Chapter 428: A Chaotic, Mad Free-for-All
After seeing through Hōzuki Gengetsu's "true intentions", Temari quietly tugged at the three girls and gave them a look.
The three of them stopped asking questions and tacitly accepted his explanation.
At last, the group set off.
But when they arrived at Granny Chiyo's residence, the only person they saw was Ōnoki, who had just broken free from his restraints.
Where were Madara and Chiyo?
"That's Mū's disciple, Ōnoki? This brat… this brat actually dares to compete with me for a woman?"
The moment Hōzuki Gengetsu saw Ōnoki, he recognized him. As his old rival's disciple, he was naturally familiar with him.
He almost blurted out some genuine thoughts, but luckily caught himself in time.
"The Second Mizukage? Why are you here?"
Ōnoki looked over at the voice and spotted Hōzuki Gengetsu standing on a sandstone rooftop, immediately becoming wary.
"What obligation do I have to answer your question? Ōnoki, know your place and respect your seniors."
Hōzuki Gengetsu lifted his chin arrogantly.
People always said elders were more fond of the younger generation—and it was true. He liked the current generation of ninja far more than someone like Ōnoki, who had existed in his own era.
As he spoke, his gaze casually swept the surroundings.
He confirmed that the female ninja who had brought him here had deliberately slowed down and were trailing behind him.
As for why—He had no idea.
But at least for now, Ōnoki had only noticed him.
Behind the wall of a nearby building, Temari explained her deductions to the others.
"This relationship is way too messy…"
Pakura couldn't help but complain.
As the vanguard squad of gossip enthusiasts, the three girls could fully comprehend this level of tangled relationships—but Pakura couldn't.
"Sensei, if you read more of the 'Strong Man' series and the Limited Tsukuyomi series, you'll understand."
Maki said seriously.
Indeed, Pakura still had a lot to learn.
This plot hadn't even reached the level of "purple bow" territory yet, and she was already overwhelmed?
"By the way, where's Granny Chiyo?"
Yukata asked.
"No idea. Let's just keep an eye on the Tsuchikage."
Temari shook her head.
Temari's suggestion was correct.
Seeing that Hōzuki Gengetsu wouldn't answer him, Ōnoki decided not to press the issue. He needed to find Granny Chiyo quickly.
What if Uchiha Madara took advantage of this time to persuade her into using the One's Own Life Reincarnation technique?
Ōnoki used the Light-Weight Rock Technique and flew into the air, using the vantage point to search.
After locating his target, he immediately flew toward Granny Chiyo.
Below, Temari and the others, and Hōzuki Gengetsu, quickly moved as well, chasing after him in the same direction.
By the time they arrived, Ōnoki was hovering in midair, his face filled with shock.
Because the scene before him was completely unexpected.
Madara stood alone on the outside, his expression dark as he was squeezed out, while beside Granny Chiyo was…
"Rōshi? Why are you here?! Wait—are you really Rōshi?"
The moment Ōnoki asked, he realized something was off.
He knew that his granddaughter Kurotsuchi had used a provocation strategy to lure Rōshi out.
The method was to sell the rights to Rōshi's likeness in the name of the Iwagakure Village, letting others use Transformation Jutsu to impersonate him in disgraceful advertisements.
So…
Was the Rōshi in front of him real, or just someone filming an ad?
Ōnoki genuinely couldn't tell.
Especially since Jiraiya was standing nearby.
That guy who wrote erotic novels.
Could it be that Rōshi was here again to endorse Jiraiya's novels—or films adapted from them?
"Ōnoki, you old bastard…"
Rōshi froze for a moment at the strange question, then quickly understood.
As expected, Kurotsuchi was right. The one who sold his likeness was indeed this shameless old man!
"Rōshi, it really is you! Why aren't you in the Iwagakure Village? Why did you come here—"
"Shut up! I came here to pursue my own happiness. And the moment I arrived, I found out that you, you bastard, dared to harass Chiyo! You've gone too far!"
Rōshi roared, striking first.
"Huh?"
Ōnoki was stunned.
He had only used the excuse of pursuing Chiyo to get close to Madara and investigate his intentions.
But Rōshi clearly wasn't doing the same.
That made sense—given how Rōshi had been living in seclusion in the mountains, how could he have come up with the same plan?
So Rōshi's goal really was Chiyo?
This was…
Was he serious?
Ōnoki, who had been pretending, had run into someone who was genuine?
He hesitated.
This was the perfect opportunity to repair his relationship with Rōshi.
If he helped bring Rōshi and Chiyo together, the rift between them could largely be mended.
But…
What about the crisis facing the ninja world?
What about Uchiha Madara's scheme?
Ōnoki turned his gaze to Jiraiya.
"Jiraiya of the Legendary Sannin of the Konoha—what are you here for?"
He still held a sliver of hope.
Jiraiya might have come here with the same purpose as him. If that were the case, Ōnoki could withdraw now.
"Oh, me? I'm here to gather material for my new novel. I've already written half of it, but when I reached the crucial part, it started to feel too fake. So I decided to experience it firsthand."
Jiraiya pulled out a stack of manuscript pages he had prepared in advance.
"…"
Ōnoki glanced at the contents.
Something about "Forbidden… Biwako-sensei."
It looked genuine.
That settled it.
He had to stay.
Between repairing his relationship with Rōshi and safeguarding the ninja world, he had to choose the latter!
"Rōshi! You knew Chiyo is the love of my life, and yet you deliberately came to steal her from me! You've gone too far!"
Ōnoki closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then, after gathering his emotions, shouted angrily at Rōshi.
Jiraiya scratched his head.
What was that?
He asked him a question and then just moved on?
Meanwhile, hidden in the shadows and waiting for an opportunity, though in reality not planning to act at all, Sarutobi Hiruzen (disguised as Danzō) couldn't help but praise Jiraiya internally.
As expected of a novelist, he had come up with such a fitting and reasonable excuse.
This was far more convincing than having Jiraiya actually pursue Granny Chiyo.
"Ōnoki! You dare accuse me first?! You're the one trying to break us apart!"
Rōshi froze for a moment, because Ōnoki had actually hit the mark, but quickly reacted and angrily retorted.
"…"
Hōzuki Gengetsu watched the scene, hesitating over whether to step in.
He carefully observed their expressions.
He wanted to determine whether Ōnoki and the others were also acting like this on purpose to investigate Uchiha Madara's secrets.
But after watching for a long time, the two of them never took their eyes off each other.
Forget looking at Uchiha Madara, they weren't even looking at Chiyo.
"…Hiss."
Hōzuki Gengetsu sucked in a sharp breath.
Could it be that Ōnoki and this Rōshi had some improper relationship?
Was Chiyo just a prop for their flirting?
Looks like he had to step in after all.
"Stop! The one who truly loves Chiyo… is me!"
Hōzuki Gengetsu stepped forward boldly.
(End of this chapter)