Naruto: Konoha Spring of the Uchiha Prodigies

[If the changes in the future are caused by Uchiha Touko, then I must stop him and bring the future back to its original state.] Jiraiya thought to himself.

Compared to the chaotic unknown after the change, Jiraiya instinctively chose the originally clear future. He didn't want to take that risk. Or rather, this hero who had never been afraid of battle and was fearless of life and death lacked the courage to face the unknown. This is why he had placed his hopes on the destined person in the prophecy for so many years and searched for him so hard. What he was pursuing was the certain future that he hoped for.

After sending Jiraiya off from Mount Myōboku, Shima the Sage came to the Great Toad Sage.

“Old man,” Shima called out.

The Great Toad Sage did not respond and seemed to have fallen back into a deep sleep, but Shima Sage did not care and continued to speak: "Old man, I know you are still awake. Is there something you are hiding from Jiraiya today? I always felt that something was wrong with you when you were talking to him."

"Old man, Jiraiya has done a lot for Mount Myōboku over the years, don't ruin him." After saying this, Shima hopped away from his cave without waiting for the Great Toad Sage's reaction.

After Shima the Sage left, the Great Toad Sage on the throne slowly opened his eyes and muttered to himself, "Is it that obvious?"

Clearly, Shima's intuition was correct; the Great Toad Sage was indeed hiding something from Jiraiya.

It's true that his precognitive dream turned into a complete mess, but this wasn't the first time he'd encountered this situation.

Long before the Sage of Six Paths was born, he comprehended Sage Techniques from natural energy. After establishing the sacred Mount Myōboku, he mastered this technique for seeing into the future. However, not long after, during his training, he encountered a situation where the future became chaotic. At first, he thought it was just a mistake in his training, until soon after, two visitors from outer space arrived in the Shinobi World.

"I wonder what exactly is going on this time?" the Great Toad Immortal sighed inwardly.

……

In the evening, Jiraiya, having made his decision, returned to Hiruzen Sarutobi's office.

"Old man, let me make this clear first: I can only help you for a while. Once a suitable candidate for the Sixth Hokage is found, I will step down," Jiraiya said bluntly.

“Alright.” Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Jiraiya, whose face had lost all trace of frivolity, nodded, and then said, “Then, you will serve as the Hokage advisor for now. After all, you haven’t been in the village for so many years. Once you are familiar with the affairs of the village, I will nominate you with the Daimyo to become the Fifth Hokage.”

"I understand," Jiraiya said.

"If you have any questions, ask Shikaku. Also, now that you've made your decision, you'd better tone down your hobbies a bit," Hiruzen Sarutobi instructed.

"Alright, alright, stop nagging." Jiraiya waved his hand. "Advisor, right? I understand. I'll come to work tomorrow."

After Jiraiya left, Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Shikaku Nara, who was serving as the Hokage's assistant.

"Lord Hokage, what are your orders?" Nara Shikaku asked after bowing upon arriving at the Hokage's office.

"Shikaku, have a seat." Hiruzen Sarutobi gestured for Nara Shikaku to sit down at the desk.

After Nara Shikaku sat down, Hiruzen Sarutobi considered for a moment before speaking, "Shikaku, I plan to have Jiraiya take over the position of Hokage advisor."

Upon hearing this, Nara Shikaku's eyes flickered slightly, but he quickly composed himself and asked, "Has Jiraiya-sama already returned to the village?"

“Yes, he came back not long ago,” Hiruzen Sarutobi said. “This kid has been wandering around for so many years, it’s time for him to come back and help this old man out a bit.”

Chapter 86 The Choice of Ino-Shika-Cho

"Now that Jiraiya-sama is back, the Hokage-sama will probably have an easier time," Nara Shikaku casually remarked.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's intention in appointing Jiraiya as Hokage advisor at this time was quite clear: he was paving the way for Jiraiya to become the next Hokage.

However, Nara Shikaku had no intention of discussing this issue with Sarutobi Hiruzen. Although both were nominally Hokage's advisors, Danzo controlled a military force that even the Hokage couldn't interfere with, and his authority was boundless. In fact, he could be called the Executive Vice Hokage, while Nara Shikaku was merely the Hokage's advisor. Apart from offering advice and handling some tedious official duties, he had no other authority. Therefore, Nara Shikaku knew that it was best not to speak about issues involving the village's successor if possible.

Furthermore, Nara Shikaku genuinely didn't think Jiraiya was a good candidate for Hokage. It was one thing for ordinary villagers not to know, but all the high-ranking members of the village's ninja clans knew about Jiraiya's situation. If Jiraiya were to become Hokage, would it be him or a toad from Mount Myōboku who became Hokage? Nara Shikaku really couldn't say for sure.

“Shikaku, Jiraiya has just returned and there are still many things he doesn’t understand about the village. He’ll need your help a lot,” Hiruzen Sarutobi said.

"Lord Hokage, Lord Jiraiya should be familiar with the village's affairs very quickly," Nara Shikaku said.

