When Tsunade's name was brought up, Danzō's face showed sorrow, and he sighed: "That was an accident."
"What kind of accident?"
Jiraiya pressed: "And how did you know that Tōshirō kidnapped the Daimyō's son?"
"Strictly speaking, those two things are the same incident."
Jiraiya frowned.
Danzō told Jiraiya what happened back then, with some appropriate edits: "I only wanted Tōshirō's life, but I never imagined they were so vicious that they also wanted Tsunade's life."
At this point, Danzō shook his head, feigning self-blame: "No, maybe I had already thought of it. It's just that we had no choice... I thought we were fully prepared, but I never expected that to happen in the end."
When he heard this, Jiraiya felt a deep sense of despair. He couldn't help but laugh at himself. Why did he have to know something like this?
Danzō, standing to the side, narrowed his eyes slightly. It seemed the plan was a success. Now it was that guy's turn to take the stage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi walked forward and patted his disciple's shoulder, comforting him: "This is my fault. If only I hadn't been in the hospital at the time..."
Jiraiya shook his head. He knew it wasn't his sensei's fault.
"Although this may sound cold, now is not the time to be dejected, Jiraiya..."
Hiruzen vaguely guessed what he was going to say and couldn't bear to watch: "Stop it, Danzō. This is too cruel for Jiraiya."
Danzō interrupted: "Now is not the time to act on a whim. Everything is for the village."
With the cause of justice backing him up, he said to Jiraiya: "If you want to blame someone, blame me. After this matter is handled, you can do whatever you want with me."
He said this, but he knew Jiraiya's personality and that he wouldn't do anything to him.
Because of this, he could shout out whatever righteous slogans he wanted.
Jiraiya closed his eyes and let out a breath: "What do you want?"
Danzō said sincerely: "I hope you can help the village get through this crisis."
Just as I thought... Only now did Hiruzen truly understand the real intention of that letter. A self-deprecating smile appeared on his lips.
"The matter of Tōshirō and Tsunade has been weighing on Hiruzen's heart for years, making him feel guilty and exhausted. That's why after the war, he found a reason to step down and let the young Minato take his place. He just never expected that such a thing would happen."
This reason perfectly explained why Hiruzen didn't demand compensation after the Third Great Ninja War, but Jiraiya knew Danzō wouldn't bring this up for no reason. There must be a deeper meaning, which was why he said those words.
His guess was soon confirmed. Danzō continued his explanation: "Jiraiya, I hope you will become the Fifth Hokage."
"Wh-what?"
Jiraiya was shocked.
"I know this is difficult for you, but I hope you will take on this responsibility."
"Is this to deal with Tōshirō?"
Jiraiya knew that Tōshirō was a person who valued his relationships. If he were to become Hokage, Tōshirō might have some reservations because of their friendship.
Danzō had predicted Jiraiya's prediction and didn't mention this at all: "Hiruzen is old and has been in the position for a long time. It's time for the village to elect a new Hokage."
By electing a new Hokage, they could provoke the Uchiha.
When the time comes, the defeated Uchiha will surely find it hard to accept, and they will become emotional.
Then, the village could use the reason that the Uchiha were unhappy with the election results and were attempting a coup to eliminate them.
Of course, he couldn't say this to Jiraiya directly. He had to make it sound better.
"At the same time, this is also to get Tōshirō to find his way back."
The highest level of persuasion is to look at the problem from the other person's perspective.
Jiraiya was stunned: "What do you mean..."
Danzō said in a low voice: "Have you ever seriously thought about why Tōshirō, who was already dead, could be revived? And in this state?"
Jiraiya was silent, waiting for Danzō's answer.
Seeing that Jiraiya was being led by the nose, Danzō secretly rejoiced and gave a serious answer:
"There is a forbidden jutsu in Konoha called Edo Tensei. It was invented by the Second Hokage, our sensei. This jutsu can summon the dead back to the living to fight. If such a jutsu exists, then a jutsu that can directly revive people is not strange."
Jiraiya was stunned. He had indeed heard of the Edo Tensei jutsu.
Suddenly, he realized: "Are you saying someone revived Tōshirō?"
"Most likely," Danzō said with a sigh: "Someone revived Tōshirō and made him believe that we were the ones who killed Tsunade. This is all part of a huge conspiracy to make the Uchiha and the village fight each other."
Jiraiya: ...
"The mastermind behind the Nine-Tails' attack might be that person as well. They used Tōshirō's Mangekyo Sharingan dōjutsu to control the Nine-Tails."
At this point, if Tōshirō were here, he would probably say: "Danzō, it's a pity you're not a screenwriter."
Danzō said: "I think you also saw Tōshirō's special eyes in the meeting earlier, didn't you?"
Jiraiya thought about those eyes, and his voice became low: "The Mangekyo Sharingan..."
"Exactly. Although the Sharingan can control Tailed Beasts, an ordinary Sharingan doesn't have the dōjutsu to manipulate the Nine-Tails to that extent."
Jiraiya suddenly realized something, and his eyes widened: "Are you saying that the person who controlled the Nine-Tails and killed Minato and Kushina was Tōshirō?"
At this point, he waved his hand and said loudly: "That's impossible. Tōshirō would never do such a thing."
"Why not? Tōshirō is now blinded by revenge," Danzō countered. "This would both weaken Konoha and strengthen his own side."
Danzō analyzed logically: "Because of this incident, the Uchiha clan would inevitably be implicated, and then Tōshirō could use this sentiment to lead the Uchiha to oppose the village."
"And isn't Tōshirō doing exactly that now? He has been nominated as the new Uchiha clan leader. I think he will have even bigger plans next."
Jiraiya was truly unwilling to believe it, but what Danzō said was too logical, so much so that he had to believe it.
"Danzō, that's enough. Don't say anything more."
Hiruzen said: "It's too painful for Jiraiya to face Tōshirō directly. Let's do this. I plan to nominate Dan Katō as the next Hokage. In terms of experience and strength, I think everyone will be convinced."
Danzō frowned: "Hiruzen, you're being naive. As Hokage, you shouldn't do this."
"But I'm also a sensei," Hiruzen's voice softened. "All you have to do now is support Dan Katō in becoming Hokage. Can you do that?"
The words "can you do that" were said for both Jiraiya and Danzō to hear.
Danzō snorted.
Damn you, Hiruzen. Don't think I don't know what you're up to.
After all...
Dan Katō's wife has the last name Sarutobi...
But right now, for the sake of the bigger picture, he could only agree. Besides, he didn't have the power to veto it.
Jiraiya looked at his sensei, his face apologetic: "I'm sorry, Sensei Hiruzen..."
He knew that at this time, he should be the one to take responsibility and not hide behind others.
Hiruzen gave him a reassuring smile: "You look a little tired. Go get some rest. Then, find the culprit behind Tōshirō and make sure he doesn't make any more mistakes."
"I understand..."
Jiraiya clenched his fist. He would find the bastard behind Tōshirō. He couldn't stand by and watch his friend continue to make mistakes, harm the village, and ultimately become a true missing-nin like Orochimaru.
(End of Chapter)
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