chapter 79 part 5
At the same time, the Land of Rain plunged into chaos.
Hanzo and Danzo launched large-scale operations. The two groups even engaged in a brief standoff. Although they didn't fight, tensions were high.
Even though Danzo had fewer personnel and was absolutely far weaker than Hanzo, he showed no signs of weakness in terms of morale. As Konoha's second-in-command, he made Hanzo hesitant, fearing to offend Konoha and reignite the war.
"Lord Danzo, the target has been moving at high speed, about two kilometers from us," a Root ninja reported, using sensory perception.
Danzo also wore a mask, his eyes slightly open, revealing a slit. Although his body was soaked by the rain, a chilling aura still emanated from him: "It seems the other side also has excellent sensor ninja. Jiraiya himself can't do this. Is it indirect sensory perception through the toads of Mount Myoboku, or... one of the three children he taught? Hmph, there's indeed something amiss."
If it truly was one of those three children who could sense from a long distance, it would be even more suspicious. Jiraiya himself didn't know this sensory jutsu, so why would his disciples, whom he had taught for less than three years, know it? And be able to play hide-and-seek with their group? "Increase speed. This old man is impatient to meet Jiraiya. Only by seeing with these eyes can I break through the maze of intel and discern the whole truth."
Tsukasa Kaede... if no accident, he's also involved. There must be a problem.
Two kilometers away.
Jiraiya was still fine, his stamina still abundant, but Nagato and the other two could no longer keep up.
"No, our disguise has been seen through again. The enemy's target is very clear: it's us!" Nagato said nervously.
Yahiko took a breath and punched a tree trunk fiercely: "Jiraiya-sensei, let's fight them! Always hiding like this is not a solution. We've been running for a day! We must change tactics. If we fight to the death, there's still a chance to win. If we keep running, our stamina will be exhausted, and then we can only gamble that their stamina is worse than ours."
But this was clearly impossible. So many people were specifically tracking the four of them; they couldn't possibly be inferior in basic stamina to three teenagers like Nagato and his friends.
"...Is that so? That's what you think. Konan, what about you?" Jiraiya looked at his disciples with a solemn expression.
Konan took a breath: "Sensei, I'll listen to you and Yahiko. Whether it's fighting or continuing to flee, I can accept it. Even if we die, we'll die together."
Yahiko calmed down, and a new idea formed in his mind: "How about I stay behind, Sensei, and you take Nagato and Konan to escape! The enemy is either after you or after Nagato. Even if I'm defeated, I might not be killed, as long as you all survive, everything will be worth it."
He was actually lying. Even if he were defeated, he would ultimately die in battle. He wouldn't allow the enemy to capture him and use him as leverage against Jiraiya and Nagato.
Konan also understood Yahiko's underlying meaning and nodded heavily: "Sensei, Yahiko and I will stay behind to hold off the enemy."
"No, I absolutely won't..." Nagato stammered.
"Nagato, you possess the Sage of Kaedex Paths' eyes. The Rinnegan appearing on you means that Heaven needs you to fulfill a momentous mission, to change this damned Ninja World! We can all die, but you cannot. The task you bear is heavier than any of ours. Don't be selfish!" Yahiko said sternly.
Nagato fell into deeper confusion and pain, looking helplessly at his teacher.
Jiraiya suddenly burst into laughter.
"You three, always talking about death... Have you forgotten that I, your teacher, am still here? I am Jiraiya, the Toad Sage! With me here, no matter who the opponent is, they cannot kill you!"
During the time he taught Nagato and his two companions, he hadn't been idle; his own strength had also improved.
The four master and disciples reached a consensus and immediately set up traps on the spot, waiting for the enemy's arrival.
Jiraiya had prepared for all kinds of mental scenarios, but the moment he saw this group, he was silenced.
"Konoha ANBU...? No, it's Root!" Jiraiya wondered.
"Konoha ninja!"
Nagato's eyes showed an instinctive hatred, but he tried hard to remain restrained.
The two sides faced each other, and for a moment, no one spoke.
Until a clap of thunder exploded in the sky.
Jiraiya was the first to question: "You are Root ninja, aren't you? Why are you in the Land of Rain? Why are you pursuing me? Have you betrayed the village?"
"Anyone has the right to speak of betrayal, but not you, Jiraiya. You knew that many comrades were fighting to the death against the enemy, yet you remained indifferent, hiding in a neutral country that had withdrawn from the war, teaching local youngsters. What right do you have to accuse us, who have always been loyal to our duties, after acting this way?" the Root ninja at the forefront said.
Jiraiya said coldly, "Well said. But someone has already told me the same thing, and my ears are tired of hearing it. So, if I understand correctly, you are a hunter-nin squad sent by the village, specifically to kill me? To kill me, the Hokage's disciple? And, the one speaking, you are Terai, Danzo's subordinate."
Terai said, "If you obstruct our actions, then we can only apologize. We might truly have to kill you. If it weren't for the fact that you are the Hokage's disciple, we would have been sent to kill you from the start. No one can do something to betray the village and then live peacefully in a neutral country. We absolutely cannot set such a bad precedent."
"Hmph, daring to threaten to kill me, Terai. It seems you've become even more arrogant after a few years. So your target isn't me? Why isn't it me? What exactly... have you people found out?"
Jiraiya realized something terrible. This was what he feared most.
If the target wasn't him, then there was only one possibility.
As expected.
When Danzo, mixed within the Root ninja squad, looked past Jiraiya and his gaze fell upon the young, red-haired boy, his eyes behind the mask burst forth with a crazed light.
"Those eyes, could they be... Rinnegan?!"
(end of chapter)