At that moment, Tsunade thought she was hallucinating. In many nights after Jiraiya’s sacrifice, that familiar voice echoed repeatedly in her dreams.
But while the voice might be a hallucination, the familiar chakra coming from behind couldn’t be fake.
It was the person she had patiently waited for.
Tsunade spun around, looking back.
Jiraiya’s roguish smile and familiar figure caught her eye.
Tsunade’s eyes reddened instantly, but she still couldn’t fully believe it.
Betting that Jiraiya would die on his spy mission to Amegakure was the only bet she’d ever won in her life... and also her worst loss...
Jiraiya called out with sorrow, a painful guilt in his voice. It was supposed to be just a spy mission, but it turned into an eternal farewell.
If not for this Edo body, he feared he’d never return to Konoha, never see Tsunade again...
In a way, should he thank his traitorous student, Nagato?
A loud slap rang out as Tsunade struck Jiraiya’s face.
Only after feeling the solid contact did she truly believe:
"This is real? I’m not dreaming?"
"You damned ghost! You’re finally back! I... I thought you were dead..."
"Sorry, I couldn’t keep my promise..."
"Wait... I’m not under a genjutsu, am I?"
"If this were really a genjutsu, I wouldn’t look ..."
The joy of reunion surged in Tsunade’s heart, but then she noticed that while Jiraiya had form, he was clearly different from a normal person.
His skin had cracks, and his eyes were the pitch-black characteristic of Edo Tensei.
Clearly, the Jiraiya before her was not alive.
"Right, I’m dead. This is my appearance after Edo Tensei..."
Jiraiya sighed, admitting the truth. Such a reality couldn’t be hidden.
"Edo Tensei... then you..."
"Right, I’ve returned representing Akatsuki."
Jiraiya admitted honestly. Though he wanted to share a tender moment with Tsunade and talk warmly, now wasn’t the time.
The crisis threatening the village’s destruction loomed, no time for romance.
Especially since Jiraiya didn’t want Nagato, his student, spying on him while he and Tsunade shared sweet words—it’d be too embarrassing...
Hearing this, Tsunade was shocked, stepping back quickly, knocking over the dining table to distance herself from Edo Jiraiya, preparing for combat.
She didn’t distrust Jiraiya but feared he was controlled by the enemy. If an uncontrollable Jiraiya beheaded her, the Hokage, Konoha would fall!
She couldn’t take that risk, mustn’t take that risk...
Seeing Tsunade instinctively retreat, Jiraiya felt bitter.
As an Edo dog of the enemy, a serious divide now separated him from Konoha and Tsunade.
Though he understood, it still stung.
"Are you controlled by Akatsuki?"
"No, at least not now..."
"Then what do you really want?"
"I represent Akatsuki to negotiate with Konoha."
Jiraiya stated his purpose, though he inwardly loathed his role as a dog opposing Konoha. He had no choice.
"Those damned Akatsuki, after killing you, they still defile your body and soul. Bastards!"
Tsunade clenched her fists, shouting in rage, her body erupting with anger, wanting to crush all of Akatsuki right now!
"Tsunade, don’t be rash. You’re no match for Nagato..."
"Then we can’t let them act recklessly! Can’t you break free from this forbidden jutsu’s binding?"
"No. My every move is watched by him. He can control me anytime. This forbidden jutsu, created by the Second Hokage and refined multiple times by Orochimaru, is nearly perfect. You know Orochimaru’s ninjutsu talent..."
Jiraiya sighed helplessly. If he could break free, he would’ve done so long ago. He wouldn’t be forced to be Akatsuki’s puppet.
"Absolute beast! Is this the student you raised?"
"My fault for not teaching him well. He did it for his village..."
"For his village, he can attack others?"
"Ugh... No point discussing this now. Let’s talk about something more important..."
Jiraiya calmed Tsunade’s emotions, urging surrender. Time was short.
Nagato gave him only one hour. If he couldn’t convince Konoha to surrender, total destruction would follow!
"Hmph! What negotiation did you just mention? What do they want?"
"Akatsuki hopes Konoha will surrender and admit defeat."
At those words, Tsunade’s anger flared again:
"So you came to persuade the village to surrender to those bastards?"
"No! Well, not exactly, but you could say that..."
Jiraiya fumbled, unsure how to explain. He couldn’t admit he’d fully submitted to Akatsuki’s arrogance, becoming their mouthpiece.
Though that was the truth, he couldn’t say it!
Moreover, Jiraiya recalled days ago when Nagato invited him to witness the Gedo Statue sealed with the last two parts of the Kyuubi’s chakra, and the terrifying power of the fully awakened Juubi.
And that massive, horrifying Bijuudama that nearly obliterated a small nation in an instant!
It was Nagato Edo’s final warning to his teacher, Jiraiya.
A warning not to try anything foolish, or Konoha would be erased from the world by that giant Bijuudama...
That attack shattered Jiraiya’s last illusions, making him willingly serve as a mouthpiece for surrender.
"I’m thinking of the village! If war breaks out, Konoha will be destroyed. Tsunade, the village can’t endure another war..."
"Then we can’t surrender to the evil Akatsuki! Besides, we might not lose..."
"There’s no chance of winning. You know Nagato’s power, and Akatsuki now is far more than just Nagato."
"Then you don’t know Naruto’s growth!"
"I know! He defeated Pain, surpassed me. He’s the true child of prophecy. But that’s exactly why he shouldn’t die in this battle!"
The more Jiraiya pleaded, the more emotional he became. Of course, he knew Naruto’s growth and was thrilled.
But he feared Naruto, still not mature enough, would die at Akatsuki’s hands...
Then the ninja world’s future would truly end.
"Naruto is far stronger than you imagine. He can already..."
Tsunade wanted to argue, even reveal that Naruto had become the Kyuubi’s perfect Jinchuriki, but she stopped herself just in time.
Jiraiya was under Nagato’s constant watch. Telling him now would be telling Akatsuki.
That couldn’t happen.
"I know Naruto’s strong, but if war breaks out, what about the village? Everyone will die... What’s more important, Konoha’s name or the lives of its people?"
"We’ve evacuated most villagers. The remaining ninjas are sworn to protect the village to the death! We’ll never surrender!"
"Jiraiya! Do you think I’m afraid of death?"
"B-but I don’t want you to die!"