Chapter 26: Arriving at the Front Lines — Jiraiya

The following morning...

"We’re almost at the frontline headquarters."

"Hide the Jinchūriki and the Hyūga heiress."

"Yes, sir!"

The two ANBU carrying Naruto and Hinata concealed them beneath their black cloaks.

After traveling several more kilometers...

A Konoha shinobi suddenly appeared.

"Halt!"

The six ANBU came to an immediate stop.

One of them tossed over an identification document.

The guard caught it, glanced at it briefly, and the vigilance in his eyes faded.

He nodded toward the hidden sentries before turning back.

"Come with me."

Without another word, he led the group toward the frontline headquarters.

After another inspection at the camp entrance confirmed their identities...

The guards were just about to let them through.

Suddenly—

A Hyūga shinobi appeared.

The veins around his temples bulged as his Byakugan activated.

His gaze pierced straight through one of the ANBU’s cloaks.

"Damn it... ANBU!"

The nearby Hyūga sentries immediately turned toward the commotion.

Looking through the cloak...

They saw the sleeping child inside.

Within seconds...

Several Hyūga shinobi had surrounded the six ANBU.

"Hmph."

The ANBU merely snorted.

Sweeping a cold gaze across them, he said,

"Watch your words."

"I’m sure none of you want this information getting out."

"Damn it..."

The Hyūga clenched their fists.

Yet all they could do...

Was glare at them in fury.

Not one of them dared say another word.

If Kumogakure learned that the Hyūga Clan’s young heiress had been brought to the battlefield...

They would stop at nothing to launch a raid and seize her.

"Inform Lord Hiashi!"

"Now!"

One of the Hyūga vanished instantly.

The surrounding Konoha shinobi looked at one another in confusion.

The ANBU frowned and turned to the escort.

"Take us to Lord Jiraiya."

"Understood."

The shinobi immediately led them away.

He had no idea what was happening.

But he knew enough to realize the situation was rapidly spiraling out of control.

If they remained here any longer...

A fight was inevitable.

Several Hyūga attempted to follow.

Another Konoha shinobi immediately stepped forward.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

"Return to your posts!"

"Damn it!"

The Hyūga glared at him.

Their clan’s little princess had just been brought to the battlefield.

How could they possibly stand guard as if nothing had happened?

The Konoha shinobi more or less understood what the Hokage had done to the Hyūga Clan.

But that wasn’t his concern.

Seeing that they wouldn’t back down so easily, he compromised.

"One of you may accompany them."

"The rest will remain at your posts."

"If the camp is attacked because you abandoned your duties..."

"The Hyūga Clan won’t be able to bear that responsibility."

The Hyūga’s expressions stiffened.

After exchanging glances...

They nodded.

One of them followed after the ANBU.

The rest silently returned to their positions.

Watching every Hyūga activate their Byakugan and constantly scan the surroundings...

The other Konoha shinobi couldn’t help clicking their tongues.

Normally...

The Hyūga relied completely on their nearly three-hundred-sixty-degree vision.

They stood guard like statues.

At most...

They turned their heads slightly.

Who had ever seen them this vigilant?

Of course...

That didn’t mean they had been slacking before.

The Byakugan’s reconnaissance ability was recognized throughout the ninja world.

It was simply...

That compared to now...

Their previous level of alertness seemed almost relaxed.

Frontline Headquarters

Jiraiya stared at the battlefield map spread across his desk.

His brows were knitted tightly together.

This war... won’t be easy.

The older generation of Konoha had already grown old.

Among his own generation...

Tsunade had left the village.

Orochimaru had defected.

The next generation...

Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki...

Were dead.

The younger generation had yet to fully mature.

The only pleasant surprise...

Was Shisui Uchiha.

Jiraiya let out a weary sigh.

Danzō had been far too careless.

The command headquarters had been ambushed during the very first battle.

Nearly thirty percent of Konoha’s forces had lost their combat capability.

Thirty percent.

How was anyone supposed to fight after suffering losses like that?

Jiraiya rubbed his aching forehead.

If only Tsunade were willing to help...

Just then...

A Konoha shinobi lifted the tent flap.

"Lord Jiraiya."

"The ANBU have arrived with an urgent order from Lord Hokage."

"Send them in."

"Yes, sir!"

The shinobi stepped outside.

"Lord Jiraiya will see you."

The ANBU entered the tent.

One of them stepped forward and respectfully presented a sealed scroll.

"Lord Jiraiya."

"The Hokage’s orders."

"Thank you."

Jiraiya accepted the scroll.

Just as he was about to open it...

Naruto quietly lifted the edge of the ANBU’s cloak and peeked outside.

Golden hair.

Bright blue eyes.

Three pairs of whisker-like markings on his cheeks.

Jiraiya froze.

The scroll slipped from his fingers.

Thud.

It hit the ground.

Unnoticed.

Several long seconds passed.

Jiraiya’s expression slowly darkened.

Although he had only seen Naruto once...

Right after he was born...

He recognized him instantly.

And in that instant...

He understood Hiruzen’s intentions.

Disbelief.

Utter disbelief.

Had Konoha truly fallen so low...

That it needed to send a three-year-old child to the battlefield?

This was Minato’s son.

After everything Minato had sacrificed for the village...

How could they possibly do this to his child?

Rage surged through him.

Suppressing the fury threatening to erupt...

Jiraiya’s body trembled.

His chakra churned violently beneath the surface.

Danger.

An overwhelming pressure crashed down upon the two ANBU.

Their breathing nearly stopped.

Naruto casually jumped down from the ANBU’s arms.

He bent over...

Picked up the scroll from the ground.

Then looked up with an innocent smile.

"Mister..."

"You dropped the letter Grandpa Hokage sent you."

Standing on tiptoe...

He stretched both hands toward Jiraiya.

"Here."

Looking at Naruto’s pure, innocent smile...

Jiraiya forcibly swallowed his anger.

He accepted the scroll.

Then slowly crouched in front of Naruto.

Gently ruffling his blond hair, he said softly,

"I’m sorry, Naruto."

Naruto blinked.

"Huh?"

"How do you know my name?"

"And..."

"Why are you apologizing?"

Jiraiya buried the guilt deep inside his heart before forcing out a smile.

"Of course I know."

"I even held you when you were just born."

"Really?"

"Then why don’t I remember?"

Naruto tilted his head.

His little face filled with genuine confusion as he struggled to remember.

Nearby...

The ANBU quietly let out a sigh of relief.

Lord Jiraiya had managed to suppress his anger.

But before anyone could truly relax—

A furious roar exploded from outside the tent.

"What exactly is the Third Hokage trying to do?!"

"Has he decided to bully the Hyūga Clan this openly?!"

Hiashi Hyūga.

The ANBU’s hearts immediately leaped back into their throats.