Chapter 82: A Suspicious Yahiko

Obito spoke calmly, without a hint of urgency.

"This is simple. Wait here for a moment."

With that, he clapped his hands together and entered Sage Mode.

The orange eyeshadow and toad-like pupils were unmistakable features.

"How about this? Isn't this enough to prove my identity?" he said smugly.

However, the three in front of him—Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato—looked utterly confused.

Konan tilted her head and asked bluntly,

"What... are you doing?"

"Uh..."

Obito scratched his head awkwardly, dispelling Sage Mode.

Could it be? They've never seen the Sage Mode from Mount Myōboku?

Hmm... I guess that's possible.

Damn it! Showoff attempt failed!

Obito bit his thumb and started forming seals slowly.

"Looks like I'll have to use that to prove my identity."

"Jiraiya-sensei signed a summoning contract with Mount Myōboku. You're aware of this, right?"

The three exchanged glances and nodded.

Obito sighed in relief.

"Alright, then no problem. Summoning Technique!"

He slammed his hand onto the ground.

In the next moment, a moderately-sized toad appeared before them.

"Hmm? Where's my food?"

Gamashin scanned the surroundings, quickly piecing the situation together when he spotted Obito.

With a long sigh, the toad spoke,

"Uchiha Obito, huh? Why do you always summon me during mealtime?"

Seeing that there was no immediate danger, Gamashin muttered,

"Alright, I still have half a bowl of rice left. I'm heading back."

Before Obito could even respond, Gamashin vanished with a puff of smoke.

Yahiko: "..."

Nagato: "..."

Konan: "..."

Obito cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Ahem. So… now you should believe that I trained under Jiraiya-sensei, right?"

Yahiko relaxed visibly, nodding apologetically.

"Yes, sorry about that... .

After Hanzo's betrayal, I've been wary of everyone's intentions."

Obito chuckled lightly.

"It's fine. I understand."

In truth, Obito saving Yahiko and the others wasn't entirely altruistic.

He had his own agenda, though it wasn't malicious—

He sought to form a partnership.

Thanks to the connection with Jiraiya,

the distance between the four narrowed considerably.

Finally, the three war orphans let down their guard.

Konan tearfully embraced Yahiko and Nagato.

"Yahiko, Nagato, I thought I'd never see you again!"

Yahiko gently patted her back.

"It's okay, Konan. It's all over now. We're all safe."

After the emotional reunion, the four sat down together and started chatting.

Konan asked curiously,

"Is Jiraiya-sensei settled down now?"

Obito shook his head.

"No. Jiraiya-sama is still wandering around, without a fixed home."

Yahiko sighed in exasperation.

"At his age, he still hasn't settled down?!"

Obito smirked mischievously.

"Want to hear a secret? Actually… Jiraiya-sama has someone he likes."

Nagato's eyes widened in shock.

"R-Really?"

Obito nodded confidently.

"Of course! And you all know her. That person is…"

He paused for dramatic effect.

"Who?!" Konan leaned forward, her anticipation palpable.

Yahiko, irritated, smacked Obito on the shoulder.

"Stop stalling and just say it!"

Obito burst out laughing.

"It's Tsunade-sama!"

Nagato's jaw dropped.

Yahiko was equally dumbfounded.

"This… can't be true, right?!"

But Konan clapped her hands in realization.

"I knew it! I always felt Jiraiya-sensei had feelings for Tsunade-sama!"

And then Konan launched into a lengthy analysis.

(Details omitted for sanity's sake.)

Yahiko eventually cut her off.

"Alright, alright! Enough, Konan!"

Reluctantly, she stopped, her enthusiasm undimmed.

"Well? Don't you think my analysis makes sense?"

Nagato was stunned.

"Konan, you've only met Tsunade-sama a few times… How did you come up with all that?"

Konan stuck out her tongue playfully.

"Because I have sharp eyes!"

The three men exchanged glances, all thinking the same thing—

More like you're just too nosy.

Even the Rinnegan isn't as "sharp" as her gossip radar.

Yahiko leaned back, scratching his head.

"But if Jiraiya-sensei likes Tsunade-sama, why hasn't he confessed?"

Nagato nodded.

"Yeah, they already have a good relationship, don't they?"

Obito thought for a moment.

"Probably because he's afraid Tsunade-sama might get mad and accidentally punch him to death?"

The three nodded in unison.

That… sounded about right.

Yahiko suddenly stood up.

"No way! As Jiraiya-sensei's disciples, we have to help him solve his love life!"

Konan immediately agreed.

"Right! I'm with Yahiko!"

Nagato spoke up softly.

"I… I think so too."

Obito thumped his chest confidently.

"Count me in! I'd love to help bring them together!"

The four of them enthusiastically began plotting.

Within minutes, they had not only Jiraiya's love life but also his burial plans sorted out.

(For example, a sea burial… ahem.)

After a while, Yahiko casually asked,

"By the way, aren't you from Konoha?

Why are you suddenly in the Land of Rain?"

The cheerful mood turned slightly somber.

Konan and Nagato fell silent.

Obito hesitated, then said,

"It's a long story. Meeting you was partly a coincidence."

"Your country's Rain Princess is currently in Konoha.

We… have a decent relationship."

Rain Princess?

Yahiko's expression shifted slightly but said nothing, gesturing for Obito to continue.

Understanding the cue, Obito explained,

"One night, I overheard her talking to two Rain shinobi.

That's how I learned Hanzo planned to target Akatsuki."

"I knew Akatsuki was your creation and that you're Jiraiya-sensei's students.

So…"

Obito laid out the story convincingly while cleverly omitting certain key details—

like how he knew their connection to Jiraiya.

As long as the general timeline checked out,

no one would question the minor inconsistencies.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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