Has Orochimaru defected?
Akihara Kagura and Nagato shared the same doubt.
Why are we unaware of this? Does Orochimaru know about this himself? Why didn't he consult us on this matter?!
However.
Konan handled this well, even using Orochimaru as proof to show Jiraiya that the Akatsuki Organization has no intention of opposing other major nations.
"Orochimaru is going to the Hidden Sand Village to assassinate the Kazekage?"
Jiraiya's expression changed immediately, and he said in a deep voice, "I'll handle this with Kagura. You two don't need to worry about it."
"But…"
Jiraiya seemed unwilling to spare his two disciples: "Why does the Akatsuki Organization recruit these dangerous traitorous ninja? Is it for revenge? Do you want to eliminate Salamander Hanzo?"
"Yes."
Konan nodded, not denying it.
Because they couldn't deny the fact that the Akatsuki had recruited S-Class traitorous ninja, Jiraiya had already seen it with his own eyes.
"We want revenge for Yahiko."
Konan looked at Yahiko's gravestone and softly spoke: "Jiraiya-sensei, do you want to stop us from taking revenge on Salamander Hanzo?"
"..."
Jiraiya fell silent immediately.
"Can I help?"
Akihara Kagura stepped forward to offer help, even providing his own reason: "Since I saw him last time, I've wanted to see if I could kill him…"
"You want to kill everyone you see!"
Jiraiya grabbed Akihara Kagura's shoulder!
After scolding Akihara Kagura, Jiraiya looked towards Konan and Nagato and talked about the things Hanzo had mentioned: "Salamander Hanzo mentioned to me…"
"Let this old man talk to them!"
An elderly voice appeared in their ears.
The person who came was none other than Salamander Hanzo.
This Ninja Demigod had also been lurking here without being noticed.
The moment they heard Salamander Hanzo's voice, everyone present became alert, especially Nagato and Konan, who already had a psychological shadow from before!
Akihara Kagura raised his finger!
Two vines shot up from the ground!
However, these two vines were not aimed at Nagato and Konan but rather at Salamander Hanzo, who had suddenly appeared. The vines quickly wrapped around Hanzo's arms!
Clang!
Salamander Hanzo raised his scythe, drawing an arc in the air, severing the two vines cleanly before landing on the ground!
"Salamander Hanzo!"
Everyone present recognized this Ninja Demigod.
Especially Nagato and Konan. When Nagato looked at Salamander Hanzo, his expression was calm, but his palms trembled slightly, while Konan's gaze was filled with undisguised hatred!
"Don't be nervous."
Salamander Hanzo lowered his scythe and looked at Nagato and Konan: "I didn't come here to repeat past mistakes…"
Salamander Hanzo looked at them and spoke softly: "In fact, I've been staying here all along, giving Yahiko a proper burial here, not only to prove to the people of the Land of Rain that I won't be enemies with the Akatsuki but also to attract you to come and talk…"
"There's no need for us to talk, is there?"
Nagato, who had been sitting in a wheelchair, slowly clenched his fist, his head gradually lowering: "Since Yahiko died, I've deeply felt the pain of losing him every night, and I've never forgotten it…"
In this world, Nagato's heart is tormented by two things: first, his parents were killed by Konoha Ninja; second, Yahiko was killed by Salamander Hanzo's conspiracy.
"This… was also my greatest mistake."
Salamander Hanzo lowered his head slightly and said in a low voice: "At this point, I don't expect your forgiveness, only to atone with my life…"
"..."
Nagato and Konan suddenly looked at Salamander Hanzo.
This guy…
What kind of joke is this!
A former enemy willing to die willingly makes their hatred and pain a joke. What kind of joke is he making!
Salamander Hanzo didn't seem to be joking; his voice became serious: "Back then, when I negotiated with the Akatsuki, allowing you to join the Hidden Rain, hoping you could bring peace to the Land of Rain, it was only a mishap that I was coerced…"
"..."
Jiraiya's expression immediately turned awkward.
Because he'd already heard about what Salamander Hanzo was talking about, it's surely Shimura Danzo's problem again. Once that kind of thing is explained…
"It was all Danzo's doing."
Jiraiya finally sighed deeply and picked up Hanzo's story: "When I learned that Konan was still alive, I tried to investigate your situation and happened to encounter Lord Hanzo, from whom I learned the truth…"
"When Lord Hanzo wanted to negotiate with the Akatsuki, Shimura Danzo acted on his own against Konoha's orders, forcing Lord Hanzo to cancel the negotiations and turn them into an ambush…"
"That led to Yahiko's death…"
Jiraiya felt a bit uneasy at this point: "Nagato, Konan, this matter was entirely Shimura Danzo's personal action…"
"I am also at fault."
Salamander Hanzo interrupted Jiraiya and continued in a deep voice: "When I was coerced and tempted by Danzo, I was only thinking about avoiding war and not provoking enmity with neighboring countries, forgetting the promise of protecting all the people of the Land of Rain…"