Kapitel 254: CH - 249 Akihiko: My dear friend Jiraiya!

At that moment, in a room encased by bars, a white-haired man perked up at the sound, lifting his gaze to the newcomer. "Have you come?"

"I have," Akihiko replied, his expression twitching as he regarded Jiraiya, who sat cross-legged in the prison cell, a solemn air surrounding him.

Akihiko found himself at a loss for words. He had anticipated that, according to village protocol, Jiraiya would seek an audience. Perhaps an invitation would be extended, leading to a formal negotiation where both parties would engage in intense discussions. Ultimately, the Grass Village would likely concede some points, considering their longstanding alliance with Konoha, and the matter would be resolved amicably.

Yet, he never imagined, however, that Jiraiya would find himself back behind bars, leaving Akihiko to intervene personally to secure his release. And… What about the negotiating now?

Glancing at the serious-faced Jiraiya with a hint of annoyance, Akihiko's patience wore thin. "Alright, spill it. How did you manage to land yourself back here?"

"Hahaha~." Jiraiya's laughter emerged slowly as he opened his eyes, his expression a mix of awkwardness and indignation. "That bastard Mubuki promised to treat me to a meal as a welcome gesture, but then he dashed off without paying... leaving me to foot the bill."

Mubuki had appeared genuinely sincere, even going so far as to refer to Jiraiya as his brother with an earnestness that almost convinced Jiraiya of their bond. Yet, in the end, he proved to lack any semblance of ninja morality. Not only did he deceive Jiraiya in the Shinobi Times article, but he also duped him in person.

As for the reports in the Shinobi Times, Jiraiya remained unfazed. He trusted that the village wouldn't readily believe such allegations. After all, even in Minato's case...if circumstances had unfolded differently, perhaps the village wouldn't have misconstrued his actions. If not for the unforeseen chaos caused by the Nine-Tails' rampage and Uchiha Obito's intervention, the situation might not have escalated to this extent, and the village wouldn't have doubted him.

As for the specifics of the situation, Jiraiya had been absent from Konoha at the time and had only recently received information about the incident. His recent travels had taken him far from Konoha, resulting in a lack of clarity regarding the circumstances.

Upon hearing Jiraiya's explanation, Akihiko fell into a momentary silence before speaking with sternness. "That's outrageous! Completely unacceptable! Rest assured, I'll reprimand him severely later. But… didn't you bring funds for Danzo's travel expenses?"

However, as soon as Akihiko finished speaking, Jiraiya regarded him with a puzzled expression. "Huh? Travel expenses?"

"You..." Akihiko raised an eyebrow suspiciously, scrutinizing Jiraiya. "Could it be that you didn't bring any money?"

"Hahaha, impossible!" Jiraiya laughed awkwardly, avoiding direct eye contact and scratching his head in embarrassment. "It's just that... the village's funds haven't reached me yet."

Upon hearing this, Akihiko's expression shifted abruptly, and he called out to the guards, his tone urgent. "Guards! We have a spy in our midst. No need for interrogation. Just dispose of him!"

"Woah, woah! Hold on a second!" Jiraiya protested, locking eyes with the Grass ninja who had rushed in, his expression fierce. "I meant no harm, truly. I didn't come here with malicious intent. If I had, I would have acted long ago. And the village would indeed send negotiators. I'm simply here to gather information, and the village is awaiting updates on Danzo's situation. If anything were to happen to me... no funds would be forthcoming."

As Jiraiya's words fell, Akihiko's expression changed, and he asked earnestly like he was really concerned for Jiraiya, "Ah, My dear friend Jiraiya, who imprisoned you here?"

Caught off guard by Akihiko's familiar warmth, Jiraiya was momentarily speechless, a tinge of melancholy crossing his features. Had relationships in the ninja world truly become this convoluted?

After a deep sigh, Jiraiya turned his attention back to Akihiko, before inquiring. "Danzo... is he..."

"Don't worry, Danzo is perfectly fine," Akihiko assured him, his tone reassuring. "He opted for the deluxe solo travel package to the Grass and Rain countries. Currently, he's touring the Land of Rain with Hanzo as his guide. Everything is proceeding smoothly. You see, Hanzo regards Danzo as a brother and holds him in high esteem. There's no cause for worry."

Akihiko then took out a photo from his pocket and handed it to Jiraiya with a smile. "In fact, when Danzo learned that someone from the village had come to retrieve him, he was overjoyed. He even had a postcard sent with a photo he took during his travels, just for you."

Handing the postcard to Jiraiya, Akihiko pointed out a figure in the picture. "Take a look, Danzo appears genuinely happy."

Listening to Akihiko's explanation, Jiraiya couldn't help but be taken aback. He studied the photo in his hands.

