Chapter 394: Kato Dan?
After demonstrating his abilities, Taruho confirmed Jiraiya's information with those around him. Finding that everything matched, he felt slightly more at ease.
"It seems you really are that Jiraiya-sama."
"That's right! I am the handsome, elegant, powerful, and world-renowned Fifth Hokage, Jiraiya-sama!"
This self-praise, combined with that lecherous smile and his eyebrows twitching unconsciously...
Taruho looked at him, his mouth twitching as he thought to himself:
'He clearly has such a righteous face and a majestic build, so why does he look so lecherous when he smiles?'
This contrast caused the filter of majesty surrounding the title of "Hokage" to shatter completely in Taruho's mind.
However, complaints aside, Taruho's vigilance did not waver. He stared at Jiraiya and continued to ask:
"Since you are the Fifth Hokage, do you know Mr. Kato Dan?"
Kato Dan?
The name was like a bolt of lightning, striking Jiraiya instantly.
The cynical smile on his face vanished without a trace, and his entire aura became serious and solemn.
"How do you know that name?"
Kato Dan's Soul should have returned to the Pure Land.
Since his last resurrection, he hadn't left Hidden Leaf Village, as he was cooperating with the Second Hokage and Orochimaru on experiments.
The last time Kato Dan went on a mission was during the Second Great Ninja War. This young guard from the Land of Demons looked no more than fifteen or sixteen; how could he know Dan's name?
There was definitely something wrong here.
Seeing Jiraiya's intense reaction, Taruho felt a slight sense of relief.
It seemed the man really did know Mr. Kato Dan, and their relationship might be quite close.
The wary expression on his face softened slightly, but he remained solemn as he stepped aside to clear the path, saying to Jiraiya:
"Mr. Kato Dan is currently with the Priestess."
"He appeared in the form of a spiritual body."
"Please follow me."
A spiritual body?
Jiraiya's brow furrowed instantly.
Appearing as a spiritual body... what did that mean?
Did it mean Dan's Soul hadn't fully returned to the Pure Land, or that he had temporarily returned to the living world from the Pure Land for some special reason?
And the place that allowed Souls to linger or travel between the living world and the Pure Land...
Izanami Slope!
That was it. The passage connecting the human world and the Pure Land, Izanami Slope, was most likely in the Land of Demons.
Only a mysterious place involving the boundaries of life and death and the passage of Souls could allow Kato Dan to reappear as a spiritual body.
This discovery caused Jiraiya's desire for answers to skyrocket!
He no longer hesitated, nodded to Taruho, and said in a deep voice:
"Please lead the way."
Taruho said no more, turned around, and led Jiraiya through the heavy gates of the palace toward its depths.
Their figures disappeared into the deep corridors within the palace.
The guards outside looked at each other and returned to their posts.
As they walked, Taruho introduced the situation to Jiraiya in a steady tone:
"Mr. Kato appeared two days ago."
"At the time, the Priestess was studying etiquette in the side hall when he suddenly emerged from the floor, giving us all a fright."
Jiraiya asked the most crucial question:
"Is he conscious?"
Taruho nodded and said with certainty:
"Conscious, very conscious."
"And..."
He paused, a hint of admiration in his voice, "The first thing he did after waking up was struggle to leave, saying he had to return to Hidden Leaf Village immediately. It seemed... he had something very important to convey or warn about."
Something important...
The information contained within this was likely no small matter.
Taruho continued:
"However, his Soul state seems very unstable and fragile, as if it could dissipate at any moment."
"He is currently being treated and stabilized by the Priestess using spiritual talismans left by the previous Priestess, so he cannot be moved for the time being."
Oh?
Hearing this, Jiraiya's eyebrows rose slightly, a hint of surprise in his heart.
You're quite capable, Dan.
In just two days, he had already won the trust of the Land of Demons' Priestess, even to the point where she would use precious spiritual talismans left by her predecessor to treat him?
That wasn't something achieved with an ordinary level of trust.
It seemed Dan was still as skilled as ever when it came to communication.
Or perhaps, he possessed something significant enough to catch the Priestess's attention?
Jiraiya pondered for a moment before speaking, "The spiritual talismans left by the previous Priestess must be very precious. Hidden Leaf Village will provide the Land of Demons with certain compensation." As he spoke, he observed Taruho's expression out of the corner of his eye.
However, Taruho's reaction was unexpected.
The young guard simply shook his head calmly but firmly:
"There is no need."
"Mr. Kato is teaching the Priestess Sealing Jutsu."
"These teachings are worth the value of a spiritual talisman."
Sealing Jutsu?
Hearing this, doubt rose in Jiraiya's heart once more.
Dan was not known for his expertise in Sealing Jutsu.
In life, he excelled in secret techniques on the Soul level like the Spirit Transformation Technique, as well as excellent tactical command and analytical skills.
In terms of Sealing Jutsu, Dan's knowledge wasn't deep; at most, he knew a few B-rank or C-rank Sealing Jutsu.
What he could teach the Priestess was likely not any powerful or profound Sealing Jutsu, but probably just some basic sealing principles and common techniques.
However, for a country like the Land of Demons, which relied on the Priestess to Seal monsters but might lack systematic Ninjutsu Legacy, even basic Sealing Jutsu knowledge might be very precious.
Moreover, the student was a Priestess barely over ten years old, destined to bear the heavy responsibility of sealing monsters in the future.
This "tuition fee" might indeed be enough to compensate for the value of the spiritual talisman.
But Jiraiya had other thoughts.
If conditions allowed...
After meeting Dan and understanding the situation, he might teach this Priestess some more Advanced Sealing Jutsu, such as the Five Elements Seal.
After all, she had used a precious spiritual talisman to save a Hidden Leaf Village shinobi; Hidden Leaf Village should naturally provide a more generous reward.
Furthermore, helping the Priestess of the Land of Demons improve her strength was also indirectly maintaining the stability of the Ninja World.
He had heard that the Land of Demons still had monsters, though rumors about them were few, only that they were sealed by successive generations of Priestesses.
And the Priestess's Sealing Jutsu seemed different from conventional Sealing Jutsu.
The Ninja World would soon be unified, and these so-called monsters were destined to be cleared by Naruto. Having an extra bit of power was always a good thing.
With this in mind, Jiraiya nodded to Taruho and said no more about the issue of compensation.
The two continued forward.
At the end of the corridor was a heavy wooden door painted with intricate patterns of divine birds and lotuses.
Taruho stopped in front of the door and turned to Jiraiya:
"They are inside. Both the Priestess and Mr. Kato are here."
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