Start with the Mangekyo Sharingan: Follow Lord Madara out of Konoha

"So, Sister Naori agreed?" Nian asked in a low voice.

On the path leading to the training ground, Uchiha Kirito walked with his head hanging low, visibly dejected.

"Ever since Naka came to see my sister, she's been looking preoccupied. It's precisely because I can't figure out what she's thinking that I'm so troubled."

Nian rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "The Mangekyō Sharingan... that's the Uchiha's ultimate power. Logically speaking, he should be able to defeat all opponents by himself. There's no reason for him to seek cooperation with Sister Naori."

Hearing that Naka possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan didn't shock him as one might expect. He'd already seen eyes far more powerful and beautiful than that.

"That guy's clever - he's playing the long game," Kirito explained. "Even if he defeats all his opponents, his approval rating still wouldn't be enough. These things take time to cultivate. Right now, the clan member with the highest reputation is undoubtedly my sister, who coincidentally has no intention of competing for the clan leader position. That's the opportunity he's spotted."

"So he has the strength, and Sister Naori has the connections. As long as he gains her support, Naka can secure the clan leader position." Nian finally caught on.

As the two walked and talked, they inadvertently passed by the bathhouse when they suddenly halted simultaneously. Taking two steps back in unison, they peered into the alley's depths.

There, at the corner outside the high walls of the women's open-air hot spring, a white-haired boy was crouching with his butt sticking out, peeking with great enthusiasm.

Exchanging a glance, they both shook their heads helplessly before walking straight toward him.

"Hey, Jiraiya, have you seen Orochimaru?" Kirito asked with his hands in his pockets, his voice deliberately loud and casual.

Jiraiya jumped like a startled cat, turning around in panic before realizing it was someone familiar. He then raised a finger to his lips, signaling for them to step aside and talk privately.

Once they were out of the alley, Jiraiya glanced around like a thief, making sure no one was watching before letting out a guilty sigh of relief.

"You two really scared the hell out of me!"

Kirito frowned: "Do you realize how creepy this looks?"

Jiraiya pouted, "If no one catches you, it's not creepy."

"But we've caught you multiple times already," Nian said expressionlessly.

"Ah, damn it." Jiraiya flushed red and scratched his head, muttering under his breath: "Guess I'll have to train in 'Transparency Jutsu' next time..."

"You... ah, never mind, let's get to business first." Kirito shook his head in frustration. "Have you seen Orochimaru?"

"Nope. If he were here, Tsunade would definitely be around too. Then I wouldn't have time for my artistic research!" Jiraiya looked puzzled. "Why? You need him for something?"

"I do, but definitely not for peeping."

"Hey, you bastard Kirito! It's artistic research, artistic research!"

"Do you know where he is?" Nian's heart stirred slightly as she asked quietly.

"That guy... probably training as usual. So boring." Jiraiya waved his hand dismissively.

Kirito patted his shoulder, "Actually, you're quite talented too. If you worked half as hard, Tsunade would definitely see you in a different light."

Jiraiya looked indignant and slapped away Kirito's hand, "My earth-style techniques are plenty impressive, okay? I've even mastered A-rank ninjutsu - you all know that, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, right."

"Huh? Why so dismissive? Just the other day, Hiruko was pestering me to teach him Earth Release! You know Hiruko, right?" Jiraiya racked his brain trying to remember the guy's good points. "You know... that... that... whatever, this guy's just too ordinary..."

Nian felt slightly startled and instinctively exchanged glances with Kirito. To them, this name was anything but unfamiliar.

"Why did he come to you to learn Earth Release?" Nian probed cautiously.

"Isn't it obvious?" Jiraiya turned his head away, crossing his arms. "Of course it's because he recognized this great one's strength—what more proof of acknowledgment do you need? Even Orochimaru was stunned!"

Nian thought for a moment and changed the question, "How's his learning progress?"

"Of course it's fast! When I'm the one teaching, success is guaranteed! Though it was just a C-rank Earth Movement Jutsu..."

Bringing this up, Jiraiya proudly smoothed his hair, "Don't laugh, but after teaching him, I realized I might actually have some potential as a teacher..."

Nian lowered his gaze in contemplation. Hiruko's unusually abnormal behavior naturally foreshadowed something momentous.

In my mind, the words of that man involuntarily surfaced:

'Assist either Orochimaru or Hiruko—as long as they successfully find the treasure, I'll consider your mission complete. As a reward, I'll tell you everything about your father.'

...

Deep in the Konoha forest, beneath a shadowy thicket.

"Earth Release: Earth Wave Motion!"

Hiruko performed the hand seals with mechanical precision, his movements stiff yet flawlessly accurate. Summoning all his chakra, he pressed both palms firmly against the ground.

"Hummm—"

Under the influence of this strange power, the earth's surface began rippling with faint undulations, shifting like water. Soil and stones moved sideways while plants swayed gently.

The effect lasted less than three seconds before he collapsed exhaustedly onto the ground, gasping for air.

Beads of sweat hung from his forehead, strands of hair clung to his temples, and his slumped posture all spoke volumes about his exhaustion.

"Three hundred meters..."

He muttered to himself, "From that pit eastward, the ground remains hollow for three hundred meters... Just how massive is this underground chamber?"

Ever since accidentally discovering that iron structure that day, he had tried breaking through the metal plating to access the secret room from above. Yet despite exerting all his strength, he couldn't make the slightest dent in it.

The metal was of unknown material—he snapped over a dozen kunai trying to mark it, yet failed to leave even a scratch.

Left with no choice, he buried the pit again while secretly memorizing its location, then began searching for the entrance.

Unfortunately, he neither knew sensory ninjutsu nor possessed any special large-scale detection techniques, but fools always have their foolproof methods.

He had to swallow his pride and beg Jiraiya to teach him earth-style ninjutsu. Fortunately, the man was easygoing—a few smooth words and some thank-you meals were all it took to learn this Earth Movement Technique from him.

This ninjutsu can alter the ground's hardness, creating large-scale soil fluctuations that make enemies lose their footing and balance. Skilled practitioners can control the fluctuation frequency, making the surface resemble boiling water—an excellent support-type technique.

But Hiruko discovered another ingenious application: testing for underground hollow spaces. By sacrificing horizontal range, he could achieve sufficient vertical depth to reach the ceiling of hidden chambers.

This allowed him to gradually map out the entire hidden chamber, like a blind man feeling an elephant, slowly locating the entrance's position.

After resting for a while, he took a deep breath and resumed his investigation.

"Earth Release: Ground Wave!"

However, what he didn't know was that amidst the foliage of a certain large tree, a slender figure sat quietly on a branch. Jet-black hair hung motionless as emotionless eyes observed him.

A pair of golden vertical pupils emitted a chilling glow from the shadows.

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