Danzo Shimura? Happy? How is that even possible? Yet, as he examined the image, Jiraiya fell into a stunned silence.

In the picture, Danzo indeed wore a smile, but the scene behind him depicted over a dozen muscular Rain ninjas brandishing chakra-infused swords—produced by the Grass Village—all grinning at Danzo. Could this truly be considered 'very happy'?

"Is that so?" Jiraiya finally managed to speak, his tone incredulous. "But... that doesn't look like the typical vacation photo."

Akihiko beamed cheerfully. "Of course it is! We pride ourselves on being a reputable travel agency. There's no coercion or mandatory spending involved. Ensuring our guests' satisfaction has always been the hallmark of our Grass Ninja Travel Agency. Admittedly, the deluxe solo travel package does come at a premium. But as they say, you get what you pay for."

He continued with enthusiasm, "And it's not just us who vouch for it. Even Rock Ninjas are fond of our travel agency. They're quite pleased with our services."

Jiraiya lapsed into a moment of silence, feeling somewhat at a loss for words. After a brief pause, he inquired, "May I ask who the president of this travel agency is?"

Akihiko responded without hesitation, "Mubuki. Why do you ask?"

Jiraiya's mouth twitched slightly. "Oh, nothing. Thank you." After stowing away the photo with a neutral expression, he shook his head. Danzo was safe, that's what mattered. As for the other details... that would be the sensei's concern. And he also doesn't have any good feelings about this 'teammate' of his sensei who shoulders the burden of Konoha's darkness.

After tucking away the photo with the intention of sending it back to the village later, Jiraiya then turned his attention back to Akihiko, his expression turning serious. "Regarding the Uchiha clan..."

As Jiraiya began to speak, the space around them suddenly warped, leaving both him and Akihiko astonished by the sudden distortion.

'What's he doing here again? Shouldn't he be in school? Or did he skipped class again?' Akihiko wondered, puzzled by the unexpected appearance.

Before Akihiko could voice his thoughts, a figure materialized before them, fixing Jiraiya with a calm gaze from his red eyes. "It seems I've arrived just in time. My apologies for the interruption. The affairs of the Uchiha clan concern me directly. You should come and discuss them with me, as the clan leader."

Jiraiya was taken aback, recognizing the individual before him. He realized this was none other than the former hero of Konoha, a disciple of Minato, and the only Uchiha who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. During his travels, Jiraiya had heard about this Uchiha prodigy, Uchiha Obito.

However, subsequent rumors had also circulated about Obito's betrayal of the village for various reasons. Yet, Jiraiya wasn't privy to the specifics. Unfortunately, it seemed now that… even the Uchiha clan had become embroiled in rebellion.

Jiraiya sighed inwardly, fixing Obito with a serious gaze. Obito met his gaze in kind, their attention solely focused on each other in the confined space, seemingly forgetting Akihiko's presence.

"Obito," Jiraiya began while looking at Obito with a serious expression.

"Lord Jiraiya, the Uchiha clan..." but before Obito could respond, a hand abruptly landed on his shoulder, causing both of them to startle.

"What?" Obito turned, surprised, as Akihiko's voice cut through the tense atmosphere. "Hey, Are you skipping class again? Don't you realize there's an exam approaching? Aren't you concerned about failing and being held back?"

Both Jiraiya and Obito were stunned by the interruption. And Akihiko's sudden outburst left them speechless.

Jiraiya watched the scene unfold with a complicated expression. The gravity of the conversation he had been about to engage in evaporated in an instant, leaving him at a loss for words.

Meanwhile, Obito's frustration was also palpable, a vein twitching on his forehead as he glared at Akihiko. "Can't you sense the seriousness of the situation? I'm here to offer assistance, you fool!"

"Students belong in school. You shouldn't be concerned about this," Akihiko retorted, brushing off Obito's offer of help.

Obito's anger flared at Akihiko's dismissive attitude. "I am the current leader of the Uchiha clan! Show some respect, or next time, don't expect me to offer you a ride!"

Akihiko shook his head in response. "I'll be having a word with your teachers about this!"

"What?" Obito's expression shifted to panic, but he attempted to maintain his tough facade. "So what if you talk to my teachers? Do you think I'm afraid of that?"

"Well..." Jiraiya interjected, trying to redirect the focus, sensing the conversation veering off track. He raised his hand tentatively. "Perhaps we should address my situation first?"

As Jiraiya spoke, Obito snapped out of his argument with Akihiko, clearing his throat as he regained his composure. "Obito Uchiha, the current leader of the Uchiha clan," he introduced himself calmly.

The situation had spiraled into absurdity. Jiraiya found himself at a loss for words, the bizarre turn of events leaving him momentarily speechless. "I... I'm... Jiraiya," he finally managed to say, his voice trailing off uncertainly.