A flicker of annoyance crossed Jiraiya's face as he mentioned Mitarashi Zashi. Aizen, with his keen observation skills, noticed it immediately.
The name itself surprised Aizen. Mitarashi Zashi? A character he'd never encountered in any official Naruto material? It reminded him of other unexpected names he'd come across – Senju Ryuken. However, in a blink of an eye, Aizen thought of his own situation - a transmigrator with a borrowed identity and a mysterious system. Compared to his own bizarre situation, the existence of these seemingly fan-created characters seemed almost trivial.
"Another meeting with Lord Zashi?" Senju Nawaki groaned, burying his head in his hands. "Ugh, torture!"
"What's the issue?" Aizen inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"You have no idea, Aizen," Nawaki moaned. "Lord Zashi's infamous for his… endless droning! Meetings that stretch on forever, filled with long-winded speeches that go in circles like a genjutsu gone wrong. Brutal!" Nawaki shuddered, his voice laced with dread.
Aizen remained silent. At these high-level meetings, he was essentially an observer with no need to voice his opinions. He stole a glance at Nawaki, whose expression mirrored his own sentiment – utter dread.
"It's not that bad," Jiraiya chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "Just some extra chatter you have to endure."
"And there's no skipping out on these meetings," he added with a sly grin. After a brief pause, he turned and headed off, leaving no room for argument.
Aizen and Senju Nawaki exchanged a helpless look, forced to follow Jiraiya's lead. Their eyes held a flicker of suspicion – Jiraiya's behavior seemed suspicious.
After a while, Aizen broke the silence. "Lord Jiraiya, shouldn't Minato and Kushina be attending the meeting as well?"
Senju Nawaki chimed in with a worried glance at Jiraiya, hoping misery loves company. "Yeah, where are they?"
Jiraiya chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Ah, I intended to bring Minato and Kushina along. But when I returned, those two lovebirds were nowhere to be found! Tsk tsk, young love, wouldn't want to interrupt their little rendezvous, now would we?"
A black line marred Aizen and Senju Nawaki's foreheads simultaneously. They both sighed internally, impressed by Minato's resourcefulness.
"However," Jiraiya continued, a sly grin spreading across his face, "each attendee is only allowed two guards at the meeting. Nawaki, you already know this, why the surprised look?"
Senju Nawaki's face blanched. He genuinely wasn't aware of this rule. In the past, Jiraiya had always brought him and Minato to these meetings.
Oblivious to these points, Nawaki remained blissfully unaware. Aizen cast him a silent glance and shook his head subtly. In some ways, Senju Nawaki reminded him of Uzumaki Naruto – a bit of a knucklehead, but ultimately harmless.
Resigned to their fate, Aizen and Nawaki followed Jiraiya until they reached a massive tent. Jiraiya led the way, pulling back the flap and entering. Aizen and Nawaki followed closely behind.
A quick scan of the interior revealed empty seats – apparently, they were the first arrivals.
Only the highest seat was occupied by a middle-aged man with a formidable presence. He sat engrossed in documents, his stern features radiating an aura that demanded respect.
Clad in a black ninja uniform, the man sported a sturdy build, striking purple hair, and a handsome countenance. His eyes, however, held a piercing sharpness that dared no one to meet them directly. An undeniable air of menace hung about him.
This imposing figure was none other than Mitarashi Zashi, the current Anbu Captain, Konohagakure's top commander in the Land of Rain, and one of the village's most powerful figures.
"Commander Zashi," Jiraiya greeted with a faint smile as he approached the man. "Seems I'm the early bird today. Quite a surprise, wouldn't you say?"
His words, though polite, carried a subtle undercurrent of distance, hinting at a somewhat strained relationship between Jiraiya and Zashi.
A slight smirk played on Zashi's lips as he acknowledged Jiraiya. "Ah, Commander Jiraiya returns. I hear Lord Hokage entrusted you with the protection and guidance of our village's promising young shinobi. Have you brought them with you today? I confess, I'm quite curious to meet these talented newcomers."
Zashi's tone, devoid of warmth, hinted at a potential ulterior motive for his interest.
"Ah, that's Aizen," Jiraiya announced, gesturing towards him. "He's Tsunade's apprentice, you might have heard of him. As for Uzumaki Kushina, I wanted her to join us, but she seems to have gotten lost with Minato. Couldn't bring her along."
Mitarashi Zashi merely grunted in response, his keen gaze sweeping over Aizen before moving on. Unfazed by Zashi's coldness, Jiraiya led Aizen and Senju Nawaki to their designated spots – standing behind him as guards, not yet qualified for seats.
The atmosphere remained tense for a while. Gradually, others began to arrive – influential figures like clan heads (Uchiha, Hyuga, Ino-Shika-Cho) and powerful individuals from smaller clans or the common ranks. All of them, without exception, boasted the strength of at least an Elite Jonin, with some accompanied by guards like Aizen and Nawaki.
The arrival of these individuals brought a welcome warmth to the meeting hall. Clan representatives and civilian powerhouses seated near Jiraiya, known supporters of the Hokage, engaged in friendly conversation. Even Aizen, the newcomer, received praise for his turnaround, a stark contrast to Zashi's earlier coldness.
As Aizen navigated the sudden surge of enthusiastic greetings, his keen eye scanned the room. Suddenly, a figure cloaked in a long black coat entered, instantly capturing everyone's attention. He sauntered in with an air of confidence and headed straight for the seat beside Mitarashi Zashi himself!
This unexpected arrival sent a jolt of surprise through the entire gathering.