Hiruzen and Shinji remained silent.
To blame Jiraiya for this kind of thing? There's no need.
Who can guarantee such an outcome?
"Alright, Jiraiya, stop acting like that!" Hiruzen spoke sternly after a long pause.
He had never taught Jiraiya to behave in such a manner.
At Hiruzen's loud shout, Jiraiya finally calmed down.
"Hoo—"
Jiraiya first closed his eyes, and after a while, he slowly opened them, stood up, and turned to look at Hiruzen.
"Old man, I want to go find them."
"Senpai, don't be naive." Shinji interrupted him unceremoniously.
"What then? Question them about why they became like this?"
Jiraiya, who had been quite displeased, fell silent upon hearing Shinji's words. That was his exact thought.
Shinji said unceremoniously, "Question them about what? Why they kill people? Or are you rushing to your death?"
Jiraiya frowned, looking at Shinji with such an expression for the first time, and said, "I am their master. I need to understand clearly what caused them to become like this."
Shinji said, "Isn't it natural for ninja to kill? After so many years of experience, I think you also understand."
"The answer is already obvious. If you go now, it won't be the conversation you want, but a life-or-death battle."
Jiraiya opened his mouth, trying to argue. But he couldn't find any reason.
Shinji said, "Wake up, senpai. Your former disciples are now the leaders of the Akatsuki, who have gathered many rogue ninjas and have already captured the Six-Tails Jinchuriki."
"Even the Fourth Mizukage of Kirigakure was manipulated and died because of them. If you go now, it will only plunge Konoha into a situation where it will be attacked by all the ninja villages."
Don't be fooled by the current cooperative stance of Kumogakure and Kirigakure. Once they know Nagato is Jiraiya's disciple, that situation will instantly dissolve.
"Jiraiya... as your teacher, I hope you can calm down." Hiruzen spoke slowly.
He naturally understood his disciple's situation.
Having gone through similar experiences, he understood even more the heartache of seeing a child he had placed great hopes on and painstakingly nurtured go astray. Orochimaru had already made him experience this long ago.
Shinji looked at Jiraiya's slightly relaxed expression and slowly said, "Anger, doubt, or sadness—these emotions will blind you and prevent you from making the correct judgment."
"Rinnegan, we know nothing about how terrifying this power is."
"You are one of Konoha's Sannin. You should understand that intelligence is more important than brute force. What you need to do now is to use your wisdom and experience to gain a greater advantage for Konoha and find the enemy's weaknesses."
"And not to engage in a questioning session with no chance of success."
"Senpai, I think you know more about Tsunade-senpai's experience than I do."
"If you were to go through this again, have you considered what Tsunade-senpai would do?"
Listening to Shinji's words, Jiraiya finally conceded.
If he really ran off to question them now, putting aside whether he would get any answers, if anything happened to him, that kind of scene...
"I need to know immediately before this operation begins." Jiraiya sat down, looking at Hiruzen with a serious expression.
No matter what, he had to see those three disciples. If he couldn't go himself, then he would participate in this mission.
"You have already been assigned to this mission." Hiruzen breathed a sigh of relief before speaking.
"However, command cannot be entrusted to you, and it will be with other ninja villages. I hope you will exercise restraint then."
"I understand." Jiraiya nodded.
Having calmed down, he naturally returned to his usual demeanor. Just now, he was simply shocked by the news.
Turning his head, Jiraiya started bickering with Shinji, "And you, kid, how much do you look down on me? I'm the famous Toad Sage!"
After all, being spoken to like that by his junior, who still didn't believe in his strength, was annoying.
"Oh, but I beat you." Shinji raised an eyebrow, deliberately needling Jiraiya's heart.
"...How can you say such cold words?"
Jiraiya looked speechless. This kid had been treating him like this ever since he and Tsunade started making a little progress.
"It's alright, I'm honest." Shinji shrugged, responding expressionlessly.
"Alright, Jiraiya, you can go back now." Hiruzen interrupted the squabble between the two and told Jiraiya to leave quickly.
Staying here and not helping, he just found it annoying to watch.
Jiraiya stood up helplessly and said, "Hey, I've figured it out. Now that you have a successor, you really don't care about me anymore."
He really should leave, he had some things to think about carefully.
Hiruzen waved his hand without lifting his head, signaling Jiraiya to leave quickly.
"Shinji, come here and sign these documents first."
"Coming."
—
Bang!
Kirigakure.
In the Mizukage's office, Mei's face was grim as she listened to Ao's report.
Beside her, Genji slammed his snake-shaped wooden staff hard on the ground.
"Akatsuki deserves death!"
Even though the Fourth Mizukage's death gave him, the sole elder of Kirigakure, power equal to the Mizukage, it still filled him with immense anger.
Due to the Mizukage's series of measures, Kirigakure had lost several powerful Kekkei Genkai clans. Even some powerful Jonin had defected from the village, and now even the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist could not be fully assembled.
Mei, who had just taken office, needed to rely on Genji, so she could only pretend not to see and spoke, "Elder Genji, we need to participate in Konoha's operation."
"I understand, but Fifth Mizukage, you cannot leave the village." Genji nodded, but still did not want Mei to leave the village.
Mei sighed.
This was also where she was conflicted. Kirigakure had no one else to use now. If only Ao went, Kirigakure would have no say between Konoha and Kumogakure.
"I will have Gonbee participate, and as for the other, I recommend Ameyuri."
Upon hearing the last candidate, Mei's brow furrowed unconsciously, not because of a lack of strength.
She said, "Her body, I estimate, is unlikely to be able to participate in such a long-term mission."
Kirigakure, a ninja village whose primary method was Water Release, had produced a ninja hailed as a 'Lightning Release genius'.
This itself was rare, but unfortunately, Ameyuri's physical condition was average. Although her strength was formidable, after she recklessly advanced to Jonin a few years ago, her body had already started to show problems.