"So, if the word 'Ta' looks like the number 9 when it's written, that must mean something..." Shikamaru said thoughtfully.
"...That means it's a hint, and Pervy Sage left it specifically for me. He knew that after reading all those copies of his books, I'd recognize it," I explained confidently.
"What book were you reading when you realized Master Jiraiya writes 'ta' like the number 9?" he asked curiously.
"Hmmmm... Let me think... It was... Make-Out Tactics. Yes, that's the name of the book—Make-Out Tactics," I answered.
"And where can we find a copy of this book?" he inquired.
"I'm pretty sure Kakashi-sensei has a copy. If not, we can probably buy one somewhere," I suggested
"Alright, I'm going to look for Kakashi-sensei. In the meantime, you should get ready and meet us at the Leaf Analysis Division building," he said before heading out.
I climbed the stairs to my bedroom, opened my wardrobe, and quickly grabbed some clothes. After taking a refreshing shower, I put on the outfit I had chosen and rushed to get ready as fast as I could.
Just as I was about to step out the door, something caught my eye. I noticed a picture frame on my dresser, and it held a photo of me and Pervy Sage from our training days. The memory made me smile, reminding me of all the lessons and fun times we shared together.
Pervy Sage, I promise I'll avenge you. I will protect the Leaf Village just like you wanted me to, and I won't back down from anyone who dares to threaten it
You once told me that I would become the strongest, but I sometimes wonder if I'm there yet. Regardless, I know I must keep pushing myself to grow and improve. I will always stand guard over the village, no matter what challenges come my way. My resolve is unbreakable, and I will never give up on my promise to you.
"Protect everything and everyone dear to me" – that's my ninja way, and I also aim to be the strongest...
I picked up the photo frame and set it down on the bedside table next to the Team 7 picture I already had there. Now it's perfect. I paused for a moment, looking at the smiling photo of Jiraiya-sensei, or as I often call him, Pervy Sage.
I'm determined to learn sage mode and become just like you, Pervy Sage. Well, maybe not exactly like you. I won't be as forgiving to my opponents, that's for sure. My approach to peace and justice might be a bit different, but our goal remains the same. I'll bring peace to the world, just like you wanted, Pervy Sage. I promise.
I stepped outside my apartment and locked the door behind me. After a short walk, I made my way to the Analysis Division building.
Finally, after a bit of walking, I arrived at the building and walked inside...
"Took you long enough!" Shikamaru called out when he saw me.
"Was it really that long? I thought I could decode the code quickly," I replied.
"We're already on it…" Shikamaru said, looking focused.
"By the way, you must be Naruto! I'm Shiho," she introduced herself with a smile, and I nodded in response.
"Done!" Shikamaru announced suddenly.
"What did we find?" I asked eagerly.
"If I read the first letter from each page of the book in order, it spells out: The - Real - One - Not - Among - Them," Shiho explained.
The words "The Real One Not Among Them" echoed in my mind. What could that possibly mean?
"We need to share this information with Lord Fukasaku," Kakashi-sensei suggested. "He might understand it better since he fought against Pain too."
"Let's ask Lady Tsunade to summon Lord Fukasaku right away!" Shikamaru added.
"Can I come with you?" Shiho asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Of course! We'd love to have you, Shiho," Shikamaru said with a nod.
"Great! Thank you!" she replied happily.
Inside the Hokage's office...
"The real one is not among them…" Lord Fukasaku echoed thoughtfully as we stood around the Hokage's desk.
"Yeah, that's what the code says," I replied, trying to keep my excitement in check.
"I'm still not sure what it means. It's all too vague for me," Lord Fukasaku admitted, scratching his head in confusion.
"But you have some theories, right?" Shikamaru pressed, his curiosity evident.
"I've shared everything I know about Pain. He has this unsettling ability to come back from the dead, which makes it hard for me to draw any firm conclusions. Given these circumstances, it's extremely risky to confront him without more information. We need to uncover his secrets first," Lord Fukasaku explained.
"But you mentioned there were six of them you fought against?" I asked, curious and a bit confused.
"Yes, indeed there were six," Lord Fukasaku replied. "And each one had those powerful Rinnegan eyes."
"Was that student of Pervy Sage you mentioned, Nagato, among them? Did Pervy Sage say anything about him?" I pressed, eager to know more.
"Let me see," Lord Fukasaku began, recalling the details. "He said something like, 'None of those six really remind me of Nagato too much.' But he also mentioned, 'The faces are different, yet I can definitely sense Nagato in them.' That's what he told me."
I pondered over this. It's odd that none of them looked like Nagato, but somehow, his presence could still be felt among them.
"And Jiraiya also said," Lord Fukasaku continued, "that they somehow knew the secret talks between him and Nagato!"
"They know about the secret talks between Pervy Sage and Nagato? Maybe Nagato shared those conversations with them, but it still feels a bit odd," I mused aloud, trying to piece it all together.
"What's on your mind, Naruto?" Kakashi-sensei asked, noticing my thoughtful expression.
"I'm not entirely sure, but based on these clues and what Pervy Sage's message said, I can only reach one conclusion," I replied, trying to sort through the information.
"And what is that?" Shikamaru inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"You remember how Pervy Sage's message said 'The Real One is not among them,' right?" I asked, hoping to lead them to my line of thinking.
"Yes!" Shikamaru confirmed, nodding.
"So, considering what Lord Fukasaku mentioned about his chat with Pervy Sage, even though the faces didn't match Nagato's, he could still sense Nagato's presence. What does that suggest?" I continued, urging them to see the connection.
"That would mean..." Shikamaru began, trailing off.
"Exactly, you've caught on quickly," I said, acknowledging his understanding.
"And that would mean..." Shikamaru started to say, piecing it together.
"Yes, that's right," I confirmed, encouraging him to continue.
"And also Nagato is..." Shikamaru continued, following the trail of thought.
"Yes! Correct," I replied, feeling excited that he understood.
"Hold on a second," Granny Tsunade interrupted. "What are you two talking about? Speak clearly so everyone can understand," she urged, wanting to be in the loop.
"Well," I began, trying to explain our theory clearly, "we think that those six Pains that Pervy Sage and Lord Fukasaku fought weren't the real Pain, just like Pervy Sage said. Instead, it was actually Nagato controlling all six of them. That's why they all seemed to share the same mind, and that's why Pervy Sage could sense Nagato's presence in them, even though they looked different."
[A. N: Thanks for reading, drop Powerstones that will help a lot and drop reviews if you like the story and add to your library]