Jiraiya hurried back to the village, covered in dust from his travels. After reporting to his teacher, the Third Hokage, and handing over all his tasks, he took the initiative to invite Kagetsu out for a meal.
The place? The Akimichi clan's barbecue restaurant.
Sitting at the table, Kagetsu looked at the plates of grilled meat piled high in front of him and couldn't help but feel nostalgic.
Aside from Tsunade, who had been away from the village for a long time, it seemed that both Jiraiya and Orochimaru always treated their team members to meals at barbecue restaurants.
As for the so-called Ichiraku Ramen shop, it was like it had been forgotten. They only went there during their own small gatherings.
"I'm starting now!" Anko pressed her palms together in gratitude before happily digging in. Beside her, Shisui smiled and began placing the perfectly grilled meat onto Anko's plate one piece at a time.
Watching this, Jiraiya scratched his head and laughed heartily.
"Thanks for coming," Jiraiya said, sitting down beside Kagetsu. He threw a large arm over Kagetsu's shoulders, pulling him close.
"I already heard about Yahiko and the other two from Sensei," Jiraiya added.
"Are you planning to meet them, Lord Jiraiya?" Kagetsu could read the complex emotions on Jiraiya's face. The news about Yahiko and his group seemed to bring both joy and concern.
"Yes. The old man wants me to take charge of the situation in the Land of Rain. Honestly, it's been a long time since I last went there," Jiraiya said with a sigh.
The Land of Rain held many vivid and troubling memories for him. It was where the fame of the Sannin had been born, but at the cost of significant hardship. Hanzō had made sure they tasted defeat and humiliation many times.
Although it ended with Hanzō granting them the title of the Sannin, neither Jiraiya nor Orochimaru or Tsunade felt much pride in the name.
Take Jiraiya, for example—he preferred introducing himself as the Toad Sage.
Now, with a mission to return to the Land of Rain, there was a good chance he'd have to face Hanzō again. The thought stirred a mix of emotions in Jiraiya, and he didn't know how to vent them.
"Are you worried about Hanzō, the so-called Demigod of the Hidden Rain?" Kagetsu asked, perceptively picking up on Jiraiya's mood.
"Hahaha, that's only part of it. Honestly, I'm just feeling conflicted about meeting my three long-lost students again," Jiraiya chuckled, trying to brush it off.
While he had a healthy respect for Hanzō, he no longer felt fear. Even without Orochimaru or Tsunade by his side this time, Jiraiya's power had reached its peak. Even if he were to clash with Hanzō, the outcome would be uncertain. He just had to be cautious of Hanzō's poison.
"You've taught Yahiko and the other two very well." Shisui said with a gentle smile. He held a deep admiration for Yahiko, whose warmth and charisma reminded him of Minato Namikaze.
Moreover, he appreciated Yahiko's ideals. The only regret was that Yahiko's vision was overly naïve—just like his own had once been.
"Really?" Jiraiya seemed pleased. He already knew about the actions Yahiko and the others were taking. Their pursuit of peace aligned with his own dreams.
That's why he had been tirelessly searching for the Child of Prophecy foretold by the Great Toad Sage.
Nagato, with his Kagetsugan, and perhaps even Minato Namikaze, were both individuals he had placed his hopes on.
"They've grown so much!"
"How long do you think their naivety will last?" The sudden question from Kagetsu caused the smile on Jiraiya's face to stiffen. Shisui and Anko exchanged subtle glances, sensing the shift in atmosphere.
"Why do you say that, Kagetsu? Do you think their pursuit of peace is naïve and childish?" Jiraiya's expression quickly returned to normal. He hadn't planned on debating Kagetsu, but looking at him now brought back memories of Orochimaru.
When they first met those three children, Orochimaru had coldly stated that killing them would have been the greatest mercy they could offer.
Jiraiya, who had always thought well of Kagetsu, now wondered if Orochimaru's influence had seeped too deeply into him over the years. He resolved to steer Kagetsu back to a better path.
"No, pursuing peace isn't naïve or childish," Kagetsu replied, shaking his head. His answer eased Jiraiya's expression, but what he said next made Jiraiya tense up again.
"But their actions are far too naïve. It's understandable, though—they're only twelve or thirteen years old and haven't had a proper education or training. They're charging forward fueled by passion and a vague concept of peace."
"Is that such a bad thing?" Jiraiya asked hesitantly.
"You've fought in the Second Ninja War, you're in the midst of the Third, and you've completed countless missions. Can't you see the dangers here?"
Feeling a bit shaken by Kagetsu's piercing gaze, Jiraiya rubbed his face awkwardly. "Is this about legitimacy? The Hokage asked me to oversee matters in the Land of Rain because he wants me to support them, doesn't he?"
"It's because you're the only one who has a chance of protecting those three," Kagetsu said bluntly. "And also because, as their teacher, you might be able to ensure their organization sides more firmly with Konoha. From that perspective, the Third Hokage values you a lot. At the very least, he didn't assign this matter to Danzo."
"Do you have an issue with that creepy old guy?" Jiraiya suddenly perked up.
"I've just heard plenty of warnings and stories from Orochimaru-sensei," replied Kagetsu calmly. "If that old man were to visit back then, he wouldn't have cared whether Yahiko and the others were your disciples or not.
Chances are, he would've deemed Hanzo more worth winning over and sacrificed the lives of your three students to secure Hanzo's support for Konoha. After all, the things the Akatsuki have been doing are intolerable and unacceptable to any Kage.
Frankly, I'm surprised the Akatsuki managed to rise to fame in the Land of Rain without being eradicated by Hanzo's forces. It's beyond my expectations."
Jiraiya slowly nodded at Kagetsu's words.
While Jiraiya wasn't as intellectually sharp as Orochimaru, he had lived through countless experiences and commanded numerous battles. He could clearly see through many things.
However, his focus had always been on finding and nurturing the Child of Prophecy, so he preferred to avoid those soul-draining matters.
Just looking at how worn down the Third Hokage had become was proof enough of how taxing those responsibilities could be.
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