Bab 211: Chapter 211: Gen’s Action, Three Ninjas Gather!
Orochimaru remained silent. If it were anyone else, he might try to tarnish their reputation or create a scandal to discredit them. But Jiraiya… well, Jiraiya didn't have much of a reputation to ruin. Ever since he started writing books, he had been inseparable from his eccentric, carefree persona. Unlike Hatake Sakumo, Jiraiya wasn't the type to be affected by rumors.
"Did you orchestrate this situation in Yuyin Village?" Orochimaru asked, his gaze landing sharply on Shimura Danzo.
"Yes," Danzo replied without hesitation.
Hanzo actually had some admiration for the Akatsuki organization. After all, they were a group of talented young people who had managed to grow their influence quickly. But as soon as Danzo learned of the relationship between Yahiko and Jiraiya, he arranged for the Root Organization ninjas to make contact with Hanzo. Jiraiya might try to leverage this relationship to help Yahiko and his friends rise to power in Yuyin Village, perhaps as a stepping stone toward influencing the Hokage selection.
While these ideas were only suspicions without solid proof, Danzo believed it would be enough for Hanzo to act on.
"And the operatives? Have they returned?" Orochimaru asked, sensing something amiss.
"Not yet, but when Jiraiya and his companions left Amegakure Village, all my men also pulled back," Danzo responded, although he suddenly noticed that his agents hadn't returned. "Tianmen, reach out to the operatives who went to Yuyin Village," he ordered.
"Understood, Danzo-sama." Tianmen disappeared, swiftly moving to make contact.
"This plan didn't succeed as I hoped," Danzo sighed. "If the Third Hokage truly intends to groom Jiraiya as a counterbalance to us, there will be signs sooner or later."
"Relax. I know Jiraiya's heart," Orochimaru said confidently. He was convinced that Jiraiya had no interest in political power. Otherwise, he wouldn't have remained in Amegakure to train Yahiko and his friends, neglecting even to report back to the village.
Jiraiya's pursuits were elsewhere. He wasn't cut out to be a puppet for Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"You should still keep an eye on him," Danzo warned. "If there's even a hint of trouble, we should prepare ourselves."
"Don't worry, I know what's at stake," Orochimaru replied, then transformed into small snakes, vanishing from sight.
Half an hour later, Tianmen returned with a grave expression. "Sir, they're all dead," he reported.
"Dead?!" Danzo stood up abruptly. The ninjas he had sent were skilled, including two teams. How could they all be dead?
"Based on reports, both teams were ambushed and killed almost immediately," Tianmen explained. "There were signs of lightning-style and taijutsu attacks at the scene, suggesting the involvement of Hidden Cloud Village ninjas… but how they came to be in the Land of Fire is still unknown."
Danzo's face darkened as he listened. It was clear that the attackers weren't from within the village, but if the Hidden Cloud Village was involved, there wasn't much he could do.
"Dismissed," he said, exhaling heavily. He considered using this incident to stir up trouble for the Hidden Cloud Village, but he doubted Sarutobi Hiruzen would allow it. Danzo couldn't help but resent the path Konoha had taken under Hiruzen's leadership. In his view, only he had the vision to steer Konoha in the right direction.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya, the man at the center of these speculations, was enjoying a bowl of ramen at Ichiraku Ramen.
"How does it feel?" Tsunade asked, a faint blush on her face from the sake she was sipping. "It seems the Third Hokage has high hopes for you."
"Hopes?" Jiraiya chuckled, taking another bite. "Spare me. Don't tell me he wants me to become Hokage."
The thought of being Hokage filled Jiraiya with dread. The rules, the responsibilities, the endless tasks—just thinking about it was exhausting.
"Why not? Didn't you once dream of becoming Hokage?" Tsunade teased, reminding him of their days as students when Jiraiya had boldly claimed he would become Hokage. Over time, though, he had changed.
"I have more important things to do," Jiraiya said with a smile. "My mission is to find the Child of Prophecy. When I find him, he'll bring peace to the ninja world. I'm getting close, I can feel it." He finished his bowl and ordered another, this time with extra pork.
"The Child of Prophecy?" Tsunade shook her head. "You always get caught up in these wild ideas."
"Yes, Jiraiya, maybe it's time to focus on something real for once." A familiar voice spoke from behind them.
"Orochimaru?" Both Tsunade and Jiraiya turned, surprised.
Since the end of the Second Ninja War, the three of them had rarely crossed paths. They each had their own paths, their own priorities, and rarely came together anymore.
"Not happy to see me?" Orochimaru smiled. "After all, we were comrades, weren't we? Jiraiya, I heard the Third Hokage has plans for you."
"So I've heard," Jiraiya laughed. "Seems everyone thinks I'm destined to be the Fourth Hokage…"
With that, Jiraiya burst into hearty laughter, and even Tsunade joined in.
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