Seeing Nara Shikaku's evasive attitude, Hiruzen Sarutobi understood his thoughts. However, Hiruzen Sarutobi truly had no choice. Of his three former disciples, Orochimaru had removed his headband, and Tsunade's status and prestige were so high that even Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't do anything about her if she was determined not to return to the village. The only one he could call back to the village was Jiraiya.

Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but sigh, looking at Shikaku Nara with a look of reminiscence on his face: "Shikaku, time really flies. When I witnessed you, Inoichi, and Choza making the vow of the earrings, the three of you had just graduated from the Ninja Academy. Now, in the blink of an eye, you have all become the pillars of the village, and I have grown old."

When Nara Shikaku heard Hiruzen Sarutobi say this, he knew in his heart that something was wrong. He knew that Hiruzen Sarutobi was forcing him to express his opinion on behalf of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio. But now that the old man had already put aside his pride and taken the initiative to build a relationship, it would be ungrateful of him to refuse.

Nara Shikaku sighed inwardly. Although after the village was established, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio were no longer merely vassals of the Sarutobi clan as they had been during the Warring States period, the tradition of swearing the earring oath under the witness of the current Sarutobi clan leader had remained. Now that Sarutobi Hiruzen had brought it up, he had no right to refuse.

"Your subordinate is foolish, Hokage-sama, please speak frankly." Nara Shikaku stood up and bowed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes flashed. He knew that his move was a bit too much for the Ino-Shika-Cho clan, who had always supported him. Although the relationship between the Ino-Shika-Cho and the Sarutobi clan had always been that the Sarutobi clan provided protection for the three clans with their strength, while the Ino-Shika-Cho provided strategic and intelligence support to the Sarutobi clan, since the first generation of Ino-Shika-Cho formed a contract in front of the Sarutobi clan leader during the Warring States period.

But what Hiruzen Sarutobi wants to do now is to push the Ino-Shika-Cho trio to the forefront, making them stake their clan fortunes to support Jiraiya.

This is not beneficial to the three clans. Limited by their own strength, even if they successfully help Jiraiya rise to power, it will be difficult for the three clans to further improve their status in the village.

But if they fail, they will immediately lose everything they have built up in the village over the years.

This is why the three clans were held back by the Inuzuka clan and the Aburame clan, who were clearly weaker than them, during the previous martial law incident.

Although the Ino-Shika-Cho trio bear his name, Hiruzen Sarutobi, they do not want to go all in on this gamble.

"Shikaku, I hope you can assist Jiraiya in becoming the Fifth Hokage," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with burning eyes.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking, a long silence fell over the Hokage's office.

"Is this the Hokage's order?" After a long while, Nara Shikaku finally asked.

“No, this is just my personal request,” Hiruzen Sarutobi said.

Nara Shikaku's expression shifted slightly: "This matter is of great importance, so please allow me some time to consider it, Hokage-sama."

“Of course.” Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. “Go back and discuss this matter with Inoichi and Choza.”

"Your subordinate takes his leave," Nara Shikaku said, bowing slightly.

After Nara Shikaku left, Sarutobi Hiruzen lit his pipe and pondered the situation in the village.

Although Nara Shikaku said he would think it over carefully, Sarutobi Hiruzen knew that the other party was unlikely to refuse, because he had already put the Sarutobi clan's generations of protection of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio on the table. After this, even if they won, the relationship between the Ino-Shika-Cho trio and the Sarutobi clan could never go back to what it was before.

At least, the Sarutobi clan no longer has the right to witness the vow made by the sixteenth generation of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio through their earrings.

……

After returning home, Nara Shikaku intended to immediately call a meeting with his two old friends, but upon arriving home, he found Shikamaru sitting on the roof, gazing at the stars in a daze.

Nara Shikaku thought for a moment, then looked up and called out, "Shikamaru, come down here for a second."

Shikamaru, whose mind had been completely blank, suddenly heard his father calling him. He snapped out of his daze and asked, "Is something wrong, Dad?"

"Come down first, I need to talk to you about something," Lu Jiu said.

"Ugh, this is troublesome." Shikamaru sighed helplessly, a hint of weariness that shouldn't have appeared on a boy his age showing on his young face. He knew that his father was looking for him so seriously because he must have something particularly troublesome to tell him; otherwise, given his father's personality, he would have just said a few words and been done with it.

Shikamaru jumped off the roof and followed Shikaku into the house.

Nara Shikaku took Shikamaru to the study and set up a Go board.

Shikamaru felt a chill run down his spine when he saw this. Judging from the situation, the matter his father wanted to ask him to do was probably far more troublesome than he had imagined.

Nara Shikaku did not rush to confront his son. After dozens of moves, the game on the board remained tense.

"Shikamaru, I remember the second son of the Uchiha clan, he was your classmate, right?" When it was Nara Shikaku's turn to make a move, he picked up a stone and asked.

"The second son of the Uchiha clan? Is it Sasuke? Yes." Shikamaru nodded.

