jiraiya had developed, and for sensei, he knew just what to do. He pulled out an orange-colored book from his pocket and threw it to his sensei.

"Icha Icha Innocence!" Hiruzen shouted as his eyes widened, this book was supposed to be released around the world after the chunin exams, but due to the current circumstances, the possibility of getting one was getting more and more unlikely.

"Hahaha, that's where you are wrong old man. This is a special edition of my new masterpiece, Icha Icha Innocence: Special Edition. A story of pure love between a rouge ronin roaming around the world in search of purpose and an innocent 18-year-old village girl dreaming about a bigger world." Jiraiya waved his hands animatedly. 

Shikaku Nara sighed, he came to report about the ambushes across the borders and this was the scene he last expected to see. But still the sense of relief he felt was enough for him to shut up. He stared at Jiraya as he quite dramatically explained the plot point where the main character was obviously himself.

'To think these two are the strongest shinobi present in the village...' Shikaku sighed.

"This is a special edition just for you old man. It contains a short story about a middle-aged leader named Hiruzan and his secretary Shizuka and how they overcame the barriers put up by society to achieve pure innocent love... Plus it is signed by me, Jiraiya the great toad sage of Mount Myoboku." 

...

'There is nothing innocent about that story and his books... Can I get a copy?' Shikaku thought. 

The scene in front of him lasted for a few seconds before Hiruzen coughed as he wiped the small nosebleed from thinking about the special edition story. He nodded at Shikaku to continue his report.

"...Kazuki Outpost was attacked earlier today. It was Suna this time as well." Shikaku spoke.

Jiraiya collected his overzealous personality as he walked over to Hiruzen's desk. He laid out a map in front of the old man and spoke, "It's not just Suna who is moving, Iwa and Kumo have been getting into scuffles as well. The tensions are high but the reason that they haven't broken out in war is the large body of water separating them. Though judging by the way things have been looking, a war is not far off..."

Shikaku walked over and looked at the map, it was a rough sketch of the elemental nations with different colors marking the point of infringement of various countries into each other's lands.

"And I heard rumors floating going around that we assassinated the son of the Yondaime Kazekage and their Jinchuriki?" Jiraiya questioned.

"No those must be the rumors spread around by Suna to keep the morale up and get everyone ready for the war. Gaara tried to attack a genin participating in the chunins exams and died in self-defense." Hiruzen replied.

Jiraiya nodded but then he paused, "A genin killed a Jinchuriki?" 

"Yeah, well he's more likely around Jonin level in strength," Hiruzen admitted. Even he was a bit surprised at how quickly Ren grew up. Two years to go from Genin to Jonin level was something that only 3 people have ever done. Two of them went on to become S-Rank shinobi while the third one was an Elite Jonin.

Jiraiya had some more questions but right now the problem was the approaching war. He was feeling a bit helpless as well, normally because of his spy network he would have gotten an early warning in case of things like this but everything happened too quickly. There was no hint of warning and now Suna's armies were already marching toward them.

'They were a little too prepared, it took them just 4 days to mobilize at least 3 battalions.' Jiraiya thought. He suspected foul play but for now, he focused on asking Sensei some questions.

"Have you exchanged some letters with the Kazekage, is there any way to stop this aggression?" Jiraiya asked.

Hiruzen shook his head and took out a scroll from his desk and gave it to Jiraiya. "I tried to, but they want Ren's head handed over, along with a 20% mission revenue from Konoha for the next five years."

"Both of these conditions are kind of nonnegotiable, and Suna looks like they won't back down so this war is happening." Hiruzen sighed. As Jiraiya read through the scroll an ANBU knocked on the door.

~Knock~ ~Bam~ ~Knock~ ~Knock~ ~Bam~

"Come in," Hiruzen spoke, the code of knocking was for special emergencies only.

An ANBU with a bear mask walked into the room and behind him was a young man dressed in black tactical gear. It was his bright red Kitsune mask that stood out and caused Hiruzen to lean forward in his seat.

Hiruzen recognized the clothes and the mask so he waved the ANBU away and asked, "Ren you're back?"

Before handing over the mission he hadn't talked to Ren, they had communicated through Hayate so he hadn't judged Ren's reaction to the mission. There were only so many things his crystal ball could show.

"No just a shadow clone," Ren's clone spoke as he looked at the white-haired man for a bit, his face was covered by a mask so his questioning look was hidden but Hiruzen understood what he meant.

"It's okay he's my student Jiraiya," Hiruzen replied.

Ren nodded and he removed his mask, he took a deep breath and sighed, "I don't have much chakra left. Boss sent me to tell you about some new developments."

Hiruzen nodded, "I got the news, you attacked the 3 shops. It was a good idea to show your face and fight a couple of chunins in the second shop. That would work in our favor, now you just need to hide for a bit, if the war really blows over I'll send you a summon back, though you would have to work in ANBU for the duration of the war."

'From the way it's looking, this is the optimal scenario...' Hiruzen thought. Ren would be safe in the ANBU and with his ability, Konoha would have an advantage in the war.

...

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AN - Having a bad start to the week, too much work in the office. I'll try to post as much as I can write!

P.S- Read 20 Chapters ahead at Pàtreon.com/Version_401.