Published at 3rd of November 2024 9:31 am

Chapter 170 The Shadows of the Third: A Hokage's Legacy, 3: A Web of Deceit

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Back in Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat alone in his office, the weight of his title feeling heavier than ever. Reports continued to flood in from the outskirts, each filled with troubling details about the strange disappearances and attacks. But no report was more anticipated than Jiraiya’s. He trusted his student to investigate with both strength and subtlety, but as the days dragged on, he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease.

At last, just as the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, a swirl of leaves filled the room as Jiraiya appeared, kneeling before his teacher. His face bore fresh bruises, and a deep cut was bandaged across his shoulder, a testament to the intensity of his mission.

"Jiraiya," Hiruzen said, his voice calm but laced with concern. "I see you’ve encountered some trouble."

Jiraiya nodded, his usual carefree expression replaced by one of grim seriousness. "Lord Hokage, I’ve encountered a group unlike anything we’ve faced before. They’re organized, well-trained, and fanatically loyal to their cause. And they’re targeting Konoha directly."

Hiruzen’s eyes darkened, his mind racing through possibilities. "Tell me everything."

Jiraiya took a steadying breath and recounted the encounter in the forest, describing the masked shinobi and their strange tactics, their willingness to sacrifice their own chakra to fuel their attacks, and, most unsettling of all, their cryptic warning about the fall of Konoha.

"Their skills are unusual," Jiraiya concluded. "They weren’t using ordinary techniques. It was like they were… programmed for this, as if they’d been molded specifically to counter our abilities. And the worst part is, they seemed almost eager to die for their cause."

Hiruzen listened intently, his expression unreadable. "A group of fanatics targeting Konoha from the shadows," he murmured, his fingers steepled in thought. "This isn’t just a band of mercenaries or rogue shinobi. It’s something larger. Coordinated."

As he pondered, Hiruzen recalled the rumors of secret organizations, groups hidden in the underbelly of the shinobi world, plotting in the shadows. But he had never given them much credence—until now. He couldn’t dismiss the possibility that one of these shadow organizations had finally made a move.

"They mentioned the fall of the Hokage’s era," Jiraiya said, his voice low. "Whoever they are, they’re set on overthrowing Konoha’s leadership. This could be the beginning of an uprising, something deeper than we can see."

Hiruzen met Jiraiya’s gaze, a hardened determination in his eyes. "If they believe they can bring about Konoha’s downfall, they will find that our will is far stronger than they imagine. But we cannot fight what we do not understand."

He stood, pacing to the window that overlooked the village. The lights of Konoha twinkled below, innocent and unaware of the darkness that threatened them. Hiruzen knew that whatever steps they took next would determine the fate of their village.

"We need to understand their motives," he said, turning back to Jiraiya. "You’ve encountered their members. Did you notice any markings, symbols, or phrases they used? Anything that might hint at their origin?"

Jiraiya thought back, his mind replaying the battle in the forest. "They didn’t reveal much, but…" His eyes narrowed. "One of them wore a small insignia on his cloak, barely visible. It looked like… a serpent, coiled around a broken branch."

Hiruzen’s expression shifted subtly, a spark of recognition in his eyes. The symbol was obscure, yet he remembered it well—a symbol of a once-forgotten clan, the Shirogane, known for their mastery over forbidden techniques and their extremist ideologies. He had thought they’d been wiped out long ago, their members scattered or killed after they attempted a rebellion against their home village.

"It’s possible we’re dealing with remnants of the Shirogane clan," Hiruzen said, his voice measured. "They were known for using forbidden jutsu, and they bore a hatred for all the shinobi villages, especially Konoha. But it’s been decades since their influence was last felt."

Jiraiya’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. "The Shirogane? I thought they were a myth, just a tale to scare academy students."

"They were real enough," Hiruzen replied grimly. "And if any of them survived, it’s not unthinkable that they would regroup, quietly building their strength, waiting for an opportunity to exact revenge on Konoha."

Jiraiya clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. "So they’ve been hiding in the shadows all this time, waiting for their chance. But why strike now? Why reveal themselves?"

Hiruzen shook his head. "I don’t know. But we need more information. The Shirogane were notorious for using forbidden jutsu, techniques that drain life force or require sacrifices. If they’ve revived those practices, then the entire village could be in danger."

He looked at Jiraiya, a decision forming in his mind. "Jiraiya, I need you to continue your investigation. This time, take a team. We need to track these remnants to their source and learn everything we can about their plans."

Jiraiya nodded, understanding the gravity of the task. "I’ll gather a few trusted shinobi and head back out immediately."

Hiruzen placed a hand on his shoulder, his eyes softening. "Be careful, Jiraiya. The Shirogane are ruthless and cunning. Do not underestimate them."

_______________________________________________________________

Later that night, Jiraiya gathered his team—three seasoned jonin who had experience with infiltration and reconnaissance. Among them was Shikaku Nara, a strategic genius whose calm, calculating mind made him an invaluable asset, as well as Inoichi Yamanaka, whose mind-transfer jutsu could potentially extract information from captured enemies.

The team set out under the cover of darkness, slipping through the village gates and vanishing into the night. They moved swiftly through the forest, retracing Jiraiya’s previous path to the location of his last encounter. As they reached the clearing, the air grew thick with an eerie silence, broken only by the rustling leaves.

Jiraiya raised a hand, signaling the team to stop. "This is where I fought them last time," he whispered. "Stay alert. They’re experts at hiding."

The team fanned out, each one silently scanning the area for signs of movement. Shikaku knelt beside a tree, his fingers tracing the faint scorch marks left by the black flames Jiraiya had described. "These aren’t ordinary flames," he murmured. "They have an unusual chakra signature, something dark and consuming."

Inoichi reached out, focusing his chakra to scan for residual thoughts or memories left by the fallen enemy shinobi. His brow furrowed in concentration, but after a few minutes, he looked up, shaking his head. "I’m picking up faint traces, but it’s like they’ve been erased—deliberately wiped. These shinobi must undergo some kind of mental conditioning or sealing. Their minds are blank."

"Fanatics," Shikaku muttered, a look of distaste crossing his face. "They’re trained to give everything for their cause, even their memories."

Jiraiya clenched his fists. This was worse than he’d thought. These were not only highly trained shinobi, but zealots who’d been stripped of their very identities, reshaped solely to serve their mysterious purpose.

As they continued their investigation, Jiraiya caught sight of something unusual—a small, folded paper pinned to the trunk of a tree, partially hidden by leaves. He stepped closer, carefully unfolding it. Inside, written in scrawled kanji, was a message:

"To the Hokage of Konoha: We are the ones who remember the shadows you cast. Prepare yourself, for the village you love will soon burn, and your era will end. The Shirogane Clan has returned."

Jiraiya’s face hardened, his eyes narrowing as he passed the note to Shikaku, who read it with a grim expression.

"They’re taunting us," Shikaku said quietly. "Whoever they are, they’re ready to face us head-on."

"They’re making a declaration of war," Jiraiya replied, his voice tense. "And they want us to know it."

Inoichi looked around, scanning the shadows. "Then they’re likely watching us right now."

At his words, a dozen masked shinobi emerged from the surrounding trees, their eyes gleaming with malevolent intent. Jiraiya and his team tensed, preparing for the inevitable battle, the weight of the Shirogane’s threat sinking in fully.

This was only the beginning.

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