Chapter 153: Jiraiya and the One-Eyed Masked Man

Five days ago.

On the night of the Raging Fire Festival in the Land of Wind, at the same time that Yuto's attempt to feed candy failed.

In the Land of Rain, at the Konoha camp.

Jiraiya frowned and crushed the letter in his hand.

"Hey, Jiraiya, didn't you ask me to send a letter to Tsunade-hime?" a small toad asked curiously, looking at the man. "Why did you tear it up after writing it?"

"For a writer, their mood is reflected in their words. That letter was full of bad vibes... I'd better forget about it."

Jiraiya sent the small toad back to Mount Myoboku and sat alone at the desk, daydreaming.

Even though his body had recovered, Jiraiya could still feel a faint pain.

Nagato, his once gentle and quiet student, now had the power to crush his bones without emotion. The light in those mysterious Rinnegan eyes was chilling—filled with pain, hatred, and anger, like a withered flower.

"Jiraiya, your student will bring unprecedented change to the world. Stability or destruction, you are the one to guide this change. One day, you will be forced to make a significant choice."

Twenty years ago, the Toad Sage's prophecy still echoed in his ears.

When Jiraiya first saw those Rinnegan eyes, he almost believed that Nagato was the prophesied child.

That red-haired boy was wise, powerful, and had eyes that rivaled a sage. Most importantly, he understood pain from experiencing war and longed for peace.

However, everything had changed. The once-promising savior had become a vengeful avenger filled with inner turmoil.

"Nagato, why..."

Suddenly, a cold, damp wind blew through.

Jiraiya's pupils shrank, and chakra surged through his body. With a mere thought, he got ready to use Needle Jizo to protect himself.

"Truly worthy of one of the Sannin...You have such quick reflexes."

Jiraiya turned to face the mysterious man closing the window leisurely.

The man wore a peculiar one-eyed mask and a black robe that was completely dry.

Without asking unnecessary questions like "How did you get in?", Jiraiya stood up and slowly approached the masked man.

No matter his intentions, trespassing in the Konoha camp was a death sentence.

Even if he had questions, Jiraiya could ask after capturing him.

"Such loyalty to Konoha," the masked man said softly. "Jiraiya, my target is the leader of the Akatsuki."

The tall, white-haired man halted.

"...Nagato?"

"I assume Konoha dreams of eliminating him, given the Rinnegan is against them?"

"If it's about this, you should talk to Minato. He's the front-line commander."

"No, Jiraiya. Minato Namikaze is the commander. He would consider casualties and impact, and declaring war on another village requires the Hokage's approval. But you, Jiraiya, you wouldn't hesitate as much." The masked man paused, then continued, "Because if you see the opportunity, you will stop at nothing to kill Nagato Uzumaki... right?"

"I heard you were once teacher and student, but when he broke the Four Red Yang Formation six months ago, you fought to kill each other without holding back. Truly fitting for teacher and student."

"Why you turned against each other or why you have such a killing intent toward your former student, I don't care."

"But this killing intent is the basis of our cooperation!"

The masked man produced a scroll, placed it on the ground, and gently pushed it towards Jiraiya's feet.

"Jiraiya, the specifics of our cooperation are all here. Whether to follow through or not is your choice."

His body melded with the ground like a candle, disappearing in an instant.

Jiraiya didn't stop him or move, standing like a broken clock.

"One day, you will be forced to make a significant choice."

Five days later.

"Sensei, I'm leaving." Minato attached a Flying Thunder God kunai to his back and said to Jiraiya, "Iwagakure is attacking Kusagakure in full force. If they capture it, the northern defenses of the Land of Fire will fall. We must stop them!"

"Sensei, I'll lead a third of our forces to support Kusagakure. You hold the fort here in the Land of Rain... Haha, you're a veteran, no need for me to nag."

Minato waved and left the room.

Jiraiya watched Minato's departure, faintly hearing his student's voice:

"Call Kakashi and the others. I have a mission..."

He didn't catch the rest, nor did he care to.

He remembered clearly, the first line on the scroll from the masked man was, "On the night of the fifth day, lead over three thousand Konoha shinobi to attack Amegakure."

Jiraiya had scoffed at the masked man's plan upon first reading it.

—Minato was the commander. Although Jiraiya could command front-line troops, deceiving Minato was impossible. The plan's first step was already unattainable!

But now, Minato had been sent away.

Could the masked man influence Iwagakure's decisions?

Jiraiya pondered this, watching Minato lead the army away.

The masked man's influence was more terrifying than expected, but Iwagakure's attack and Minato's departure also confirmed that this cooperation wasn't a scheme led by Nagato.

Amegakure didn't have such power.

Hours later, as night fell, Jiraiya silently donned his armor, gathered three thousand Konoha shinobi, and advanced towards Amegakure.

He had made his choice.

Compared to the "Rinnegan that might destroy the world," the risk he took was nothing.

Jiraiya was even mentally prepared that if something went wrong, he would have the Konoha forces retreat and cover their escape himself.

Boom! Boom!

Two small puffs of smoke appeared as Fukasaku and Shima materialized on Jiraiya's shoulders.

"Help me enter Sage Mode, please. Sorry for the trouble..."

"Jiraiya-chan, you don't look well. Still worried about finding the Child of Prophecy?"

"I might have found the Child of Prophecy," Jiraiya said, forcing a smile. "But now, I'm going to kill him. Hahaha..."

Fukasaku and Shima exchanged a glance, absorbing natural energy without further questions.

Soon, Jiraiya's appearance began to change. Small bumps appeared on his skin, unique markings surfaced on his face, and his chakra surged exponentially, transforming into powerful senjutsu chakra.

—Sage Mode, activated!

Jiraiya opened his eyes, revealing rectangular pupils.

Boom!

He burst through the rain, running at the forefront of the Konoha forces, with no more doubts.

The disaster he had planted himself, he would deal with himself.

(End of Chapter)