Land of Rain.
"Dammit!" Tsunade angrily grabbed Jiraiya by the collar, punching him repeatedly in the face as she shouted, "Why didn't you stop him? Why didn't you protect him? Why did you let him come to the battlefield?"
"Nawaki…"
"He was just a child!!"
As for Jiraiya…
"I'm sorry!" His face, swollen like a pig's, was barely recognizable.
But seeing Tsunade in this state of rage, he knew better than to fight back. After all, with his skills as the Toad Sage, who could actually beat him?
He could teach her a lesson in minutes!!
But…
"Tsunade, that's enough. Stop this." A gentle purple-haired man beside her hugged her from behind and softly said, "Jiraiya didn't mean for this to happen."
Crack—
The sound of a breaking heart.
Jiraiya clutched his chest, feeling that the pain inside was worse than the injuries on his face.
"Dan—" Tsunade casually dropped Jiraiya and turned to embrace Dan, sobbing. "My clan, my little brother…"
"They're all gone."
"They're all gone."
"Don't cry." Dan stroked Tsunade's golden hair, comforting her. "I'm sure they're happy in the Pure Land."
"And…"
"You still have me."
"I'll always be with you."
Thud—!
Seeing this scene, Jiraiya collapsed onto the ground, tears streaming uncontrollably from his swollen eyes.
Why did he have to witness this?
Hadn't he just spent a few months with the toads?
How did his childhood friend end up as someone else's girlfriend the moment he returned?
What was the point…
Of having these toads?
"Jiraiya, are you alright?" Dan walked over and reached out to Jiraiya, but the sight of his face startled him.
"You… you're crying."
"Tsunade didn't mean it. Here… let me get you some medicine."
"No need, no need." Jiraiya wiped his tears and stood up, forcing a cheerful grin. "These little injuries are nothing to the great Toad Sage."
Except for the pain in his heart!!
"Uh…" Dan stared at Jiraiya's pig-like face, still wet with tears. No matter how he looked at it, it had to hurt.
But…
Bam! Tsunade punched Jiraiya in the face again and growled, "Orochimaru?"
Seeing Tsunade like this, Dan decided to hold off on giving Jiraiya medicine. Otherwise…
It'd just be a waste!
Better to let Tsunade vent first.
"H-he's inside." Jiraiya winced in pain. Why did she keep punching his face?
Couldn't she hit his body instead?
He didn't even know if his handsome face was ruined. Would any girls still like him now?
"Orochimaru… he…" Jiraiya pointed behind him, hesitating before sighing. "He's been holed up in there ever since Nawaki's death."
"Orochimaru is grieving too."
Jiraiya had seen it—his best friend crying…
The first and only time he'd ever seen him cry.
"…"
Hearing Jiraiya's words, Tsunade fell silent. Then, she snarled, "It's all your fault. All of you!"
Tears flowed again. The Senju Clan, Nawaki…
Why did it have to be like this? Why?!
She wondered how Mito was holding up.
"Want to punch me a few more times?" Jiraiya stood up and grinned, shoving his face toward Tsunade. "A few more hits might make you feel better."
"Get lost!" Tsunade shoved Jiraiya away coldly. "Just get out."
She knew Jiraiya was hurting too, but to comfort the three of them, he…
Always had to be such an idiot.
"Alright, alright." Jiraiya took a few steps back, still smiling. "I'll leave. As for Orochimaru…"
"You…"
Before he could finish…
"GET OUT!!" Tsunade roared.
"Going, going, I'm gone." Jiraiya quickly ducked out of the tent.
Watching Jiraiya's retreating figure, Dan smiled gently. "Jiraiya really is a good person."
"He's always been an idiot." Tsunade turned away, staring into the tent's interior. Though she was still furious and heartbroken, right now…
As Nawaki's teacher, Orochimaru must be suffering even more.
After a moment's hesitation, she decided to go in.
Thanks to Jiraiya's foolish antics—especially those punches—
She felt a little better.
This was a shinobi's fate, after all…
She'd known that since becoming a ninja.
But…
Why did the entire Senju Clan have to die?!
Just as Tsunade stepped inside…
"Tsunade." Orochimaru walked out, his expression blank as he looked at her. "If you want to hit me, go ahead."
"Don't blame Jiraiya. It's my fault."
If not for him…
Nawaki might have stayed by their side. None of this would've happened.
"I…" Tsunade raised her fist, then…
Turned and clung to Dan, weeping.
———
"Jiraiya-sensei." Minato watched Jiraiya's back, noticing the way he wiped his tears. He knew his teacher was grieving deeply.
But to keep others from suffering with him, he wore that smile.
Jiraiya-sensei was…
Trying to comfort everyone in his own way.
"Oh, hey!" Jiraiya turned and grinned at Minato, thinking his swollen face looked hilarious. "Minato!"
Except his pig-like face made it impossible to tell.
"Who… who did this to you?" Minato gasped. "Jiraiya-sensei, I…"
He didn't even know how to respond.
It was horrifying. If not for the clothes and voice, he wouldn't have recognized Jiraiya-sensei.
"I did it to myself." Jiraiya chuckled. "Felt like changing my look, so I took matters into my own hands."
Then he patted Minato's shoulder and walked away.
As a teacher…
He didn't want Minato to see him like this.
"Jiraiya-sensei is amazing." Minato watched Jiraiya's retreating figure, sighing. "He must be in so much pain."
Otherwise…
Why would he punch himself?
———
"How many of these weapons does your Akatsuki have?" Ōnoki frowned at the masked man before him. "How soon can you deliver them?"
"As many as you need." Kakuzu replied flatly. "Delivery within seven days."
Kakuzu still didn't understand. He'd just been wandering the Land of Rain when suddenly…
The newly formed alliance had already started fighting?
"What if we hire Akatsuki?" Ōnoki narrowed his eyes. "Name your price. Iwa can afford it."
"Sorry, Akatsuki doesn't take sides in wars." Kakuzu said coolly. "We're a peacekeeping organization."
"…"
Peacekeeping, my ass!!
You sell weapons and talk about peace?
But…
Hearing they wouldn't join the war, Ōnoki felt slightly relieved. After all…
The Rinnegan and someone who'd fought the God of Shinobi.
If they appeared on the battlefield, who knew what chaos would follow?
And he still didn't get why the Eastern Commander had suddenly lost his mind…
Attacking Konoha out of nowhere. Didn't he know they were still allies?
Now…
Iwa's reputation was ruined.
"In that case, deliver the weapons as soon as possible." Ōnoki said. "Time is of the essence."
Konoha had already declared war on Iwa.
So…
Iwa had to prepare. What's done was done. That was the Senju's bloodline. What if they awakened Wood Release?
Iwa feared no war.
Now, let Konoha witness their Will of Stone!!
Unyielding, immovable…
The Will of Stone passed down by the First Tsuchikage!!