Rasa's true strength was inferior to Jiraiya's?
He had only defeated Jiraiya because he received outside assistance?
Did that not perfectly match the previous rumor saying he had sold Jiraiya's intelligence to Sunagakure?
The two rumors fit together exactly. Wasn't that equivalent to proving each other?
Hiruzen Sarutobi could already imagine it.
Once this rumor appeared, the discussion about him betraying Jiraiya would inevitably be brought up again.
Would he still have any reputation left?
Could he still end well?
Homura Mitokado noticed Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression turning strange and gradually figured out what was wrong.
"Hiruzen, who do you think spread this rumor?"
Homura Mitokado put away his smile.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a heavy voice, "The rumor claiming I sold Jiraiya's intelligence and this new rumor have similar goals. Both are meant to divide us in Konoha and damage Rasa's reputation."
"Kumogakure is the most likely suspect. Iwagakure comes second."
"Has Sunagakure taken any action?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.
Homura Mitokado shook his head.
"No proper action. We only heard that Sunagakure's upper echelon is forbidding people from discussing it."
Hiruzen Sarutobi snorted coldly.
"Useless!"
"That Rasa is simply useless!"
"When they fabricated rumors before, they were so capable. They used every method possible—Ninja Kill, Ninja World Major Events Weekly, character interviews. And now, when it comes to resolving rumors, they have no method?"
Homura Mitokado reminded him,
"Hokage-sama, when Danzo spread the rumor that Sasori of the Red Sand was killed by Rasa, Sunagakure quickly joined forces with Chiyo to clarify it."
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Homura Mitokado.
"I know. But that still isn't the level they should have. Their ability to resolve rumors is far worse than their ability to create them. And now, they've even dragged this old man down with them."
"I already dealt with the rumors here in Konoha. But because of Sunagakure's rumor, they have been brought up again."
"Are they expecting Konoha to solve this rumor for them?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not want to.
But after thinking about it carefully, Hiruzen Sarutobi realized he had to do exactly that.
After all, the negative impact this rumor had on Sunagakure was far smaller than the negative impact it had on Konoha.
Whether Rasa had the title of strongest person in the shinobi world or not did not have any substantial effect on Sunagakure.
…
…
Mount Myoboku.
Jiraiya was undergoing recovery training.
Even after losing both legs and one arm, even though Jiraiya had indeed fallen into despair at first—partly because he would be much worse as a ninja, and more importantly, because he had even less hope with Tsunade now—
After hearing the news that Hiruzen Sarutobi had sold his intelligence and cooperated with Sunagakure, a subtle change had appeared in Jiraiya's heart.
Then came that dream.
It had been too real.
In the dream, he had seen many things he should never have known. And when he later verified them, they had actually been correct.
That forced Jiraiya to develop some suspicion toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi was his teacher.
Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi was the Hokage.
After that, once he disappeared, Konoha immediately arranged for a fake Jiraiya.
Jiraiya decided he had to investigate everything properly.
"Minato cannot die without explanation."
"And I cannot be injured without explanation either."
"I must investigate all of this clearly, uncover the truth, and find the real culprit."
At that moment, a toad quickly came over.
"Jiraiya-sama."
Jiraiya stopped training.
"There is new intelligence from the outside. This is a recent piece of news spreading in the Land of Wind. It concerns you, Jiraiya-sama. Do you want to take a look?"
The toad handed over the intelligence scroll in its claws.
Jiraiya accepted it.
He opened it.
The next instant, Jiraiya's pupils contracted violently.
"A rumor is spreading in the Land of Wind saying that in the battle between Rasa and Jiraiya-sama, Rasa did indeed receive outside assistance. Whenever this matter is mentioned, Rasa closes his mouth and refuses to speak, or even flies into a rage out of embarrassment."
"Sunagakure is suppressing these discussions."
As Jiraiya read, the toad spoke beside him.
Jiraiya's expression darkened.
"Judging from how Sunagakure and Rasa are behaving toward this rumor, doesn't that further prove someone really did sell my intelligence to Rasa?"
Pieces of evidence were laid out before Jiraiya.
One coincidence was a coincidence.
Two coincidences were still coincidence…
But how could there be so many coincidences?
When there were too many coincidences, there had to be a problem.
Perhaps it was the truth.
"Teacher Sarutobi… I truly hope it wasn't you."
"Why?"
"I never wanted the Hokage position. If I had wanted it, how could it ever have fallen to Minato?"
"Or were you truly afraid I would avenge Minato?"
Jiraiya's figure vanished from Mount Myoboku.
When he appeared again, he had already arrived in the Land of Water.
A figure pushed Jiraiya's wheelchair and brought him near the Uchiha Sailing Group.
At this moment, a young Uchiha was kneeling before Jiraiya.
"Jiraiya?"
Uchiha Luo looked at Jiraiya with fear on his face.
Even though Uchiha Luo had heard about Jiraiya being seriously injured in battle against Rasa, and even though the current Jiraiya was nothing more than a cripple who had lost both legs, the name of the Sannin still created immense pressure on him.
Moreover, the reason Uchiha Luo had come here was entirely because he had been forcefully captured.
"Uchiha Luo?"
"I am."
"I brought you here because I want to understand something. You will cooperate, won't you?"
In this situation, how could Uchiha Luo dare refuse?
"Jiraiya-senpai, please ask."
"How much do you know about Minato's death? Who was the Uchiha who controlled the Nine-Tails?"
Bitterness appeared on Uchiha Luo's face.
"Jiraiya-senpai, if I knew those things, there is no way I would only be a chunin. I had no access to any of that. I have never used the Sharingan to control a Tailed Beast either."
"According to the information passed down within the Uchiha, it is indeed recorded that the Sharingan can restrain Tailed Beasts."
"But that is not something just any Sharingan can do."
"Especially controlling the Nine-Tails."
"I'm afraid even a three-tomoe Sharingan cannot do it."
"In the history of our Uchiha, only Uchiha Madara-sama ever accomplished such a thing."
Jiraiya frowned.
"You mean the one who created the Nine-Tails' rampage was Uchiha Madara? Is that possible? Uchiha Madara died at the hands of the First Hokage long ago. He couldn't possibly appear."
Uchiha Luo hurriedly explained,
"Jiraiya-senpai, that isn't what I mean. I mean that only someone with eyes like Uchiha Madara-sama had back then would probably be capable of controlling the Nine-Tails."
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes.
"Then who do you think has eyes like that?"
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