Chapter 138

Jiraiya was panicking.

The confidence he had in convening the Five Kage Summit and orchestrating a siege against Shin-Konoha stemmed from one critical assurance—Uzumaki Chito himself had declared that he would not intervene directly.

But now—

Here stood the clone of Uzumaki Chito, faint yet unmistakable, right in front of him.

Jiraiya's heart pounded. He had witnessed the godlike power of Uzumaki Chito firsthand. Even a mere clone of this man was more than capable of killing him—and everyone else present—with ease.

Jiraiya wasn't afraid of death.

In the Original Canon. He had proven this before, willingly venturing into the Land of Rain to uncover information about the Akatsuki, even at the cost of his own life. That sacrifice had been instrumental in paving the way for Naruto's eventual victory over Pain.

But this situation was different.

With Naruto, Tsunade, Kakashi, and Guy all taken to Shin-Konoha by Uzumaki Chito, the original Konoha had been left with no one of sufficient strength to lead except for him.

If Jiraiya died here, the remaining Four Great Ninja Villages would likely turn on Konoha, carving it up among themselves.

To the other villages, Shin-Konoha—shielded by Uzumaki Chito—was an unreachable goal, like a distant, untouchable star. But Konoha, stripped of its strongest warriors, was nothing more than a vulnerable prize, ripe for division.

Jiraiya was panicking, yes, but he was also Jiraiya.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to regain his composure. He shook his long, white hair back and stepped forward, his voice calm despite the tension in the air.

"Lord Chito," Jiraiya began, his tone steady but laced with urgency, "are you going back on your word?"

He continued, his gaze fixed on the shadowy figure. "If I'm not mistaken, you declared that you wouldn't personally interfere in the war between Konoha and Shin-Konoha."

"So why are you here now?"

The purple clone, formed by the condensation of natural chakra and projected from thousands of miles away, tilted its head. The indistinct features of Uzumaki Chito's face twisted into an amused, almost mocking smile.

"Are you questioning me?" the clone asked, its voice faint yet sharp as a blade.

"What a bold man. Aren't you afraid?"

"Or perhaps you think this mere clone of mine isn't strong enough to kill you and everyone here?"

Jiraiya flinched inwardly at the words but maintained his composure. He met the clone's gaze with a serious expression.

"No, Lord Chito. I don't doubt your power, nor do I question your resolve."

"I simply believe in your promises," he replied firmly. "You stated that you wouldn't interfere in this war, and I trust you to keep your word."

Despite his calm demeanor, Jiraiya felt a twinge of unease.

Since becoming the Fifth Hokage, his role had been more symbolic than functional. The resurrected Third Hokage, wielding the authority of a mentor, had retained much of the actual power. Jiraiya spent his days wandering the village aimlessly, unable to engage in even his favorite pastime—peeping—without being reprimanded by Anbu agents for tarnishing the image of the Hokage.

Left with little else to do, Jiraiya had turned to intelligence gathering.

Through his efforts, he had uncovered a wealth of information about Uzumaki Chito's history, from his role in founding Konoha alongside the First Hokage to his interactions with Kushina Uzumaki. Among the fragments of information, one statement had stood out to Jiraiya:

"Lord Chito is a man of his word."

This belief was the foundation of Jiraiya's current resolve. He was wagering everything on Uzumaki Chito's integrity.

The clone of Uzumaki Chito regarded Jiraiya silently for a moment, then spoke with a tinge of melancholy.

"What a shame," the clone said softly. "If Konoha's Hokage had always been like you, we wouldn't be in this situation now."

Jiraiya's lips tightened into a bitter smile. He knew exactly what Uzumaki Chito was referring to—the actions of the Second and Third Hokage.

The Second Hokage, in his pragmatism, had turned a blind eye to the destruction of Uzumaki Chito's homeland, the Land of Whirlpools, in favor of Konoha's security. This betrayal had driven Uzumaki Chito into isolation, leaving Konoha vulnerable during the Third Ninja War.

The Third Hokage had committed his own sins. To maintain control over Naruto, he had allowed the village to ostracize the boy, branding him as the demon fox. Naruto's miserable childhood had been the result.

Even after Uzumaki Chito's return, the Third Hokage had attempted to deceive him with lies, hiding the truth about Naruto's lineage.

If not for the selfishness and shortsightedness of those two Hokage, Jiraiya thought, Konoha could have stood as a beacon of power under Uzumaki Chito's leadership. The entire ninja world could have enjoyed lasting peace under the protection of a god.

Instead, here they were—fractured, vulnerable, and on the brink of ruin.

Even as a loyal student, Jiraiya couldn't help but feel a pang of resentment toward his former teacher.