Danzo quickly received word of Jiraiya's arrival, along with a letter from the Third Hokage.
After reading the letter, he couldn't help but sigh.
"The ninja world is ever-changing."
Although Kumogakure had yet to accept Konoha's ceasefire proposal, internal power struggles had erupted due to the Third Raikage's death and the subsequent transition of power. In an effort to reclaim authority from the elder faction, the Fourth Raikage, A, declared war on Iwagakure under the pretense of avenging the Third Raikage.
This move gained widespread support within Kumogakure. After all, the Third Raikage had perished while staying behind to cover his forces' retreat. Leveraging the political capital left behind by his predecessor, A swiftly suppressed the elder faction and personally led his army into the Land of Earth, forcing Iwagakure to divert its forces to defend its borders.
As a result, despite Kumogakure's declaration of war against Konoha, no major conflicts had broken out between them. Instead, Konoha's battles against Sunagakure and Iwagakure had intensified.
"It's time to leave."
Danzo had accomplished his objectives, and the casualties within Root were mounting. With reinforcements arriving soon, there was no longer a need for him to remain on the frontlines. Moreover, despite the largely complimentary tone of the Third Hokage's letter, the underlying message was clear—he did not want Danzo to continue staying at the front.
Otherwise, Jiraiya wouldn't have been reassigned from the Lightning Country's frontlines to this location.
"Danzo-sama, Lady Tsunade requests your presence," said Nonō Yakushi, bowing respectfully as she entered.
Danzo nodded. "You will accompany me."
"Yes, sir."
Tsunade's Tent
Inside Tsunade's tent, Danzo saw Jiraiya for the first time.
[ Ding! Please obtain the acknowledgment of key storyline character 'Jiraiya.' ]
Once everyone had gathered, Tsunade spoke.
"The reinforcements will arrive in two days. I plan to launch a counterattack."
With Konoha's support forces on the way, Tsunade had made her decision—it was time to strike back and vent all the pent-up frustration from recent days.
The Jonin present, upon hearing this, clenched their fists in anticipation.
Danzo did not involve himself too much in the subsequent arrangements. Once the meeting concluded and everyone else had left, only Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Danzo remained.
"Something on your mind?" Tsunade asked, unsure how to address Danzo in Jiraiya's presence.
"Now that Jiraiya is here, Sunagakure won't be able to cause much trouble. Root has suffered heavy losses in this war, so I plan to return to Konoha. I came here to bid farewell."
Jiraiya grinned. "Well, in that case… I guess it's time to let those sand-playing bastards witness the might of the Toad Sage!"
Clearly, Danzo's words had put Jiraiya in a great mood. He stood up, looking proud—until he caught Tsunade's cold stare.
He immediately sat back down, scratching his head awkwardly. His bravado disappeared in an instant, making him look nothing like a Kage-level powerhouse.
Danzo, however, did not underestimate him. In many ways, Jiraiya was the epitome of what a true ninja should be—unlike the overpowering figures that would later emerge.
"Does the old man know?" Tsunade asked. She didn't particularly want Danzo to leave so soon. Regardless of his past reputation, his performance in this war had been reliable, especially in combat. His presence would be beneficial for the upcoming counteroffensive.
"I will inform Sarutobi," Danzo replied calmly.
Seeing his determination, Tsunade didn't press further. After all, Danzo was a Konoha Elder. His presence here was merely as an auxiliary force, not her subordinate.
They briefly discussed the logistics of Root's withdrawal and defense transitions. Once everything was settled, Danzo rose to leave. However, just as he reached the entrance, he suddenly paused, as if remembering something.
"By the way, Jiraiya."
"Hm? What's up, Danzo-sama?" Jiraiya, still in a good mood, beamed. It was unclear whether his joy stemmed from fighting alongside Tsunade or from Danzo's earlier praise.
But the next words out of Danzo's mouth instantly wiped the smile off his face.
"If you harass my subordinates again, I won't hesitate to invite you to Root for a nice… chat."
With that, Danzo left.
Jiraiya sat frozen, looking completely dumbfounded. Tsunade, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
"Jiraiya… what exactly did you do?"
"Wait! Tsunade, there's got to be some misunderstanding! How could I possibly harass his subordinates?" Jiraiya protested awkwardly.
Tsunade said nothing, but the skepticism was written all over her face.
Jiraiya's reputation made it hard to believe him.
"I'm serious! Let me explain! I was just gathering intelligence…"
At that, his usual playful demeanor faded, and his expression turned serious.
Tsunade, recognizing the shift, straightened her posture as well.
Despite his carefree nature, Jiraiya was a highly dependable comrade.
"Have you noticed? With the injured returning to Konoha, Root's reputation—along with Danzo's—has improved considerably among both civilians and shinobi. Given Danzo's past behavior, this sudden shift is… suspicious."
Jiraiya knew that Tsunade's relationship with the Third Hokage was strained due to the Senju Clan's history, so he didn't dwell too much on Sarutobi's role in this.
"Konoha is currently fighting on three fronts. The situation isn't favorable, and sensei is getting old… The village can't afford any more instability."
Tsunade, intrigued, asked, "So what exactly did you find?"
Jiraiya hesitated. "Danzo… might have actually changed."
In the past few days, Jiraiya had gone undercover to interact with Root members stationed at the camp. Through observation and conversation, he found them to be trustworthy comrades—far from the cold, ruthless figures he had expected.
They helped weaker shinobi without hesitation, shared their combat experience, and actively protected the vulnerable. Their belief in the 'Will of Fire' wasn't just empty rhetoric—they truly lived by it.
These qualities had earned them widespread respect within the camp, which explained Tsunade's earlier frustration when Jiraiya doubted them.
"That's it?" Tsunade looked unimpressed, even a bit disdainful. She had expected something more substantial from Jiraiya's investigation.
"You're such an idiot."
"…Then why did Danzo say you harassed his subordinates?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Jiraiya scratched his head, looking embarrassed. "Well… while gathering intel, I came across a Root member dressed like a nun. I often saw her near the medical division…"
"You mean Nonō Yakushi?" Tsunade asked, puzzled.
"Nonō Yakushi?" Jiraiya repeated. "That's her name? She's beautiful, kind, gentle—"
Before he could finish, Tsunade's face darkened ominously.
"Jiraiya…"
A loud scream echoed from the tent.
A human-shaped figure was sent flying out, crashing violently into the ground outside.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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