"I was afraid Jiraiya would investigate the truth behind Minato's death?"
"I was afraid Jiraiya would avenge Minato?"
"I was afraid Jiraiya would threaten my Hokage position?"
"Nonsense!"
"Minato's death had nothing to do with me at all!"
"If Jiraiya had not wanted the Hokage position, why would I have needed to place my hopes on Minato?"
He had only just finished handling the matter with Kumogakure, making Hiruzen Sarutobi believe Konoha might be able to welcome a stretch of peace and that he himself might finally enjoy a period of calm.
But the sudden rumor regarding Jiraiya instantly dragged Hiruzen Sarutobi back into a state of tension.
In the past, Hiruzen Sarutobi would not have thought Jiraiya would believe such a claim.
But now, Hiruzen Sarutobi was no longer certain.
If Jiraiya believed it, what was he supposed to do?
Hiruzen Sarutobi subconsciously looked toward the medical department. At this time, Jiraiya was still lying there. After his battle with Rasa, Jiraiya's injuries were extremely severe.
Not only would recovering from the injuries themselves be difficult and require a great deal of time—
Even if those injuries healed, he would still be disabled.
A ninja without two legs and one arm—could he still be considered a ninja?
Jiraiya lay on the hospital bed, staring straight at the ceiling.
Without both legs and without one arm, a person was no longer complete. Even if Jiraiya knew that Sunagakure possessed the technology to replace limbs with mechanical arms and legs—
First, that was Sunagakure.
Sunagakure and Konoha were enemies.
At this point in time, Konoha had not yet properly mastered the technology to repair bodies with Hashirama cells.
Even if Orochimaru was already researching it, he would not take it out and use it on Jiraiya.
Once he did, the fact that he was secretly researching Hashirama cells would be exposed.
Orochimaru already felt that Hiruzen Sarutobi discriminated against him. If the matter of his Hashirama cell research were exposed, Orochimaru believed Hiruzen Sarutobi would target him even more severely.
Second, Jiraiya felt that when it came to Tsunade, his hopes would become even more remote.
From now on, he would most likely be able to travel only by wheelchair.
And he had only one hand.
A trace of despair appeared in Jiraiya's eyes.
For a time, ninja, village, Child of Prophecy… none of it seemed quite so important anymore.
Suddenly—
A rumor about himself entered his ears.
"Minato Namikaze's death was deliberately arranged by Hiruzen Sarutobi because he feared Minato Namikaze would threaten his Hokage position."
"But Hiruzen Sarutobi never expected that incident to become so huge."
"He never expected Sunagakure's Kazekage, Rasa, to stand up and seek justice for Minato Namikaze."
"That's why Hiruzen Sarutobi was worried that once Jiraiya learned of this matter, he would avenge Minato Namikaze and demand justice for him. So he struck first."
"He ordered Jiraiya, who had been away from the village for many years, to return. The moment Jiraiya came back, he sent him straight to the front line and even sold Jiraiya's intelligence and abilities to Sunagakure."
"He wanted to borrow Sunagakure's hand to kill Jiraiya."
"Once Jiraiya died, no one would avenge Minato Namikaze."
"Once Jiraiya died, he would no longer pose a threat to the Sarutobi clan's Hokage position."
Jiraiya frowned.
"Sarutobi-sensei was afraid I would avenge Minato?"
"He sold my intelligence and borrowed Sunagakure's hand to kill me?"
"That can't be possible, right?"
"Sarutobi-sensei has never cared that much about the Hokage position. Back then, he even asked whether I wanted to succeed him. If I had that intention, I might have become Konoha's Hokage long ago."
"But I didn't want it."
"Since he was like that toward me, he should not have been stingy about the Hokage position when it came to Minato either."
"Besides, I don't believe Minato's death had anything to do with Sarutobi-sensei. How could Sarutobi-sensei possibly worry that I would move against him because of that and then sell me out?"
"He called me back to the village only because the village's situation was terrible."
Jiraiya did not believe the content of the rumor.
But Jiraiya not believing it did not mean others would not believe it.
Danzo came to Orochimaru's place.
"Orochimaru, do you see clearly now?"
"Hiruzen has changed."
"He is old. His greed for power has clouded his mind. For the sake of the Hokage position, there is nothing he cannot do. We should act. If we don't, the next one will be you."
Danzo tempted Orochimaru.
Orochimaru's eyes flickered uncertainly.
"Danzo-senpai, are you saying it really was Sarutobi-sensei who sold Jiraiya's intelligence to Sunagakure?"
"Could it be false?"
Danzo said, "You and I both understand Jiraiya's strength. Orochimaru, please allow me to say something unpleasant—Jiraiya's overall strength is actually above yours."
"Rasa's talent may be excellent, and his strength may be great, but he is still young."
"Compared to Jiraiya, he lacks far too much experience."
"Jiraiya's strength is not weak either."
"If not for an intelligence advantage, how could Rasa have injured Jiraiya to such an extent?"
It was not only Danzo who held such a view.
After this rumor spread, many people thought the same.
"I think it might be true."
"Otherwise, there are too many coincidences."
"First Konoha's White Fang, then Minato Namikaze, and now Jiraiya."
"One person after another who had hope of inheriting the Hokage position has died or fallen. If you ask me, Orochimaru is probably in danger now too. Something could happen to him at any time."
"The position of Kage truly is too tempting."
"That Onoki has occupied the Tsuchikage position for many years, leaving Roshi unable to see any hope until he left the village in anger."
"Yagura Karatachi betrayed the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist for the Mizukage position."
"Kumogakure also had Kinkaku and Ginkaku attempt to assassinate the Raikage."
"Sunagakure previously had rumors that Rasa killed the Third Kazekage, but from what I can see, that possibility should not be very high. Killing the Third Kazekage wasn't necessary for Rasa."
Onoki had not expected this to involve him too, and he immediately developed some resentment toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"It seems I need to move faster regarding stepping down."
"Otherwise, sooner or later, everyone may think I'm the same as Hiruzen Sarutobi."
"But Hiruzen Sarutobi really was far too impatient. He was in such a hurry to deal with Jiraiya. Could it be that Jiraiya had already discovered something suspicious about Minato Namikaze's death?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi came to the medical department again.
"Sarutobi-sensei."
"Jiraiya, how is your recovery?"
Jiraiya shook his head.
"It isn't very optimistic. I may have to remain like this from now on."
"At most, I can only be half a ninja, using the Summoning Technique to support other ninja from a distance. Perhaps something like Dan Kato back then."
"Sarutobi-sensei, I heard that rumor too. Don't worry. I won't believe it."