Outside the ANBU headquarters, Jiraiya struggled to find his way.
Before he even arrived, his voice echoed ahead.
"Orochimaru, Orochimaru! Last time, you said you didn't want to get involved with the ninja school. This time, you have to help me!"
While the ANBU wasn't a place just anyone could enter, Jiraiya was clearly an exception.
He barged in, only looking for Orochimaru.
Even if they were under Danzo's command, the ANBU members couldn't easily stop him.
Orochimaru sighed and put down his experiment.
He walked out of the lab, carefully closing the door behind him, then said seriously, "Jiraiya, this better be important."
"It really is."
Jiraiya said.
He invited Orochimaru to sit down and explained the situation in the Land of Waves.
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.
This was quite interesting.
However, what intrigued him more wasn't the situation in the Land of Waves but the fact that Jiraiya had thought of such a method to thwart the Land of Water and Kirigakure's plans.
This wasn't Jiraiya's usual style!
He set aside his impatience and smiled. "Jiraiya, this is actually quite simple. Didn't the person who taught you give any advice?"
"Taught... taught me?"
Jiraiya stuttered.
Him...
Had he become Kyohiko's student?
This... this!
He was dumbfounded, but upon reflection, he couldn't argue.
His current line of thinking was entirely thanks to Kyohiko's input.
However.
While that might be true, Jiraiya couldn't bring himself to admit it in front of Orochimaru.
Jiraiya's expression stiffened.
Orochimaru, on the other hand, smirked, clearly enjoying himself.
"Alright, Jiraiya, regardless of who taught you, the solution is simple. We need to get the relevant parties involved. We're just here to assist."
"Relevant parties? The nobles of the Land of Fire and the Land of Waves?"
Jiraiya pondered.
"Even though they're not ninjas, they have the money to hire ninjas from other countries to deal with Gato and control maritime trade. Otherwise, are we supposed to do all the work while they reap the benefits?"
"This..."
Jiraiya hesitated.
Ninjas from other countries.
If foreign ninjas got involved, the Land of Waves might become another battlefield, much like the Land of Rain.
"Foolish. I can tell from your expression what you're thinking."
Orochimaru sneered. "What does it matter if they die? If we don't intervene, do you think the Land of Waves will fare better under the influence of the Land of Water, Kirigakure, and Gato?"
"This—"
"If you came to me, you should've been prepared. Don't bother me anymore. Go find the person who taught you."
Orochimaru finished, casting a dissatisfied glance outside. "Isn't this guy from the ANBU? Can just anyone waltz into our headquarters?"
The ANBU members outside remained unmoved.
Jiraiya sighed in frustration and left the ANBU headquarters.
Next, would he really have to go find Kyohiko?
Back when he was teaching Nagato and Minato, he had been confident and capable. But now, with this kid...
As a teacher, he had to rely on his student for guidance.
How embarrassing!
"Jiraiya, Jiraiya, don't you have any ability to think for yourself? You can definitely come up with a better, more perfect solution on your own!"
...
Knock knock knock!
Early in the morning, the window was tapped.
Kyohiko woke up, rubbing his eyes. The dawn light was faint outside.
Who was it?
He got up and saw Jiraiya sitting outside the window.
Jiraiya looked exhausted.
It seemed he hadn't gotten the answers he wanted.
Kyohiko got up, washed up, and then went downstairs to open the door, inviting Jiraiya in.
"Teacher? Didn't you say you were going to consult an expert? Didn't he solve your problem?"
"Well, he did, but... it's not what I wanted."
Jiraiya took out a few rice balls, handed one to Kyohiko, and began eating while talking.
Kyohiko listened quietly.
After a while, he understood.
Jiraiya wanted everything—both this and that.
But such a perfect solution didn't exist!
"You don't agree with my idea either?"
Jiraiya could tell.
Kyohiko chose his words carefully.
Finally, he answered honestly, "It's too naive."
Jiraiya sighed.
Indeed.
This was a difficult problem even for them to solve. Asking a child for answers was too much.
He must be out of his mind!
"Perhaps the Land of Lightning and the Land of Hot Water wouldn't want to see the Land of Waves siding with either the Land of Fire or the Land of Water. If we don't want to control the Land of Waves, they could be potential allies."
"The Land of Lightning and the Land of Hot Water? You're right!"
Jiraiya was both surprised and delighted.
If the goal was simply to keep the Land of Waves neutral, then allies weren't limited to Konoha or hired ninjas.
...
The Hokage's office was filled with smoke.
Sarutobi Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, gazing out the window as Jiraiya explained his thoughts.
He listened for a long time, then sighed heavily.
"Such an approach—"
"Otherwise, once they're controlled by Gato's company and the Land of Water, the Land of Waves will suffer, and Kirigakure can use it as a base to threaten the Land of Fire."
Jiraiya said.
He wasn't stupid; he had just been clinging to a sliver of hope.
But after hearing Kyohiko and Orochimaru's words, he fully understood his own thoughts.
They couldn't back down!
If they did, given Kirigakure and the Land of Water's nature, both the Land of Waves and the Land of Fire could face attacks.
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned.
"Jiraiya!"
"Teacher, there's no better way."
Jiraiya said earnestly.
Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent.
Jiraiya grew anxious.
"Teacher!"
"I need to think about it more."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's brows remained furrowed.
The Land of Lightning and the Land of Hot Water.
These two nations were indeed located above the Land of Waves' bay, and their maritime trade would be significantly affected if the Land of Waves fell under the control of either the Land of Fire or the Land of Water.
If they wanted to keep the Land of Waves neutral, these nations could indeed be potential allies.
After much deliberation, he said, "Jiraiya, in theory, your idea has merit. But the specifics need careful consideration."
"This... sigh!"
At this moment, Jiraiya felt a thought cross his mind—
His teacher had truly grown old!
Forcing the Land of Waves to remain neutral was the best solution they could come up with.
In the past, his teacher would have made a decision quickly, not hesitating for an entire day without even consulting others.
Perhaps Kyohiko was right.
Some decisions required real authority to push through.
And now...
Jiraiya's expression darkened as he headed to a certain part of the village.
He had an idea forming in his mind.
Kyohiko was right.
When it came to fighting, there was no point in going it alone.
The changes in the Land of Waves could affect many, including the Nara clan, who had business interests there.
These could be allies.
But...
Jiraiya sighed deeply.
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that one day, he would be the one pushing for something that could potentially spark a war.
However.
War and peace...
The line was too hard to define.
He remained silent.
In the past, he believed that mutual understanding and love could achieve peace. But now, that idea seemed far too naive.