"What's your relationship with him like?" Lu Jiu asked.

"That makes sense. We didn't really interact before, just exchanged a few words. But lately he's been hanging out with Naruto all the time, and Choji and I are with him too. Ino, on the other hand, seems to like clinging to him all the time," Shikamaru said.

"Is that so?" Nara Shikaku nodded. "I didn't expect that besides Choji, there would be other kids your age who would want to play with you."

"Dad, that's a bit much, isn't it?" Shikamaru looked up at his father with dead fish eyes. What kind of father talks to his own son like that?

"Haha, don't look at me like that. I grew up to be your age too. When I was your age, apart from your Uncle Choza and Uncle Inoichi, no one else wanted to play with me," Nara Shikaku said. Their family's inherited high intelligence and aversion to trouble made it strange for children to want to play with them.

"Dad, what exactly do you want to say?" Shikamaru asked after his lips twitched for a moment.

“In a while, invite your friends over to visit,” Nara Shikaku said after laughing for a while. “Given your personality, you must have caused them quite a bit of trouble. We should thank them for not holding it against you.”

"It's those two who are really bothering us," Shikamaru sighed helplessly. Ever since Sasuke joined their group, he and Naruto have fought once a day and argued seven or eight times a day on average. Although the two of them can make up quickly, the commotion they cause makes it impossible for Shikamaru to relax and do nothing.

"You're inviting them both over, right? I understand." After sighing, Shikamaru accepted the task Shikaku had given him.

"Alright, I have something to discuss with your Uncle Choza and Uncle Inoichi, so I'll be leaving now." After hearing everything his son said, Nara Shikaku felt relieved, put down the chess piece, and got up to leave.

"Hey! Dad! At least put the chessboard away first, or I'll get yelled at!" Shikamaru called out from behind when his father abandoned him, but Nara Shikaku walked away resolutely without turning back.

"Ugh, really." Shikamaru sighed and slowly put away the chessboard.

After getting the answer he wanted from Shikamaru, Nara Shikaku's steps became much lighter on his way to the mountains and the Akimichi clan.

As one of the few intelligent people in the village, Nara Shikaku saw things very clearly. Jiraiya was less of the successor chosen by the Third Hokage and more of the only card the Third Hokage could still play. If he had a choice, he would rather follow the Uchiha than stand up and support Jiraiya. After all, even if the Uchiha were a little crazy, they were still better than someone controlled by a summoning beast.

But the Third Hokage used this almost shameless method to forcibly tie them to Jiraiya's doomed chariot, putting them in a gamble they were destined to lose. It could be said that he had foreseen that in the near future, their three clans would lose everything they had.

But Shikamaru's words rekindled hope in his heart.

The defeat of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio is now inevitable, but there is still hope for the future.

"Fine, let's use our generation as sacrifices for the old era," Nara Shikaku thought to himself before entering the Yamanaka clan's territory.

……

In the following days, the ninja clans in the village all learned that Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin, had become a Hokage advisor. Along with this, rumors also spread that the Third Hokage intended to nominate Jiraiya for the Fifth Hokage election.

Even Uchiha Touko and Kakashi, who had already completed their mission of eliminating the bandits and returned to the village, received the news immediately.

Kakashi looked at Uchiha Touko, wanting to know Uchiha Touko's opinion on the matter.

"Why are you looking at me?" Uchiha Touko shrugged. "We did this together a while ago when we locked up the future Fifth Hokage for seven days. If he tries to cause trouble in the future, neither of us will escape."

"What do you plan to do?" Kakashi asked. "Should we expose his spying?"

After Uchiha Touko confronted him that night, he had made up his mind to stand with Uchiha Touko through thick and thin.

“Yes, but not now.” Uchiha Touko shook his head and said, “Even if this kind of thing is exposed, it will at most be a small stain. It might be of some use at a critical moment, but to think that he can be brought down based on this alone is a bit too wishful thinking.”

"Then what should we do?" Kakashi asked.

“We just need to do what we’re supposed to do,” Uchiha Touko said. “Ultimately, the selection of the Hokage will be decided by the vote of the Jonin team. It’s not like he can just put whoever he wants in the position.”

"Alright." Kakashi nodded. It seemed that Uchiha Touko already had a plan, and as a fellow traveler, all he needed to do was support him.

After submitting the mission together, Uchiha Touko and Kakashi said their goodbyes. After parting ways with Uchiha Touko, Kakashi did not rush back. Instead, he bought a bouquet of flowers and went to the village cemetery, where he found Obito's tombstone.

Kakashi gently placed the flowers before the tombstone, gazed at his old friend's grave, and after a long while, slowly spoke:

“Obito, I think I’ve found the path I need to take,”

Kakashi touched his left eye, which was covered by his headband, and then looked at his right hand, which could never be cleaned properly.

"Hopefully, in the future, in this new world, no one will repeat our mistakes."

After Kakashi finished speaking, he turned and left the cemetery.