Rejecting Mount Myōboku

(bonus)

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"Exactly!"

Orochimaru nodded meaningfully at Jiraiya after hearing his words.

"Sometimes, living is far more painful than dying."

"Jiraiya, you're still too young!"

"But since even the Second Hokage and the others have acknowledged it, you'd better not do anything foolish moving forward. Don't go against Kaito."

"Otherwise… I don't want to one day see you defect from the village and have to personally hunt you down."

"And trust me, I won't hold back!"

Orochimaru's words were a warning, a preemptive strike to ensure Jiraiya wouldn't act recklessly and create an irreparable situation.

As one of his few true comrades, Orochimaru genuinely cared about him.

"I… I understand."

Jiraiya's face darkened as he hesitated, unsure how to respond.

After a long silence, seeing the concerned looks in Orochimaru and Tsunade's eyes, he finally made up his mind. Nodding firmly, he said, "Alright, I get it. I won't make you worry."

"Let's leave everything to the trial in two days."

"All I can do for the Old Man now is take care of his family."

It was the least he could do to repay the Third Hokage's kindness.

As for opposing the village or defecting?

That wasn't what Jiraiya wanted.

This was his home.

His comrades, his bonds, and all the memories he cherished were here.

Leaving Konoha—where would he even go?

He didn't want to become a wandering stray dog.

"Sigh… I wonder where the Child of Prophecy the Great Toad Sage spoke of is. Who is it?"

"If they'd just show up already and lead the shinobi world to peace, that'd be great."

"Wars and conflicts… they're so tiresome."

Jiraiya couldn't help but sigh.

Hearing this, however, both Tsunade and Orochimaru's expressions shifted.

Tsunade frowned deeply and gave Jiraiya a stern look.

"Jiraiya! You're still clinging to that so-called prophecy from the Great Toad Sage? That so-called Child of Prophecy?"

"Have you ever considered that the Great Toad might be deceiving you, using you, brainwashing you?"

"Do you really think destiny is so easy to predict?"

"Even if that toad can truly see glimpses of the future, destiny is ever-changing!"

"If everything is already predestined, then what's the point of living? How despairing would that be?"

"In any case, I don't believe in any prophecies or Children of Prophecy!"

"And if such a Child exists, in my view, it could only be Kaito. No one else!"

"Mark my words: Kaito will bring lasting peace to the shinobi world!"

Tsunade firmly believed in her stance. Jiraiya's blind faith in the Great Toad Sage worried her—it was bound to lead to trouble.

"No, I have to take this seriously. Maybe I should discuss it with Kaito and see if he has a way to deal with this in advance," she thought, feeling increasingly uneasy.

Using Konoha as a playground for manipulation? Absolutely outrageous!

"Tsunade, you…"

Hearing Tsunade criticize the Great Toad Sage and his prophecy, Jiraiya's brows furrowed in dissatisfaction. He opened his mouth, ready to retort.

But Orochimaru cut him off.

"Jiraiya, I think Tsunade has a point."

"Destiny, even if it exists, is unreliable and elusive."

"Those who chase destiny often end up being toyed with by it."

"In my view, destiny is never fixed. It's always in flux."

"Every decision we make could influence and alter the future!"

"Maybe the Great Toad Sage really can glimpse some future scenes, but those are just possibilities. They're not set in stone."

"In fact, the moment he prophesied about that future, destiny likely already shifted!"

"After all, before you knew about the prophecy, you wouldn't have acted to influence it. But the second you learned about it, every action you took started changing that so-called predestined future. Isn't that right?"

"This…"

Jiraiya froze, stunned by Orochimaru's reasoning.

Indeed, if he was actively seeking the Child of Prophecy to fulfill a foretold destiny, wasn't he already altering the course of events?

Yet the Great Toad Sage never warned him about this.

Instead, the sage encouraged him to search for the Child of Prophecy and guide the shinobi world toward peace.

It sounded noble, but was it truly right?

By doing so, wasn't he forcing his own interference with destiny?

The more Jiraiya thought about it, the deeper his frown grew.

For the first time, doubt crept into his mind about Mount Myōboku and the Great Toad Sage's intentions.

He recalled Tsunade's earlier words.

What had once felt harsh and insulting now seemed to hold a certain truth.

After all, Tsunade's words came from a place of concern.

Why else would she risk angering him by saying such things?

"What… what should I do?"

Jiraiya asked, his face filled with confusion and uncertainty.

Should he keep chasing destiny and searching for the Child of Prophecy?

That felt wrong, like tampering with fate.

But if he didn't, would the Child of Prophecy emerge on their own? Would they grow strong enough to lead the world to peace?

"Just be yourself. Focus on becoming stronger and supporting Kaito in strengthening Konoha."

"Trust in Kaito—he'll bring peace to the shinobi world."

"Remember, he's the choice of not just me and Tsunade but also the First Hokage, Second Hokage, and countless others in Konoha. Isn't that enough?"

