A blinding light enveloped Satria, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself in a dense forest. The air was crisp, and the rustling leaves created a tranquil symphony. Yet, his mind raced as he turned his gaze to the woman standing nearby.
She was unmistakable: tall, with long blue hair flowing behind her, clad in a militaristic uniform that spoke of authority and bloodshed. Her eyes—cold and calculating—narrowed as they met his.
'Oh, no,' Satria thought, his heart skipping a beat. 'It's her. Esdeath. The sadistic general. Why did it have to be her?'
Before he could recover, she smiled—a predatory smirk that sent chills down his spine. "You're Shin, correct?" she asked, her voice as sweet as it was dangerous.
Satria nodded cautiously. "That's right. Nice to meet you, Esdeath."
Her eyes flickered with curiosity. "Hmm, you know my name. How is that possible?"
Thinking fast, Satria grinned. "It's my power. I can glimpse fragments of people's futures and alternate timelines. You're... rather famous in those."
Esdeath's smirk widened, but now there was genuine interest. "A fascinating ability. I like that. Now, shall we find this so-called 'Pervert Sage' you mentioned earlier?"
Satria opened the chat group interface, grateful for the distraction.
Moments later, Satria and Esdeath arrived at a clearing. As they stepped out of the forest, Satria froze in awe. The familiarity of the location struck him like a bolt of lightning.
"This... this is the Third Training Ground!" he whispered, barely containing his excitement.
Esdeath raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "And why does that matter?"
"It's legendary!" Satria exclaimed, pointing toward the area. "This is where Team 7—Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura—had their first training session with Kakashi. The bell test! This is sacred ground for fans from my world."
Esdeath looked at him blankly. "Sacred? It's just a clearing with some trees."
Ignoring her, Satria approached a black stone marker near the edge of the field. His eyes softened as he ran a hand over its surface.
"This," he said, "is the Memorial Stone. It lists the names of all shinobi who gave their lives in service to Konoha." He pulled out his phone and snapped a picture for posterity.
Esdeath watched him, her curiosity piqued. "You seem sentimental for someone so... smug."
He glanced back, smiling. "This stone reminds me of the sacrifices people make for what they believe in. It's a symbol of courage, even if I'm just a visitor here."
Before Esdeath could respond, a loud voice interrupted them.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
Both turned to see a man with long white hair perched on a tree branch, his red outfit and wooden sandals unmistakable. His wide grin radiated confidence as he jumped down, landing with theatrical flair.
Satria's eyes widened. 'No way. That's Jiraiya!'
The man struck a ridiculous pose, his arms wide and chest puffed. "I am the great Jiraiya, the Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku! Women adore me, men envy me, and I am the proud author of the legendary Icha-Icha series!" He pointed at them dramatically. "So, who are you two, and why are you trespassing?"
Esdeath tilted her head, unimpressed. "You're... the pervert?"
"I'm not a pervert!" Jiraiya protested. Then, with a sly grin, he added, "I'm a super pervert!"
Satria buried his face in his hands. "This guy is hopeless..."
Esdeath, on the other hand, smirked. "Hmph. At least you're honest. But don't think your antics will distract me if you're hiding something."
Jiraiya's expression sobered slightly as he studied the two of them. His eyes lingered on Esdeath, narrowing in suspicion. 'This woman... she reeks of death. Just how many lives has she taken?'
Breaking the tension, Satria spoke up. "We're here to help. There's an invasion coming during the Chuunin Exams. Orochimaru's involved, and things are going to get messy if we don't act fast."
Jiraiya frowned, his demeanor becoming serious. "Orochimaru, huh? What do you know about his plan?"
Satria glanced at Esdeath before answering. "It's complicated, but he'll disguise himself as the Fourth Kazekage, orchestrate an attack on Konoha, and even revive the First and Second Hokage using a forbidden jutsu called Edo Tensei. Your Hokage will be in grave danger."
Jiraiya's face darkened. "The First and Second... revived? That's not something to take lightly. If you're telling the truth, we have a lot to prepare for."
Esdeath cracked her knuckles, a sadistic gleam in her eye. "Good. It sounds like there will be plenty of strong opponents to crush."
Jiraiya studied her warily. "Just... don't destroy the village in the process, okay?"
Satria sighed. "Let's focus on the plan first. We don't have much time."
•
In a dimly lit room, Kabuto adjusted his glasses, a smirk playing on his lips as he addressed the group of Suna and Oto ninja before him.
"Everything is in place," he said smoothly. "The Chuunin Exams will proceed as planned, and when the signal is given, you will strike."
One of the Suna Jonin frowned. "And you're sure the Kazekage is on board with this?"
Kabuto's smirk widened. "Of course. Rest assured, Lord Orochimaru's promises will be kept... as long as you hold up your end of the bargain."
The Jonin nodded reluctantly, leaving the room to join his team. As the door closed, Kabuto chuckled to himself.
"Fools. They don't even realize their Kazekage is already dead."
To be continued.