"The one who controlled the Nine-Tails was Uchiha Fugaku!"
"The one who killed Minato was Uchiha Fugaku!"
Jiraiya spoke through gritted teeth.
"And moreover… moreover…"
Jiraiya let out a sigh.
"I have no choice but to admit that Teacher Sarutobi and Uchiha Fugaku should be in this together."
"I know that sounds strange."
"One is the Third Hokage. The other is an Uchiha. In principle, the two of them should be almost impossible to collude."
"But after thinking it through again and again, this is the only possibility left."
"When all impossibilities have been eliminated, whatever remains—no matter how absurd it sounds—must be the correct answer."
"Otherwise, after Teacher Sarutobi heard the information I spread, it would be impossible for him not only to refuse to investigate Fugaku, but to personally issue an announcement clearing his name."
Jiraiya could not understand this point.
But Rasa could.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had suffered under rumors for far too long.
Naturally, he had become extremely sensitive toward rumors—and extremely repulsed by them.
And Konoha's current situation was too terrible. Uchiha Fugaku was already one of the few usable people Konoha had left.
Because of multiple reasons layered together, the naturally suspicious Hiruzen Sarutobi had not immediately suspected Fugaku just because a rumor appeared.
In addition, Rasa knew very clearly that the person who caused the Nine-Tails' rampage truly was not Uchiha Fugaku.
It was Uchiha Obito.
Uchiha Fugaku likely had a perfect alibi. Hiruzen Sarutobi was aware of that.
But Jiraiya did not know.
The current Jiraiya no longer trusted Hiruzen Sarutobi that much either.
A subtle expression appeared on Rasa's face.
"Who would have thought that under so many intertwined circumstances, the situation would develop into this? Truly interesting."
Uchiha Fugaku and Hiruzen Sarutobi had ended up standing on the same side.
Jiraiya had begun to suspect Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"And before this, Teacher Sarutobi deliberately created a fake Jiraiya to act in Konoha."
Jiraiya sounded deeply rueful.
"I never imagined Teacher Sarutobi would become like this."
"The man he was back then clearly wasn't this way."
"He was someone who held Konoha in his heart and made the revival of Konoha his duty. How did he suddenly become like this?"
"I can't understand it."
"Do people really turn bad when they grow old?"
Jiraiya looked toward Rasa.
"Rasa, help me publish an interview about this in Ninja World Weekly. Make the truth clear—that Uchiha Fugaku caused the Nine-Tails' rampage."
"As compensation, I promise you this. So long as I live for even one more day, Konoha will never take the initiative to attack Sunagakure."
Jiraiya originally thought Rasa would agree.
But what awaited him was Rasa shaking his head.
"Why? Don't you want peace, Rasa?"
Rasa said,
"First, Jiraiya, what do you intend to use to guarantee that? You are neither the Hokage nor part of Konoha's leadership. Your influence over Konoha is extremely limited. Are you relying solely on your personal strength?"
"That isn't realistic."
Jiraiya explained,
"I am indeed not the Hokage, but I will drag Teacher Sarutobi down from the Hokage position. I will find Tsunade and have her succeed as Hokage so Konoha can return to normal."
"I will assist Tsunade."
"My guarantee can absolutely be fulfilled. You don't need to worry about that."
Rasa still shook his head.
"Don't be anxious. There is also a second point. I do not think this is a fair trade."
"If I publish your interview, it means offending Hiruzen Sarutobi and offending Uchiha Fugaku—an Uchiha who possesses the Mangekyo Sharingan. He may have some special method of sneak attack."
"I would need to take a risk."
"And in return, you guarantee Konoha will not proactively wage war against Sunagakure?"
"To be honest, that guarantee is worth nothing."
"Konoha's strength is not even superior to Sunagakure's. Sunagakure has no reason to fear them. If Konoha initiates war, the one that suffers greater losses will be Konoha, not Sunagakure."
Jiraiya's expression turned ugly.
"But you previously published Kakashi's interview, the Fourth Raikage's interview, and Uchiha Yashiro's interview. Are you telling me you now fear Teacher Sarutobi?"
Rasa shook his head again.
"No, no, no. I am merely emphasizing that what you are offering me is too cheap. I can publish your interview, but I need different terms for the transaction."
Jiraiya frowned.
"What do you want?"
"The method of training senjutsu."
Jiraiya refused without even thinking.
"That's impossible!"
"Senjutsu is Mount Myoboku's secret art, not to be passed down. Only those who have received Mount Myoboku's recognition can practice it. Moreover, practicing senjutsu is extremely dangerous. One mistake and you will turn to stone."
"It is not that I refuse to give it to you. It is that I do not have the authority."
"Unless, Rasa, you can obtain the Great Toad Sage's recognition."
Rasa frowned slightly.
"No room for negotiation?"
"Truly none."
"In that case, I will change the condition. Orochimaru has already been expelled from Konoha. I need you to persuade Orochimaru to accept Sunagakure's invitation."
A troubled expression appeared on Jiraiya's face, but he still refused.
"That won't do either."
"After I overthrow Teacher Sarutobi and let Tsunade succeed as Hokage, I will bring Orochimaru back to Konoha. Orochimaru is a person of Konoha. He cannot join another shinobi village."
Rasa's voice turned cold.
"Jiraiya, this won't do, that won't do. You say you are sincere, but is this all the sincerity you have?"
A conflicted expression appeared on Jiraiya's face.
"Rasa, the main issue is that the conditions you proposed are truly things I cannot agree to. Is there anything else you want? Even forbidden techniques from the Scroll of Seals—I can make the decision to give them to you."
Forbidden techniques?
If it had been before, Rasa might have been quite interested.
But now, Rasa's interest was lacking.
Mainly because both of the conditions he had proposed had been refused by Jiraiya.
"No."
Rasa looked at Jiraiya calmly.
"Jiraiya, I have a question. Since you care so much about Orochimaru and believe he is innocent—that everything was Hiruzen Sarutobi's frame-up—why do you not consider Orochimaru for the position of Hokage?"
Jiraiya suddenly froze.
Rasa continued, "That means, in your heart, you do not believe Orochimaru is suited to succeed as Hokage."
"You want Orochimaru to return to Konoha. Is that because you truly think it would be good for Orochimaru? Or because you think it would be good for Konoha? Or are you doing it to satisfy yourself?"
"Can Orochimaru's matter really be completely cleared up?"
"Have you ever considered whether Orochimaru himself wants to return to Konoha?"
Jiraiya sank into a long silence.
Only after quite some time did he raise his head.
"Rasa, I will go and plead with the Great Toad Sage. No matter what price I must pay, I will obtain the method of senjutsu training for you."
"But Orochimaru is my comrade."
"I do not believe Orochimaru would do something that excessive."
"I have already failed Orochimaru once."
"Orochimaru is a person of Konoha!"
"I will definitely bring him back to Konoha!"