Orochimaru patted Jiraiya on the shoulder before walking ahead.

"Do what's best for you. Don't be foolish. In this world, there's no such thing as love or hate without reason."

"That old toad from Mount Myōboku chose you for a purpose—You're not just some random guy picked by chance."

"It's obvious they're using you to influence Konoha and its future decisions."

"Honestly, even without Mount Myōboku, you'd still become a strong ninja. Your talent has always been extraordinary."

Hearing this, Jiraiya felt a chill run down his spine.

Tsunade, without a word, walked ahead, leaving Jiraiya standing there in a daze for a few seconds. Then, clenching his teeth, he ran to catch up.

"Wait for me!" he shouted.

It didn't take long for Jiraiya to catch up with Orochimaru and Tsunade. He wore a serious expression as he said, "I heard what you said. I can't make up my mind just yet, but I promise I'll think it through."

"But trust me on this—I'll always stand firmly with Konoha. I swear it!"

"Haha! That's more like it!"

"Exactly!"

Hearing this, Orochimaru and Tsunade both smiled knowingly.

It was a good start, wasn't it?

They could tell Jiraiya's blind trust in Mount Myōboku had begun to waver.

— — —

Soon, the three arrived at the Hokage's Building.

Here, they met up with Kaito, Uzumaki Mito, and Senju Tobirama.

As soon as they entered, Tobirama's eyes landed on Tsunade. A rare smile crossed his usually stern face.

"You've grown up, Tsunade. Stronger, more reliable—it's good to see."

"Second Grandpa!"

Tsunade waved and smiled back, though she modestly added, "Honestly, it's mostly thanks to Kaito's guidance. Without him, I wouldn't have developed this quickly or reached my current potential and strength."

Hearing this, Tobirama's face darkened slightly.

"Why does everyone keep mentioning that brat?" he thought to himself.

Not just Tsunade—over the past few days, every Senju and Uzumaki he had spoken to had showered Uchiha Kaito with gratitude.

Some even seemed ready to treat Kaito like a family member.

This left Tobirama feeling conflicted and a little annoyed.

Was the mighty Senju and Uzumaki alliance really so dependent on that Uchiha kid?

It was absurd. But he couldn't deny it.

Because it was true.

"Damn Sarutobi. Damn Danzō. This is all your fault," Tobirama silently cursed.

His frustration with Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō only grew, along with his disdain for Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.

"I should've appointed Uchiha Kagami or even Akimichi Torifū as the Third Hokage instead of Sarutobi. One mistake, and now it's a lifetime of regret," he thought bitterly.

Tsunade, meanwhile, noticed her granduncle's dark expression and chuckled inwardly.

"He's still salty about the Uchiha," she thought.

But what did that have to do with her?

Could she admit she was doing this on purpose?

If her granduncle hadn't mentored people like Sarutobi and Danzō, who brought Konoha to ruin, would the Senju Clan be in such a mess?

Would she have had to work this hard?

Let Tobirama stew in his own regret for a while. It served him right.

Oblivious to Tsunade's rebellious thoughts, Tobirama turned his attention to Orochimaru, who was watching him with an unsettlingly excited expression.

"So, you're Orochimaru," Tobirama said, scrutinizing him. "I've heard about your talents in research. After this, meet me at the research department. I want to discuss some things with you."

"The department is still being organized, so if you have any ideas, share them now so we can make adjustments."

Tobirama knew Kaito kept him around not just to mock him but to take advantage of his expertise.

He didn't mind. A task assigned to him would be carried out with utmost seriousness.

He had heard from Kaito that Orochimaru's research skills were outstanding, but he wanted to see for himself.

"Let's hope you don't disappoint me," Tobirama muttered.

"Of course, Second Hokage! I'd be honored," Orochimaru replied, licking his lips eagerly.

Tobirama, seeing that unsettling habit, frowned.

"Something's off with this guy," he thought, a faint chill running down his spine.

Finally, Tobirama turned to Jiraiya, frowning slightly.

"And you're Jiraiya? I've heard rumors about your… questionable habits. Lurking around hot springs, for example?"

"Who taught you such disgraceful behavior?"

"Eh?"

Jiraiya froze, suddenly aware that everyone in the room was staring at him.

"I… uh… okay, fine! It was my teacher, Sarutobi-sensei!" Jiraiya blurted, waving his hands defensively.

"He's the one who corrupted me! I didn't want to turn out like this!"

"You wouldn't believe it—he even created a jutsu called Telescope Technique so he could spy on the village from his office! It's a giant crystal ball that lets him peep on almost anything, including hot springs and people's homes!"

"I've caught him doing it countless times! And every time I confronted him, he dragged me into it to shut me up. That's how I ended up like this!"

"If you don't believe me, ask Tsunade or Orochimaru! They've seen it too!"

The room fell silent. Everyone stared at Jiraiya, stunned.

"Wow," someone muttered.

Jiraiya's desperate attempt to deflect blame was so extreme it left everyone speechless.

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